Grammys Corgi Country

The teacher that I told you about yesterday, worked with me for 7 years before she transferred to a school that was much closer to her home. She had asked for, and gotten a class of preschool aged children, and she worked with them for a few more years before retiring.

During the first 5 years that we worked together, we worked with children that had mild learning disabilities. Children with this type of problem are now given RSP (Resouce Specialist Program) classes while being included for part or most of the day in regular education classes. The last two years, we had children with more severe handicaps, such as autism, and other severe learning disabilities. We found that there was usually something that each child really liked to do, or eat, or play with, that we could use to stimulate their interest to complete the short learning tasks we would set up for them to help them achieve their IEP (Individual Educational Program) goals.

They, often, needed a lot of repetition to help them remember the basic facts that were the building blocks to the rest of the things they needed to learn. We found that many of our children’s parents had been given such little hope for the future abilities of their children, that they didn’t push them to try things. It was so much easier to just “do it for them…” than to take the time to teach them to do it themselves.

Also, many times, they seemed to believe that “since their child is unable to learn,” there is no way to teach them any kind of discipline or self-discipline. This makes them terrors to themselves, their families, and others. If the time is taken to teach them manners, then they will be able to be included in so many more activities, and to have friends, etc. It is so MUCH better for the child in the long run.

Our school district provided seminars for those of us that worked with Special Education Students, and they made it clear that one of the first things that we needed to do was to teach the children to follow rules and to learn to listen to directions… This was usually one of the first main goals in their IEP’s. This is the basis of any child being able to learn. We were taught that where a “normal” child (whatever that is…) might take 50 to 300 repetitions to learn something, it often took 1,000 to 3,000 or more repetitions for some of the special students to “get it.”

I think that working with computers and learning the basics of programming helped me to understand some of the ways of thinking I needed to have to teach and work with many of our students. With the OLD computers I learned on, when you were programming, you had to think through a project and then program, tiny step by tiny step, each part of what you wanted the computer to do. (Print “A”, now put in a space, etc.) Each step would lead to a new step, but if you forgot a step or got it wrong, then either the program stopped or it did something totally off the wall.

Most of us have brains that take fairly large leaps in putting together the information that we have taken in, to learn or figure out the problems that are set before us. Many handicaps have a tendency, in one way or another, to short circuit the leap, and/or slap it out of the air. Where you might think, “Ok, I want to get from here to there, and to do that I need to use these stepping stones,” some handicaps require that the person think, “I want to get over there. There is water here, and I can’t get wet. That rock looks like it might hold me, but can I reach it? I need to move this muscle this way to pick up my foot, but maybe I should try to find something like a stick to help me balance. Where is a stick? etc.”

With children with severe handicaps, you often have to model the action several times, then help them to do it with “hand over hand” help 5 to 100 + times, etc. In some cases it’s like programming their muscles to be able to do a specific job. ALL children learn, the question is just “how fast can they learn?” Patience, love, and lots of praise for each small step will go far in helping that child/person learn what you are working to teach them… and wouldn’t that actually be a good thing to remember in all of our interactions with others?

Show love, praise, and patience to those you come into contact with today and throughout this new year, and see how they react… (and maybe some more patience?…)

P.S. Today, I got my wedding ring back, and it is as good as new. It is so beautiful… Still, to me, the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen! Thank you, God, for giving Hubby the money and thank you, Honey Bear, for doing such a special, wonderful thing for me!!!

When thinking about my special day, yesterday, with “Bear,” I thank God, that He has given me such a blessing in my grandchildren and my children. I wish the others didn’t live so far away because I don’t get to spend even the little amount of time with them that I do with my “Little Bear.” Children grow so fast! I loved being with my children, and if home schooling had been allowed when I was raising mine, I probably would have done that.

After they got old enough that the youngest had to attend school, I started to volunteer at the school he went to (schools can ALWAYS use volunteers.) I worked with the children and created a “computer lab” for them. This was over twenty years ago before that was a normal thing for a school. After three years of volunteer work and doing some subbing as an aide in the special ed. class, several of the teachers urged me to try out for a permanent Instructional Aide position in the Special Education classes. I totally loved the work and was completely blessed to be an Aide to one of the best teachers in the County.

