tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84534898232429414732024-03-19T04:18:18.051-05:00Cow Patty SurpriseGrowin' in Gods Garden of Life
Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-83613319132714485462012-05-21T17:57:00.001-05:002012-08-16T12:23:54.580-05:00WIND BENEATH MY WINGS<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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Spunkier than a teen hyped up on a six pack of Red Bull and friendlier than a wet Labrador pup this wonderful woman housed more energy in her tiny body than eight cups of coffee. I once had a principal ask me in an interview who my hero was. I have to tell ya that this Ozark Farm Chick didn't skip a beat when I answered my Grandma Dow. What a role model this remarkable woman was in my life. Born in 1905 she found herself widowed at a young age in an era when a woman's career was bein' a good housewife and raisin' youngens. 'Just the way it was!</div>
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Inez Lola Dow, who I simply called 'Ma', buckled down and did what she did best. She loved. She loved with all her might. Mom to four left with two bottomless hungry teenagers to feed and a home to finance she began takin' 'welfare' children into her heart and home. She cared for many babies found in alley trash cans who officials thought didn't have a chance to pull through the night. Those little souls who were too disfigured or mentally challenged to place anywhere else were brought into her care. All in all she housed over three hundred of these most precious children. </div>
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Her big heart became known far an wide. The Albuquerque radio station sang her praises and gifted her with a certificate of appreciation from the city and a record album honoring the love and care this grandma of mine bestowed on these special little lambs. Her love of children continued to shine through the years. Connie Chung even did a wonderful tribute for 60 Minutes on my most positive hero. </div>
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Ma gently held my hand and guided my steps throughout my life. From her first visit to the old farmhouse in Stockton, Missouri back when I was knee~high to nothin' to present day, she's been my guidin' light. There's not a day goes by that I don't think of somethin' she said or did. I found two handwritten notes from her as I was goin' through pictures. One was written to me on the day I was born, the other was written to me shortly before her death lettin' me know how proud she was to be my grandma. I do declare, I was the one blessed to the moon and back to have had her in my life. In all the time we spent together, this remarkable lady always found the good in everyone and I never, ever heard her say a bad word about another bein'...'just wouldn't be prudent. Besides, that wasn't her style.</div>
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Here's Ma surround by her most valuable treasures. She was blessed with two more grandsons and another granddaughter after this was<span class="st"> photo was </span>taken. Pictured is my older cousin Judy, little Connie, Tommy who passed at the age of 14, my baby sis Donna and yep...I'm the one singin' OOOoooklahoma showin' off my tonsil~less throat along with my <span class="st">uvula</span> . Did I tell ya'll my grandma had a ongoin' zest for life that wouldn't quit and was more fun than a barrel full of magic wands? A true kid at heart this magnificent gal was.</div>
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Wherever ya found Ma you'd find fun. It was on this trip to my childhood farm that my grandma and I decided to bake some peanut butter cookies while Mom did her outside chores. Now, Ma and I loved peanut butter cookie dough more that a chubby cop loves warm glazed doughnuts. We had a grand time mixin', bakin' and tastin' when my Mama came in and said, "I thought ya'll were gonna bake cookies". In the midst of our giggles we handed her the cookie platter adorned with seven very small morsels and answered, "We did!!!"</div>
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This was also the visit we gals went to Emporia, Kansas to see Ma's sis. My grandmother, mom, mom's best friend, my little sis and this thirteen year old Farm Chicklett piled in the car to make the journey. It was this very excursion these fine ladies sent me into the local Emporia drug store to buy 'em some Ex~Lax and Kaopectate. Yep folks, some were constipated and some were sufferin' the runs and they weren't goin' in so they sent me...the gullible obedient one! The two clerks behind the counter could barely contain themselves when one just had to burst out with..."Ya know young lady, these products treat opposite ailments!" Meltin' into the floor and turnin' beet red I said, " I know, those women in the car don't know whether there comin' or goin'" and got outta there faster than a jackrabbit on a date!!!</div>
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Ma was never too busy to play, I loved that 'bout her. Here she is playin' in the sand with her toddler great~ grandson (Geek Son) and my cousin Robert. Ma's very last visit to the Ponderosa I found her in my family room turnin' somersaults to make Geek Son laugh. She was just that kinda gal. It was so fittin' that Ma's church's Kid's Choir sang at her funeral service. I could truly feel her there......dancin'! <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5RMrltCDCwI" width="420"></iframe> This wonderful song was sang by the likes of Perry Como, Sheena Easton and even Gladys Knight and the Pips but it's best known version is sang by Bette Midler in the 1988 soundtrack for the movie Beaches. My HERO left this world many years ago but will always live in my heart and remain to be "The Wind Beneath My Wings!!!"<br />
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'Miss ya Ma, my hero!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com276tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-75970322696219921342012-05-02T01:00:00.000-05:002012-07-09T12:00:25.611-05:00DAY BY DAY (Two Scoops of Grace With Chuckles on Top..Giveaway and Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have ya'll ever pondered "Can Preachers Have Sex on Sunday" or had to answer questions like this Ozark Farm Chick does here on the Ponderosa like, "Where's The Bull"? Maybe you've yearned to read 'bout "Cow Chip Classics" or "I Believe in Blabbing"? Your readin' habits may lean toward violence and adventure stories like "The Hormone Bomber", "I've Fallen Off My Pedestal and I Refuse to Climb Back Up" or the likes of the "Dangerous Donuts" that deal with judgement and culture shock with a little udder balm and live bait thrown in. This is a small sample of the humorous "sweet, funny, reminders of God's heart" Jeanette Levelllie has in store for ya'll in her new book, " <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Two-Scoops-Grace-Chuckles-Volume/dp/0983319618/">Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top</a>."<br />
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Folks, I gotta tell ya'll right here and now ya'll should be all over this book like a starvin' hobo on a fresh made country ham sandwich. I had a blast and a half readin' it! This rockin' pastor's wife has written from her extremely hilarious life adventures in the form of easy read short stories which are supported by scripture and summed up with the knowledge of biblical points. Believe me when I say there's not a dry word in the lot. The seventy two stories can easily be used as a daily devotional or simply a wonderfully funny yet meaningful piece of God's word. If "Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top" don't light your fire, your wood is wet!!!<br />
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I met this upliftin' beautiful gal over at her blog " <a href="http://www.jeanettelevellie.com/">On Wings of Mirth and Worth </a>"and fell in love with her inspirational humor and quick wit. Seems others have too!!! Heck, this award~winnin' author is more popular than a slimy juicy night-crawler at a fish hatchery. Miss Jeanette authors a humor/inspirational column, 'God is Bigger' in the Paris (Illinois not France) Beacon News and is published in Guidepost. Why, she even has stories in the "Love is a Verb Devotional" with Gary Chapman (ya gotta love that Gary!). Not only does she fill her calendar with public speekin', she's written for magazines, greetin' cards and poems for calendars. Yep, this girl's busier than a one eyed man at a burlesque show!<br />
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Oh, did I mention that this gorgeous author's generous as all get out too? Ya'll can <a href="http://jeanettelevellie.blogspot.com/2012/03/win-download-of-two-scoops-of-grace.html">win one of ten free downloads </a>of Jeanette Levellie's debut humor devotional, "Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top," for your very own readers or a <a href="http://jeanettelevellie.blogspot.com/p/100-gift-card-drawing.html">$100.00 gift card</a> by sharin' this post link on Facebook, Twitter or your blog. For each 'like' on Jeanette's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Jeanette-Levellie/113061105442881">Author Page</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/ChucklesonTop">Two Scoops Book Page</a> and her personal <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Jlevellie"> Facebook</a> page, follow her on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/JenLevellie">Twitter</a> and her<a href="http://www.jeanettelevellie.com/"> blog</a> and she will count each of these acts as another entry. Please enter as many as you can and pop over to let her know at '<a href="http://www.jeanettelevellie.com/">On Wings of Mirth and Worth</a>'. Sorry, all the links won't allow me in since I don't Facebook or Tweet. Shoot, I'm just a simple kinda chick... it's just the way I fly!!!<br />
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Originally known as the Hi~Fi's then the Versatiles this smooth soundin' group became The Fifth Dimension toward the latter part of 1966. I can pick up 'Two Scoops" and "be taught to laugh when I find cow patties in my field 'stead of daisies", "discover the bottomless heart of God" or "grow in the acceptance of myself and others" as I read this delightful devotional each and every "Day by Day!!!<br />
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Ya'll can purchase "Two Scoops of Grace with Sprinkles" on Top at <a href="http://amazon.com/Two-Scoops-Grace-Chuckles-Volume/dp/0983319618/">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/two-scoops-of-grace-with-chuckles-on-top?keyword=two+scoops+of+grace+with+chuckles+on+top&store=book">Barnes and Noble</a> and <a href="http://www.christianbook.com/scoops-chuckles-sweet-funny-reminders-heart/jeanette-levellie/9780983319610/pd/319610?product_redirect=1&Ntt=319610&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP">CBD</a>.<br />
Check out Scoops book trailer<a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oVdCHOkswL0?rel=0"> here</a>.<br />
Jeanette's contest ends midnight May 10th and winners will be announced Sunday May 13th.<br />
Good luck ya'll! <br />
<br /></div>Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com162tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-265392615412426672012-04-24T13:45:00.000-05:002012-04-24T13:45:18.218-05:00THANKS TO YOU<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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Ya'll have made this young woman so happy she doesn't know whether she's a-washin' or a-hangin'! Doesn't she look like she's just won the lottery and then some? It all began over at Marydon's <a href="http://blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com/">'Blushing Rose</a>' when she heard our darlin' Angel Dawn was havin' some problems. I tell ya that Marydon has a heart that is bigger than Heaven and all of Texas! This most generous woman posted that she wanted to bless Angel this Easter season and the prayers, boxes, cards and letters came floodin' in faster than the risin' water in the clogged commode.</div>
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After the initial shock of a completely loaded table subsided, Miss Angel got busier than a farmer with one hoe and two rattlesnakes tearin' into all the love gifts that were sent from Marydon's wonderfully considerate blogmates. It was so very overwhelmin' for her, I had a friend help Miss Angel with all her goodies! </div>
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Faster than a knife fight in a phone booth the elated girl began to open the love boxes one by one. Even with a helper it took a full hour to open all the gifts presented that day. There were more gifts and days that I had younger kiddos in Kid's Church that would not understand why Angel had presents and they didn't. Those days the gifts were simply sent home with her. I've received three more love packages just this week.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8slrcZczWNGEr8jL5b_ZDk0N8X_5iC3pQH8NVfcd2J86ViZMOd9K8atMOp7kcCqlPwUqnDAIG3frOUMidN2I50-p6IZkDijvF-v3TSg3sfLyfxHHL5Pqp3HDmxkhmKnahJO6DiIPRA0w/s1600/GEDC2139.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8slrcZczWNGEr8jL5b_ZDk0N8X_5iC3pQH8NVfcd2J86ViZMOd9K8atMOp7kcCqlPwUqnDAIG3frOUMidN2I50-p6IZkDijvF-v3TSg3sfLyfxHHL5Pqp3HDmxkhmKnahJO6DiIPRA0w/s400/GEDC2139.JPG" /></a><br />
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I have to tell ya'll that each and every package and card thrilled this thirteen year old's heart. Items came from all over the United States. Gifts were shipped from sunny California to the tropics of Florida. Boxes were sent from New York to Texas and everywhere in-between. Shoot, there were a couple things from Canada and yesterday a package arrived all the way from England!!! Not only have ya'll touched Angel in a most special way, if this Ozark Farm Chick was any happier~ I'd be twins!!!! I know...scarey thought but your outpourin' has truly blessed my heart and moved my very soul. Ya'll rock!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTCuMBMoHVUTY9Qb2l_FwA0ZXvw_sFC_WXucv6rjRnY10fE-zn6w1GuwtAGVt9t2vI8I6HsYLSYlg6oWjuCkI3t3TEGYhcnI9uH8LPWFJNT0nJ3elYAgLThfdXaymeNKqINbNrhza-EE/s1600/GEDC2147.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTCuMBMoHVUTY9Qb2l_FwA0ZXvw_sFC_WXucv6rjRnY10fE-zn6w1GuwtAGVt9t2vI8I6HsYLSYlg6oWjuCkI3t3TEGYhcnI9uH8LPWFJNT0nJ3elYAgLThfdXaymeNKqINbNrhza-EE/s400/GEDC2147.JPG" /></a> </div>
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Angel received beautiful hats of all shapes and forms Heaps of art supplies and jewelry kits that'll keep her busy for days to come. Beautiful handmade journals and pretty delicate handmade boxes stuffed with delicious candies. There were stunnin' handmade quilts, scarves, wraps, jewelry, afghans, pillows and purses. She opened word searches, notepads, books,CD's, devotionals, stickers, cut out dolls, bears and angels. Heck, one card even held cash in the form of two dollar bills. Miss Happy can glee over new clothes, bubble baths, sweet lotions, perfumes and nail treatments. The list goes on...I have filled four legal pad size pages with the gifts received. 'Blows me away!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlR_hfPkINhmdktU_5Iq2uiXDG8Vd2sKrMu-s8VQX9z55UGT-wmB06tEyPGMqTUVUymAD6ODmuzvpvt2huEXmTyA50qXAQg1yq_pQiz-4xK_Cz0RhViwPmmA8YJLoVU5jzArvodOhiz4/s1600/GEDC2152.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlR_hfPkINhmdktU_5Iq2uiXDG8Vd2sKrMu-s8VQX9z55UGT-wmB06tEyPGMqTUVUymAD6ODmuzvpvt2huEXmTyA50qXAQg1yq_pQiz-4xK_Cz0RhViwPmmA8YJLoVU5jzArvodOhiz4/s400/GEDC2152.JPG" /></a><br />
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Doesn't this smile melt your heart? Angel has undergone two brain stem surgeries and months of chemotherapy that was completed last September to obviate brain stem cancer . I gotta tell ya I've observed some symptoms in Miss Angel that have truly burdened my heart. They've left a bad feelin' that is hangin' on me like a booger ya can't thump off even though her Mama tells me all Angel's test have come back on a positive note. Please pray for her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipA5qGZT31Pmtxe8SMvz6-D8JpZylkYXVmgDewuE0R-jGd1zEZ4r1vRebu2kAHEXi1q0LykfWLk20WJDn1s9EPENjJORqlC40CE8t5Dy8zzp5PwMSZkHcuraMKWli706F0ziUd1Feh8E/s1600/GEDC2164.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipA5qGZT31Pmtxe8SMvz6-D8JpZylkYXVmgDewuE0R-jGd1zEZ4r1vRebu2kAHEXi1q0LykfWLk20WJDn1s9EPENjJORqlC40CE8t5Dy8zzp5PwMSZkHcuraMKWli706F0ziUd1Feh8E/s400/GEDC2164.JPG" /></a> </div>
