Fighting like Cats n Dogs

I thought this was sorta cute :) and now for those of you who like myself, feel the need for exacting definitions

DOGMATIC = expressing rigid opinions: prone to expressing strongly held beliefs and opinions

CATEGORICAL = absolute and explicit: leaving no room for doubt, question, or contradiction

Looks like a typical dog-cat relationship.

But Poor Richard once said, "He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees." ;) Theres a lesson fur ur critters

Employee of the month, He works like a Dog!

Strategies for making new friends. Well... Maybe not?

My Current blog picture in my continuing cycle, reminds me of something that happened a couple years ago just 100 feet or so from where that was taken. Like probably everyone of you as children, I grew up enjoying hide and seek and any other games that challenged my skills of "elusiveness." The thing is though, at about the same time most of you were growing out of such things, I was just beginning. Lol. I started to read books by Tom Brown Jr, and realized that there is truelly a very, very intricate science to the skills of both not being seen, and being aware enough to see and know what is going on around you in nature (and society ;) not my strong point though). Being a homeschooler I had lots of time, and spent every possible moment in the woods anyways, so although I had ALOT to learn I still was given the opportunity to see and experience many things that are quite uncommon. So many stories I have never told anybody, because I know how hard they would be for me to believe. Well, this isn't one of those amazing unbelievable stories. Lol, but it is kind of funny anyways.

There is a place that my family likes to visit called Whitaker Falls, and usually we camp there a few days each summer. So on one of those days, I woke up just as the sky was starting to glow and went for a nice long peaceful walk through the forest that boarders the river. And on my return I went down by the falls and spent some time sitting along the pool at its bottom. It was full daylight by then, and the air was just starting to warm, so an idea came into my head. I half expected my cousin Chad (my naturey partner) to be looking for me soon, and half wondered what animals would happen by, so I decided to find a place to sit sorta out of the way. There is a crack in the rocks at the base about 2 feet deep a dozen or so ft long, and just barely wider than my shoulders that is filled with still and kinda stagnant water and hundreds of minnows. So I put some mud on my face, found a small mat of moss to set on the top of my head, and submerged myself leaving only my nose and eyes above water. I lay there studying minnows as they studied and nibbled on me for no more than 15 minutes and I started to hear voices coming on down the rocks. A little while later they walked past me and went over to the falls. It was 3 teenage boys, you know the type, tough as could be and they knew it, real manly men, Lol. So I lay there and listened and watched until all of a sudden one of them starts to walk towards my little pool and stands at my feet peering into the water presumable at the minnows. Lol, I love that look on peoples faces when they have no idea that they are looking straight at you. :) His 2 buddies were soon close behind him, although not quite as interested in my particular pool. I could have stayed there and they would have wandered away, but I have such a hard time not taking advantage of such situations! Lol, My foot was wedged in a crevice at the bottom, so I slid it out slowly and watched his face as my body floated to the top. LOL, Such a transformation I have never seen! Lol Mr. Tough Guy let out a girly scream and took off like a lightning bolt up the rocks just barely ahead of his two companions once they had seen "The Swamp Creature" stand up out of the water and their "Champion" head for higher ground. Lol They made it all the way to the top before any of them turned around to see me laughing my head off and rolling around on the rocks below. Lol We had a kinda jumpy conversation shouting back and forth, and once the adrenaline wore off, they were laughing as hard as I was. I followed them to the top, and they still kept a close eye on me, but began to bombard me with dozens of questions. It always happens this way, my favorite time was when an amazed little girl and her mother both on horses (that was just about to step on me if I didn't stand up soon, :) seriously asked if I was an indian who still lived in the forests with my tribe. Lol. I usually try not to go popping out of weird places anymore :) Usually

Flood season, at Pizza Hut

So tonight while on our way to take my brother Jacob back to Union Springs Academy, we stopped at a Pizza Hut for a special supper, and I found how I'm gonna "make my fortune!" We were given our menus, and we stared and debated for at least 15min, almost as if we didn't all already know that we were going to get a large mushroom pizza just like we always have. Common knowledge by all, but still a part of the pizza hut ritual we all have come to enjoy over the years. So our drinks are brought to us, and within moments of delivery Jacob managed to dump his all over the table and on to my mothers lap. Yet another Pizza Hut ritual, Lol (mom says she can remember at least 7 different times that she has been soaked by someone at pizza hut! 3 of which was by waitress'.) So there is a great rush to evacuate our booth as every eye in the room is riveted to the excitement, and the waitress VERY begrudgenly brings us a stack of napkins to mop up our mess. Finally things begin to calm, and Jacobs cup is removed from his reach, it looks like we might be able to finish our meal. We all finish with our embarrassed laughter and joking, and the subject turns to more serious things. I don't even know what I was talking about, but it must have been pretty important because my hands were flying all over the place. And I need not say any more do I? I was polite enough to only soak myself. ;) We all jump to our feet again like a buncha Pentecostals, and all of those around us begin to slowly inch towards the doors. Lol So I go alert our delightful waitress to my perdicament with many apologies, and she starts steaming and turning red. Now I wouldn't go doing this again, but I am considering cornering the market on seamless gutters for those pizza hut tables. Lol, I just need to compile the spill statistics from "Huts" across the nation, and the contract is MINE!

