Grandmas

Grandmas can be such a wonderful thing. They are not perfect, but some seem pretty darn close! My maternal grandma was this way to me. It is 2 years this month since she went to be with Jesus. I still miss her terribly.

I was the youngest grandchild and grandma was my playmate. The other grand kids all had cousins around their age, except me. I can remember so plainly Grandma in the middle of cooking dinner and taking five minutes to go out and swing with me. YES - she actually swung in her own swing right beside me! She lived in Artesia, NM, a small town. No matter what was going on at the time, if a we heard a fire truck, she grabbed her purse and we ran out the door to go chase the firetruck. Man - that was fun! These excursions were often followed by a trip to the DQ for ice cream.

She knew each grand kid's favorite food and when we came to visit it was a staple in the house for those few days. It made us each feel special, all those little things she did for each one of us.

One time I was with her at New Year's Eve. It was just me and Grandma. At midnight, she came in with "wine" in little sherry glasses. I was about 10 I suppose. I thought I was so big drinking my wine. We were about half way finished with our glasses and Grandma just started chuckling. She said, "I am sorry, I can't keep it in any longer - this is cranberry juice!" We laughed about that one for years.

Even though I have always gone by my middle name, Michele. I am named after Grandma. She was Mary Elizabeth Jackson Dowell. I am Mary Michele, and my youngest is Elizabeth. Grandma was so proud that Lizzie was named after her. She would often write me cards and say that she was proud of her "two" name sakes. She was an amazing woman, I have A LOT to live up to.

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs

I am reading this book - very interesting!! I got it from the library, so if you don't want to buy it, look at your library. "One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible - as Literally as Possible-"

" 'Nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff.' Leviticus 19:19

Day 5. I've made a list of the Top Five Most Perplexing Rules in the Bible. I plan to tackle all five this year, but I figured I'd start with one that requires neither violence nor pilgimages. Namely: the ban on wearing clothes made of mixed fibers. It's such an odd proscription, I figured there was zero chance that anyone else in America was trying to follow it.
Of course, I was wrong."

Just a small sample of the book...

So Sad!

I was going to post about this the other day when I was REALLY angry, but knew I would probably say things I shouldn't have! Now, I am still angry, but have also moved into a deep sadness. Last saturday Clinton and Obama were in Butte, MT. They were speaking and lots of people went, etc... Now, I am still not sure who I am voting for, so I like Obama, not sure he is the right one for the job - but am still angry about the story. I would be angry no matter who the person was it was aimed at.

There was some jerk - of course he was from my town of bozeman - uuuuggghhhh - and he had a sign that read "America without N_____s" I refuse to put in that word, but I think you can use your imagination. What is wrong with people like this? I just absolutely do not get it. My first reaction was to find out where he lived and sneak over there everynight and do something - like write "America without You" in his front yard in round - up!! Sabotage his car, hang him in a tree....but then I realized that is just more hate! What is the answer. I know free speech, etc... but where is the line drawn?

I know this - discrimination is wrong, whether we are talking race, gender, financial status, whatever. Nothing really gets my blood boiling more than this - yet, there are so many ignorant people out there. When I heard the story, it totally shocked me. I thought "No way"!! People just surprise the heck out of me - usually in a bad way. I feel sad, sad for them, sad for our world.

Changes

Well, this post is totally inspired by Citizen of the World's post on her snake. (She is listed in my blog list and is one of my favorites! Check it out) When we were building this house...the YEARS we were in the process of building this house... we started out living with friends. The MOST fun we had the entire time, was when we lived with Friar, until his grumpy landlord kicked us out!! Then we moved into a travel trailer with no running water or electricity. Then, when I ended up pregnant and Montana winter arrived, we moved into some friend's basements... When my belly was getting REALLY big and the baby was actually coming in a few months, and we were STILL homeless... we rented a house. Gosh, that house was owned by a drug addict, she seemed totally fine the day we signed the lease and gave our deposits. Then she began showing up at the house, totally high and we figured out there was a problem! In the end, there was a notice on our door one morning that the house would be auctioned off. We had lived there about 8 months and had never missed our rent payment to the Landlord. The landlord on the other hand had not paid her mortgage payment in 2 years!! Yes, our rent money must have all gone to drugs.

OK, so after all that, the baby was about 4 months by then, and we all 5 moved into a 2 bedroom apartment. Like the previous dwellings, it was to be a temporary situation, right? Well, we all 5 lived in that 2 bedroom apartment for 4 years!! OH MY GOSH, I don't even like to think about that now!!

To my original thought on this post: We are animal lovers in our family. We had a cat, but other than that, no animals were allowed in our rented homes, right? So, when we finally moved our to our beautiful log home in the country, we went a little "Pet Crazy". At one point last year, we had: 2 horses, 5 cats, 2 dogs, 2 rabbits, and an iguana!! It was CRAZY!! I think it was a symptom of the fact we finally felt free. We were in our own home and NO One could tell us what to do, by God! I am happy to report, we are all healthier mentally now and have downsized!! We have found happy homes for the iguana and the two indoor rabbits and one cat. Two cats were involuntarily given new homes inside a fox's tummy. The two dogs we used to have are now running around in the great unknown, but we have our beloved Chihuahua, Chica. Total Pet population now: 2 cats, 2 horses, 1 dog.... awe I feel less stress just seeing those numbers!! But am glad for the freedom of being in this house and free to make my own choices about it either way!!

Pigeons!

Our house is so welcoming and inviting, that the pigeons have come to live on the ridgepole!!! Not only Mr and Mrs Pigeon, but all their grandparents, cousins and friends have now joined them!!

I have been reading online how to get rid of them. From what I can determine, the option is to not show mercy and take no prisoners!! We can't really shoot the silly things without shooting the house. I know one thing, I am OVER the large amount of droppings right outside the front door on the deck!!

WATCH out Pigeons, you have worn out your welcome around here!!

Log House

This is our house, before the deck railing was up. I REALLY need to get some updated pictures. We have lived here almost 2 years and many things are still not completed. Presently there is a carpenter here putting in stair railings! I will add a picture as soon as I take one! I am pretty excited, as it seems much safer when we have guests over! I don't want one of us to fall down the stairs, although we all have at one time or another over the past few years! Luckily only a bruise here or there, but no one was hurt, really. BUT when my kids have friends, I just really worried someone would fall. I would feel terrible about that!! Also, I am not very patiently awaiting the claw foot tub to be hooked up. It has sat in my bathroom collecting dust all this time! I can't wait to soak in it!! Maybe soon...

Hard Work!

It is funny, the best thing about relationships is people, and the worst thing about relationships is people. It is so great when the relationships with those closest to me are just cruising along, in an easy fashion. Now, is NOT one of those times! Today I feel like relationships are hard work. I am not too sure I am up to the challenge either. Today is one of those days when I really just want to throw in the towel. That is not a good feeling. Is everything we have been thru and done up to this point worth holding on to, or is this all just a waste of both of our times and energy. I do not know the answer.

I do know this...I keep reminding myself that love is a choice, not a feeling. Once again, love is a choice, not a feeling... I will keep repeating that in my head, OK? Will that make it all better???

I will cling to an old saying of Grandma's..."This too shall pass."