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On top of this several weeks before Easter Angel blacked out at school. When she came to she couldn't tell the responder her name, birthday or where she was. She was transported to St. Johns Hospital where she's been treated. A blood test was ran and they sent her home. A couple weeks later, a MRI was ran and Mom was told everything was OK. Now, if that don't put the pepper in the Gumbo!!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVHyfTF4LJ9WsByhqEPaIWeTwQNnsOqcev1UgeyaSGyZtk9Gm5dIAikIPokMbqmHyXqh74rCqZw27Oy5OvmN9Ip7VssxVDDlDXoFeiQyJIU0zFOWBuazDwNor_mOG6hOMe8qLyftCsOs/s1600/GEDC2166.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVHyfTF4LJ9WsByhqEPaIWeTwQNnsOqcev1UgeyaSGyZtk9Gm5dIAikIPokMbqmHyXqh74rCqZw27Oy5OvmN9Ip7VssxVDDlDXoFeiQyJIU0zFOWBuazDwNor_mOG6hOMe8qLyftCsOs/s400/GEDC2166.JPG" /></a> </div>
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Just between you me and the fencepost, Miss Angel has recently complained of headaches. Bless her heart, she began droppin' weight. I see trouble with balance and short term memory on top of some other issues I won't mention. I pray I'm wrong but my heart is heavy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo80rMMKCzZQcEmbSiGnC4kDeoCC0YCNhpyn09loCsad4KUMZ__vr12S4wqliottzxuAICODEte9imXDpBnVhalsAXTeOCF9DWUDGdRojtEbQ-xCtHD4d0ggJ9hNOTRSFJ_Q5Aev2QUA/s1600/GEDC2179.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo80rMMKCzZQcEmbSiGnC4kDeoCC0YCNhpyn09loCsad4KUMZ__vr12S4wqliottzxuAICODEte9imXDpBnVhalsAXTeOCF9DWUDGdRojtEbQ-xCtHD4d0ggJ9hNOTRSFJ_Q5Aev2QUA/s400/GEDC2179.JPG" /></a> </div>
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Last time ya'll blessed Angel I wrote the thank you notes in Angel's words, addressed the envelopes for her and let her sign 'em. This round I've enclosed a blank thank you notes in each box or package for her to write her own. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSTMmq0hw-UBKLZfV61ovMVBb6xESQhG5Bp-VOYAjJkPrlq0duiujuHSHwv5H_Gzd7LD-8pbasQHx0I8nLViNt848LFAphfJEL2lAjfqFUKm8kkPTYXu5RASHxt85uN8f8bSwjR9-JOw/s1600/GEDC2185.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSTMmq0hw-UBKLZfV61ovMVBb6xESQhG5Bp-VOYAjJkPrlq0duiujuHSHwv5H_Gzd7LD-8pbasQHx0I8nLViNt848LFAphfJEL2lAjfqFUKm8kkPTYXu5RASHxt85uN8f8bSwjR9-JOw/s400/GEDC2185.JPG" /></a> </div>
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If for some reason she doesn't carry through, I want to personally thank ya'll for each prayer, card, letter and package that was sent. I'm blown away with the response and know this young woman feels the love that has surrounded her through your gifts. Can't ya tell her heart is meltin' in the picture below? There are simply not enough 'THANK YOUS!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyUhBvEu9hnlzkCMQ-2Yf2_AiAXC0o8od00lJ9kh7slM8uRV0sSFi3hp0R6wWlTLn2BW1GBSSY3PZDiLpLpB9mwlWK-4AZXMaXk3_yIiBDe4D8Hm6cmNIQoAm0zXfItEC0XGlJFSuOqM/s1600/GEDC2187.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyUhBvEu9hnlzkCMQ-2Yf2_AiAXC0o8od00lJ9kh7slM8uRV0sSFi3hp0R6wWlTLn2BW1GBSSY3PZDiLpLpB9mwlWK-4AZXMaXk3_yIiBDe4D8Hm6cmNIQoAm0zXfItEC0XGlJFSuOqM/s400/GEDC2187.JPG" /></a> </div>
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To top everything off, Mailman Larry handed me yet another box which I assumed was for Angel. Imagine my surprise when I noticed it was simply addressed to Nezzy. Yep, I'd won a giveaway over at Miss Marydon's place, <a href="http://blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com/">Blushing Rose</a> ,that I didn't even realized I'd won. What a wonderfully amazin' surprise it was too!!! This beautiful charmin' box contained a vintage doorknob filled with a teeny tiny flower bouquet created by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CelestinaMarieDesign">Celestina Marie Design</a> for Marydon's giveaway but wait...that's not all! Celeste added a beautiful angel topped heart ornament just for bein' me. Can you imagine? What precious sweethearts these ladies are. Please pop over and pay 'em a visit, I'd be much obliged!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYfSk3UUEN5h0y-F8j5h9ni6Ns0c95yx_0RSvAjr4xs4GhuC0UejsGFXhFj_aqWeXonKVhBOpSM0RWwynwgM-Ry2Wp_nPCPSeF10rwBtntCxENn5gINbIHCNC_gP0qMtKLu3V4Xap4NI/s1600/GEDC2199.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYfSk3UUEN5h0y-F8j5h9ni6Ns0c95yx_0RSvAjr4xs4GhuC0UejsGFXhFj_aqWeXonKVhBOpSM0RWwynwgM-Ry2Wp_nPCPSeF10rwBtntCxENn5gINbIHCNC_gP0qMtKLu3V4Xap4NI/s400/GEDC2199.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>
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Tyler Collins is a singer~songwriter who's name ya might not recognize. She's sang with Prince and played Cinderella on an episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." She began singin' as a lead with an R&B group called 'The Boys Next Door". She recorded "Never Alone" (Eeyore's Lullaby) for Winnie the Pooh tribute album. This talent has sang R&B, pop and adult contemporary music from 1987 to present day. Miss Tyler has also written song for Celine Dion, Shanice and Jeffrey Osborne.</div>
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Today I want to present this song to you. God has used your hearts and your hands to touch a young stranger miles away. God has overwhelmingly blessed me by touchin' our lives, for this I want to say "Thanks to You"!!! Please listen won't ya?</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IW-6AGfRcqk" width="420"></iframe>
God bless ya'll!!!</div>Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com139tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-35581905479642947252012-04-12T16:15:00.002-05:002012-04-14T13:01:33.116-05:00PAPER ROSES<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg73WuCk1SRIu6iyYym5FMRogvSPnpoq55xBNlSJqmbf_VJ89_lOWYV5pFkJklxuo-1WsZakIQXIaqE9cJqfCqfvtidarQnUTtc8sGt3bvu-FTIBJSPb4OteC2_iiKCgkF28IHntLqSZw/s1600/image0-003.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg73WuCk1SRIu6iyYym5FMRogvSPnpoq55xBNlSJqmbf_VJ89_lOWYV5pFkJklxuo-1WsZakIQXIaqE9cJqfCqfvtidarQnUTtc8sGt3bvu-FTIBJSPb4OteC2_iiKCgkF28IHntLqSZw/s400/image0-003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This Ozark Farm chick was shakin' like a fifty cent ladder on gutter cleanin' day when I listened to the weather and heard the frost warnins. When I turned in late last night it was thirty seven degrees and droppin'. My heart sank like a mobsters victim. Oh, my beautiful roses had buds, all my lovely perennials had pushed their heads through the earth. I'm a tad high strung and wound tighter that a three day clock but late last night....I would'a made a pressure cooker look calm.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eJZ287BPg4C1BsbliKf5laauZX4HwReCDa5xnVo81y93qcNoQxWOYatHL9NXIrVmcy8W-yhk6iXqwD0kxXMe2CqN5qMFm6XseXFvhH5QwOFcRIWXE2KRNnOvwxOdBIyDdp9FYj0ilNY/s1600/image0-002.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eJZ287BPg4C1BsbliKf5laauZX4HwReCDa5xnVo81y93qcNoQxWOYatHL9NXIrVmcy8W-yhk6iXqwD0kxXMe2CqN5qMFm6XseXFvhH5QwOFcRIWXE2KRNnOvwxOdBIyDdp9FYj0ilNY/s400/image0-002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />At thirty one degrees the Ponderosa's frost holler is was colder than a tick on a Mississippi coon hound on a Montana morning. The daylilies foliage blackened bowin' their heads to the earth, my spirit plummeted lower than a snake full of buckshot. Checkin' the curly leaves on my roses. my mind was transported to a science project in our Special Ed. classroom. 'Loved those kiddos and I'd fight tigers in the dark with a switch for 'em unlike their classmates, Middle Schoolers are empathy challenged. 'Just sayin'.........<br /><br />Each year we would help our very special students participate in the Middle School Science Fair. We had many projects over the years. Little Miss Feisty kept eatin' her atom molecules constructed with Skittles. Mr. I Believe I Can Fly grew colorful salt crystals but the one that really touched my heart was a little sweetheart I'll call Lilly Pie.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiECaFa047gD8idddxoapKCSHnpzboBpCCQyy04tTXLwhgz2Bye73oUqjl3veq4YfvuxKT05Gq5ZCM7612HuMXecnjkRtIdN8EpA7JEtrn_SwmRydJXRwEW7yjls9ItEDSNx5_AyIW4Rg/s1600/image0-009.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiECaFa047gD8idddxoapKCSHnpzboBpCCQyy04tTXLwhgz2Bye73oUqjl3veq4YfvuxKT05Gq5ZCM7612HuMXecnjkRtIdN8EpA7JEtrn_SwmRydJXRwEW7yjls9ItEDSNx5_AyIW4Rg/s400/image0-009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lilly Pie was a 'special' student in the fifth grade. She lived with her mother, little sister and her Mom's boyfriend. Lilly lived in a dysfunctional home at best and had been showin' definite signs of sexual abuse. When Social Services confirmed the situation Lilly's mother was told that she could not have the girls in the house if the boyfriend stayed. Miss Pie's mother told this tender~hearted ten year old girl, "well somebody's gotta leave and it's not gonna be 'him'." 'Broke my heart into a thousand pieces. She was moved into her single grandfathers house. Doesn't that just frost your ankles?<br /></div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IFOPtYxkc_8JicaXcnbKM8M8o4gQ0b7iq93mZMQ615fQy60oM53rsWnydfZodCsQVSDeKWX4XsxDWt5ASur26PXQ1LsmK42T8tPJvB2JrAZgdFG-9WQaC8L1ase3uVGBBXiha-NTEHw/s1600/image0-005.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IFOPtYxkc_8JicaXcnbKM8M8o4gQ0b7iq93mZMQ615fQy60oM53rsWnydfZodCsQVSDeKWX4XsxDWt5ASur26PXQ1LsmK42T8tPJvB2JrAZgdFG-9WQaC8L1ase3uVGBBXiha-NTEHw/s400/image0-005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Sweeter than a meal of biscuits and chocolate gravy served with southern sweet tea, this little lady approached us with her Science Fair idea. Roses!!! Woohoo, bestow my heart. Lilly Pie wanted to make a presentation on plantin' and growin' roses. She expressed the desire to present her project in book form. She chose plain old pink copy paper for the pages. Lilly then used the computer to find information and pictures that she would use for her book simply titled 'Roses'.<br /><br />We helped Lilly glue the information on the pages along with the pictures she'd chosen with good old rubber cement. After everything had dried we used a binder to bind her project together. Simple supplies, nothin' special. Just a little copy paper, printer ink and some rubber cement. We left the project in Lilly Pies cubby in the classroom and locked the door behind us.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5qnpQfeTuCIdUAnqfjKWZxsfad4ha5CfGN2KiQZFEkK6ZkdKWv9Ik7y-1zH_J-ju0cGfXGzOcYKyM3uRoIAefMjzni8xF1Yawbf3fSVqFBWZjzzUEzpZQsUB-Zl3JNircb6OVLzkJo4/s1600/image0-011.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5qnpQfeTuCIdUAnqfjKWZxsfad4ha5CfGN2KiQZFEkK6ZkdKWv9Ik7y-1zH_J-ju0cGfXGzOcYKyM3uRoIAefMjzni8xF1Yawbf3fSVqFBWZjzzUEzpZQsUB-Zl3JNircb6OVLzkJo4/s400/image0-011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've experienced several supernatural unexplainable remarkable acts of God in my lifetime but this one was for Lilly Pie. The next mornin' as we were thumbin' though Miss Pie's project the scent of roses arose from the pages. We passed the book around to our coworkers and the more the book was handled the stronger the scent became. I went back and sniffed the copy paper which smelled like plain old paper. I checked the rubber cement and it reeked of...well...rubber cement. Heck, I even checked the printer ink. The only explanation I could come up with it that God wanted to make Lilly's project as special as her.<br /><br />Isn't that just like our Heavenly Father? He takes our brokenness and turns it into something whole and special. He raises us up from that bottomless pit just when we think there is no hope into life abundantly. He guides us to the light when lost in darkness. He takes a young girl's simple project and makes it stand out from the others. That rose scent lasted through the Science Fair and was still strong when we sent it home.<br /></div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQFkfO7Q35ZI59i2wdOTlObLt4DmIlGWNg9sP5g91uCWyJDYoDqgtsKMPHXepPUxqZtokw0oSTS37ceqd29tguOyrHcm_7Kzo-RBoZIQBnm7bVh6YIUrdJAHcdtxjS_LjhcqNqC7k94k/s1600/image0-006.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQFkfO7Q35ZI59i2wdOTlObLt4DmIlGWNg9sP5g91uCWyJDYoDqgtsKMPHXepPUxqZtokw0oSTS37ceqd29tguOyrHcm_7Kzo-RBoZIQBnm7bVh6YIUrdJAHcdtxjS_LjhcqNqC7k94k/s400/image0-006.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" border="0" align="middle" /></a></div><br /><br />In 1993, Olive Marie Osmond sang the popular song written by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre that was originally Anita Bryant's hit in 1960. Marie's version topped the country charts then crossed over to pop and easy listenin'. I know that Miss Lilly Pie or I will never ever forget the science project that was simply made of 'Paper Roses!!!<br /><br />'Just thinkin' 'bout it makes me happier than a monkey with a peanut machine!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xd3AOZiIacA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />(These pictures are from my rose garden last summer)Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-36906154983442616792012-03-29T11:06:00.005-05:002012-04-01T07:38:58.224-05:00JUST A SMALL TOWN GIRL (Don't Stop Believin')<a href="http://www.eldomo-cofc.org/images/Bandstand.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 537px; height: 335px;" src="http://www.eldomo-cofc.org/images/Bandstand.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Oh Mama! That man over there just wadded up his napkin and ate it!!! .......and there goes another!!! Sweetie, you must be seein' things 'cause that simply doesn't happen. We'll feed me nails and call me rusty, 'cause this Ozark Farm Chick later witnessed that oddity time and time again at the cafe on Main Street durin' our weekly shoppin' trips. His name was J. Tate and he gobbled up napkins like they were hot fresh glazed doughnuts.<br /><br />El Dorado (Eldo-RAAAH-do) Springs, Missouri is a land where onced and twiced are words yet was a metropolis compared to my teeny hometown, Stockton. Our farm was nestled between these two towns. We shopped at Eldo 'cause of it's greater variety. A little drive-in hosted the best Hickory Burgers in the world. They were mad dog doolin' delicious I tell ya! People traveled miles with glass jugs and odd containers in tow to bottle up the mineral rich water flowin' from the depths of the beautiful city park spring. It was the most horrifically putrid water that carried the stench of rotten eggs and tasted even worse, yet was known far and wide for it's magical medicinal healin' powers.<br /><br />Yep, I have fond memories of this picturesque town and it's breathtaking city park surrounded by the quaint storefronts down Main Street. Memories sippin' Chocolate Ice Cream Sodas from the fountain at the Drug Store. I filled my inner teen diva buyin' Bobby Brook Fashions at Brownsburger's Department Store. Like everyone else 'round those parts I had to attend the biggest event of the year, The El Dorado Springs Annual Picnic but I never had the pleasure of meetin' my hillbilly neighbor, Kathie Truitt. It was in Blogland that our paths crossed. It truly is a small world after all!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIIdgK8_Nhqle_oxaLLQ16nPN2HbWsvGpx8jW6VtQwUtuSMACD0YH-R1pMVbIVjM0vqYgYBR5rP1_iGu6pdG-tOcWXuK9MZKJ5CDEgunmVT-esT80t-lAv2QEm_UG28XVb4F2iwwUzeXc/s1600/Kathie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIIdgK8_Nhqle_oxaLLQ16nPN2HbWsvGpx8jW6VtQwUtuSMACD0YH-R1pMVbIVjM0vqYgYBR5rP1_iGu6pdG-tOcWXuK9MZKJ5CDEgunmVT-esT80t-lAv2QEm_UG28XVb4F2iwwUzeXc/s1600/Kathie.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Kathie's so sweet she could charm a 'coon right outta a tree. This big hearted beauty is a former Mrs. Missouri America. She's been a celebrated radio personality and motivational speaker 'round the Midwest. Ya'll can find her over at her place " <a href="http://hillbillydebutante.blogspot.com/">The Hillbilly Debutante</a> ." Oops...my bad! Did I mention that Kathie's also an author? She published 'False Victim' in 2010, a novel based on her own true story.<br /><br />I have to tell ya, ya'll are in for a treat 'cause Kathie just released her newest book just this week. 'The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe' is filled with small town politics, adventure, mystery, just a wee drop of paranormal with heaps of good clean small town humor where everybody knows everybody's business and ain't ashamed to talk 'bout it! I sure pray my small town friend will be ridin' high on the gravy train with biscuit wheels 'cause this books gonna be hotter than a summer revival!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://leahleflore.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/9781618620897large.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 657px;" src="http://leahleflore.