.......And HE gave us rule over them

I know we can all remember a favorite (or not so favorite) family pet. Bobby and I have really been blessed to have had such wonderful animals pass through our lives. Just recently we lost one of them, a beautiful black cat named "Mater", almost a year since we lost Jake.

At my house, however, they seem to have rule over me. I will admit it. I have spoiled my pets. Ever since we had a dog killed by 2 pit bulls a few years ago, they all sleep in the house at night. We have a 3-legged dog, that is now deaf. He loves to be in the produce shed in the summer when we are selling. If I step out and he can't see me, he thinks he is all my himself because he can't hear me. He will bark and bark and bark until I reappear. Apparently he thinks because he can't hear, neither can we:) We have 3 other dogs and another cat. They just seem to come into our lives at just the right time. You would never guess they were all strays, set out at various times and various ages in their lives. It's as if they were all born at the same time and place.

When we lose a pet, it's really hard. They somehow become part of our family. Then we all just declare that we will never get another, cause we can't take the pain again. And yet, sooner or later, we usually do get another. A friend once told me that this is a sign of all the joy they brought into our lives.

Half-Century

My half-century mark is quickly approaching. One more year left, then it's here. I have thought alot lately about all the buzz about "bucket lists". I can honestly say, there is nothing I feel really compelled that I need to do before I kick it. I have traveled in my time. If there is something I need or want, if it's possible, I usually just go ahead and get it or do it. I guess if I had to choose something it would be to spend more time with family and friends. I miss seeing and talking to my best friend everyday. She is still alive, just lives in another town. I miss her girls. They are special to me. I really miss the new little man in my life, Rader J. Brose. I could entertain him all day. I miss seeing my sister that lives out of town and her family. We get together as much as possible, but seems like it's never enough. I really look forward to holidays. Seems like we can find time to get together then. All of Bobby's family lives somewhere else, so we hardly ever see them.

As I reflect, I have many things to be thankful for. I have a great husband. He's a hard worker and a great cook. Much better than me I hate to admit. I have great pets. I have a great family, great friends, a great job, and a good church family. I can only hope that the next 50 is as good, or better, than the last.

The Customer is ...?????

After another short and HOT, HOT, and need I say HOT summer, it is time for school to start back, once again. It was a good summer selling produce, but I just wanted to share a few comments and remarks I have to hear ALL summer long. Needless to say, some of these you will never hear nor ask at your grocer. I will include some of my replies:
CONCERNING STRAWBERRIES:
"Are these sweet"
"May I sample one"
"Are these Scott's strawberries" (our competition)
"When were these picked"
"Don't you have any smaller ones"
GREEN BEANS:
"Are they full, I don't like a lot of bean in my green beans"
"Are they full, I like a LOT of beans in my green beans"
"When were these picked"{ try that one at the grocery store.Better to say, when were these shipped:)}
"What do they taste like" reply: "beans"
" How much are your beans a bushel and if I buy more than one, can I get them cheaper" REALLY!! do you get 2 jugs of milk cheaper than one????
TOMATOES:
"Got any ripe ones"
"Got any green ones"
"When were these picked"
"Are these Grainger County tomatoes" reply "no", "Where can i get some of those" reply:"Grainger County I guess"
"Where's your big uns", I like mine to cover the whole bread"
"Got any smaller, I can't eat all that at once"
"This one is soft (as they squeeze the life out of it)"
"Can we go to the field and pick our own, I just want a few"
CORN:
"Is it full, I don't like mine to be real full"
"Is it full, I like big, full ears"
"When was this picked"
"Can i get it cheaper if I buy two dozen" , again REALLY??
ON OUR LOCATION( and this is my favorite, bobby got this one, not me):
"Why are you sooooo far out in the country, can't you move any closer to town" HIS reply:" Well Morristown won't let us plow up Main Street, we asked"

The list could go on and on. There is never a DULL moment when you work with the public. Growning up I always worked in grocery stores or some other job dealing with the public. I was always told "The customer is always right". SOOOOO after many many years working with the public, I have decided, the customer (almost) always, NEVER HAS A CLUE:)

For better or WORSE

I had a sick husband. I know, I hear your groans. He evidently caught my cold. However, you would think it was the swine flu or something:( This man can take external injuries like no one I know. A few years ago, he called me on a Sunday morning while I was getting ready for church, and he was out working in the field. He wanted to know if I would be leaving the house soon. I said I would be. He wanted me to drop him off a couple advil and a wash cloth?????? come to find out, he had cut his shin TO THE BONE on a old rusty culvert in the field. Advil and a wash cloth PLEASE??? How about ER and stitches!! We did manage to get to the family doc. the next day for a tetanous (sorry nurses, can't spell it, but you know what i mean) shot for both of us. It just amazes me how a little internal bug get him DOWN. All i can say, is bring on the NYQUIL!!!

Come on man

It can be so depressing when you just spent over $1000 on irrigation supplies and it has rained every day since you put it down. Is that like washing your car if you want it to rain? Murphy's law, I guess:( Guess the rain has done more good than bad, though. Any who! You can't control the weather, sooooo just grin and bear it.

The Big Picture

I realize in life, we don't always see the big picture and know why things happen the way they do. Our dog, Jake, that passed away in October, was TERRIFIED of storms. This drove me crazy. Just imagine a 100 lb lab trying to sneak up in your bed during a storm. My vet suggested Benadryl. I thought that was crazy, but we bought some, and amazingly, it worked. Fast forward to today, May 25. Bobby was on his four-wheeler and some insect got under his shirt and stung him.Obviously on a four-wheeler you can't just whip off your shirt as you are driving down the road and check it out, so he waited a few minutes until he could get back to the shed and let me look. It had already swelled and formed a HUGE whelt(SP????). then his hands and feet began to tingle and his upper lip started to swell. So I quickly remembered the Benadryl and gave him 2. It took a few minutes (seemed like an eternity) for it to kick in. In the meantime, he got this rash all over his chest,feet, and neck. You know, when I was questioning the sanity of my vet and buying that Benadryl, had i been able to see the big picture, I would have bought a case. So thanks, Big Jake, for looking out for us, even when you're not here:)

Then..... and Now....