She had been teaching, at that time for over 30 years, and loved the children and the job. She taught me so much, and allowed me to use the talents in art and my knowledge in science and with animals to help the children to learn with any hands-on activities that I could offer. I brought in some of my tack and taught them a little about saddles, bridles and other tack that is used on horses, and then we brought one of our horses and our pony to show the children, as well as allowing them to ride them. Now, they probably wouldn’t allow that anymore because of insurance problems.

I drew some of their favorite cartoon and/or movie characters reading, for reading charts, or cutting up pizzas for math fractions. We used computers in our room to stimulate the interest of several of the autistic children and get them involved. We used “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” videos to do dance/exercises that got the children’s attention and let them have fun with music and movement, while getting their exercise. This was one of the most amazing teachers I have ever seen or had the privilege of working with, and I will forever be thankful for her mentorship in my life. This wonderful lady and I still keep in touch and are good friends now.

If you have had a special mentor or teacher in your life, let them know if at all possible. They will appreciate the acknowledgement of their work in your life.

Proverbs 17:6 says “Children’s children (Grandchildren) are a crown to the aged…” Now I’m getting a bit “long in the tooth” as they say, but don’t exactly feel “aged” yet. Still, when I get to spend some time with my grandkids, I feel like royalty… or at least an especially blessed person!!!

Today, I got to have my “Little Bear” all day long, and it was so much fun. He is five years old now, and until recently (about 3 months ago) I had gotten to spend at least 2 days a week with him, and sometimes more, so he was a BIG part of my life. When his father, my cowboy son, got a new, much better job, they had to move to a town about 2 hours drive from here, so now I only get to see him a couple of times a month, sometimes for only a couple of hours a visit. I really miss him a lot, and he says the same to me.

This weekend, though, I saw him on Christmas day, and then today, he got to spend most of the day with us. It was a little bit of heaven. When we first got home, his Papa took him out to show him how our neighbor had plowed up our back pasture and planted the seeds to grow grain if it rains enough. He had saved some of the grain to show our “Bear,” and we plan to plant some of them in a pot or two so that he can see them grow.

I got to show him that big tarantula that I mentioned in my blog of about a week ago. It had died, and I kept it so that he could get a good close look at one. We had lunch, and then went out and picked some of the tomatoes that he had helped me start growing several months back. He was so excited to see that the plants had finally grown real tomatoes that we could eat.

After that, we gathered wood for making a fire since it is so cold out here, and he loves to help me with that task. We fed the horses, and then he came in and helped his Papa start a fire in the woodstove. It got dark, and we went out into the backyard for a while to listen to the coyotes and look at the stars. When we came back in, he and Papa watched cartoons while I made dinner. The time came, way to soon, when it was time to take him back to his parents.

He had wanted to spend the night (which we wanted, too) but his parents had other people to visit tomorrow, and EVERYONE wants to see my “Bear” when he is in town. They are a well loved family, which I am happy about, but they have a lot of friends and extended family that love them as much as I do, so I’ve had to learn to share, and just be thankful for the time I do get to spend with them and/or him… it doesn’t keep a little rain from falling, though…

If you have a chance to spend time with children that are special to you, cherish every moment you are given, for they grow up way to fast. Your life can be a model for them and others you know… make it a good one…

Late yesterday afternoon, Hubby took me to the big town, bought me some hay and put my wedding ring in to be fixed, both of which were the best Christmas presents I could have had.

I always ask for hay, since it is so expensive, and to me, it is like being given more time with my horses… not having to sell them because I can’t feed them… so it means a lot to me. I didn’t know that he’d gotten a bonus that was big enough for him to get me these two wonderful gifts, and I had really been praying about having enough hay, with a few little prayers about the ring. He got me enough hay for two more weeks which should hold them until I get paid.

I haven’t been able to wear my wedding ring for the past couple of months because the prongs that hold the diamond in the engagement ring part were so worn that the diamond could have fallen out with a simple bump. Praise God we found that out before it happened!

Worn prongs

Since I’ve worn it for over 33 years, I have really missed having it on my finger. My son had the idea for me to find a ring that I could wear so that I had something there and that helped a lot. One other time I’d taken it off to have it fixed and had some kind of nervous attack… it was really weird. I have been wearing my mom’s “mother’s ring” with a plain wedding band, and it’s been ok… just not the same because I’ve loved my ring since I first saw it.