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/9781618620897large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>'The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe' is filled with colorful small town folks like Wilhelmina and Bobby Joe. There's the WWII veteran who chose to move into his 1969 T-Bird with his cat Mo-Ped. He was known to take baths in El Dorado City Park. Gettin' him to live anywhere else was kinda like teachin' a pig to dance. It only wastes your time and irritates the pig besides this fella was as content as a pig in a wallow right where his residence was parked.<br /><br />With more guts than ya can hang on a fence, you'll meet the mechanic who donned himself in woman's clothin' accessorized with pearls, lipstick and all the glam he could conjure up. You might even bump into a Rain Man type character whose got a thing for numbers. One might think his phone's plumb off the hook but he'll know ya by your phone number, not by name. I had such fun readin' Kathie's ' The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe' and I know ya'll will too!!!!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tqRa2eWwKyw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />Known by it's more popular name, 'Don't Stop Believin', was sung by the rock band Journey back in 1981 which has also sported a second name durin' it's life. Kathie was from my neck of the woods and I know ya'll are goin' to have as much fun readin' 'The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe' as I did. Yep, Kathie and I can both belt out that wonderful Journey oldie 'cause we're both "Just a Small Town Girl!!!<br /><br />Please won't ya check out Kathie's Book at <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hillbilly-debutante-cafe-kathie-truitt/1108217747">Barnes & Noble </a>or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=The+Hillbillly+Debutante+Cafe+Book">Amazon</a>. If ya pop over to her blog '<a href="http://hillbillydebutante.blogspot.com/">The Hillbilly Debutante</a>' and purchase a book and leave Kathie a comment you'll be in the runnin' for some really cool bright red cowgirl boots. I promise you that ya'll are in for some amusin' Ozark entertainment!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com157tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-45420942366914096022012-03-22T15:49:00.006-05:002012-03-25T07:50:12.224-05:00LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY SONG<a href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/michaeldb/michaeldb0811/michaeldb081100001/3790267-dj-drive-time-on-a-retro-am-fm-dashboard-radio-gold-notes-for-golden-oldies-blue-music-symbol-for-co.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/michaeldb/michaeldb0811/michaeldb081100001/3790267-dj-drive-time-on-a-retro-am-fm-dashboard-radio-gold-notes-for-golden-oldies-blue-music-symbol-for-co.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I've been madder than a dwarf with a long stringed yo~yo! Folks, this has been one tough week on this Ozark Farm Chick. I've sadly been greavin' deeply for a loss I never thought I'd have to face. Farm Boy tried to break it to me gently for he knows my passions but I have to tell ya it went down 'bout as well as the iron tonic Mama used to force me to swallow. Few things will rile me up like this and make me madder than a welfare mom runnin' outta food stamps mid~month.<br /><br />Hubs said, "your not gonna like this" and I didn't. He knows me too well. Sunday mornin' when the radio clicked on I was not awaken by my beloved oldies that have nudged me from sleep for eons. Nooooo0, I heard Scrugg's banjo blarin' which was 'bout as welcomed as deviled egg gas passed in a telephone booth. My oldies station has gone country and turned my world upside down!!!<br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.dreamstime.com/retro-jukebox-eps-thumb1992723.jpg" alt="" border="0" />I fed piles of quarters into the jukeboxes at Stockton's Castle Drive~In and El Dorado's Cooper Drug store durin' my teen years to saturate my soul with this music. Ya just can't beat the sound of The Beetles, Elton John, The Beach Boys and Connie Frances while sippin' a chocolate ice cream soda or playin' the pinball machines. My first party, dance, kiss and pretty near everything else left to the imagination involved this music. Why, life without these grand tunes would be kinda like goin' to the goat house for wool!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbCMmTa229s5YxocA5IxPLJGCgLXwR69I08F4UCjDOISuXCSX1FFdqBSxiBBuakTEAWo4y9n6MOZnmZtrsCTT8O3uPC27a8mHARtjjhwbpGHWqMFtYBInTB0cvMlFyQVD8D0rLpj8On4/s1600/1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbCMmTa229s5YxocA5IxPLJGCgLXwR69I08F4UCjDOISuXCSX1FFdqBSxiBBuakTEAWo4y9n6MOZnmZtrsCTT8O3uPC27a8mHARtjjhwbpGHWqMFtYBInTB0cvMlFyQVD8D0rLpj8On4/s1600/1a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My first clock radio was purchased at a little hardware store just off the square in Stockton. I had saved my money and thought I had gathered just enough to own it. I'd been droolin' over it for months. As I very carefully unfolded my bills to complete this transaction, I discovered I had not saved enough to cover my dream radio and the tax. The kind owner smiled and sold me the radio anyway. Woohoo, my tween self couldn't get the boxed tunes home fast enough to set the alarm to awaken me with the best songs ever. Elvis sang me awake that mornin' with ample time to ready myself and catch the school bus. This vintage boombox stirred my sleep through high school and was my early mornin' companion in college as well as the lyrics which shaped my life.<br /><br />When my hunka~hunka~burnin' love and I married and moved to the Ponderosa there was one and only one oldie station we could get down here in these hills and hollers. We live so far back in the country folks think a Volvo is a woman's body part. I've faithfully listened to this 'Oldies Station' over thirty nine years. I raised Geek Son and Social Butterfly on these nostalgic melodies. My grandkiddos know 'em well. Heck, my posts carry the names of the songs I adore.<br /><br /><a href="http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/620083/620083,1278487399,2/stock-photo-the-typical-woman-that-has-a-lots-of-chores-to-do-doing-laundry-cooking-cleaning-ironing-56730034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 332px;" src="http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/620083/620083,1278487399,2/stock-photo-the-typical-woman-that-has-a-lots-of-chores-to-do-doing-laundry-cooking-cleaning-ironing-56730034.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>While the dishwashers sloshin', washer's agitatin', dryer's tumblin' on Deep Clean Friday, ya can find this caped crusader super cleanin' freak dancin' and dustin', singin' and scrubbin' or rockin' and rubbin' to the oldies as I get the Ponderosa's abode cleaner than a freshly showered priest on Sunday mornin'. Ya'll know how twisted this chick is when it comes to clean but it makes my heart sing and when ya add some rockin' tunes, life just doesn't get any better!<br /><br /><br /><div style="width:480px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w793.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw793.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fyy212%2FCowpattysurprise%2Fd4851a58.pbw" height="360" width="480"></embed><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" /></a><a href="http://s793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/?action=view&current=d4851a58.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" /></a></div><br /><br />I can be workin' outside sweetin' like a gal writtin' her fist love letter while workin' in one of my many flower gardens yet be happier than a hungry bird with a french fry as long as I have my oldies to listen to. (Pictures from my rose garden last summer) My afternoon swims will never be the same void of Kool & The Gang, The Temptations or The Carpenters. I fear without my oldies I'm gonna sink lower than a moles belly on diggin' day.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sKN6lYU5bZ4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />I called the radio station and they acted like I was a half a bubble off plum 'cause I wasn't thrilled with their changes. They scoffed at me when I explained there's a country station on every corner 'round these parts and without oldies, they were simply just another station. I felt like I was talkin' to a rock. My emails have gone unanswered. Colder than a polar bears toenails~ they don't care. Oh Mama, look what they've done with my songs!!!<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I love music...varieties of music and will listen to more than only the oldies. I love soft jazz, contemporary christian, praise and worship and most anything playin' in my head but I thrive on the oldies. Miss Safka expressed my current feelins on her 1970 hit album 'Candles in the Rain' as she sang, "Well they tied it up in a plastic bag and turned it upside down." This little radio station is now as useless to me as a screen door on a submarine as I cry out "Look What They've Done to My Song!!!"Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com137tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-18973844256118785432012-03-08T09:42:00.007-06:002012-07-10T19:56:38.097-05:00THE BEST<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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As sure as this Ozark Farm Chick knows a 'possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road, it's clear that this man was one remarkable fella. Ya'll might say he was "Simply the Best!" That fact is always confirmed by the glimmer in my Mama's eyes and the joy in her voice as she speaks of him.<br />
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Born in 1904, Fred Augustus Dow grew up in Iowa where this industrious young lad ran a paper route. He later moved to Emporia, Kansas before settlin' in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He loved to gather his family for Sunday drives which consistently included a melody of his favorite songs like "My Blue Heaven." Seemed he always had a great tune to belt out, imagine that!!! Fred delivered groceries, was a railroad fireman, ran yet another paper route and was for a very short time, my Grandfather.<br />
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'Pa' was feelin' higher than an Ozark pine holdin' a six week old Nezzy Chicklett. Would ya'll look at those toothpick squirrel legs? Dang, I was so skinny it looked like I swapped legs with a wasp and got cheated a stinger!!! This was my first trip to see my maternal grandparents who lived in Albuquerque and the last time they both would both be there. My grandpa had suffered with heart problems as did two of his four children. Booger, I'd love to of known this man.<br />
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He did get the chance to visit the Stockton farm and was nuttier over me than a port~a~potty at a Peanut Festival. It was durin' this visit I called him 'Pa'. Me?? Well, accordin' to my daddy I was born a farmer skilled at milkin' and spreadin' manure from the get~go but ya can tell my 'Pa' was a true city slicker. Who wears penny loafers and white socks 'round cow patties???<br />
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'Pa' didn't come to visit me empty handed. No, he brought me a beautiful gold locket~bracelet set which I still cherish today and a skillfully hand made potty chair.</div>
Upon arriving' 'Pa' brought the potty chair into the house where I was nappin'. A gals gotta get her beauty rest ya know? Mom woke me and was gonna put a clean hippen on me when she noticed my diaper wasn't wet. (Even then I was kinda a control freak) She sat me on my new princess commode and slicker than grease off a BBQ biscuit I tinkled! Knowin' I was the most intelligent exceptional ten month old on Earth , 'Pa' bowed up like a Banty Rooster with pride! He had a gifted prodigy tot on his hands but ya'll know even a blind hog finds and acorn every now and again! Or....maybe... just maybe, my grandpa hit the nail on the head and I am a true genius!!! A girl can dream can't she?<br />
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That was the last time I would see my grandfather. He passed shortly after makin' his one and only trip to these Ozark hills. After runnin' an early dawn paper route Pa sat down on the sofa to count his mornin' collections as my Grandmother (Ma) rustled up some breakfast. Ma heard a thump and discovered that my grandfather had collapsed from a heart attack. He could not be revived. All I have today are the pictures, a beautiful gold locket set, an old potty chair and the assurance of a grandpa's love. I'm saddened that he never got the chance to visit the Ponderosa, he would'a loved it! I know these things.<br />
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In 1974 I discovered I had my own little bun brewin' in the oven. Well, I got busier than a kitty tryin' to cover it's business on a marble floor to prepare the little loo for my own brood. I sanded my little heart out and refinished the beautiful wood grain in that old potty chair. I burnt lines in it for a distressed look and painted a Winnie the Pooh theme on the 'wee' john. Only the best for my youngens!<br />
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Over the past 59 years this potty chair has traveled almost as much as this old gal. I'm almost ashamed of how long I used this marvelous privy. Raised without indoor plumbin', it was a welcomed warm friend to my tush when it was cold enough outside to freeze the balls off a pool table. My tiny throne traveled from New Mexico to Missouri. It's visited the Gulf of Mexico in Brownsville, Texas and returned back to the Ozarks. Pooh Chair has caressed the bottoms of my kiddos (Geek Son and Social Butterfly), nieces, nephews and grandkiddos alike.<br />
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These days the galvanized pot is rustier than an old sheriff's badge and so ugly maggots would have to be blindfolded to use it. Yep, your eyes aren't deceivin' ya folks, that sure enough is Pooh Bear waitin' for incomin' poo. I'm twisted like that!!!<br />
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This positive rare gem of a song confirms the way my 'Pa' thought of me, "Your simply the best, better than all the rest, better than anyone, anyone I've ever met." Miss Tina Turner sang this encouragin' anthem from 1966 to present day. Knowin' how very blessed I am, I too can sing... "I'm stuck on your heart", 'cause I know my 'Pa' had the biggest heart of hearts and that he was " <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob6RRcw3V3A&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL37A63DA9716037C4">(Simply)The Best</a> !!!"<br />
