This last saturday morning I was out in my back yard pulling some weeds and I started hearing what sounded like someone burning weeds with a propane torch. I really didn't pay much attention to it. But then it started getting louder and closer and then much louder and LOUDER. So I looked that direction and saw 2 hotair balloons headed my way and they were just clearing the tree tops about 100 yards away. I ran around to the front of the house to get a better look. They were getting closer. Teresa came out and had her camera and I took several pictures as the balloons were over my neighbors house across the street. They were trying to land in the open field across from my house. I told Teresa to go get my camera. The balloons set down. I tried taking pictures with my camera but the batteries were dead. So I ran back into the house and stole batteries from someother small appliance. The picture of the 2 balloons setting on the ground was taken from my front yard. As I was taking pictures I saw several other balloons off in the distance and took some pictures of them. The balloons were here for the Salsa Fest and about 8 balloons had taken off from the Safford high school. We went up to the Salsa Fest on Main street in Safford on Friday evening. The balloons were set up on main street and were GLOWING. It looked Cooool. Its not everyday you see a Hotair balloon land across the street from your house!!!!!

Darvil

Near Miss

So the other day my across-the-street neighbor came over and told me I need a dog. Anyone who knows me knows that the last thing on my list of needs is a dog. I'm not an animal person. Never really felt the need. And especially at this point in my life when my family's basic needs are barely being met, I certainly have no business bringing another thing to care for into my life. So I proceded to tell my neighbor, Amanda this. She told me she has a friend who has a wonderful dog but recently had a baby and doesn't have the room anymore. She went on and on about what a great dog it is and wouldn't my kids love a dog? Yes, I agreed that they would love a dog, but I told her our horror story of our last dog, Morgan, and how she wouldn't stay in the yard, barked at innocent people walking by and scared them to death, followed my kids to school but didn't know her way home so I would have to go pick her up, she followed my kids' friends home on their bikes and I would have to go pick her up, and she chased cars and was even hit by three cars over the years, the last of which still didn't kill her but broke her spine and we had to have her put to sleep. Amanda assured me this dog was much better and is very well trained and even potty trained. She convinced me to just meet the dog, with no strings attached. What could be the harm in just meeting the dog, I thought.

Later that day Amanda, "Zoe" and her owners came to my house. The first thing I noticed was that the husband was carrying a very large bag of dog food. The second thing I noticed was how large Zoe was. Amanda had informed me that this was a medium-sized dog. If this was her version of medium, I'd hate to see large. Zoe was huge! She made herself right at home and began walking all over my house, from room to room to room. Granted, whenever the owners called her name she was obedient and came right back, but then she was off again. Each time she passed me her thick wagging tail whacked me in the legs powerfully. The owners began their pitches, telling me all the good points about Zoe. She's potty trained, gentle- even around their baby, she sleeps on their bed and lays on the couch and is just like a member of the family. In my mind I was thinking, "then why are you getting rid of her?" They didn't just want me to meet her, they wanted to leave her with me right then. Just the thought of it started giving me hives and heart palpitations.

I began saying that we would have to figure out how to get a way for her to sleep outside, etc., etc........

WAIT! The husband stopped me mid-sentence. Sleep outside? That would never do. He's raised her since birth and she's never slept outside a day in her life. The one thing that is a deal-breaker with him is that she can't be an outside dog. In the blink of an eye they picked up their jumbo-sized bag of food and escorted Zoe back outside to their car. WHEW! I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I waved good-bye. The luckiest part of all? It was 4:30 in the afternoon yet all of my kids were miraculously gone during this interaction so none of them even got to beg me to keep her or go look for another dog.

That was a near miss indeed.

Back from the DEAD!!!!!

It has been along time since I have been on the blog. If someone could just type what I have to say it would go so much easier. I hate typing or actually pecking.

Something funny happened. One of Teresas relatives (great Aunt and Uncle) came to see us yesterday. Teresa took off work to spend time with them and we all went out to eat at the Casa Mana which is a mexican resturant in Safford. The waitress brought 2 dishes of salsa, one was chunky and the other is just sauce. I was watching this aunt because I took it she hadn't eaten at many mexican resturants before. I wanted to see her reaction to the heat of the salsa. But what happened totally shocked me. In the space of time of about 15 seconds this aunt had "Double Dipped" both bowls of salsa. I sat there with my mouth open and eyes wide in amazement starring at her. (In case you don't understand double dipping, it is eat a bite of salsa with a chip and then dip that same chip back into the bowl for a 2nd bite.) I couldn't believe it. Then she sort of took over the salsa bowl she liked the best by pulling close in front of her and continued to double dip the bowl until it was gone. I finally gave in and ate some of the salsa from the bowl she didn't like. We ordered or attempted to order. She asked me what I liked to order. I told her and showed her on the menu, a green chili burro that is fried with enchilada sauce and cheese on it. It did not make sense to her. It must have been the word burro. So I said like a bean burito except with green chili meat. Still not making sense. So I said they take a flour tortilla and put some green chili meat in it, fry it and sause and cheese on top. I dont' think she has ever had a bean burro. If so it goes by some other name????? After all of that she ordered something else. Then she only ate 2 bites of it and asked for a "Doggy bag". I thought the whole meal experience was funny. And she practically talked the entire time by herself. Nobody could get a word in. Teresa even said she had never seen anyone talk as much as she does. I am glad I could go back to work. I felt sorry for Teresa, she had to spend the afternoon with them. HAAHAHHAA.