Proper prongs

When we were engaged, Hubby and I had gone to Roger’s Jewelers to look for one that would be something like one my girlfriend had gotten, and when I saw the simple, single antiqued rose with the diamond in the middle, I totally fell in love with it. The black antiquing in the golden petals set off the glittering diamond like it had been laid on black velvet. The wedding band that came with it wrapped around the rose of the engagement ring. I’ve never seen a ring that I’ve thought was prettier throughout all these years. It is much simpler than the one my friend got, but I like it much better. I’ll post a picture when I get it back.

After that, we went to the bookstore (Hubby’s favorite place, and he had gotten a gift card for it) and then tried to go to Applebee’s® because we’d gotten a gift certificate for dinner, but they were packed and we didn’t want to have to wait forever to eat. We ended up at a Farmer Boys ® Restaurant and had dinner there and it was very good.

As we were leaving town, we drove by a bunch of people protesting our country’s involvement in the wars we are in. My husband got rather upset, because he remembers the hurt of the way he was treated for being in the service during the Vietnam war. There hadn’t been time to roll down the window, as we drove by, and say something, or I would have told them that those men over there are brave and honorable, and are fighting for their rights to freedom of speech that lets them hold their protests. They should be supporting them instead of cutting them down and saying evil things about them.

We talked a lot on the rest of the drive home, and I learned a lot more about my special man’s life, so it was a very nice evening together.

I hope that you have time to spend with a loved one this weekend. Share your thoughts and learn more about their life; their loves, hates, and other feelings. Take time to listen…

I had gotten to bed so late, that I slept in today, and then had a wonderful breakfast of leftover turkey, dressing with a fried egg, and mashed potatoes with ham gravy. I LOVE leftovers… just pop ‘em into the microwave and fry an egg real quick!!! Hubby had taken the day off work, so we watched several episodes of Eureka… he’d gotten the first season of the TV show on DVD as a Christmas gift… and then we watched the corgis play.

My son started playing with them with his laser light. He is very careful not to get it in their eyes so they don’t get injured, but BG, Sadie and Dott just love chasing that “little red bug” around the house, skidding around the kitchen floor and ripping at full speed down the hall. They chase flies or moths the same way, leaping and jumping around. It’s funny, too, when they catch one of the real bugs because they will get a weird look on their little faces and then spit it out real quick.

Later, while I was feeding the horses, Sadie caught a mouse. She has a tendency to play with them like a cat, too, pitching them up in the air and catching them. We always praise her a lot when she gets one, because she’s turned into a great mouser, and catches them in the house, too. That is one of the problems of living in the country with fields all around… the mice come in the doggy door.

After feeding, we walked the dogs around the pastures, so that they could run and play. They ran around like crazy dogs, checking every big rabbit hole, weasel hole, and squirrel hole. We’ve had rabbits and squirrels since we moved here, but a couple of years ago, when they had a big fire on the other side of the hills from us, some weasels moved from those hills to our place… at least that’s what we think happened.

My son was really surprised when he saw the “weirdest looking squirrel” peeking out from the woodpile, and then again a few days later from a hole by the ditch. He came in telling me that he’d seen a ferret and was wondering if someone’s had gotten loose around here, though it is illegal to keep them in California. We looked online and when we came across a picture of the animal he’d seen, it turned out to be a weasel.

It was such a nice, restful, fun day. It was extra nice because Hubby rarely takes a day off work during the week, and we will still have two more days before he has to go back. BG, especially, loves having his Dad home. He is his Dad’s dog, just like his grandma, Mist, used to be, and loves it when he gets the chance to go to work with him (rare now), or spend any extra time with him.

Oh, I almost forgot, the recipe to Nana’s Candied Yams:

You need 1 lb. of brown sugar, 1 Piloncillo cone (or another lb. of dark brown sugar), 2 c. honey, 1 c. water, and 3-4 lbs. of yams (peeled and cut into large chunks– about 1.5 inches each)

In a large pot with a lid, place the brown sugar, honey, piloncillo and water. Heat on high until syrup is in a high rolling boil for several minutes. The syrup should be almost hard crack candy when scooped with a spoon and dripped into a cup of cold water if done correctly… CAREFULLY (don’t splatter) put yam chunks into syrup and cover. Keep heat on high so that the rolling boil will restart and continue for about 45 mins. DO NOT stir!!!

The boiling syrup should be boiling over the top of the yams and coating them (Just peek to check, but don’t open lid to much). DO NOT be tempted to put in more water as fluids come out of the yams and all the liquid will not boil off in time if there is to much. While still fairly hot, spoon yam chunks into a couple of large cake pans. Coat a cookie sheet lightly with butter, pour syrup in and let sit until cooled to make candy chunks for later enjoyment.