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The old potty chair is goin' into storage but not so far that it can't be pulled out to be used another day or another generation.Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com193tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-82107333614454892552012-02-20T13:10:00.015-06:002012-02-26T08:21:24.833-06:00Runaway<a href="http://www.daykeeperjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/margaret-hamilton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 451px;" src="http://www.daykeeperjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/margaret-hamilton.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>To say my best friend and I were naive or a bit green would be a vast understatement to say the least. We Teeny Town gals were honesty greener than frog snot the first few months of college life. Why, we had to scoop up our jaws when we heard our female coeds cussin' and ya could'a knocked the both of us over with a single feather when we saw our worldly peers light up. Don't get me wrong, we'd traveled and seen the bright lights in big cities of the world but we were still greener than green gourds through a goose!!!<br /><br />We'd settled into our dorm room unpackin' all the absolute necessities of life. Things like jumbo hot rollers, our favorite record albums, Smith Corona typewriter and of course our mandatory high school gym suits. We'd been required to squat, run tires and climb that rope to the moon and back in these one piece beauties over the past four years. Yep, we were most prepared to be sophisticated college Freshmen.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f_QaH52VwqjlTtRfRpsqPoVB085x49ZVqq4ExSj81l4_xNy8iKwHNYv63_fBXcTkAf4ltrpezf1TBSRYB_mPculQRDhgFvsZbnPP0rcJl-jaq7Jvq00m8e9LB-Kogh6zuAaAH_ZUqcY/s1600/IMG_1417.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f_QaH52VwqjlTtRfRpsqPoVB085x49ZVqq4ExSj81l4_xNy8iKwHNYv63_fBXcTkAf4ltrpezf1TBSRYB_mPculQRDhgFvsZbnPP0rcJl-jaq7Jvq00m8e9LB-Kogh6zuAaAH_ZUqcY/s400/IMG_1417.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Not only would this be the first day of our college physical education class, it was our first coed Phys Ed. class. This meant testosterone oozin' hunks would be involved. Filled with the hand sweatin' heart palpitatin' anticipations of any red blooded seventeen year old chicks, we suited up for the most important class of our freshman year. The two of us exited the dorm more excited than a couple of grasshoppers in a chicken coop.<br /><br />We trotted 'cross the SMS Campus like we had arrived and knew what we were doin' directly into the McDonald Arena to meet our fellow classmates. Faster than a hunted deer can leap a fence our excitement turned to pure ghastly humiliation as we saw the others dressed in 'regular' tees, cut~offs and the like. Even our coach said, "girls you don't have to wear uniforms here." 'Just melt me in a puddle and let me evaporate right here. We had to walk all the way back to the dorm in those Jolly Green Giant gym suits. In public no less!!!!<br /><br />After class we dashed behind bushes, clung to buildings hidin' like 007 himself. We stuck out worse than a pure white Charolais heifer in a field of black Angus cattle. Our hearts sank when we saw no matter which way we slithered, we could not avoid the OK Corral. Oh, just kill me now....I knew I was gonna die!!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_299/12186598174uFx4l.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_299/12186598174uFx4l.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The OK Corral was a wooden fence that ran down both sides behind the Student Union Building. The Corral was 'the place' studly fellas gathered to 'girl watch'. It was here the Teeny Town Green Girls were gonna have to parade by the hormonal males like models down a runway close enough to feel the gents breath and hear their most colorful (mostly concernin' green) comments.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRhsSzaVUtv0FVFpBE4AFIGHSwmsF969_FrazNuofP7YNCMv2MO_yEvflBifC_R0LJYHhCIErxtmsI8-RjttOvuBY3a5DvsHgv5YIgw6xrrXOl5p_kzK4v21YklqK85Nc6XKrNoAQmkk/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRhsSzaVUtv0FVFpBE4AFIGHSwmsF969_FrazNuofP7YNCMv2MO_yEvflBifC_R0LJYHhCIErxtmsI8-RjttOvuBY3a5DvsHgv5YIgw6xrrXOl5p_kzK4v21YklqK85Nc6XKrNoAQmkk/s400/IMG_1414.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" border="0" align="middle" /></a></div><br />Upon returnin' to our dorm room I vowed to burn my Jolly Green Giant suit to never be worn again. That's exactly what I did first trip back to the farm. My BFF obviously did not do the same. She kept it. Not only had she kept it, she sent me these pictures last year. To this day just lookin' at these PE uniform pics makes my blood rush turnin' my face hot brilliant red once again.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8TLLcvWeiKw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br />Del Shannon's number one song hit the top Billboard Hot 100 back in 1961 where it remained number one for four weeks. He sings in the Pop and R&B song of wonderin' why she ran away but this is one gal who will never forget why that day she and her friend tried to "Runaway!!!"Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com171tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-87373425911029696152012-02-09T16:52:00.003-06:002012-02-11T14:22:51.161-06:00FALLING<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7trk2nK6zvGdvkt86BdqoXdeGj_oIdtVmV-QodAXSb9BzND9HMQZ4KtGQl_vgOpncodrHzxCyaxh4KtqSBBzXx7IT9xNR2-Mi9UkQ8esy8xE2Fr6aZeT5tJN867yTyqElcqa_w8Sf7EA/s1600/GEDC0320.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7trk2nK6zvGdvkt86BdqoXdeGj_oIdtVmV-QodAXSb9BzND9HMQZ4KtGQl_vgOpncodrHzxCyaxh4KtqSBBzXx7IT9xNR2-Mi9UkQ8esy8xE2Fr6aZeT5tJN867yTyqElcqa_w8Sf7EA/s400/GEDC0320.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div>Here on the Ponderosa I've fallen when it's been colder than a nuns toes on a ice packed ski slope and slicker than wet okra in a soapy sink. When my friends worry 'bout me fallin' out here in the middle of nowhere I just laugh 'cause in the cold months I'm padded better then the Michelin Man and simply bounce back up. Warm weather is a whole different story.<br /><br />I did fall hard several summers ago when Farm Boy was outta state. It was hotter that a tire fire when I was haulin' mulch for my flower beds as I hung my Croc flippy on a rock and went down. I laid there rollin' in the dirt sweatin' like Richard Simmons to the oldies thinkin' I could lay there for days roast bakin' 'till tender in the sun and nobody would ever know. My kiddos have often joked about gettin' Mom one of those "I've fallen and can't get up thingies"....gee, 'could'a used one. I finally sucked it up and literally crawled to the house lickin' my wounds.<br /><br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsvC4MK4sy4JSIcXr844D37cyabIa75fycC9k_C3sF1de4rB04EzWAOH5M8tVJAla7Dt4YbAzJTRE57lrD4EhLs6Xp6Akhl6fd2uAmsk6Gb4nOjz8MeYAvApcpC3K41QjJnZztIuzpIg/s1600/GEDC0704.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsvC4MK4sy4JSIcXr844D37cyabIa75fycC9k_C3sF1de4rB04EzWAOH5M8tVJAla7Dt4YbAzJTRE57lrD4EhLs6Xp6Akhl6fd2uAmsk6Gb4nOjz8MeYAvApcpC3K41QjJnZztIuzpIg/s400/GEDC0704.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div>'Seems if there are grandkiddos involved, I'll fall to the floor faster than a speedin' ticket. Yep, give this Ozark Farm Chick a kid and I'll go down faster than a pregnant pole vaulter in lead tennis shoes. I'm usually the photographer but I've noticed most of the pictures taken of this chick, I'm crashed on the floor. It's just the way I fly!!!<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79pm1CG1ck0_kRBN8pcPjrvkxO0zSLH3CxS3obf5DZ_ef7usqtS_ozuGDV6DzP2D9Jxc3cSbH2oqDV0h_dZPVeYdeNQTu_eX1lE8DCJ5neIdO6kfdSIjgOLK0-_xQJ79uJtuQfl69QJI/s1600/GEDC1373.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79pm1CG1ck0_kRBN8pcPjrvkxO0zSLH3CxS3obf5DZ_ef7usqtS_ozuGDV6DzP2D9Jxc3cSbH2oqDV0h_dZPVeYdeNQTu_eX1lE8DCJ5neIdO6kfdSIjgOLK0-_xQJ79uJtuQfl69QJI/s400/GEDC1373.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div>When I'm with the grandkiddos I want to be present, right there in the middle where the action is and I'll fall harder than my sister's first attempt at Triple Chocolate Souffle' to get there. Bein' Grandma Muzzie makes my heart sing and my spirit soar. See me grinnin' like a mule eatin' cockeburs???<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-qKGQxCoTtVPcrvbaYlFZK9MD0ZTaAope4y7eLNi2zZ4BpAzv4giWw6iLhOb0c1sf9s92Gzt9_NdtnCbGqs4kfQbGndrEyLqNvxgELMBwxTeyFoiX7VVhzWPZqRJEau5oDdxDgwewvM/s1600/GEDC1374.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-qKGQxCoTtVPcrvbaYlFZK9MD0ZTaAope4y7eLNi2zZ4BpAzv4giWw6iLhOb0c1sf9s92Gzt9_NdtnCbGqs4kfQbGndrEyLqNvxgELMBwxTeyFoiX7VVhzWPZqRJEau5oDdxDgwewvM/s400/GEDC1374.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div>I'm well aware how abundantly blessed I am. Shoot, if I were any luckier I could sit on a fence and the birds could feed me. Isn't it wonderful to know as humans we don't have to be perfect. In life there are times we're gonna fall like a giant boulder off an overpass where the Father is immediately present with outstretched arms 'just waitin' to catch us with His unconditional amazin' love! Without Him in my life I'd be so helpless I couldn't pour the rain outta my camouflaged manure stompin' boots with a hole in the toe and directions stamped on the heel! I'm sayin'....<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEZMuMlyvlWLjXHs3SgaeLscHYTXadFZioWnx3L7sQg2Hdp3o7bljHlJdaxn7n43nxwbP3XoXNmZFuUfG_Ic4dasAmXG9idqJhXtYWCwuPbLHL0W4IaOPNmGXG5V_KfzSAEUXedWfn2Q/s1600/GEDC2055.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEZMuMlyvlWLjXHs3SgaeLscHYTXadFZioWnx3L7sQg2Hdp3o7bljHlJdaxn7n43nxwbP3XoXNmZFuUfG_Ic4dasAmXG9idqJhXtYWCwuPbLHL0W4IaOPNmGXG5V_KfzSAEUXedWfn2Q/s400/GEDC2055.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div>Well shut my mouth, God has blessed this rockin' Grandma with eight perfect grandkiddos and a heart to love each and every one like the first. I've fallen and fallen hard~ again and again. In 1977 LeBlanc and Carr sang these lyrics in their hit single, "I'm falling, woah, I'm falling , I'm falling in love with you." Just when I thought my heart was stuffed full as it could get, I found myself singin' these lyrics as each grandkiddo was added to the brood. Heck, there's even room in this overflowin' heart of mine to love God more and more each day. The heart's a miraculous organ that way.<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcic-S_E9rKKQhcy4fJk9xBSTdbdM2EdwJab9p9CQjEaOjJ39MdDO23MaVwRK54s0ZPyUGahs4VP9DbbU-ChENPWFFPGkPYbOTK3dBVP6Le1QElKu1SZ9Ex7X1T7Pp4_k9PlvKG0gx0wk/s1600/GEDC0937.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcic-S_E9rKKQhcy4fJk9xBSTdbdM2EdwJab9p9CQjEaOjJ39MdDO23MaVwRK54s0ZPyUGahs4VP9DbbU-ChENPWFFPGkPYbOTK3dBVP6Le1QElKu1SZ9Ex7X1T7Pp4_k9PlvKG0gx0wk/s400/GEDC0937.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>It wasn't 'till 1980 when LeBlanc came to know Jesus that he realized the real power of love. It was then he began recordin' Christian themed music like "Say a Prayer" and "Person to Person." It's glorious when the love of grandkiddos washes over me like a warm shower and even better to feel the Heavenly Father's love saturate my very soul. This chick feels fine as creamed country gravy to know I'm loved so intensely that He will always be there for me when I'm "Falling!!!"<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xFQU1AmVPtc" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br />God bless ya'll!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-53879371316349440932012-01-31T15:31:00.002-06:002012-02-05T07:35:14.068-06:00THE GOOD LIFE<a href="http://www.admani.com/Research/Photos/CowCalf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.admani.com/Research/Photos/CowCalf.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Farm livin' makes this Ozark Farm Chick happier than a gopher in a fresh plowed field! The directions to the Ponderosa may include words like miles, county lines, last or gravel road. We might of used the Big Blue tractor's loader as scaffolding a time or two. I've hosed the kids and myself off many a time before goin' in the house and Lacey or Frilly are the names of farm critters, not the latest Victoria Secret fashions. Early mornin' prayer often covers rain, cattle and crops but it's our life and I love it!!!!<br /><br />Not to say farm life isn't hard and cash runs low before the next crop or calves are ready to move but if I won the Publishers Clearing House Sweeps tomorrow, you'd find Farm Boy and me still farmin' these Missouri hills and hollers.<br /><br />Every once in a while somethin' truly special happens, somethin' unexpected....prizes of generous giveaways that thrill me more than a midget with nine inch stilettos. Something to make me shove the furniture back, do my happy dance and shout, "I won!!!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6vTotSXrTj2CWW0MgoAfSbiqJNAUw70KAQ9xWxHsY9WyA_U_urnckDMiSjsdd4ACWKuYUkay4PPLereceFwslYL83zm7QD6iFoseym-uLyAYhsyZbU8f70ytrY_14PjZ_IgI6dSOmIk/s400/Recently+Updated79.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6vTotSXrTj2CWW0MgoAfSbiqJNAUw70KAQ9xWxHsY9WyA_U_urnckDMiSjsdd4ACWKuYUkay4PPLereceFwslYL83zm7QD6iFoseym-uLyAYhsyZbU8f70ytrY_14PjZ_IgI6dSOmIk/s400/Recently+Updated79.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Back in November I won this spectacular Holiday book by Matthew Mead over at <a href="http://bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com/">Blue Bird Notes</a>. Koralee is just sweeter than a warm bath filled with decant Belgian chocolate. I referred to this book time and again durin' the holidays. Koralee's charmin' blog is as beautiful as it is soothin'. I just love visitin' this special lady and know you will too. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mymamassweetpotatopie.com/kroger-store-400w.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://www.mymamassweetpotatopie.com/kroger-store-400w.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Then when I thought life couldn't get any better, I won a $30.00 Kroger gift card over at Terra's place <a href="http://www.sittingonanoak.com/">Sitting on an Oak</a>. Oh, this girl's a precious treasure. Her blog is filled with informative ways to get the most bang outta your buck. Ya'll will find everything from couponin' tips to money savin' recipes there. Ya sure want to pop over and gab a great pointer or two. <br /><br />Yep folks, I've been gratefully feelin' the good life. If I felt any happier, I'd drop my harp plumb through the clouds! Originally "La Belle Vie" this 1963 Tony Bennett song hit number eighteen on the U.S. Pop Singles Chart. This chick is richly blessed to live nestled smack in the middle of nowhere, lovin' Matthew Mead's Christmas book and enjoyin' the harvest of wild salmon, chicken breast and tilapia fillets I purchased with the Kroger gift card. I can sing that God has granted me to truly live " <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6zVW3V1hc">The Good Life</a> !!!"Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-40376657136385958592012-01-23T10:53:00.002-06:002012-02-05T07:32:37.256-06:00ENEMY'S CAMP (Guest Post)<a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/images/blog/posts/heather-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 338px; height: 232px;" src="http://www.mesothelioma.com/images/blog/posts/heather-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Uglier than an August outhouse struck by lightin' and meaner than a sizzlin' skillet full of rattlesnakes, the demonic monster can rear it's satanic head when ya least expect it. The joy of a new life and the hope of a perfect family is every gal's dream . At least it was for this precious new mama 'till the wicked beast rocked her world like Teen Town on a Saturday night. This courageous woman geared up for battle armin' herself to fight the diabolical cancer of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.<br /><br />Folks, I'd like to introduce ya'll to my guest poster. She's fought Satan himself and is here to tell her remarkable story. I'm pleased as punch for ya'll to meet Heather Von St. James, Mesothelioma survivor. Welcome sweetie...............<br /><br /><a href="http://www.maacenter.org/images/heather-thanksgiving.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://www.maacenter.org/images/heather-thanksgiving.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I've always viewed the world through rose colored glasses. This became an important aspect of my personality when I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 36.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nothing in my life had prepared me for that moment and I had an important decision to make: to choose between despair or to choose life.<br /><br />I was diagnosed with malignant pleural <a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/">mesothelioma</a> 3 1/2 months after giving birth to my first and only child. It was November 21, 2005. I was unprepared to hear the words "you got cancer" during such a joyous time. Instead of wallowing in self pity and blaming the stars for my fate, I decided to keep my head up and continue viewing the world through rose colored glasses. I couldn't let down my baby. She had the right to be raised by her mother.<br /><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/images/blog/posts/heather-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 338px;" src="http://www.mesothelioma.com/images/blog/posts/heather-2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>One thing that may surprise many people is the positive aspect of cancer. Naturally, it is one of the worst diagnoses you can receive but it really helped to change my life for the better. I wasn't going to allow myself to be a victim so I tried to treat the situation lightly. This would help to remove a lot of the fear of the diagnosis and give me a chance to help others by giving them hope. The world's best <a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/doctors/">mesothelioma doctor</a> was also there to give me the hope I needed to go on.<br /><br />I actually gave my tumor a nickname: Punxsutawney Phil. My surgery was to occur on Groundhogs Day, 2006. Groundhogs Day became "Lungleavin Day" as this was the day I lost my lung. We still celebrate "Lungleavin Day" on the first weekend of every February. This is not a celebration of the loss of my lung but a celebration of my survival and a celebration of life and of defeating fear. It is a hopeful celebration and I look forward to it every year. