A Surprise at the Front Door!

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far! It's been pretty hot and dry in our part of OK lately. I think that could explain our visitor yesterday evening.

I live next door to my folks. Most everyone who's reading this knows that, but just in case I thought I'd clear that up. I fell asleep on the couch yesterday afternoon. It took me a while to get awake and realize I'd been there for about an hour. I threw on my flip flops and headed over to my folks to see what was up. I walked by the front porch and noticed the water hose had a kink so I bent over to fix it. When I stood up I saw a black snake curled over the deadbolt lock and the rest of him hanging in between the door knob and the door frame. I first thought it was fake because it wasn't moving at all. My thoughts went to my Uncle and that he was playin a trick on dad. Who knows why things pop into our heads like that! I went around to the steps and walked over near there to see if it was real. Oh yeah, it was real. I guess I gasped a little but didn't realize it. I was trying to figure out if I should call my dad who was inside, or just go around to the back door and find out if he was napping. I decided to go around back. This is when things went haywire!

I get to the end of their house and I hear the door open and then I hear blood curdling screams! My poor mama could see someone come up on the porch then heard the gasp. She thought that my grandmother had fallen so she went to check. When she opened the door the snake flew off his perch hit her arm then ran for his life! I started running for the back door not knowing exactly where the snake was at that moment. I could hear Mom screaming and mumbling and I could also hear Dad hollering and asking what was wrong. By the time I got inside the back door I thought she was gonna pass out. I told her it was just a black snake and to take it easy. She sat down on a stool back there and I went and got her some tea. Dad started getting his boots on and was also putting towels in front of the doors to keep the snake out of the bedrooms. I decided I'd better go get my boots on since I was armed with flip flops. Not the best snake hunt wear no matter what kind of snake it is!

I grabbed the rake that was leaning against my porch on my way back. Mom was sitting out on the back steps when I made it back there. Dad was ready and we got started. We found him pretty close to the door under a table in a pile of ropes. Maybe he thought it was a friend! when dad moved the table he quickly slithered under the loveseat. It kinda went crazy from there. When you're outside and trying to catch a snake it's way easier!! He, or maybe she, made it under a bench by the window's. Dad was having a hard time getting ahold of him, but had him pinned with something next to the tv cabinet. I ran to get something to pick him up with and found the grilling tongs from The Pampered Chef. Well, let's just say they're not made strong enough to grip a snake who's freaked out!! He got away again and started down the wall behind the tv. Dad tried to keep him from getting behind the radio but that didn't work either. He then went behind the big ol' book shelves. These things are about 10 ft. long and maybe 8 ft. high. Dad said we'll never get him out of there. I said we'll have to flush him out, what about a tape measurer? While he went out to get one I kept watch. The plan was to get him into the hallway and then he couldn't get under anything else. I had a folding table to kinda guide him that direction when Dad poked him from the other end. He finally came out and just kinda piled up there. Dad got the rake and we pinned him there. By this time my Mother is in her truck. She could here us moving stuff and running around and couldn't take it.

I held him down with the rake while dad went to get something, right now I'm not sure what. I took this opportunity to snap a photo with my phone. It's a little dark but it worked. Dad then was able to get ahold of him with both hands and made it outside to the porch. He gave him a little toss back out into the pasture where he belonged. Then we all needed a rest!!!

We're supposin the snake was after the baby birds that were in a nest up at the top of the door frame. Dad took a look and one of them is missing. Maybe Mr. Snake got some supper before his ordeal!

I know this, my Mama will open the door cautiosly for a while! I'll think twice before I run over there in flip flops!!

I'm just glad it wasn't a copperhead or a rattlesnake!!!!!!!!

1992

Hey all, hope everyone is surviving this little heat wave we've got goin on! In my dillusional mind I'm thinking that we'll get all this heat out of the way and the months of July and August will be livable. Yeah right!

So, Buzz loves the show "America's Funniest Home Videos." He's all the time trying to think of something to film that will win the big bucks. Last night he was watching with his folks and he said "Mom this video is from 1992! That kid's probably dead by now!"

Oh to be 5 again!!!!

The Fat Mouse

I don't know if folks who live in town have a mouse now and then, but I do know that folks who live out in the sticks do!

Last Sunday evening when Rowdy and Hoss were hanging out with me I kept smelling this smell. Now, we'll just say that I had a few dirty dishes in the sink that needing taking care of, but it wasn't that kind of smell. I checked the trash can and that wasn't it. It seemed to get a little stronger over by the fridge. I looked under the cabinet and there was a dead mouse in a trap. I said something to Hoss and of course he had to come look. I got on my gloves(I might live in the sticks but those things are gross!) and picked up the trap and tossed the whole thing in the trash. Hoss said he wanted to see. His comment was "That must be a momma mouse cause it's got a big tummy!" He also wanted to know why I was throwing away the trap. I told him that Papa likes to take the mouse out of the trap and use it again, but I don't want to and I just chuck the whole thing. And besides, mouse traps are cheap! I never would've made it in the Great Depression.