Bobby and I never had children of our own, but I have been blessed with WONDERFUL nieces and nephews. As they are growing up, I have pondered on how they were then and how they are now. First there was Courtney.When i think of her one word comes to mind. OVERACHIEVER. And that's not a bad thing. I can remember when she started school, she would question things from the teacher that she didn't know or understand. AND question a grade if she disagreed. I can remember telling my sister (her mom) she was going to be every teacher nightmare. I should know, as I am a teacher:) That wonderful "overachiever" is now a part-time nurse, wife and wonderful new (stay at home) mom to the apple of all our eyes, Rader.Then came Allison. She should have been mine (at least that is what her mother tells me all the time, "She's just like you"). I feel a kindred spirit with Allison bc we are both that poor middle child. You know the one that feels like they get left out of everything. Allison is like me in many ways, laid back(mostly), expensive taste( at least while I was single), and loves the beach (any and all). She is now a college grad with her masters and getting ready for 2 exciting events, new teaching job and upcoming wedding (welcome to the madness that is our family, Caleb).And the third of my older sister's children, Brandon, AKA the "chosen one" or the "golden child" as referred to by his sisters that love him madly. Brandon was the first boy in a long line of girls. My mom had 3 daughters and the first 2 grandchildren were also girls. We didn't quite know what to do with a boy at first, but learned quickly. I will NEVER forget one visit from Brandon in which my mom (his grandma) and I took him to McD's to eat and play. He decided to climb up inside that outdoor thingy and refused to come down. Guess who got to go in after him:) Never forget that one. Brandon is now getting ready to finish his first year at Cleveland State Community College, where he is playing baseball. Looking forward to seeing what else the future holds for him. My younger sister has 2 children. First, came Kaitlyn. One word for her "drama". Guess that goes along with a typical 8th grader. She will begin her high school career next year. She has wonderful Christian friends at our church, so I think she'll be ok. Then came Kaleb ( a few days earlier than we expected). When i think of Kaleb one word comes to mind "lawnmower". That child would "mow" for hours with his little green plastice mower. We even had to take it to the beach. I try to pray for each one of them daily (future plans, future spouses, ......) 2 down and 3 to go!!!!:)

Let the count down begin.....

When Mrs. Wilson, the K teacher, puts up her duck, I know the countdown (to the end of the year) has begun. I always have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I FINALLY have the class in some kind of routine and now it's almost over. This will have to start all over again next year:( This has been a good year. A few bumps in the road, but that's normal teaching. Having a new language book next year adds a little stress. This year I had a new science book and pacing myself was HARD. Of course, with new state standards, i had to finish it BEFORE the tests,which btw were in APRIL! Then there is a whole 6 weeks left. For my students,the last TCAP day, they are done and done. School is officially over for them. Too bad we still get another grade card. Need i mention, i hate the fact that the TCAP test is soooo early. It's bad enough to have to get all that "stuff" in so early and then bad because you did get it in and still a whole 6 weeks left to teach. And next year we can all look forward to "Racin to the top". For all the upcoming new teachers, it is hard enough to start out in a new environment, with a group of little people you don't even know or like (at times) and have a new program like this facing you. NO PRESSURE THERE!!

Thanks WBC

On Sunday I was privileged to attend the dedication of my great nephew, Rader. Mother's Day is not one of my favorite holidays. Don't get me wrong, I love my mother and am more thankful for her everyday, but Mother's Day is a constant reminder of something I will never be. Before the service, they had a video honoring all mothers. They even had a clip for "mothers" that had no biological children of their own. These were praised for being mentors for all children in their lives. I hope I have been a good influence on my nieces and nephews, and now young Rader. I also hope I have had a positive effect on the children that have passed through my doors into my classroom. Thank you Westwood Baptist Church for making me feel like a mother:)

Guess It's a Man Thing

There are many things about my husband that I just don't get. At times he can't remember what he had for supper the night before, yet we can be watching a Steelers football game from 1978 and he call tell me exactly where Terry Brawshaw is going to throw the ball, to whom, and whether or not they are going to catch it. Go figure:) He is also very detail oriented. He can smell new shoes in the closet. I can buy something new to wear, hang it in the closet for 6 months, take it out and wear it and he'll say, "Got a new outfit didn't you?". He notices things I don't even pay attention to. He can tell you on what row in the field or in the green house where something is beginning to ripen. And trust me, NO ONE at my house gets to sample that first juicy, ripe strawberry or the nice red,ripe tomato until we have had the first real picking and sold a few. I have some REALLY juicy looking berries just asking to be sampled, but I don't dare. He knows where almost everyone is located and would definitely notice a bare stem. And then there are the times I tell him about things I have planned that are coming up, and the day of it he will swear I never mentioned it. We all know they hear, they just don't listen. When fall of the year rolls around, and things slow down just a little, I am going to have to channel that detail orientation to something else. Maybe housework. HUMMMMM

Fighting Mother Nature

You don't know just how powerful the weather can be until your livlihood depends on it. Not that we would be broke without it, but it is a good supplemental income. For the second time since April 1st, we have spent half the night calling time and temperature and checking the Weather Channel on the TV. Hopefully, this will be our last bought with Jack Frost:) I don't think I can take many more sleepless nights. I just want warm weather to get here (had enough cold this winter) and stay.