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/images/blog/posts/heather-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 338px;" src="http://www.mesothelioma.com/images/blog/posts/heather-3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Another great positive of my cancer diagnosis is all the wonderful people I have met after my diagnosis and during my treatment. These people are some of the strongest, most hopeful and passion filled people in my life. They inspire me daily and keep me happy and hopeful. I have met other survivors of mesothelioma, people going through their treatments, people trying to inform the public of the dangers of this disease and many others. These people who I hadn't known before are now my friends.<br /><br />As incredible as it may seem, my cancer diagnosis and survival has enriched my life by introducing me to these amazing people and giving my life more purpose. I hope to continue inspiring others and giving hope to other mesothelioma patients for years to come.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVzyeXX82GQorFRKi-I4fRTa_q57VK40fNllDKiN1kQTxnbD_vsNjMVh9KA20E5W4Ct_DqtDjRFDWuvIRfrCOVZr4rUMjLPqsYNxbsjioOwMH1wffhDooykHwgeKOt62WrxK8im3AKbs/s1600/Heather%252520and%252520Family.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVzyeXX82GQorFRKi-I4fRTa_q57VK40fNllDKiN1kQTxnbD_vsNjMVh9KA20E5W4Ct_DqtDjRFDWuvIRfrCOVZr4rUMjLPqsYNxbsjioOwMH1wffhDooykHwgeKOt62WrxK8im3AKbs/s400/Heather%252520and%252520Family.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />I have to confess, This Ozark Farm Chick is cookin' on the front burner today after readin' the the positive attitude of this beautiful strong woman. The odds were not in her favor and I know that Heather had to be scared as a sinner in a Ozark twister but this little lady has earned alotta stars in her crown. She's turned her bowl of lemons 'round and put Satan under her feet by dedicatin' her life to helpin' others with this horrific cancer. Please take time to visit this extraordinary gal at "<a href="http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/heather/">The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog</a>. "<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xkr9AOixf60" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br />Thank you Heather for sharin' your miraculous story which has tugged at the heartstrings of others as it has mine. Just like Praise Workout who sang this amazin' worship song from the 1995 Brownsville Revival era, she knows ya don't have to be in Pensacola, Florida to stomp out the old devil. Heather can now truly sing that she's been to the "Enemy's Camp!!!"<br /><br />God bless and keep you Heather and never let go of those 'rose colored glasses'!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com121tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-15343793628626042442012-01-13T15:27:00.003-06:002012-01-14T18:07:09.320-06:00THE TWIST<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGSwTchaRJdkSY0SU5CRCZGeW5e1nQ53LYPv8lB3Er4ecT93qlC_XkiyXyTGMUFQ9d9ggytGt2tHENv56kiLGBzWTz1wA6ZRyfONQ8FdprzhKRK9E7OwpQxha-YUuUDlYmloxN9OS0Yg/s400/flyingcow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGSwTchaRJdkSY0SU5CRCZGeW5e1nQ53LYPv8lB3Er4ecT93qlC_XkiyXyTGMUFQ9d9ggytGt2tHENv56kiLGBzWTz1wA6ZRyfONQ8FdprzhKRK9E7OwpQxha-YUuUDlYmloxN9OS0Yg/s400/flyingcow.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Other than bein' stickier than a three year old's cotton candy fingers at a three ring circus, the day began just like any ordinary summer Sunday. This chick get's up to put on her Bare Minerals face while Farm Boy fixes his weekly <a href="http://cowpattysurprise.blogspot.com/search?q=Ringmaster">Big Top Breakfast</a>. Hub's goes to check cattle while I clean the kitchen, make the bed and do my hair before walkin' out the door for church. Hubs teaches the Adult Sunday School Class while I teach a Pre~Teen Class then Kid's Church.<br /><br />We often laughingly chant, "day of rest, day of rest, day of rest" while dartin' out to the car. Seems like our Sundays are busier than a one armed cab driver eatin' a meatball sub. The weatherman on the radio confirmed our day was gonna be hotter than an honeymoon hotel makin' the humidity stickier than a prickly cockebur. Just another day in the Ozarks. So we thought!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQVxkpCG7spyJSY0-bnQP5GIi439FOhUldCqIdG37fEYi7TLrBAAav0Gav2ClPgUqDhgqZ5hSqDNwGRMkNGsonZg8egrndnpgvn6gnpUBetJwXFT3JnPh5upltw03tnkqLcQcnnEmLE4/s1600/GEDC1705.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQVxkpCG7spyJSY0-bnQP5GIi439FOhUldCqIdG37fEYi7TLrBAAav0Gav2ClPgUqDhgqZ5hSqDNwGRMkNGsonZg8egrndnpgvn6gnpUBetJwXFT3JnPh5upltw03tnkqLcQcnnEmLE4/s400/GEDC1705.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>That Sunday evenin' we drove into Tiny Town to attend evenin' services we call 'Share and Prayer'. The meetin' was amazin' but we couldn't see the greenish~yellow tinted sky through the blue stained glass windows. 'Wasn't 'till Pastor George said, "it's lookin' really strange out here," we recognized that all too familiar eerie hew and decided to beat the storm home instead of stayin' in the safe confinement of the churches basement. We hoofed it to our car while the sky colored like a sea sick yellow Lab closed in on us.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSVCzHMgd20M0KWOaDP-vyqPVFuI1B3jgMF31othPP9-GWFeJZc8O_ClTPUH8WmtpomkMdU3kvaLWcGfjWuBuQE1pUu_uTTZTlEUcHvBKRzcN6iAg6rt6k-HciQMAalSLAm0BBnRIVHU/s1600/GEDC1709.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSVCzHMgd20M0KWOaDP-vyqPVFuI1B3jgMF31othPP9-GWFeJZc8O_ClTPUH8WmtpomkMdU3kvaLWcGfjWuBuQE1pUu_uTTZTlEUcHvBKRzcN6iAg6rt6k-HciQMAalSLAm0BBnRIVHU/s400/GEDC1709.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We no sooner left the churches parkin' lot 'till the wind started blown like perfume through a High School Prom. Farm Boy turned into a skilled demolition driver as the hail and large debris began poundin' the car. Determined Hubby swerved this way and that down Main Street dodging large tree limbs and lawn furniture landin' in our path.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokhF6D6GBRu6FnQAiHnIdwJ6-6xm7d5HV5d4t1fIqL_PYlfA5-71s2dZkU9qzieJfztRt07W52zjOclW620-qBLvRsLCiLvB0RmbhZmbT1E3BBYbmNNFjQbQg8X_W8g8B73-XBBurM3Q/s1600/GEDC1707.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokhF6D6GBRu6FnQAiHnIdwJ6-6xm7d5HV5d4t1fIqL_PYlfA5-71s2dZkU9qzieJfztRt07W52zjOclW620-qBLvRsLCiLvB0RmbhZmbT1E3BBYbmNNFjQbQg8X_W8g8B73-XBBurM3Q/s400/GEDC1707.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We turned down Wall Street and if anything, the violence worsened. Suddenly, I morphed into Jamie Gertz who played Dr. Mellisa Reeves in that 1996 Twister movie 'cause I vaguely remember turnin' to Hubs and sayin', "I gotta go Julia, we got cows!!!" This Ozark Farm Chick went through a tornado when I was five and they are my biggest fear. I gotta tell ya, between the hail, the limbs and the stuff in the road all I wanted was my Mama!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IV-iSbhEQC-NTRYTuzMoWQ47zNL96hKhuRAXFnCOZqOP6y_3yHRLGLyhw0mkTUtZLCpo_H0312eFqmFwDqHHdJhryu6usAc7i5Id6AzcPPpupHB34BJf0Ptesogb5SnLCM35n2kHlTI/s1600/GEDC1715.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IV-iSbhEQC-NTRYTuzMoWQ47zNL96hKhuRAXFnCOZqOP6y_3yHRLGLyhw0mkTUtZLCpo_H0312eFqmFwDqHHdJhryu6usAc7i5Id6AzcPPpupHB34BJf0Ptesogb5SnLCM35n2kHlTI/s400/GEDC1715.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I realized the unrelentless storm was followin' us like a starvin' dog chases a meat wagon when we hit the highway headed toward the Ponderosa. We met a car flashin' lights warnin' us of limbs on the highway. Then a pick~up flashed us. Oh this can't be good...a tree!!! My panic didn't lessen as we swerved this way and that avoiding downed trees and giant limbs. The storm hung over our head like a three day hangover on a drunk no matter how fast we traveled.<br /> <br />I was scared baby, and desperate measures were in order. I've been known to remind God Himself that He can calm the storms. Shakin' harder than the Parmesan Cheese shaker at Pizza Hut, I prayed and prayed hard as we came to the end of the blacktop and entered our dirt road. Oh, Lord...please let us have a house!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BNS1OSaah-iht-kbtAAiLIUuOqtuEkdAMA_h6qrKQnqezPE7bIhgv2NzD9QHzsRLkjGB0b5m1-sx3OFonijtaGJ35GekWqC75XbXni_b7Xc6LtBqdwUInAweolQknBRNJ1ssPJ_u9yQ/s1600/GEDC1712.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BNS1OSaah-iht-kbtAAiLIUuOqtuEkdAMA_h6qrKQnqezPE7bIhgv2NzD9QHzsRLkjGB0b5m1-sx3OFonijtaGJ35GekWqC75XbXni_b7Xc6LtBqdwUInAweolQknBRNJ1ssPJ_u9yQ/s400/GEDC1712.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Oh my goodness glory, what a mess things were. My cottage garden, birdhouses or bistro set will never be the same. Ya'll can only imagine what this did to my OCFD (obsessive compulsive flower disorder). I'd removed some of the large limbs before I snapped the pictures but we had a house. Praise God! One limb came right down the corner of the house with enough force to plant it deeply in the ground. God had answered my prayers...again!!!<br /><br />Our lives may become tangled more than a ball of knittin' wool attacked by a litter of frisky kittens or twisted like a crown of thorns yet the Maker can pull us apart and put us all back together stronger than ever. He does it with ease and compassion no matter how violent the storms may come. All we have to do is ask, call his name or just simply whisper the name of Jesus. Yep folks, He loves us that much. How awesome is that???<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGmGcBwej3VZuvreUyUXNsS0FKuZ6-BjwJ9HmEtPrxURx5beIQ4VR3snArjyttSFTX4w5WRmDwvZ6Tmgw0x2y70Gd3E8O2uFivgQofZzY0Xi2HZ_giiI3g3RvgFMaT7719hsJnqYyekY/s1600/GEDC1701.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGmGcBwej3VZuvreUyUXNsS0FKuZ6-BjwJ9HmEtPrxURx5beIQ4VR3snArjyttSFTX4w5WRmDwvZ6Tmgw0x2y70Gd3E8O2uFivgQofZzY0Xi2HZ_giiI3g3RvgFMaT7719hsJnqYyekY/s400/GEDC1701.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Born in Spring Gulley, South Carolina, Ernest Evans was raised in the projects of South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his parents and two brothers. Facin' the twist and snares of life he formed a street~corner harmony group at the ripe old age of eight. Life was not easy for this fella but God took his tangled life and molded him into a great performer of his time. It was his boss, Henry Colt, owner of Fresh Farm Poultry who tagged Evans with the nickname, 'Chubby'.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0cP5kxPk6uk" allowfullscreen="" width="420" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br />A great twist of fate is that Dick Clark invited 'Chubby' to do a private recording for American Bandstand. After completin' an excellent impersonation of Fats Domino, Clark's wife asked the young singer's name. Evans replied, "well my friends call me 'Chubby'. Clark's wife then substituted 'Checkers' for Domino. Hence the name...'Chubby Checkers'.<br /><br />This hit song was released in 1960 from Checkers very unlikely twisted fate. Whether life becomes as twisted as big old elm tree's roots or it's the physical storms that scare the bajabbers outta ya, I'm so thankful we can call on the One who stills the waters when we tangle ourselves into "The Twist!!!"<br /><br />God bless Ya'll!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com106tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-17587679435931784932012-01-06T10:46:00.001-06:002012-01-07T14:28:57.266-06:00HAPPY TOGETHER<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveIrMvj-cNN7mnYbWtdDyEwnPPhunjo6c3Ud1-2BsZYg6t0dMEqT4KeMYdmoPCV_IvlOgYajldjG2S8hl6NeKgmJ9laJ5HuELEcftPMfB3xMaGO9bAaCW1dvcjR06h5pB8Jgdg8huCsE/s1600/Top-13.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveIrMvj-cNN7mnYbWtdDyEwnPPhunjo6c3Ud1-2BsZYg6t0dMEqT4KeMYdmoPCV_IvlOgYajldjG2S8hl6NeKgmJ9laJ5HuELEcftPMfB3xMaGO9bAaCW1dvcjR06h5pB8Jgdg8huCsE/s400/Top-13.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div> Washer's spinnin, dishwasher's hummin, dryer's tumblin', all surfaces are dustless and even the Tidy Bowl man would be proud to float his boat 'round in the toilet. Yep folks, it's Deep Clean Friday where everything on the Ponderosa is spit shined, vacuumed and buffed to a shinny glow. I didn't want ya'll to think I'd fallen plumb off the hay-wagon and neglected the cleanin' over here. Ya'll know how cleanin' makes my heart sing and rocks my world but this Ozark gal wasn't deep cleanin' thirty nine years ago. Nope, I was gettin' all gussied up to marry the man of my dreams. Hey looky there...Farm Chick's got gams!!! Anybody remember Betty Grable?<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjndlCst3SDDZLNEyEo0PBrtOQtVzn5e_rkLX538c5GGohYff1s-gqC4EuI-AtZAluvytgkYDrolYTo2blTW02dALscjVxMx2K4GeaVA5VL0YrB1Q6Qq1EhYkyJJpE8iR5FhVlZZBBek0/s1600/Top-14.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjndlCst3SDDZLNEyEo0PBrtOQtVzn5e_rkLX538c5GGohYff1s-gqC4EuI-AtZAluvytgkYDrolYTo2blTW02dALscjVxMx2K4GeaVA5VL0YrB1Q6Qq1EhYkyJJpE8iR5FhVlZZBBek0/s400/Top-14.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>January 6, 1973 was one horrifically ice covered day in the Ozarks. Funny how the day before we were all runnin' around in our shirtsleeves like it was summertime. The weather can sure change on a dime 'round these parts. Nothin' but nothin' was gonna stop these two moon~eyed soul mates from sayin' "I do!" We were swoonin' over each other worse than a boxer too darn dizzy to duck.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpJ9quskUx80-AQDxPPaxW3Dav3E17dCY50E-H93VGWTAjhO3Hn7iAbMF5it7kC4hX0SoSBbGnbxXyBiKQXgae8gWDE7LI5dXIKTvD7e0BPsQ07u2oDLJr8fKOcPV02qcEFgkXGrSXgg/s1600/Top-15.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpJ9quskUx80-AQDxPPaxW3Dav3E17dCY50E-H93VGWTAjhO3Hn7iAbMF5it7kC4hX0SoSBbGnbxXyBiKQXgae8gWDE7LI5dXIKTvD7e0BPsQ07u2oDLJr8fKOcPV02qcEFgkXGrSXgg/s400/Top-15.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Our poor best man, Farm Boys big bro, ended up drivin' all night though the dreaded Ozark ice storm. My lovely flowers were delivered to the wrong weddin' and I received theirs. It was too treacherous for the professional photographer to travel from Springfield to Stockton so after askin' the guests to share we ended up with a few Kodak Brownie pictures to document our wedded bliss. Kinda like us our pictures are showin' a bit of wear and tear. Thirty nine years will do that to ya...ya know?<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBWkLzHarJQmhsyFB4DRHyWL39v_BRuBDj0_1A11Ohj1UHS5kXqA74TT3AsXh7Imp1wWPkQVWcDVaBbMgnnGCnWWwwzzd2p1Q6jXSGmfEx7S5IHq2ONCWJvbT2H3IPFUnr_7Icg9pWDo/s1600/Top-16.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBWkLzHarJQmhsyFB4DRHyWL39v_BRuBDj0_1A11Ohj1UHS5kXqA74TT3AsXh7Imp1wWPkQVWcDVaBbMgnnGCnWWwwzzd2p1Q6jXSGmfEx7S5IHq2ONCWJvbT2H3IPFUnr_7Icg9pWDo/s400/Top-16.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>We toasted the big day with glasses filled with purple passion punch right after the mischievously handsome little ring barer stepped on my train rippin' it plumb off. Thank heavens for big old diaper pins!!! I would walk over hot coals in a heatwave for this fella. He fills my heart and makes my toes curl. For 39 years Hubs has been the tiptoe to my tulips, the icin' on my cake. Whew~fan me now, I'm still swoonin'! This Ozark Farm Chick has uncovered the secret to a long and happy marriage. Are ya ready? Grab a pen, ya might wanna take notes. It's double sinks and separate closets all the way baby!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAP4b3v5ybe_iLeQuX4Macpi_jC2op5oe0Qqj942Gm9mghl3EkKkEuhC5r_mVk-Xa2icgSJ1nd_i9dvnVfK7uGJteZUF19rYb1I_DZ7TzhGXcZLE9HhSunULwlOJlRIBTAb8CI5cqGAY/s1600/Top-17.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAP4b3v5ybe_iLeQuX4Macpi_jC2op5oe0Qqj942Gm9mghl3EkKkEuhC5r_mVk-Xa2icgSJ1nd_i9dvnVfK7uGJteZUF19rYb1I_DZ7TzhGXcZLE9HhSunULwlOJlRIBTAb8CI5cqGAY/s400/Top-17.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Our marriage may have literally started out on a road more slippery than a freshly buttered ice-rink but I wouldn't trade the past thirty nine years for all the gold in Midas' treasure chests.<span class="st"><em></em><em> </em></span>Oops...my bad, I left out the most important secret to a successfully jubilant union. More important than a dog to a flea is the third person, God. He's hung in there like a hair in a biscuit through thick and thin blessin' us every step along our life's journey.<br /><br />I can't control my love for this hunk of a Farm Boy any more than a cross eyed teacher can control her pupils. In fact we're both known to still be a bit moon~eyed. Studies show we have seven completely compatible soul mates out there in the universe. I don't buy it 'cause we sing, "me and you and you and me , no matter how ya tossed the dice it had to be." "The only one for me is you and you for me....So happy together!!!"