I hope that you had a restful day after the rush of preparations for Christmas, and I pray that the rest of the weekend is a blessing for you as well.

It’s twenty minutes to midnight and I finally got a chance to sit down at the computer. Christmas is almost over. I just came in from feeding the horses and it is REALLY blowing out there… hard enough that I had to lean to walk against the wind while carrying the hay to Cory’s stall. At least once in the stall, it was nice and cozy, so his hay won’t blow away.

I put Dancer and Tuffy’s hay by some other outbuildings so that they can eat without their hay blowing away either. They do have a stall available, but I’ve only seen them in it when it is really hot and they want to stay out of the sun… I don’t think they like the creaking of the tin walls or something when it’s windy.

The stars shone so brightly that I could see the sweep of the Milky Way, which only happens when it is extra clear and dark. It made me think of a very interesting television show that I watched a few days ago. It talked about this lawyer that had a computer program that star researchers use, and how he had used it, along with all the references in the Bible about the star that the Wise Man followed, to pin-point what he thinks was the Star of Bethlehem. It was a fascinating program, and I plan to purchase it for our Church Library (I’m the librarian.) If you are interested in checking this out, his website is: http://www.bethlehemstar.net/.

It turned out to be quite a day. Last night, at about 1 a.m., I found that there had been a hole in my purse and my lower partial (which I had taken out because of a sore on my gums) had fallen out and the dog (probably Sadie) had chewed them up… This is NOT GOOD!!! I had recently had the dentist check to see how much it would cost to make a new set, and the part we would have to pay, even with the great insurance I have, is WAY more than we could handle. This partial is of the four lower, front teeth, so it is VERY noticeable. I guess I needed to be humbled a little or something. There is nothing I can do about it, so I guess I’ll just have to live with it until the Lord makes a way for me to get some new ones.

I finally got the last gift wrapped and went to bed, and when I got up this morning, my cowboy son called to ask if it was alright if he came by to bury one of their old dogs who had passed away. Cheyenne had been a rescue dog that they had found and befriended a little over 9 years ago. She acted as though she had been abused before they found her and was terrified of most people and just a bunch of skin and bones. My daughter-in-law finally got her trust and, like most abused or neglected rescue dogs, she won the COMPLETE love and devotion of the beautiful animal.

Cheyenne looked as though she was probably a cross between a Golden Lab, and a German shepherd. She looked like a Golden Lab, but with German Shepherd coloration. She was beautiful, and once she learned she could trust some people, she was very sweet, though still a bit wary around strangers. She was really good around my grandson from the time he was born. She was several years old when they took her in, and had been showing her age quite a bit lately. Cheyenne will be greatly missed by those that loved her. My son buried her out in the side pasture where several other doggy friends we’ve had over the years are buried.

The rest of the day went pretty well, though. There was tons of food, (tomorrow, I’ll give you the recipe to Nana’s Candied yams) lots of love, and fun opening, and watching the little kids open, presents. The Corgis helped clean up the wrapping paper, as usual, and enjoyed their jerky treats and the many handouts of food and leftovers during cleanup time.

It’s a good thing they don’t get to eat like that all the time or we’d be rolling them around from place to place. Corgi’s DON’T have very long legs, so if their bellies get to big, they tend to drag the ground… remember the picture of O.C. when she was pregnant with those eight pups?!

I hope your day was a full and satisfying one, and that you were able to give God your problems and count your blessings. .

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your day was a special one filled with love and joy.

We always go into town to my sister’s house (used to be my mom’s before she left for Heaven), and join with the rest of our extended family for the whole day. There is always a ton of food, (not great for someone who is trying to change their lifestyle away from dwelling on food…) and the company of many friends, as well as family, as people drop by off and on during the day.

Three of my kids will be there this year, and four grandkids, as well as nieces, and grandnieces. The two of my sisters live next door to each other, so all of the dogs come over, too. That’s a minimum of 12 adults, 6 little kids between the ages of one and 8, and 8 dogs. Needless to say, it gets quite crowded at times.