Darvil

For My Oldest Daughter

 

Going crazy!

If I could find my camera I'd post pictures of the progress of our changes around here. But the camera is buried under one of many piles that are all screaming "Deal with me!" I sat down to pay bills this morning and thank goodness none of the them were overdue. Last month a bill got buried under one of the above-mentioned piles, and the late fee I had to pay only confirmed what I already knew: I am a crazy woman.

I was spray painting - I have been doing that a lot lately - and in my haste I had the bottle turned the wrong way....you guessed it - right in my face! Black spray paint in my eyes and all over my face! I was shocked and amazed that I could have really done that. I looked in the mirror and I looked just like someone in a comedy movie who gets sprayed in the face. No, I didn't have the presence of mind to take a picture, I should have.

Kason and I were moving the tv cabinet I bought off Craig's list and painted. I was going backwards and didn't see an object behind me. I went down and so did the cabinet - right on my knee! It hurt like the dickens and swelled up a little, but I can walk fine and now it only hurts when I kneel on it, so I pray one-kneed.

Enough of the craziness. Life has some good things going on right now, too. Brady tested and interviewed for a job working on an ambulance. A new ambulance company is starting up in Henderson and they're hiring a lot of people. They need both paramedics and EMTs. Since he just became an EMT intermediate, he qualifies. He felt like it went well and his chances are pretty good - he finds out on Wednesday, so cross your fingers!

Colby has been hired by a friend to tutor their daughter in math. She has the same teacher Colby had last year and he did quite well in that class even though the teacher can be tough. He tutors for an hour a day and is enjoying it ( and the cash). He's also doing a city swim team. It's a sport that works well for his knee and he has a strong upper body so he does pretty well. We're just glad he's staying busy with good things - he's one who needs to stay busy.

Eli is thrilled that he likes both his English and Spanish teachers this year. He had heard they were mean and was quite worried, but after 2 weeks he can see they are nice. Thank goodness. He cried many a tear over his English teacher last year who really stressed him out.

Kason and Miranda both have birthdays coming up - Miranda's excited to enter Young Womens and Kason will be able to go to Stake dances and Youth Conferences and EFY now that he'll be 14. Kids grow up while you're not looking, how does that happen?

Have a good day everyone!

Who Cares

OK CHILDREN

JUST A LITTLE REMINDER THAT GRANDMA AND I HAVE NOT BEEN SITTING ON OUR LAURELS.
DARVIL AND HIS FAMILY WENT TO THE MOUNTAIN AND CAMPED OUT, JIM AND JUDY CAME OVER AND WENT ALSO. AFTER ARRIVING THEY CALLED US AND TOLD WHERE THEY WERE. SOOOOO, EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING WE JUMPED INTO OUR TRUSTY CAR AND ZIPPED UP THE MOUNTAIN TO WHERE THEY WERE CAMPED. IF YOU CAN BELIEVE THIS, SHORTLY AFTER WE ARRIVED WE WENT TO CHURCH. AS YOU KNOW THEY HAVE IT AT THE WEECHES CABIN. PRIESTOOD AND RELIEF SOCIETY WAS FIRST AND THEN IT WAS TESTIMONY TIME. MOM AND I SAT AT THE BACK BECAUSE WE HAD THE CHAIRS THAT BECKY GAVE US AND THE ONE WE BOUGHT. WITH THE SHADE ON THEM THE PEOPLE BEHIND CAN'T SEE. WE WERE THE ONLY ONES WITH SHADE CHAIRS, IT WAS HOT.
AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES I WOULD BET SOMEONE WOULD HAVE KILLED US FOR THEM, BUT IT BEING SUNDAY AND EVERYTHING..........

WE STAYED ALL DAY AND DIDNOT LEAVE UNTIL DARK THIRTY. BEAUTIFUL DRIVE DOWN.

CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

ME AND MY OLD TRUCK ARE ABOUT TO START SHOWING OFF. I HAD THE SEATS REDONE AND I PUT THEM IN TODAY,SATURDAY. I AM BUILDING A FLAT BED FOR IT AND IT IS ABOUT HALF WAY DONE.GOING TO GET THE PLATES AND INSURANCE AND HIT THE ROAD, YIIIPPPPEEEE.

OTHER THAN THAT, SAME OL, SAME OL.

OLD GRANDPA

Heading for Round Top

We will be moving our wagons out 2 weeks from today and heading for Texas hill country to visit Round Top and the amazing Marburger Farm Antique Show. I have been hearing and reading about this event for years, and I can't believe we are actually pulling our trailers and going. I hope to bring back lots of fun stuff, with new ideas and Christmas presents especially in mind. Check out the details at the Marburger Farm websitd.