<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MFlNxDGPlvA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />This Chick can shove the furniture back and do my famous happy dance while beltin' out the 1967 song 'The Turtles' recorded knockin' 'The Beatles' "Penny Lane" outta of the top slot of the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. This fabulous tune was rejected over a dozen times before 'The Turtles' jumped on it. Imagine that! Looks like persistence not only pays off in a <span id="query_h1" class="query_h1">extraordinary</span> <span id="pronsetspell" style="display:inline"><span class="pronsetspell" style="display:inline;"><span class="prondelim"></span></span></span> marriage but in great songs too, for now I can bound joyfully and sing, "we are so HAPPY TOGETHER!!!"<br /><br />Love ya and happy anniversary Farm Boy!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com161tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-88217351476608047902011-12-28T13:37:00.002-06:002012-01-01T08:55:42.100-06:00WHY CAN'T EVERYDAY BE LIKE CHRISTMAS<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TfgydE882ipAvFPQOkWnLcgR65kqtCvyezKjAUXMJc31ErmT76AA1HA4j9GdQzFAOQRLYrcP9_N1jca-ckVFJXfqZe9dpeFTMcczhnWvYyKH8HzUiGC1twZ6Se5ZtxhfQPOrfu9w_2s/s1600/Top-11.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TfgydE882ipAvFPQOkWnLcgR65kqtCvyezKjAUXMJc31ErmT76AA1HA4j9GdQzFAOQRLYrcP9_N1jca-ckVFJXfqZe9dpeFTMcczhnWvYyKH8HzUiGC1twZ6Se5ZtxhfQPOrfu9w_2s/s400/Top-11.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Grinnin' like a hungry cat who just landed in a well stocked Aviary, her shinin' faced beamed as she said, "today I'm marrin' your son and you will really be my mom." December 1, 1995 , Geek Son married The Latin Lovin' Hillbilly and we gained another daughter. Our family was blessed more than Christmas dinner after the fast at a monastery when this one joined our happy clan.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGTIS4hOAOTel0DtXEOE50CF5sTxFkiSMD_Y1Epv2SP7tFNFCS2ca7BLnq_6B5xAqe1qGgdpzeKkscDBjGRhZF69arK_cxEwGffQd8JU7Cc6a2wrmsPO1ZMNiTHdTfuZlNlrb_yDx9To/s1600/Top.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGTIS4hOAOTel0DtXEOE50CF5sTxFkiSMD_Y1Epv2SP7tFNFCS2ca7BLnq_6B5xAqe1qGgdpzeKkscDBjGRhZF69arK_cxEwGffQd8JU7Cc6a2wrmsPO1ZMNiTHdTfuZlNlrb_yDx9To/s400/Top.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>On December third my sweet Mother-In-Love celebrated her 84th birthday surrounded by family and a big old cake piled high with icin'. Doesn't that smile just light up a room? Born in 1927, this lovely lady has seen more in our world than most of us could wrap our brains around. She is now livin' in an assisted livin' facility and lovin' it more than a fly loves sticky buns on Christmas Mornin'. Mom and my wonderful Father-In-Love would of celebrated their 65th weddin' anniversary on the eighth of December along with my Brother-Out-Law's (just kiddin') 49th birthday.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhS3elt1n8ncsI5nZG6e_-Zhp22_1Dx3Xvcy1DokCaSICbUMqMPKypQm3sU3ilpJO1IgXtfwdkyc7VmwQgPzYSH9cXlRHR4CwjNWnrBqfOZtcyZXmnR_AMlPziPlTrXymVwhIj_5zTgI/s1600/GEDC1691.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhS3elt1n8ncsI5nZG6e_-Zhp22_1Dx3Xvcy1DokCaSICbUMqMPKypQm3sU3ilpJO1IgXtfwdkyc7VmwQgPzYSH9cXlRHR4CwjNWnrBqfOZtcyZXmnR_AMlPziPlTrXymVwhIj_5zTgI/s400/GEDC1691.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>This handsome dude loves football and the Colts almost as much as he loves that Banana Split Cake. Zacharie is the oldest of our 'bonus' grandkiddos. He's a great big brother to Alexis, Jacob and little Ian. This awesome football player holds down a job as he hold up his grades. My heart bursts watchin' him grow into the super young fella he is. Zach celebrated his 17th birthday on the tenth. Woohoo....party on!!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7tWEqyqKg4eSi-1rVx_b2LUwy7TXTg7PAKpHhtksoC_n1BPFbloficd8fQm034gmPwm__nUALY1irybs1nScQk6f6cs8RJ2PPeQpRuYMryKKcMeCpEtz7AsaWBSxZCZAYZLq4JV6yCs/s1600/GEDC1729.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7tWEqyqKg4eSi-1rVx_b2LUwy7TXTg7PAKpHhtksoC_n1BPFbloficd8fQm034gmPwm__nUALY1irybs1nScQk6f6cs8RJ2PPeQpRuYMryKKcMeCpEtz7AsaWBSxZCZAYZLq4JV6yCs/s400/GEDC1729.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Mischievous as a hyper Blue Heeler pup in a box full of kitties, this happy gent celebrated his birthday on the twelfth of December. This Ozark Farm Chick can't look at Joel without seein' my daddy all over that jubilant face. Oh how that smile melts this gals heart. He's a builder, a scientist and a lover of God. Did I mention he's a climber too? Yep, if we ever lose this one we've learned to simply look up. He climbs walls folks!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BrcxD0sGbpO4vZx_NjmNVAB3OPWlJKIYcclc40EUllquBa1Gz59NZJ6PJVZCyMzTtmcYm3Lt5mU-86BDqSF1trgmAZKRu4JLy4QBw3r8Bx4cMS4UGnZfs0xL7SVVlDuZ8gMGmWUJ0BQ/s1600/GEDC1424.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BrcxD0sGbpO4vZx_NjmNVAB3OPWlJKIYcclc40EUllquBa1Gz59NZJ6PJVZCyMzTtmcYm3Lt5mU-86BDqSF1trgmAZKRu4JLy4QBw3r8Bx4cMS4UGnZfs0xL7SVVlDuZ8gMGmWUJ0BQ/s400/GEDC1424.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The Latin Lovin' Hibilly in all her orneriness was born December 14, 1975. Ya need rear view mirrors on the back of your ears 'round this one. Geek Son made his very dramatic entry into this world December 18th, 1974. This Mama's so very proud of the man, husband and father he's become but someone had to put a stop to all these celebrations. As Barney Fife said, "Nip it...Nip it in the bud!"<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMD-0OED_a_bjgsIp9CpeG1L50XZ4iKCA-pPsB9W0HhIIzk2eMJajuRFyNY75LmWkkqhtebu0sVwB0ikToq2m3kcmuKV-BxzgPlH_fyRveiWMIxtMxDx55eCbNiCLXQYay0kFKdx9sQk/s1600/Top-12.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMD-0OED_a_bjgsIp9CpeG1L50XZ4iKCA-pPsB9W0HhIIzk2eMJajuRFyNY75LmWkkqhtebu0sVwB0ikToq2m3kcmuKV-BxzgPlH_fyRveiWMIxtMxDx55eCbNiCLXQYay0kFKdx9sQk/s400/Top-12.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />When our beautiful Social Butterfly found the Monarch of her dreams, ya know the one that made her little heart flutter, flip and go pitty~pat, a December weddin' was brought up. Miss Social said, "Oh no...Mama won't allow anymore hitchins or babies bein' birthed in December." This union took place in January. Ya'll know what happens when Mamas not happy! Heeheehhee! Let me tell ya'll, I've popped more than few proud buttons over this one too! She makes my heart sing.<br /><br />Our Decembers are packed tighter than a clown car.....then we have Christmas. Here on the Ponderosa we are celebratin' Christmas on December 31st. It truly doesn't matter to this chick what day we celebrate as long as we celebrate together. Shouldn't we all be celebratin' the birth of our Lord and Savior everyday anyway? 'Just sayin'.......<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l05awc9E0No" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br />Saturday on the Ponderosa the tree's 1,100 lights will be lit, the Christmas music jammin' in the background, the dinner table filled with all the trimmins and the fresh cider table filled with decant homemade candies. Farm Boy will gather the grandkiddos 'round his big old recliner to read the true Christmas story from the Bible. Presents will be opened as laughter fills the air but most of all we will celebrate Jesus. Yep, like Elvis sang on his October 15, 1957 single and on the United States best sellin' Christmas Album ever, "For if everyday could be just like Christmas, what a wonderful world this would be!" Just like Mr. Presley, I want to always celebrate Jesus each and every day so I ask, "Why Can't Everyday Be Like Christmas?"<br /><br />GOD BLESS YA'LL. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A VERY WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com123tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-55514156466420821592011-12-20T16:55:00.002-06:002011-12-24T15:17:11.939-06:00SUGAR AND SPICE ( Winner announcement)<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG3sQPtfKi1KUI2QlYuk9rsZXL5GGeyo4ZzYd7UDL4wG0uS3GIu58AuQjduHLg0W-1yAmBoA_iv4PBUciuZ7dMVS7pFFJjYabB3pbRZEFNIYBgbEctq76z8bW53Irp_XQuSD4K_PJPTg/s1600/Top.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG3sQPtfKi1KUI2QlYuk9rsZXL5GGeyo4ZzYd7UDL4wG0uS3GIu58AuQjduHLg0W-1yAmBoA_iv4PBUciuZ7dMVS7pFFJjYabB3pbRZEFNIYBgbEctq76z8bW53Irp_XQuSD4K_PJPTg/s400/Top.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Sweeter than Granny Walden's Karo Pie, this little dancin' queen had her Grandma Muzzie's 'Happy Dance' perfected by her first birthday. Born October 14, 2005, little Miss Sarah Grace truly graced our family with her infectious smile and the energy of a Duracell battery.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0dVJAZ9HiiaH57CfJ0Y3qx12EfBQEidoTnUP9SxY9kvbDb_qdRc9C_4nIIDyh3ElGZNxQMTIXME9Ox8RGnJlMvo5XFAgDtNWMJ40ruB866fvIQ9Ff2tDXyzeOxKHMak7WLK_V_9h5TQ/s1600/Top-1.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0dVJAZ9HiiaH57CfJ0Y3qx12EfBQEidoTnUP9SxY9kvbDb_qdRc9C_4nIIDyh3ElGZNxQMTIXME9Ox8RGnJlMvo5XFAgDtNWMJ40ruB866fvIQ9Ff2tDXyzeOxKHMak7WLK_V_9h5TQ/s400/Top-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>One glance from those sparklin' chocolatey brown eyes as big as saucers can melt your heart faster than this Ozark Farm Chick can leap over a corral panel with a wild~eyed bovine breathin' down my knickers. This nectarous Fairy Princess is too darn stinkin' cute and knows how to use it baby. Honey Pie will roll those big browns when she's in trouble and say, "I love you Mommy (Daddy)!!!"<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0ZkVfC27PqOL2K5T2qMeA_myUxD6eHLMY83qWCAjhaLlRTA2IWtr_syYJ6GKVBkwRm7czRVGnzFCYqH8tKr-qB-7fpr7qTW2PKDI-jK0b6rD4roO_IUZqxPD2t7utbOsxrXGlOqtEDg/s1600/GEDC1303.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0ZkVfC27PqOL2K5T2qMeA_myUxD6eHLMY83qWCAjhaLlRTA2IWtr_syYJ6GKVBkwRm7czRVGnzFCYqH8tKr-qB-7fpr7qTW2PKDI-jK0b6rD4roO_IUZqxPD2t7utbOsxrXGlOqtEDg/s400/GEDC1303.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Miss Candy coated Pippi Longstockin' broke her little wing flyin' off the arm of the sofa a couple years ago and sported the cutest tiny purple cast. Her Mama, The Latin Lovin' Hillibilly, braided her pigtailed braids 'round a coat hanger for that year's Christmas program. The teen gals backstage had a blast and a half flippin' the braids up...then down each time Gracie was offstage.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjRjubABIUdx6LbhmmA4yfSgR5KzkHX2CRl9iPAE2UGq7ugweEdnd6MS5HtFsoIBU0glng6AFQ1BRaNX5kkPkWqKti-dEzcpjC6kLzOcGowU9UmNeKvFMkyRUhSgCIdffVLVFVqijBJQ/s1600/GEDC0250-1.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjRjubABIUdx6LbhmmA4yfSgR5KzkHX2CRl9iPAE2UGq7ugweEdnd6MS5HtFsoIBU0glng6AFQ1BRaNX5kkPkWqKti-dEzcpjC6kLzOcGowU9UmNeKvFMkyRUhSgCIdffVLVFVqijBJQ/s400/GEDC0250-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Her spiraled curly Shirley Temple look gained her a flower girl position in my nephew's hitchin'. Sarah Grace was most enchanted with the chocolate fountain. It is the factor in most girls dreams isn't it??? I know, I need to hit more of those Chocoholic's Anonymous meetings.<br /><br />"Oh, my dolly finally came," were the words squealed when she opened the present we handed her. See, Sarah asked for a Hearts for Hearts <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Girls-Nahji-India/dp/B00487UTVG/ref=pd_rhf_gw_shvl4">Nahji</a> from India doll that arrived late the day before her birthday. We left for Texas before Sleepin' Beauty awoke on her big day so she didn't get her dolly 'till a week later. I must confess...Grandma's heart sank like a cement block. I felt baaaaaad!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RjgTAgCYs-svipyC3geu4mxYhhUG0pdOHlAWIlmrq632xaE3yIqFlswdzck2l9Iuqh3cPu-1fGm4Duv8ZanrtRLHRlXTXQrhDL5RNFI-QNdvDpi4hE_veGfG-0k46t6laA94w2OS1Hg/s1600/GEDC1862.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RjgTAgCYs-svipyC3geu4mxYhhUG0pdOHlAWIlmrq632xaE3yIqFlswdzck2l9Iuqh3cPu-1fGm4Duv8ZanrtRLHRlXTXQrhDL5RNFI-QNdvDpi4hE_veGfG-0k46t6laA94w2OS1Hg/s400/GEDC1862.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />After her dolly came I think ya'll can tell that Miss Gracie had a very happy number six. I swear that smile could light up New York City at Christmastime! Folks, don't let all this syrupy sweetness fool ya though. If the need arises she can be tougher than a two dollar steak takin' both her big brothers down at the knees but most of the time Sarah is sweeter than Charlies Chocolate factory on it's best day.<br /><br />It was 1963 when an English rock band sang "Sugar and spice and all things nice, Kisses sweeter than wine, Sugar and spice and everything nice, You know that little girl is mine." My little Sarah has a big old piece of my heart and just like The Searchers, I too can belt out how much I love my little<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LidkaeBPOk">" Sugar and Spice</a> !!!"<br /><br />Ya'll hop on over and congratulate Shug over at '<a href="http://shug-stepsoffaith.blogspot.com/">My Steps Of Faith</a>' who's sweeter than a warm bath filled with decadent Belgian chocolate herself. She is the winner of a signed copy of "Social Climbers" written by that generous Beth over at ' <a href="http://socialclimbers123.blogspot.com/">Social Climbers'</a>. Congratulations Shug and a big old Ozark 'thanks' to Beth. Woohoo!!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com91tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-15356775276922625142011-12-12T14:33:00.001-06:002011-12-17T15:10:36.262-06:00VOGUE (Giveaway)<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLUGTPeDpFPsNI6ZKf3z1j-dflXJAcKpea76u8p1Gz7CICm72RrmNkI8reUGzUzKDI_X1sUQiLYhua_FJXYx102YC55ASwYg6cyOo_rMW6LiMWXfHlGJ8s_bUKju22MqjwsFhrTeY9dY/s1600/GEDC1880.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLUGTPeDpFPsNI6ZKf3z1j-dflXJAcKpea76u8p1Gz7CICm72RrmNkI8reUGzUzKDI_X1sUQiLYhua_FJXYx102YC55ASwYg6cyOo_rMW6LiMWXfHlGJ8s_bUKju22MqjwsFhrTeY9dY/s400/GEDC1880.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Uglier than a bucket full of armpits and thinner than an Amish phone book, Farm Boy buys these half starved sale-barn cattle to pretty up and fatten out. Believe me, these hungry bovines eat better than a empty bellied three hundred pound trucker at an all ya can eat buffet when they belly up to the feed bunks here on the Ponderosa. It sure doesn't take these Stravin' Marvins long to plump up and slick out.<br /><br />Heck, these two beauties could join Beth over at" <a href="http://socialclimbers123.blogspot.com/">Social Climbers</a>" for a Monogram Monday. Just look at how these two high society 'it' gals are monogrammed to the kilts. Folks, don't get your bloomers in a bundle, these ladies were previously monogrammed prior to landin' on the Ponderosa.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAQHgiNwsvhyG-uZeK81_DIV7Qe0XdzxqRva0QSgKpJA-F-2VDYMXN6Mpr8YRnckZh2AZEsqrA_Jsh98bj09FJq9VyDUwfnJJa4U_fMMuV6Yep8j6_lXsreCfDnEGHXOnWQlxtYJRDmo/s1600/GEDC1878.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAQHgiNwsvhyG-uZeK81_DIV7Qe0XdzxqRva0QSgKpJA-F-2VDYMXN6Mpr8YRnckZh2AZEsqrA_Jsh98bj09FJq9VyDUwfnJJa4U_fMMuV6Yep8j6_lXsreCfDnEGHXOnWQlxtYJRDmo/s400/GEDC1878.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Shockin' as an electric fence durin' a thunderstorm, this Ozark Farm Chick was once a sorority girl herself! Yep, I've climbed a social rung or two myself but these days I'm a bonafied 100% Farm gal. Now, if ya'll a want in on the well kept secrets of the Main Line Socialites, I've got the book for you! Even an country lass from the Ozark Mountains can run with chic elites sportin' names like Bibby, Coco and Lilly followin' Beth's advice. Do ya feel as confused as a hungry baby in a topless bar dropped smack in the middle of a social settin'? The 'Preppy Bible' holds the key to your grip on scalin' the social ladder. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReAHo5H1RaeoFMg7S9N5HSdLwrLrrngDXy46h0-9pLyMoe52RUIDlntfII5KNhMOlhyn7TCLeiUgyuqodbPnPH_h0u6ZGFLOZOFD_zLtkPpUmrU22T9IvcT6jl94RYQ5ByoX4wMMVgLI/s400/social_climbers_cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReAHo5H1RaeoFMg7S9N5HSdLwrLrrngDXy46h0-9pLyMoe52RUIDlntfII5KNhMOlhyn7TCLeiUgyuqodbPnPH_h0u6ZGFLOZOFD_zLtkPpUmrU22T9IvcT6jl94RYQ5ByoX4wMMVgLI/s400/social_climbers_cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>That sweet generous Beth over at" <a href="http://socialclimbers123.blogspot.com/">Social Climbers</a> "is givin' one of my lucky readers a signed copy of her book "Social Climbers". Now, if that won't sweeten your bitter tea! All ya have to do is comment. That's it. I love the KISS method. Ya know, 'keep it simply sister' but please go visit this special blogger and say 'howdy'! Go, put your feet up and sit a'spell.