Here's the funny part of this story. When sis#3 gets to my place Hoss tells her about the mouse. He said "Mom, you should've seen the mouse Aunt Red caught in the trap. It was a momma mouse cause it was fat like you!" She just said oh that's nice honey. She then turned to me and said "You know, a few years ago that would've really bothered me."

I'm glad that she can see the humor in that innocent comment!

Rowdy

Sunday afternoon sis#3 and family went out to the folks. I had to work, but when I got home about 5:30 the boys came over to my house. We were in there a little while and Rowdy just wasn't happy. He wanted to watch WowWowWubzy and Hoss was already watching something else. After an hour of discontent I asked him if he wanted to go outside. I didn't have to ask a second time! We went down to the barn and caught a horse. We put him up on old Alberto bareback and he was completely happy! Now when I say "old Alberto", I mean this horse is 30 if he's a day. We've got 3 old geldings in the front pasture on our place we call the "Geriatric Pasture". All of them are 30 or older and they are all in great shape. Alberto and Juan have been here for 15 years or so and Julio maybe 5 or 6. They all came from Mexico originally hence the Spanish names. They all have big brands on their hips and look a little different than the typical American horse. My dad has been a fan of the Mexican horse since 1993. He and brother were working in Arizona and picked up a couple at a horse sale down there. Every time they went back to that area to work they came home with another one it seems. We had a Pedro, a Pancho, a mare we called Maud( not very Spanish, but it fit her), a Jose, and I'm sure there's a couple more I've forgotten. Maud came to us in foal and we didn't know it til the colt dropped. Some kind of horse people we are!!!

Anyway, back to Rowdy. I don't think it will be long and he'd be able to ride by himself. He just turned 4, but he has a hard time with communicating. When we can get him to understand all the technicalities I think he'll do great. There's one thing about it, he's not scared of anything! Oh to be like that again!!!

My Tuesday Evening

Sis. #3 needed some time to work on her house last Tuesday night so I told her I'd go get her kids after I got off work at 5. It sounded like a good idea at the time. I put Hoss, Rowdy, and Jessie Jane in my pickup and hauled them back to my house. We took a detour through Taco Mayo where I ordered a great big DP for some energy, a Mexacali Chicken burrito, and some tacos for Hoss. He wanted 4, but I told him he could only have 3. Does that make me mean?

Anyway, by the time we got to the house it was almost 7. It took me probably another hour to get my burrito eaten. It wasn't nearly as yummy by then, but I didn't care. Jessie Jane is just getting weaned from her mama and she didn't really want the sweet potato/apple food her mother sent. I thought it was pretty good myself, but she didn't agree. Rowdy ate part of a waffle after downing the Locos on the way home. And Hoss ate his tacos and was still hungry. I gave him a Kashi Apple Cinnamon cereal bar and told him to enjoy it.

My aunt came over when she saw me pull in with the kids. Thankfully, she stayed for a little while and held Jessie Jane since all her brothers wanted to do was jump from every piece of furniture I had onto the bean bag. About the time Aunt left it was getting pretty dark. I remembered I needed to give them a bath. Rowdy was first. He had a hard time staying in the tub for some reason. I asked Hoss to keep an eye on Jessie Jane for a little bit and it was about 1 minute before I heard her little hands slapping the kitchen floor on the way back to the bathroom. I think he forgot his job! So I tried really hard to keep ahold of her and help Rowdy keep the water in the tub. I wasn't that successful. Soon it was Hoss's turn for in the water. He wasn't much better than little brother at keeping water in the tub. I was getting good at helping him rinse his hair with one hand and haning on to sister by the time it was all over.

About 9:45 we started heading back to town. Jessie Jane is not digging the car seat right now. Thankfully she fell asleep and stopped crying! I pulled up to sis #3's house(I guess her husband lives there too, I always forget about those guys, no offense!) and they weren't there. I called her promptly and she said she thought I was gonna call when I was headed that way and they were at the store. I started driving around giving them a few minutes to get back. We then headed to Wal-Mart. I thought we could just meet up in the parking lot there. Well, they weren't there. I called again and she said they were at Homeland. I'm getting a little frustrated at this point.
I started to leave the parking lot and Rowdy got upset. He didn't want to leave Wal-mart. So, I called sis back again and she said they'd meet us in the W-M parking lot. I drove back into the lot and we waited for mom and dad. It was only about 20 minutes before they got there.

After we got all the kids transferred I went to McDonald's for a snack. I was feeling a little like a pie. Unfortunately they don't have those at that time of night. I settled for a cookie to keep me awake on my way back home.