One of my sister’s dogs is a one year old German Shorthair dog that is HUGE. Actually, she belongs to my BIL. She is all legs and energy, and, like most puppies, she’s not always careful about others when she is playing. You have to be careful that she doesn’t knock you “head over heels.” She’s such a silly girl, too, in the way that she drinks water. She puts her head way down to the bottom of the bowl to drink, so she sprays water all over the place when she’s done. She usually ends up having to go outside after a little while, though she has been able to stay longer as she’s grown older and gotten a bit more disciplined (like all pups…)

My sister, the kids call her Mimi, has two little Chihuahua mixes named Dolly and Kisses, and the other sister, the kids call her Naunie, has an older yellow lab named Daisy, and a black and white Shih Tzu named Mia. Our three corgis have all gone to Mimi’s since they were tiny pups whenever we go in, so they play quite well with Dolly and Kisses. None of them are too happy with the bouncing, careening, gigantic (as far as they are concerned) Molly, though.

One of our Christmas traditions is to all sit around the living room before opening presents, and talk with the children about the real reason for the season, and sing some songs, including Happy Birthday to Jesus. I’m writing this on Christmas Eve, so I will have to let you know how the day went in tomorrow’s blog. I’ve got some last minute wrapping to get done tonight.

May the knowledge and joy of what God did when He sent His Son so long ago, bloom like a beautiful rose in your life, and may you have a wonderful, joy filled day. Again, have a very Merry Christmas!

There is another treasure waiting for us in Heaven… Today, my husband and I attended another funeral. This time it was for a good friend of my husband’s… one he had worked with for many years. About a month ago, we saw him for the last time, and, as usual, he was smiling and joking around, and Hubby had a really good time talking to him and reminiscing about old times.

He’d been living in a little place beside his sister for the past several years since her husband had passed away, and while they talked, she came over to me and quietly told me that he had recently had surgery and the doctor had opened him, then closed him back up, because cancer was all through him. She said that they figured that he only had a few more weeks to live. Even knowing that, he still was joking and kidding around with my husband and having a good old time. That’s the way he was… always had a smile… and so did you by the time you left his presence.

At the funeral, we read the 23rd Psalm. The minister talked about how all people, both good and bad, go through “valleys’ in their lives, but that during the bad times, we need to remember that life has both downs AND ups. We need to keep in mind, during the “dark valley” times, that if we keep our eyes looking up toward the “Light” of God, then He can lead us through that “Valley of the Shadow of Death.” John wrote, in a couple of the books of the Bible, that Jesus was the Light of the World. (John 1: 4 – 14, and I John 1: 5 thru 2: 10)

I guess that is what takes away the sting of death for me… knowing that Jesus is the Light that shows the way to Heaven. By following this light, I WILL make it there sooner or later, in His time, and see those “treasures” that I have talked about before… my mom, dad, friends, etc. that have followed Him to the homes He has made for them there.

As I think of the reason that He was given to us so long ago in that manger, especially during this time of year, I have to thank God for His gift to us… the gift of light and life that Jesus paid for. It reminds me of that Randy Travis song called “The Gift,” where it says, “He had the Birthday… WE got the gift.”

For many, this time of year is very hard to get through… in times past, it has been for me. It seems that this is a time that brings back those bitter sweet memories of those that have gone through that “Valley of the Shadow” before us. To those who are hurting during this season, I ask that you try to remember that God is there to help you through, if you ask Him too. He can show you a glimpse of that light, even if it is just flickering faintly in the haze ahead of you, and if you keep on looking, He will guide you through and out of the other side of the valley.

May God shine the light of His Holy Son into your heart and warm any coldness from pain, until it eventually melts away. To those of you who are having a good, or even great, year, find a way to shed some of that joy on others who don’t have as much as you do right now.

Psalms 19: 1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands…” and this is exactly how I felt tonight when I went outside to feed the horses. We’ve had a lot of rain lately, so the air is cleaner than it has been in a long time. The moon was non-existent during the time I was out there, and since we live so far away from any town, there was no light to dim the effects of the stars out there tonight. It looked like someone had thrown a bunch of glittering diamonds out on a black velvet cloth.

The constellations (mainly Orion’s Belt from here) were so clear and beautiful, and reminded me of what the shepherds must have seen when they were out watching their sheep at night… Especially since we had seen several flocks of sheep today as we made the hour’s drive to the “big town” to get some shopping done for groceries, horse food, and a couple of frames for some pictures I’ve finished and plan to send as gifts to family.