<br /><br />In 1990 the real 'it girl', Madonna, wrote and sang, "All you need is your own imagination...So use it that's what it's for...go inside, for your finest inspiration...Your dreams will open the door." This hit song is an upbeat dance~pop tune with heavy influences of the seventies disco era. After readin' Beth's book, you too will be strikin' a pose and singin' "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJQSAiODqI">Vogue</a> !!!"<br /><br />Ya'll have a blessed and beautiful Christmas.<br />" Social Climbers" can be purchased at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Social-Climbers-Beth-Dunn/dp/1438933525">Amazon.com</a>.Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com130tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-82871750594213437532011-12-01T10:24:00.003-06:002011-12-03T19:01:23.911-06:00PRINCESS ( A Winner)<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXgODhhZUFMs_SWybysYXw-ElsYt0_5qQDunkbtW5aj6vO3PFZosMgSBsVgzISq2NoOlzcWZbgzMvCuzatdjv3J-9z-b4HlpWPaMv0isLX_EPsZbktTjzCxvmNRJ7s6zFwRrbQiCOzAs/s1600/Top.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXgODhhZUFMs_SWybysYXw-ElsYt0_5qQDunkbtW5aj6vO3PFZosMgSBsVgzISq2NoOlzcWZbgzMvCuzatdjv3J-9z-b4HlpWPaMv0isLX_EPsZbktTjzCxvmNRJ7s6zFwRrbQiCOzAs/s400/Top.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Better than a speckled pup in a red wagon on Christmas mornin', she knew she was a princess the day she was born. Her brothers welcomed her as royalty straight into their arms and protective big brother hearts. Born September 17, 2003, Honor Elizabeth graced this earth and our family with a heart as tender as Granny Walden's farm fresh warm apple dumplin's.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ-atcDvegZt1Ux9r50ioN9RZlsULA1o-lY_0RWupskrHPCogMQq9eo5UJSCl3bK8mWkYWNtGTW-AqcAzMD5hTY-I5jG3q-rp42nFpBxh79I64URXjYyvu6SZeCjkGCcFsOzJ86rfcu8/s1600/Top-1.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ-atcDvegZt1Ux9r50ioN9RZlsULA1o-lY_0RWupskrHPCogMQq9eo5UJSCl3bK8mWkYWNtGTW-AqcAzMD5hTY-I5jG3q-rp42nFpBxh79I64URXjYyvu6SZeCjkGCcFsOzJ86rfcu8/s400/Top-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Hubby sometimes refers to little Indian Princess as "Ornery Elizabeth." This Ozark Farm Chick just calls her my "Mini~Me." We not only share September birthdays but looks, creativity, humor, artistic abilities, love of music, mannerisms, a heart for the Lord and His children. As I've said before, watchin' her grow is like steppin' through my own little girl lookin' glass!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja85Dv6jpX9Y2ou-VT08ALXlAi5hkrfQB74-LFMEShtSkb1kqo4SdBRsf4vdtCyNYlV4wNkR8EAz9kGrP-D6HjpTS11NI2VHgBL0cIWtwF0F_ivowp6tiJ3mkc0e20FhXiKwrciOXEXsQ/s1600/Top-2.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja85Dv6jpX9Y2ou-VT08ALXlAi5hkrfQB74-LFMEShtSkb1kqo4SdBRsf4vdtCyNYlV4wNkR8EAz9kGrP-D6HjpTS11NI2VHgBL0cIWtwF0F_ivowp6tiJ3mkc0e20FhXiKwrciOXEXsQ/s400/Top-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>No doubt this miniature fudgy faced Cinderella complete with teeny glass slippers will someday find her Prince Charming. Did ya'll notice the Minnie Pearl tag in her crown? She keeps us in stitches with her witty off the cuff humor and her zest for life.<br /><br />She has written and illustrated a book about her life from birth to her very own family. Honor even had a couple pages dedicated to 'the honeymoon' which had the moon~eyed couple seated at a table complete with a beautiful floral centerpiece. I asked her what a couple did on their honeymoon and she replied, "Well of course Grandma Muzzie, they go out to eat at a really fancy restaurant, enjoy a movie and sleep in very expensive hotels." Silly me, at my age I should know these things...Heeehehe!!! As any best seller, Honor's book ends with "happily ever after."<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x0UyX2fFGYBlwah6iSYf7cRyD_OYTuG9rMC7FuRcrbANpVzUP4XBHCD3YtnqLWm_lDW_S3emMNWHWuNc-9Ul8EQk_67ScZQqJ257qfRAnxN2HEkFtMigCvPTDtNTJY9gZWNPZ9InZNs/s1600/Top-3.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4x0UyX2fFGYBlwah6iSYf7cRyD_OYTuG9rMC7FuRcrbANpVzUP4XBHCD3YtnqLWm_lDW_S3emMNWHWuNc-9Ul8EQk_67ScZQqJ257qfRAnxN2HEkFtMigCvPTDtNTJY9gZWNPZ9InZNs/s400/Top-3.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>Yep, this little Princess Bride made her daddy grab his chest, gasp for breath and turn three shades of green when she tried on the dress~up Christmas present we gave her a couple of years ago. Convincin' this dreamy~eyed bride she's not truly a princess is like talkin' a monkey into doin' math equations. 'Just not gonna happen! Mini~Me huffed and puffed and blew out all eight candles atop her birthday cake in one breath. I can only guess what this imaginative doll wished for. Oh, I could just sop this sweetie up with a buttermilk biscuit!!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IVGyOMmj5bnBBVztUJPSWec7muWy9ID3d9ZkpStz5ZlNVU_UG_E1Q9guEfGiBEzNM_zDkgXt_98N64irT-Hs_D3MfMosRWgXeva82Jc7ZJ63CtM0q-p0Yk29-stcZe-mO5KaagRTi1g/s1600/GEDC1341.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IVGyOMmj5bnBBVztUJPSWec7muWy9ID3d9ZkpStz5ZlNVU_UG_E1Q9guEfGiBEzNM_zDkgXt_98N64irT-Hs_D3MfMosRWgXeva82Jc7ZJ63CtM0q-p0Yk29-stcZe-mO5KaagRTi1g/s400/GEDC1341.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />Long before Elton John blew out "The Candle in The Wind" honoring Princess Di, he wrote the music and sang Gary Osbourne's forgotten song on his 1982 "Jump Up" Album. This proud rockin' grandma could sing Elton's very words as my heart bursts, "You make the sun shine on me~ You're one fine lady~ You're my PRINCESS" !!!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dq4c8HAW-l0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />Woohoo!!! Ya'll move the furniture waaaay back and do a great big old happy dance with me 'cause folks, we have a winner! Random Generator has selected lucky number 46. Here's sendin' a big old Ozark 'CONGRATULATIONS' to Julia over at " <a href="http://ofpetalsandwool.blogspot.com/">Of Petals and Wool </a>", please do pop over and congratulate her. She's a real sweetheart and I know she's gonna love Margaret's book, <a href="http://www.stickyreaders.com/">"Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better" </a>as much as I did!!!!<br /><br />"Thank You" Miss Maragret!!! She hangs out at: <a href="http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com/">"Nanny Goats in Panties"</a>Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-42490250299625766102011-11-21T20:48:00.001-06:002011-12-03T18:58:36.515-06:00GOATS HEAD SOUP (Giveaway)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjoL98TdRfCdnrTY3UsDDbO99CR49mJiF6WmSlYMXx9USmiy2zwQ"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 215px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjoL98TdRfCdnrTY3UsDDbO99CR49mJiF6WmSlYMXx9USmiy2zwQ" alt="" border="0" /></a>Goats are about as scarce 'round the Ponderosa as front teeth on a back woods hillbilly. Farm Boy's daddy had a few curly horned wild critters climbin' the bluffs 'round here the first couple years of our moon~eyed marriage. There was the in and out goat Dad brought my young son. The one they prayed for under the table in Miss Judy's Primary Sunday School Class 'cause, "Mama was gonna kill it!"<br /><br />Dad had purchased the wee goat from a industrious little fella at the sale barn in Eldorado Springs, Missouri thinkin' it would make an excellent pet for Geek Son. He hated it! The kid stepped on son's feet and butted him when he tried to bottle feed it plus the dang critter stripped the bark off all my strugglin' saplings. Poor little sale barn fellas heart was as broke as the Ten Commandments so Dad made the trip back, picked up the goat and returned it to it's rightful goatsick owner. Nope, no goats...we're all about crazed wild~eyed cattle here on the Ponderosa.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjRLZbHPIipyS4RF96H7qy5r8V1ATLecptb4kCN1SvFxAWMKY8Lw"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 184px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjRLZbHPIipyS4RF96H7qy5r8V1ATLecptb4kCN1SvFxAWMKY8Lw" alt="" border="0" /></a>Now, Margaret Andrews over at '<a href="http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com/">Nanny Goats in Panties</a>' is just wild as a pack of dogs with a three legged cat when it comes to goats. She's a freelance writer who lives in California with her handsome hubby, Mr. Mudpuppy. Margaret's amusin' blog will leave ya in stitches. In fact, she's hotter than a menopausal Nanny Goat in a pepper patch since she's been voted Best Local Blogger makin' KCRA's A-List in 2011. She's published folks. Yep, this sweet gal writes how to tutorials and presently writes for CBS Sacramento's website. Margret has even had a hand or two writing content for popular video games. You'll find her currently workin' on her screenplay and novel. All you cooks out there lookin' for new recipes must check out her <a href="http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com/category/recipes">goat recipe box</a>. Just sayin'........<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512uuzGluIL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512uuzGluIL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Do ya'll ever feel like growin' your blog and gainin' followers is kinda like nailin' jello to a tree? You work hard slaving over a hot computer writin' your little heart out but still feel it's like goin' to the goat house for wool? Well, I've got the perfect book for you!!!<br /><br />Say you want your blog hotter than a Billy Goat with a blowtorch, just pick up Margaret's book <a href="http://www.stickyreaders.com/">"Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better</a>." It's a lighthearted funny read yet heaped full of wonderfully useful bloggin' advice. Margaret sent me a copy since I'm in the book! Yep folks...this Ozark Farm Chick is now famous. I'm kinda in the don't section of metaphors and similes (pages 39-41) but accordin' to the expert I can get by with such overkill 'cause I'm Nezzy and it's just the way I fly!!!<br /><br />That sweet generous Margaret has offered to give a signed copy of this most informative book to one of my readers. Thanks darlin'!!! To enter...just comment....easy peasy!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIu93SYb81UWw41u4fMosfjBXpmUfDhpZ3w9QyqSb2onE9aVAymw"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 213px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQIu93SYb81UWw41u4fMosfjBXpmUfDhpZ3w9QyqSb2onE9aVAymw" alt="" border="0" /></a> (This sweet little real life goatie belongs to the, <a href="http://pricillaspeaks.blogspot.com/">The Maaaa of Pricilla</a> )<br /><br />Filled with hits like "Angie", "Silver Train" and "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)", The Rolling Stones released their hit album August 20, 1973. This was after a move in 1972 to Jamaica 'cause it was one of the few places that would let 'em in. Seems bad boy Keith Richards was kicked outta nine countries and this was a way to keep the band together. Ya'll have got to read "Sticky Readers" to help keep cute little goats and your blog outta " <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv8E01aZDpc">Goats Head Soup</a> !!!"<br /><br />("Sticky Readers" can be purchased in paperback and Kindle versions at Amazon or Barnes & Noble)Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com131tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-66339648067862567972011-11-14T13:38:00.002-06:002011-11-19T19:15:56.389-06:00IT TAKES TWO<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxUx40o6r_d_gRMBPq0ksG2fgtz5fpAtGNrI9jDbxdlgbL89BubLUKh-3KX9W_naz-iTd5CSpbSw_MOCLbmxdF8EpGHKT66lzZVbBrMR4QQT2TymWt2mIUEL-fNHNkn_rWCbBxIv14M0/s1600/GEDC1685.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxUx40o6r_d_gRMBPq0ksG2fgtz5fpAtGNrI9jDbxdlgbL89BubLUKh-3KX9W_naz-iTd5CSpbSw_MOCLbmxdF8EpGHKT66lzZVbBrMR4QQT2TymWt2mIUEL-fNHNkn_rWCbBxIv14M0/s400/GEDC1685.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Makin' this fine lad break out in sheer laughter could depress the devil. Born July 1, 2000 with a heart more tender than my Granny Walden's special lard pie crust, this handsome fella can be as serious as a cardiac arrest. Meet Jacob, one of my three bonus grandkiddos. This sweetheart is the fantastic little brother of Alexis and Zacharie but adores playin' the role of big brother to little Ian.<br /><br />Mr. City Slicker is an avid soccer, baseball and football player but is happier than a tornado in a trailer park in the kitchen. The boy loves to cook! We are blessed that he has the heart of a helper in any area and doesn't hesitate to jump right in with both feet when he sees a need. He transforms into a real 'terminator' doin' away with the mean varmints in the video games he loves. Jacob was one of several to celebrate a birthday durin' my summer sabbatical here on the Ponderosa. We love that he became a part of our family and I'm not talkin' with the tongue outta my shoe here!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-8GW8f8Tk2P0_KMzHLoFg5JPNnYygpTo7QLleFWEGUMlFNdyNwTT3gHY9LnO0SAw8auVvGY7mdhyAULZm2McHfhmypyHWCTDQWeFcECYWmgLrj9zl1k-0_aAkDMWkd7xtiIIoGsAHbU/s1600/GEDC0164.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-8GW8f8Tk2P0_KMzHLoFg5JPNnYygpTo7QLleFWEGUMlFNdyNwTT3gHY9LnO0SAw8auVvGY7mdhyAULZm2McHfhmypyHWCTDQWeFcECYWmgLrj9zl1k-0_aAkDMWkd7xtiIIoGsAHbU/s400/GEDC0164.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Remember baby Ian? Oh, how this rockin' Grandma loved to hold this little dumplin' and sniff that new baby head! Like a buzzard to overripe roadkill, I'm addicted to that 'new baby' smell but on July the 8th, the little fella had the nerve to turn the ripe old age of two on us. Speakin' of nerve, he also had the gumption to tell this Type~A Neat Freak, "Grandma....you're messssssy" when I dumped the Sesame Street Clubhouse in the toy closet. I'm sayin'.........nerve I tell ya!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wZDpljLVFYP7lJ7XCF0SlNFeIULQp4xQxRTMQaPBCzlQ1zPIAndQcsX2_W3-Vu4gvz9VJyGLtLHjh3jXxy9XxAED5qBTgpIxapJEbhx-NbUr73lOeCXeomZbfvQR1YWshLcJ6W9TC-A/s1600/GEDC0282.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wZDpljLVFYP7lJ7XCF0SlNFeIULQp4xQxRTMQaPBCzlQ1zPIAndQcsX2_W3-Vu4gvz9VJyGLtLHjh3jXxy9XxAED5qBTgpIxapJEbhx-NbUr73lOeCXeomZbfvQR1YWshLcJ6W9TC-A/s400/GEDC0282.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>This one keeps us in stitches. 'Seems he has the vocabulary of the Wikipedia Dictionary and the humor of a well seasoned comedian. 'Don't know where that comes from? Heeehehe!!! His daddy doesn't appreciate noisy toys but as a baby, Ian learned to flip those suckers over slicker than otter snot to mash the button and turn 'em on. He has an assortment of midget vehicles to ride at his disposal. He'll come cruisin' along and all the sudden come to a screechin' halt announcin' , "Oh no" runnin' off to collect his tool box. Little Tool Man will pull out his drill and wrenches workin' hard under the obviously 'broken' auto. Of course, he always finishes the job successfully.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFFRkGrOoF-z2DhnkbCRwtqCbQZbRzGBszD6s4krW-C-3XsyiuDC9Moe7KnZy5VslW1mS1_nxmjiuXM05mA_KgZpcN4zhO-FappsA9jYl5k9UZdFRqbPpMhn4xQ5EvXJkL2iEikblUBA/s1600/GEDC1656.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFFRkGrOoF-z2DhnkbCRwtqCbQZbRzGBszD6s4krW-C-3XsyiuDC9Moe7KnZy5VslW1mS1_nxmjiuXM05mA_KgZpcN4zhO-FappsA9jYl5k9UZdFRqbPpMhn4xQ5EvXJkL2iEikblUBA/s400/GEDC1656.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>My beautiful daughter, The Social Butterfly, was perplexed when she couldn't locate her kitchen trash can. After searchin' high and low she had to crack up when she discovered that a little Trash Man had used the missing container to turn his jeep into a 'trash truck'. <br /><br />He was playin' with his Mr. Potato Head when he saw his mom strugglin' with a laundry basket tryin' to open the door. Takin' after this brother and tryin' to be a good 'helper' he ran straight to the desperate damsel's rescue. Ian held up the tiny plastic hand of Mr. Potato and offered, "here Mama......need a hand?" I know it was about as useless as a one armed trapeze artist with an itchy armpit but it was so stinkin' cutely clever!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRPvKEnvGVKbmYY4nceg3qAYsRnyTF7CLgRngl-dK5AyFooZ_Hoft98DhleoewMEddb_rexEPpyADkB84FXoFb1WgtId_fN_bvwWdRCXC9KkqpqYcVddUH0sc5LdTgO17EucdHzdTOeM/s1600/GEDC1669.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRPvKEnvGVKbmYY4nceg3qAYsRnyTF7CLgRngl-dK5AyFooZ_Hoft98DhleoewMEddb_rexEPpyADkB84FXoFb1WgtId_fN_bvwWdRCXC9KkqpqYcVddUH0sc5LdTgO17EucdHzdTOeM/s400/GEDC1669.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We had the privilege of eatin' dinner with Butterfly's family a couple weeks ago. After the meal was devoured Social brought in some chocolate chip cookies askin' if anyone wanted one. Itty~Bitty pipes up with, "I loooooooove cookies!!!" It's never a dull moment 'round this little fella. He celebrated his birthday surrounded by family, gifts and a very sinful Ice~Cream Sunday Cake. What's a birthday without a little chocolate oozin' outta your ear?