I wasn't worth shooting Wednesday morning!!!

Moral to this story? God knew what he was doing when he made me an aunt and not a mom!!!

My blogging inspiration

Well, I guess it's time for me to fess up. My sister told me about a website she saw in the newspaper back in March. She said I should check it out. It might be fun. She said the lady was lived on a ranch and talked about her transformation from a city girl to a rancher's wife. After I made a snippy remark regarding the cowboy's infatuation with city girls I told her I'd look it up when I could.

Now it's a few months later and I am completely addicted to www.thepioneerwoman.com! Ree Drummond is the queen of that website, and the reason I decided to try this blogging thing. If I ever meet her I'll apologize for my rude remarks and beg forgiveness!!! And besides, she has red hair. Who can dislike a girl with red hair!!!

Now, let me say this, I don't believe I will ever wind up with a website and do all the things she has done. I just don't have that in me. I tend to get all wound up about something then burn myself out. I guess that's my nature.

I won't be talking too much about the same things she does since she's married and has kids. So I've convinced myself I'm not a big copy cat.

A little bit ago I went to check out her website to see if there's any new recipe's. When I clicked on the cooking page there was a beautiful grass green Kitchen Aid mixer. Mrs. Drummond is giving one away today. First I gasped because it was sooooo pretty, then I promptly scrolled down to enter. I realize there's not a snowball's chance in Brownsville, TX that I'll win, but one never knows!!!

I'll be waiting impatiently to see who's the lucky winner!! Who knows, it could snow in Brownsville some day!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Don't be expecting any giveaways or contests on this little blog my friends!

I don't even know where to start!!!

Well.....it's been several long, long days since I've written a post on here I just don't know where to begin. I'm gonna start with this, I'M SO TIRED!!!!!

Today is June 10 and it seems like it's been a month since the June 4 entry. My family has way too many irons in the fire. One would think that a single girl with no children would have time to take a little break. That isn't my life. There are no time for breaks.

Thankfully, there's a little laughter along the way.

Last Saturday our family had a big gig down south of OKC. We are in the western entertainment business and have been for many years. My Dad, Brother, and 2 bros-in law went down around 10 am with a wagon, horses, panels, straw, etc. That left 3 truckloads of sisters, kids, and a Grandma. We left around 5 and the gig was at 7. Plenty of time to get there. However, if one has a blowout on the highway that slows things down a bit. We proceeded to change the tire in the 95 degree afternoon heat with a hefty south wind. Thankfully, sis#4 was with us. She's a MACHINE! We all wish we could be as mechanical as sis#4. She definitely saved the day. So, there's 3 girls in split skirts and big straw hats out on the side of the highway sweatin like nobody's business and not one person stopped to see if we needed help. They must've thought we had it covered, which we apparantly did. 30 minutes later we were back on the road and headed straight for Sonic for a snack and BIG drink!!!

We made it to the gig with 10 whole minutes to spare. When we pulled in all the guys were standing there waiting on us. We got them to work dressing kids and getting the stuff ready for part of the show. The funny thing about that was that they had that stuff with them and hadn't touched it yet. Oh well, they can't think of everything I guess. Anyway, we all survived.

Afterwards the kids got to run around and play while we were packing up. They loved it. Woody decided to take off way out in the grassy lot. Hoss was the closest to him and started chasing after him. When Hoss caught up with him he pretty much just tackled him like he played for the OSU Cowboys! Hoss is 5 1/2 yrs. old and is 4'1" and weighs 90 lbs. Woody is about 2 1/2 and might weigh 35. We're just glad he didn't land right on him!!!

We all survived and I know everyone else is just as tired as I am. Tonight I'm planning on takin it easy. Maybe I'll soak my feet and watch my new dvd's of "Designing Women" Season 1. I love that show!!

It's June!

Wow, this year is just flying on by us! This time thing has always puzzled me. I remember I use to cry at my birthday supper every year when I was young. What was that about? Now's the time for crying if I ever saw one. I'm gonna be 40 in September. What a rip!!!!! I'm just trying to take it month by month til it happens then it will all be fine, right?

Sis #2 and bro-in-law took Buzz and Woody to get a new pair of boots yesterday. Actually, Woody was the only one who needed them. Sis sends a picture to my phone of a pair of boots that are black with white tops. On the white tops are spiderwebs and a spider or 2. I thought she was trying these on but it was Woody. They were too big and too expensive, but he wanted them anyway. She said he cried and cried he wanted them so bad. I have to say that I have never wanted a pair of boots with spiderwebs or spiders on them. I think it has something to do with his obsession with good ol' Spiderman. That is such a boy thing.

So, Woody wound up with a nice little pair of green topped boots that actually fit and won't scare any city kids!!

They are all headed this way today for the weekend. I'll hear about those spider boots I'm sure.