I was very tired tonight by the time I finally got everything put away, and dinner was made. I finally drug my old body out to feed, looked up and got such a lift! Breathing the clear, clean, cold air, and being greeted by nickering horses really revitalized me. I just had to say a prayer of thanks for this wonderful life that I’ve been blessed with.

When I think that the God that made those glittering gems in the heavens, sent His Son to pay my ticket into heaven because He loved me so much, I am just totally astounded. It is so amazing to be blessed with a wonderful family, so many friends, and to be able to live out here where I feel so close to Him so often. It’s also wonderful to have the corgis and the horses… Yes, I am truly blessed !!!

I know that there are many problems going on in this world, and I’ve had my share of them over the years, but, with God’s help, I’ve always come through the storms of this life. I’ve learned to trust in His love and care.

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May you have a God blessed day, with stars and beauty in your life. If there is a storm raging around you, please keep your eyes on God and trust Him. If you are putting Him first in your life, then He promises to help you through it and bring you to peaceful waters.

Today was a beautiful day, if a little chilly. This afternoon, Honey Bear decided that he wanted to go out for a drive in his 4-wheel drive GMC Sierra pickup because it has rained most of the last several days and he would have a chance to do a little “Mud Bogging…” (Of course, he didn’t mention this to me until we were several miles from home.) For those of you NOT familiar with this redneck term, guys with 4 x 4 vehicles are drawn, as if by a magnet, to any kind of mud puddle, muddy creek bed, thick, oozy boggy area, etc. where they can proceed to try to get themselves stuck… (my point of view, not his… )

He wanted me to go along on this little excursion, and we decided to take the Corgis with us… You see, at the beginning point of this adventure, he said we were “just going to take a little drive, look at the beautiful greenness that is coming up, and find a nice quiet area for the Corgis to run in…” Yeah, RIGHT!!! I should have known better.

As I’ve mentioned a few times before, we live out in the boonies with miles and miles of oilfields and BLM land surrounding us… Lots of room for driving off road or at least on dirt roads, and there ARE some really beautiful little valleys, nooks and crannies that are fun to explore out there in the rolling hills of this area.

Of course, to get to them, on the dirt roads… that have been RAINED on a lot… you have to go through some rather LARGE mud puddles (small lakes filled with thick, sticky mud). We finally got to a beautiful little hidden valley we hadn’t seen before, with several large old oaks growing around in it. Some of the branches had died and broken off, so we also got some more wood for our wood stove. We were able to get out and let the Corgi Crew run their little hearts out.

They are so funny to watch. Dott is the ringleader and instigator, running wildly about sticking her curious little nose into every bush, squirrel hole, rabbit hole, etc. she can find, as fast as she can run. Her ears are rather big and the tips of them tend to flop up and down when she is running fast, and boy, can that little dog fly!!! She has out run Sadie (our Border Collie that is 5 times her size) when chasing a rabbit!!!

Big brother, B.G., tries to follow Dott AND mark everything that is at least 2 inches high in the area, so half the time he is running around on three legs. O.C., their old lady, mama, tries to keep up… for about 3-5 minutes… and then her wise little brain (and bad hips) tells her that it would probably be wiser to just waddle around slowly with Mama.

Of course, eventually Dott found a little runoff area that still had mud in the bottom of it and had to run through it, followed closely by Beeg. Guess they wanted to do some “mud bogging” of their own. Luckily, Hubby had an old towel in the truck to wipe off their little mud covered paws before they got back into the truck cab and onto me!!! O.C. sits beside me on her pillow in the middle. Beeg sits either on my lap or chest, or on Hubby’s lap, and Dottie sits on the back of the seat behind my head on these outings in the truck. She makes a good “headrest.”

After finding several more “little, slick, clay-filled mud puddles” on the way back to fishtail through, we finally got back onto a paved road. As we were leaving the back country, we came across some White Faced Hereford steer calves, so the dogs had fun barking wildly from the truck cab and seeing them run back to their moms. They all recognize the word “cow,” and when we say “There’s a cow,” they know they can “Tell those old cows…” (They really are well trained, and know they can have fun when they are told, but had better pay attention when it’s time to do that…)

It was a fun and relaxing day for my husband who is a wonderful man that works hard to provide for us. I guess I can spend some time every once in a while catering to his whims and joining him in his “version” of fun. What’s a “helpmate” for after all…

Spend some time with someone you love and take time to “smell the roses” (or the mud) today…