Die, Blue, Die!!!!

So, those of you who have known me for some time, know I have been plagued by powder blue for oh, some twenty-five years...
The first apartment I had with Morgan, on 68th St. by circle K, had a powder blue counter, toilet and bathtub. It didn't bother me too much then, as I was happy to have a roof over my head, and the bathroom was big..
then zip forward 19 years, and Larrys house had powder blue kitchen counters, and we FINALLY put marble in there...and promptly moved.
STINK!!!!
To a house I love, but not only are the counters powder blue in the kitchen..but the walls, and the carpet ......

Larry is working on the BIG walls, while I tackle the kitchen. My little sister wrinkled her nose up...and wondered why i wanted to paint my house barn red. Its not barn red....exactly
I really do have a vision here..honestly...
find before photos here...

Although her furniture is lovely here, white and blue just aren't my thing, particularly when thats the color of the outside..for many months. As you can see too, looking at the photos, she didn't use two of the doors in the living room..
and its my goal to have a very kid friendly, farm friendly..oh heck..just friendly house.
Comments definatly welcome..no worries I am strong enough to withstand criticism too..
I miss my friends...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

How fast they grow up...

For petes sake..these girls look like teenagers to me. This was at the school...party..Frosty Days..I think it was called. Luckily for us, Erica of Potosi, (formerly of Riverside California, so we aren't the only ones) has been keeping us posted on the happenings in this town. (As we are apparantly..way out in the country...LOL) thanks to her, we have gotten to do some really fun things that we would not have known about otherwise. Some I will tell you about, some I will skip... like girls night out. (looks like its not so *yawn* boring here after all)

The girls had a blast this night. They were doing the whitest mexican chicken dance I have ever seen in my life...along with the hokey pokey...and some other things.

Looks like we got em here just in time...were they not just in baby buckets? or am i losing my mind...

Duffys Dad...

who I think Duffy is taking after, although his coloring is different. Look how big that bone is..any forensic folk know what its from? heee heee

Duffy's sister

Well, yes actually I am, thinking about bringing Duffy's sister home to live with us. what the heck? whats another 125 lbs, in an already overweighted family?
hahahahahhaah
isn't she the cutest?

A little color goes a LONG way!

What Duffy will grow up to look like..

One horse open sleigh???

These are some new friends...and they are wonderful people! They invited us over for a sleigh ride, pulled by two Draft Mules..Amazing huge animals. We had a great time..It was a wonderful day, and we are looking forward to many more. They love to ride, and as the weather begins to warm up, and Spirit gets out here, we will have riding friends.

Did you say BliZZard?

Well, apparantly you did, because boy did we have one yesterday!! We have already broken all records for snow..and yet it keeps on coming. For those of you yet doubting God..doubt no more. We spent a year praying for a snow house..and isn't it just like God to deliver far more than we meant in that prayer???
It is amazing...the most BEAUTIFUL thing I have ever seen...it started out with rain, then went to freezing rain...(ask Heidi about that) and then dropped ten inches of the biggest, fluffiest, puffiest snowflakes I have ever imagined in my life!!

These views are right outside the house, front and back doors..you should be able to see the lights that line the walkway, and the bathtub that poors into the pond..(which we are losing btw) ...

so, I understand we are amazingly blessed, and don't have to really "function" in this weather, like get to a job, or school, or anything..but i wondered, while thinking about my cop friends on motorcycles...
The roads are closed, how does one just get around...????? and then....
I realized...those dang idiots out on the snowmobiles...are the cops!!! What a way to go....at least they can get around...

so..any of you up for snowmobile copping?

The size of a Duffy

Just in case you weren't sure how big Duffy is at eight weeks..this should help a bit. I am pretty washed out, but Duffy looks great. Its a bit of work to hang onto him like this..he is heavy!!

Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulvereni reverteris. genesis 3:19

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Although I was not raised closely in the Lutheran church, as my grandfather would have wanted, yet my mother and father had no interest...Easter, of all "celebrations" has always held a very sacred place in my heart. When I was eleven, my family took a drive to Yarnell Arizona. The seven (i think) stations of the cross are displayed there, in full size statues. It is the shrine of St. Joseph. I was in tears by the time we had looked at all the statues. The power, the emotion of the series of events...Those images, haunted me, (for lack of a better analogy) all of my life. I did not know until much later, why they did so.
I did not know then how badly we all NEED, desire...a saviour.
Understanding just how flawed we all are, how needy, how broken...it DOES NOT matter what we do to fix that. We will remain broken...without the knowledge, the acceptance, and finally the indwelling of Christ in our hearts. There is not one of us more broken than another, better than another...yet G_d loves us so much...that he sacrificed his son...really think about that. Look at your son. Imagine what it would take, to make him a living sacrifice. Now, know what kind of love that is..
Lent reminds me to take a look inside, to slow down, to realize just how imperfect I am, as well as everyone else. It reminds me that my reason for being, is to reach out, to love, to show compassion in the best way that I can..to be there for all those other imperfect souls..to see G-d in each, and every face..and to get on my knees. I am thankful for all of you that have come into my life..that have shared your triumph and your pain, your families, your beautiful children...
and I am oh so thankful, that G-d sacrificed his only son, to save me.......from Myself.

oh, and genesis 3:19 Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

New photos of the Duf man..

What's a Duffy?

Whats a farm without a Farm dog? What are kids, without a dog they can wrestle with? What is a man, driving a truck, without a faithful friend sitting next to him? (uh, no not me..I am getting busier by the second) Mattie, although cute and adorable, just was not fitting the bill. She is a great dog mind you, but she is too small for the girls to "play" with, and out here? We have to guard her like crazy, as the owls are four feet long..and the hawks, and the coyotes. The prior owners of this home lost two dogs to "swoop and grab".
So what is a Duffy you ask? Look closely at the photos..he is 8 weeks old, and about 30 lbs. The girls are in heaven, and just look at Larry's face!! As for me? I am running around grabbing my slippers out of his mouth, pulling cords away from him, and yes...thank-God we have to carpet shampooers. We have a crate that fits for now, but..what's a Duffy? Well, his daddy's name is Charlie, and he weighs 165, and momma's name is Madeline, and she weighs in at 125. No swoop and grab here...

Oh Lord, what have we done? How in the world, even knowing how much work this is going to be, could a mom say no..when everyone's eyes are lit up, the smiles go from ear to ear...and you know this dog would lay on your kids in the snow to keep them warm?
oh...so whats a Duffy.
My new son...