Gosh...

It's been awhile.

No excuses except...life.

It's moving on come hell or high water as they say.

This was in a book I was reading and seems appropriate.

Just hang on America another 2 weeks.

Then the real Sh*t Show will begin one way or another.

I am disappointed in some of my regularly read blogs and resulting comments.

Keep to yourself people.

No need to be ugly.

You are not going to change anyone's' mind at this point.

My oldest works and has for many years for our State Commissioners Office in Elections.

I'll help her out on Election day strictly for the money.

"I pity the fool" as Ali stated, that approaches me with nasty comments.

I am glad daily that I am for the most part a hermit.

I leave you with a pretty good job at horticulture from an 8 yr old.

Miss A made a holiday decoration for 4-H.

She is our future.

To me she hung the moon!

 

Over and Out...

2024 Blueberry harvest is in the books.

.....in the freezer actually!

4 bushes, 4 gallons plus fresh eating...

Not bad at all!

  I am grateful this drought and high heat waited till the berries matured.

I see many others are flooding and/or snowing in their states.

Here it is hotter than he*l.

I don't know who made God (or the gods depending on your believes) but please apologize or repent.

 

First one...

in the books!

Miss A showed in her first livestock show this weekend.

She did well.

She was the only one to enter the ring with no halter on her lamb.

That's a Grandma rule.

If you did the work at home you don't need a crutch in the ring.

The lamb was jumpy from standing around waiting but she successfully set her up.

Next show is in 3 weeks.

Practice, practice, practice...

Dad (Z on right) doesn't think she has lamb perfect but for the first time it's all good.

Onward and upward!

 

Small getaway and stuff

I impulsively took a 5 day getaway with friends about a month ago.

J and D are pseudo parents/family to me. 

You know, always there with advice, comfort, help, etc.

J drag races so off to Rockingham we went in the Motorhome.

J and his son J Jr were racing.

D and I were "crew".

D fed us so well I gained a few #s.

This is J's car at another track.

I only have videos from NC and I cant seem to post them on this computer.

Around the "homestead"....

Things are popping up. 

It is a process to get the results I had at the other place.

Some volunteers are much appreciated though.

Removing dead and dangerous trees resulted in dormant plants regenerating.

At Z's house ...

Grandma and A are still working on her lambs.

Her first solo show is next weekend.

Fingers crossed!

Friend

 brightens my day.

An instant friend R3 who I "met" and started working with during Covid floored me.

Turns out we sort of knew each other through our children in Elementary School.

I knew her son from my daughter talking about him and volunteering in their classroom.

She remembered me as the crazy Mom during field day tug of war screaming at her kid and mine as well as a neighbor boy to PULL .

We were the underdogs in size but I was trying to motivate those 3 as the biggest, tallest and strongest.

Physics said if they pulled and the anchor sat back hard they could win.

Guess what they did to the crowds surprise.

Maybe not in real life but it was a 5th grade triumph!! 

Ribbons and ice cream were awarded.

Anyhoo... we reconnected through work and she is the best and most creative person

even though we now work at different agencies within the State of DE 

we get together as often as possible.

R3 made me a thoughtful gift that choked me up.

I was going to take it home but I realized I only sleep there or I am outside.

It makes more sense to keep it where I can glance left and see it hanging with some of my favorite things.

It really is the small things in life that keep me going somedays.

Things to make you go hmmm....

SO much rain has fallen recently this tree committed suicide by wind.

Just gave up the ghost...

Same storm as above took the power for 4 hours.

Very peaceful...

Blast from the past!

Peep the girl in the striped shirt, yep that is yours truly in high school.

New larger garage door so my F250 fits inside the algae laden garage.

Makes the old door look sad doesn't it?

Possessed or just early morning shenanigans with Grandma?

You decide.

Monkey see, monkey do!

He loves to imitate his Dad and always wants pockets in his pants for his cause.

Otherwise rinse and repeat is my life at this stage.

 

2023 Fair

 Wow, 2023 Fair is done and over. 

Some challenges as always ...

But some success also.

Champion Lincoln Ewe in Delaware Bred and Owned class.

She also won her class of Early Ewe lambs.

Before fitting...

Sunburn and shaggy

To...

Proper form...with my friend B the fitting Guru as always.

Thank goodness for friends to get me through.

2nd Lincoln ewe lamb was not judged as well.

She was 4th in her class.

The White Yearling was 2nd which was a nice surprise.

She is a thick one but her fleece lacks in some areas.

No other pictures as I am busy working so I forget to snap.

Miss A stayed with me during the hot humidity and tornado warnings and severe storms.

HoHum

Still here, hanging on, working 3 jobs...

Plus Grandma-ing several times a week before dawn while parents head to work.

I get the nuggets up, dressed, fed and delivered for school bus and babysitter.

Life is a challenge but I am up for it.

A difficult lambing season is over.

Lost two ewes with their lambs still inside which was heartbreaking but couldn't be helped.

What is on the ground is growing and fingers crossed for a profitable Easter market coming up.

Lots of work to do when tax season is over.

Still waiting on surveyor stakes to mark boundaries.

Then fences and more fences will proceed.

 I am up for a different job at work as a Administrative Officer which is fancy speak for Financial Officer.

It's a small pay raise but more importantly it is no supervision of others.

I was raised to work so when I have others working to appear to work I am not a good boss.

I find my bullsh*t meter has dramatically diminished as I have aged.

 

Disappointed...

in humans.

I have been hearing "We need change", "The economy is awful", "When is this going to end".

Tuesday was the chance for people to begin the process of change.

They did not.

I heard an excuse for that which floored me.

"I voted for democracy and only insert party name here believe in democracy."

The facts do not support that statement.

America is in trouble and it is shameful when it could be changed by participation.

With fuel up to $6.00/gal. I do not drive anywhere unnecessarily. 

I drove 19 mi roundtrip to cast a vote because it mattered.

The excuses of co-workers for not voting were numerous.

The attitude that your one vote doesn't matter is not correct.

Tell me it doesn't matter when you go grocery shopping, fill your vehicles or pay your bills.

In the words of the great Forrest Gump...

And that's all I have to say about that!

Few pictures finally

I love a good fire, burning up sticks and branches.

Hidden treasure found in my front yard , still digging my way to the driveway.

The ground is hard but I am stubborn.

Hidden gem of fall now exposed by removing dead trees around it.

Breakfast with Grandparents at Miss A's school before work.

Trust me she wasn't scared at all, she is just awkward in pictures like me!

She fleeced Grandma at the bookfair after breakfast.

It was a good cause at least.