JUST TWO MORE HAPPY PIZZA HUT CUSTOMERS THANKS TO THE INNOVATIVE NEW "CHASE BOOTH GUTTER SYSTEM"

Come around here, and I'll hit ya with the book! ;)

I've have always loved to read and was extremely interested in studying everything I possibly could, so my Grandparents on both sides did their best to supply me with GREAT amounts of books. But my very favorite as a young reader, was an Orange encyclopedia set. There was always something new to learn, and I spent hours and hours pouring over them page by page every evening.

I was thinking of this last night, and that reminded me of something I used to do when I was quite little. As soon as visitors would show up, I would hurriedly count heads and rush to my book shelves to find the exact encyclopedia volume that would most interest each one. Lol. Once everyone was seated in the living room I would emerge with my stack of orange books and hand them out to everyone, Lol. When I think back, I am amazed at how often so many people would act interested and would point out little facts from their book for me. This made me feel so good! And of course if they didn't read their recommended volume, I still felt obligated to entertain, so I would go look for a more proper volume and give them pointers on which pages they should be focusing on. :) My vast array of Indian and Nature books was my last resort, and I wasn't above reading to my chosen illiterate slacker in my quest to educate those around me. :)

Now I'm kinda curious about what happened to those encyclopedias. But for some reason we don't seem to get any visitors anymore? Hmm...?

Just another Sabbath afternoon ride

"Rocking" w/ John Denver? An oxymoron? I think not!

I can still remember that day in particular, just like it was yesterday, and after we talked about it today, I guess she can too. It was such a beautiful warm and sunny early summer day, just a little under 20 years ago. My mother and I was spending the day at my grandparents home just across town (listening to old records and playing on the floor). Then I can see the light streaming through the old farmhouse livingroom windows, and hear my mothers voice singing to me. Songs that didn't seem quite as familiar to me as they do today, but nevertheless were calming, peaceful, and beautiful. I still feel the discomfort of the arms of that old wooden rocking chair prodding me as I squirmed around trying to find a softer place in her arms.(I was a big baby, I probably was barely 6 months old in this picture! ;) Lol) It seems so funny to think of now, Lol. I don't think I ever found that comfortable spot that I was looking for, but thats O.K. because I guess I was awake to form these happiest of memories for all of these years later.



As I was growing up, my mother listened almost exclusively to "John Denver," and I believe that the values expressed in much of his music became one of the biggest influences of my life,(his goofy 70's "Folky Westernish" style of dress is quite another story altogether. ;) Yeah, I got my own goofy style!) . He most often sang simple songs about life, love, family, farms and the biggest thing that seems to set him apart was that they were filled with images from nature. My family had always encouraged me to notice and study all of the things out in nature, but I think his music is one of the first things to make me think that there was something special about the woods and to create an irresistable pull for me out there. Maybe I am biased growing up with it, but it seems to be true to all of those I know who listen.

So I still remember so clearly most of the songs that she sang as she rocked me on that day. And either directly, or indirectly, some of my favorites have come to be about children, or songs that my "Mommy" adapted to better fit her purposes as she sang. ( for instance, "My Sweet Baby", might be much better known as "My Sweet Lady." But we won't have to tell anybody now will we. Lol ) All of these years later, and now I often play them to her in the evenings. Lol, but I skip over the whole rocking thing, I remember how uncomfortable that was. Now I am just starting to get over a cold, and I just about lost my voice this morning and can still barely breathe, but I find it irresistable to sing when the urge hits me, so at least I am sure ya'll will enjoy the funny faces I can't help but make when I try. Lol

"Zachary and Jennifer" is one of my very favorites, especially the last line of the song.


"Annies Song" was a love song for his wife, but my mother seemed to think that it fit well enough for her baby, Lol. I think I can agree.


"My Sweet Baby," not the actual title, but I still like it much better. This is something along the lines of a lullaby, kinda-sorta. (This is the one I remember the clearest)


And "For Baby, for Bobbie" yet another love song that also became a song about children. Makes no difference anyways.

So if ya survived at least a few of those, here in lies my lesson for today. Don't ever think that children won't remember, enjoy them and spend time with them when they are still young and impressionable, fill their little minds with love and they won't ever forget that you did. I don't know about you, but I really feel like I had my life all figured out by time I was 3, Lol, what things I care about and strive for, haven't hardly changed a bit. And #2 if you ever find your self rocking your own child, be sure you sing a song you wont mind hearing in 20 years, over, and over, and over...