<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDGo_lqXKYa1cnc1kTxXlyebUg4TKAjInhf1A7HtkUwEMbQGUj0UWUXTbSE6HJNXOWR5AegFBlspnelAoOi8ArTQe9F1HG3rhvuqoLes9fpLcyu-mGtiJd43HsdVDmCGYK6vFwgFmeNY/s1600/GEDC1687.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDGo_lqXKYa1cnc1kTxXlyebUg4TKAjInhf1A7HtkUwEMbQGUj0UWUXTbSE6HJNXOWR5AegFBlspnelAoOi8ArTQe9F1HG3rhvuqoLes9fpLcyu-mGtiJd43HsdVDmCGYK6vFwgFmeNY/s400/GEDC1687.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br />Lovin' this one is like sugar in your hand, but not near as grainy. These two brothers hold my heart. They know just like Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston who recorded the hit single in 1965 that,"two walkin' hand-in-hand is like addin' just a pinch of spice." Well, if that don't put the pepper in the Gumbo! Ya can bet the farm that Jacob and Ian know that...." <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiQhw4BarvI&feature=related">It Takes Two</a> "!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-14188942665524437252011-11-03T14:49:00.006-05:002011-11-05T17:42:12.225-05:00A WONDERFUL GUY (I'm as Corny as Kansas in August)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/photos/Image/2008/06/05/nongnghiep.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/photos/Image/2008/06/05/nongnghiep.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sportin' more tassels than a stage full of Vegas striptease artist, she stands strong and tall. Her silky strands blow softly in the wind as her body rustles to and fro in the valley's breeze. The aroma of her sweet perfume arises to greet the afternoon sun. Corn, a member of the grass family, is one of the many crops that are planted here on the Ponderosa. I'm not sure what we were thinkin' this year when we named her our 'Cash Crop'. Now, if that thought wasn't like a lost ball in high weeds!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://maarltd.com/images/business.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://maarltd.com/images/business.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Everybody knows the quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket but that' just not the farm way. We take every blessed cent and put it into our land, herds or machinery. Makin' a livin' on a farm is much like gambelin', we're only a hail storm, flood or drought away from poverty. That's why many farmers have jobs off the farm simply to put food on the table for his family. Lord knows, this is one chick who's learned to squeeze a quarter so tight the eagle screams. It's easy to invest a years salary puttin' a crop in the ground. Due to 'fixed' market reports the price of corn fell harder than a drunk on a corn mash wagon at harvest time. I'd be streachin' it to tell you that it's even gonna cover our expenses but we're still as happy as if we'd had good sense. It's just the way we fly!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaFulrgbUWtzHtrWOJdNyGhADPZ1VtFdcCH1JP8ZktNvoiICdJbulv9YOBEKPF7VOfpydLHDMv_CAZSIOekGk7brWlzS-RxDR8zWufZl33in9H6XcSME8DRQAoqlQb1Gze1ow9s_HyF4/s1600/GEDC0960.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaFulrgbUWtzHtrWOJdNyGhADPZ1VtFdcCH1JP8ZktNvoiICdJbulv9YOBEKPF7VOfpydLHDMv_CAZSIOekGk7brWlzS-RxDR8zWufZl33in9H6XcSME8DRQAoqlQb1Gze1ow9s_HyF4/s400/GEDC0960.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Poor 'Farm Boy', I seem to only take pictures of him when he's dirty. What can I say? The man gets dirty when he's workin' and he's always workin'. No matter what, dusty 'Pigpen' makes my heart swoon today even more than it did almost forty years ago. <br /><br />Did ya'll know that an average ear of corn has 800 kernels in sixteen rows? Who figures this stuff out? If ya bagged up a pound of corn, that bag would contain 1,300 kernels. Each year a single US Farmer provides food and fiber for 129 folks- 97 Americans and 32 on foreign soil. Fifty five per~cent of our corn in the US is shipped to overseas markets. Corn is produced by every continent in the world except Antarctica. Truly, I'm not just hangin' noodles on your ears here.<br /><br />When it's so hot the hens in the hen-house are layin' hard boiled eggs and it's drier than happy hour at the Betty Ford Clinic the leaves and stalks of the corn begin to dry into a crispy brown fiber. As the yellow kernels start to dimple prettier than the face of Shirley Temple, we know it's time to pull in the combine for harvest time on the Ponderosa.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ruralpini.it/images/corn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 360px;" src="http://www.ruralpini.it/images/corn.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This show tune was written especially for Mary Martin's spunky bubbly personality for the original 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, South Pacific. It was later sung by Mitzi Gaynor in the 1958 film adaption. I too can sing "I'm as corny as Kansas in August" or be so stinkin' poor that we have to go down to the local KFC and lick other people's fingers, I can rest in the fact that I'm in love with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reOe-fz2TWA&feature=related">"A WONDERFUL GUY</a>!!!"<br /><br />CORNY JOKE: What did the corn say when she got complimented?<br />ANSWER: "Awwwww......shucks!"Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-31307530279212821462011-10-26T16:47:00.002-05:002011-10-30T07:49:53.254-05:00OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAq17_CiMjTCdboXU6KtUd4aizNX9cbgQ0HeBumcpVERKeRpK5ILPa6tL88L3jHpnX2J-kkZJx0lMXfM0YuJEiNpw3jTR7AOi9b118GzGJdpR-5Sd3LGlhVEQzZ3UNC9WD-juTjx-VZc/s1600/GEDC1730.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAq17_CiMjTCdboXU6KtUd4aizNX9cbgQ0HeBumcpVERKeRpK5ILPa6tL88L3jHpnX2J-kkZJx0lMXfM0YuJEiNpw3jTR7AOi9b118GzGJdpR-5Sd3LGlhVEQzZ3UNC9WD-juTjx-VZc/s400/GEDC1730.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Folks, this chick's wore down like a professional beggar's old shoe. Hubs was tellin' everyone we were goin' on vacation and yes, we did get away from the wild~eyed cattle and off the Ponderosa for a whole week. This is Venus vs. Mars baby and I'm callin' it a "work'cation". That's my final answer and I'm stickin' to it! We just returned from our long trip to Brownsville, Texas to visit my sweet Mama. Don't get me wrong, we go with full intentions of fixin' up and helpin' out as much as we can but I've had the energy of a smashed bug since we returned. Late summer the grandkiddos (I call the Fab~Four) got to make their own little journey to Camp Grandma.<br /><br />Since the Ponderosa is truly over yonder and in the edge of nothin', we have to make our own entertainment. Ya know how you have good intentions of gettin' pictures of everything you've planned to do and then it hits ya the last day of Camp that you've been too stinkin' busy to pick up a camera, little lone take pictures??? Yeah~ me too... so all I've got to show ya'll is the lonely last day of Camp Grandma!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeknm53yV1WEtpWBoj4w94Mq2pjbWPaPiA73Yd66Kfd454uobQbfV-RdYbXcFZO20tR2SYUl8L2Z-rbuZdsGitGLQTkhhyphenhyphen2SeiHDyZk1zT4XOzgN0_unqCO70CWbBZQdoU6cvnOn8qMGw/s1600/GEDC1719.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeknm53yV1WEtpWBoj4w94Mq2pjbWPaPiA73Yd66Kfd454uobQbfV-RdYbXcFZO20tR2SYUl8L2Z-rbuZdsGitGLQTkhhyphenhyphen2SeiHDyZk1zT4XOzgN0_unqCO70CWbBZQdoU6cvnOn8qMGw/s400/GEDC1719.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We went rock climbin'. This is Ethan the clone of his father, Geek Son. This kid is has always been old for his age and knows more than a Philadelphia lawyer. He's generally the first to pull out the leftover fireworks as he loves to have a 'blast' as much as his Rockin' Grandma does. He has a great attitude that spreads just like Kudzu!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRR5uNl3dBTPf-qiD9-I8iR-g_uTqS0mqB1MIp-6jQSlqiXFUPW1dRqeV8hBibGOanSSY__5bpRcQ7JtFfmNm-YtjEOxxKAZOET_oopP7SUZhAIkTNpodgD-cDJKRHH7HuU6KXpr88-U/s1600/GEDC1724.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRR5uNl3dBTPf-qiD9-I8iR-g_uTqS0mqB1MIp-6jQSlqiXFUPW1dRqeV8hBibGOanSSY__5bpRcQ7JtFfmNm-YtjEOxxKAZOET_oopP7SUZhAIkTNpodgD-cDJKRHH7HuU6KXpr88-U/s400/GEDC1724.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We hunted for arrowheads and reptiles in the creek bed. Joel is our mad scientist and agile climber. He's always been able to climb up anything slicker than a harpooned hippo on a wet banana tree. If we ever lose Joel we've learned just to look up. He looks like my Dad and also portrays his prankster personality. When I'm missin' my Daddy all I have to do is look at this face and he flashes me the same familiar smile I grew up with.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aTVhkaz7PqIYf4gGx9Z6h5UONqnnnVlFkS6kmfpSFSCkZXsg3NUR7Drv9d4BeGr6ZQBwCOt9WI-KiepT8mGN7sLI0uKOiYrFRTtQiae7rNWJbG-z5hHbP7JvybyqvBbqJrUQsqo8TuE/s1600/GEDC1728.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aTVhkaz7PqIYf4gGx9Z6h5UONqnnnVlFkS6kmfpSFSCkZXsg3NUR7Drv9d4BeGr6ZQBwCOt9WI-KiepT8mGN7sLI0uKOiYrFRTtQiae7rNWJbG-z5hHbP7JvybyqvBbqJrUQsqo8TuE/s400/GEDC1728.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We collected beautiful rocks. Some we're oddly shaped while others glittered in the beautiful summer sunlight. Little Miss Laura Ingalls...oops...I mean, Little Miss Sarah won the "Most Accidents Award" at Camp Grandma. I swear, this one could get hurt in a padded rubber room! She was injured so often, she'd look like she was gonna start cryin' like a pine knot in a sawmill then we'd look at each other and start laughin'. Cracked me up! Good thing she's tougher than a hungry one eared alley cat yet as sweet as southern tea!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB7p-dsFaTxH_wBH7hQWMAT-669aFfXTiX_DP8LaVbqYi2-8jinpkA3uvdiKim-hhFlHl_P7vg4l8PDzuIFwdNaph9OhzOLi-URS1ofCi1u0k62x3rJuk-mwtwV7GNv2oYdQrvUy1ThY/s1600/GEDC1726.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB7p-dsFaTxH_wBH7hQWMAT-669aFfXTiX_DP8LaVbqYi2-8jinpkA3uvdiKim-hhFlHl_P7vg4l8PDzuIFwdNaph9OhzOLi-URS1ofCi1u0k62x3rJuk-mwtwV7GNv2oYdQrvUy1ThY/s400/GEDC1726.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>We picked beautiful wildflowers. Prettier than a box full of speckled pups, (Mini~Me) Miss Honor shares my love (sick obsession) of flowers. Durin' Camp Grandma she dissected flower petals and covered my entire deck with a mass of brilliant color. (Sorry, no pics...I was busy feedin' the masses.) She's an artistic little soul with a heart as big as Texas and truly believes that she's a royal princess. Watchin' her is like peerin' through the lookin' glass at my little girl self.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQKIeFn24YPucOiTNyWlGGhX1tIT2mQb7NPFS_FkrDFXrlGYTSUlXEb_Z0Adz0x9sx_DPk-hrxcQjMucgg_iAb3VHvFPZ60PZers_OSR31hmx6PC8xKhjtDQ2cCTNA-Ibm1Gmua8Hl_4/s1600/GEDC1733.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQKIeFn24YPucOiTNyWlGGhX1tIT2mQb7NPFS_FkrDFXrlGYTSUlXEb_Z0Adz0x9sx_DPk-hrxcQjMucgg_iAb3VHvFPZ60PZers_OSR31hmx6PC8xKhjtDQ2cCTNA-Ibm1Gmua8Hl_4/s400/GEDC1733.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>We hiked many miles but someone with tired little feet thumbed a ride to hitchhike the rest of the way home with the help of big brother. Some people are just as cute as the dickens and know how to use it.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQKUye7FoAw-iIKmeW5R4sQz1WDSVdshejwYu2uznAvQyP3PnyMhnu4EIJxHZgKwQlJivaMKg3-MtJ6vzLxEVDrAGTzRGF44e23Iwkz35vUzwFRSBmEO_0fCXnll7uowEOaX_s6eaU-k/s1600/GEDC1736.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQKUye7FoAw-iIKmeW5R4sQz1WDSVdshejwYu2uznAvQyP3PnyMhnu4EIJxHZgKwQlJivaMKg3-MtJ6vzLxEVDrAGTzRGF44e23Iwkz35vUzwFRSBmEO_0fCXnll7uowEOaX_s6eaU-k/s400/GEDC1736.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>It was hotter than a mess of collard greens on the back of Granny Walden's old wood cook stove that week so there was lots of swimmin' where Honor lost her fear of the water. She sure gave the 'boys' a run for their money!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mqWQ2OK64yRgU5ZLzGuS-miAraJHcbfn37VqAFtrZxcvGDoKGY1krF4V9Ccm3ngLZu2VLy_G_IYOFZjXQpKYc90_sT-jUysz0UFgH6WNhT7Sg8BIWl2GFYEaprEP4UF18zzaUeE0S40/s1600/GEDC1740.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mqWQ2OK64yRgU5ZLzGuS-miAraJHcbfn37VqAFtrZxcvGDoKGY1krF4V9Ccm3ngLZu2VLy_G_IYOFZjXQpKYc90_sT-jUysz0UFgH6WNhT7Sg8BIWl2GFYEaprEP4UF18zzaUeE0S40/s400/GEDC1740.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I had trouble keepin' the Toothless Wonder's water wings on her. She wanted to fearlessly swim across the pool without 'em. We struck up a bargain where she wore the wings the first half of the swim then she let Grandma Muzzie stick close by the last half. See that florescent lime green mat floatin' in the background? 'Doesn't float so good anymore. Heehehhee!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIUsBGDrzZs_N2CxHlwYSlLJjPtSKKuNiRYfU23vZkMLe725SvoMLVD3PKn8fzr2HvJWfTHr3EABPfXuh6SPy1hAFvVfvIfo2fMzytlDRKj9jnzi-MSUAhKvWlugotkTVa1PLn59i4H4/s1600/GEDC1745.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIUsBGDrzZs_N2CxHlwYSlLJjPtSKKuNiRYfU23vZkMLe725SvoMLVD3PKn8fzr2HvJWfTHr3EABPfXuh6SPy1hAFvVfvIfo2fMzytlDRKj9jnzi-MSUAhKvWlugotkTVa1PLn59i4H4/s400/GEDC1745.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Look out Ester Williams, we performed synchronized Olympic water maneuvers with grace, style and attitude baby!!! We ate things like Frog Eyes, Shriveled Bat Wings with Possum Poop, Sugar Coated Moths and Slimy Blood Worms. We never, ever eat 'regular' food at Camp Grandmas. 'Wouldn't be prudent!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXcl1ncsIgN61psIt5xuLDULJzze8f_y6hc6fenoU_ZuaNfUXgYE-isSY05F67nhbZxgFVQVMjy-MXacoyxFg6vDPoWEK2M5Bvj7O-mKXM993g5AvU9fb3kpkRlqYoCXVnYWQSPnqbYc/s1600/GEDC1749.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXcl1ncsIgN61psIt5xuLDULJzze8f_y6hc6fenoU_ZuaNfUXgYE-isSY05F67nhbZxgFVQVMjy-MXacoyxFg6vDPoWEK2M5Bvj7O-mKXM993g5AvU9fb3kpkRlqYoCXVnYWQSPnqbYc/s400/GEDC1749.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>When we tired of hikin', climbin', swimin' and smashin' giant boulders we still had the energy to battle Galactic beings and conquer the universe. They do have the genes of that caped wonder 'Super Nezzy', ya know?<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJbB1GvMQc9qPSH6iLPt4FfUYY3AjTEMKLz8lTnhzojdwUVln3RGSblRw4DVb3OQWnyc1xP-42WCbH2t5HO40JpzPZeVqbwnOBb-x1IkSj0ME5umyLJSuIotkzmDm4ACA7A2dtLSh3ac/s1600/GEDC1721.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJbB1GvMQc9qPSH6iLPt4FfUYY3AjTEMKLz8lTnhzojdwUVln3RGSblRw4DVb3OQWnyc1xP-42WCbH2t5HO40JpzPZeVqbwnOBb-x1IkSj0ME5umyLJSuIotkzmDm4ACA7A2dtLSh3ac/s400/GEDC1721.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Most of all we had loads of smiles and heaps of fun. "Over the River and Through the Woods" was originally written as a Thanksgiving poem in 1844 by Lydia Maria Child from her childhood memories of visitin' her own grandparents home. It wasn't 'till 1951 the Andrews Sisters and Danny Kaye put it to music as the song we know today. I pray the memories made at Camp Grandma will make my grandkiddos sing happily forevermore, "Over the River and Through the Woods" to Grandmothers house we go!!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRDivdSl51kE3WFdVw87RBA_BAjqPElVBdYUBR_zbSiPf8IuBa1yprO-MTBtEVaePb06F8YtcBpDAhgUONQyMqhzdrSu7oCHg9_ruk6dNXQpbkskSWlNfK7KeVpLIw9rO7BZilH0ITwo/s1600/GEDC1732.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRDivdSl51kE3WFdVw87RBA_BAjqPElVBdYUBR_zbSiPf8IuBa1yprO-MTBtEVaePb06F8YtcBpDAhgUONQyMqhzdrSu7oCHg9_ruk6dNXQpbkskSWlNfK7KeVpLIw9rO7BZilH0ITwo/s400/GEDC1732.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div> HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!!!!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zl5r76hVYF0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com124tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-54538510242298741552011-10-18T04:00:00.002-05:002011-10-22T20:05:35.438-05:00ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMhPmJGFLkRctVRl-34Ao4fhlLRQxZOMlinTDsdwkMiSKPE5MgUC3F6Kg_zmuqZh42TkjNwAmcx6SLZK_b1YovF9-5pv75Gv-2GdcA3x1cyTztjXLMjISZdZ27U3RnYzzPiO_qMnAXKw/s1600/GEDC1754.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMhPmJGFLkRctVRl-34Ao4fhlLRQxZOMlinTDsdwkMiSKPE5MgUC3F6Kg_zmuqZh42TkjNwAmcx6SLZK_b1YovF9-5pv75Gv-2GdcA3x1cyTztjXLMjISZdZ27U3RnYzzPiO_qMnAXKw/s400/GEDC1754.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Charmin' as a long shot candidate on Election Eve, Angel has had a horrifically difficult year . August 2010 this beautiful gal had a tumor removed from the base of her brain-steam and was diagnosed with Medullobastoma .She was lifted with God's love and masses of prayers as she seized the moon with her teeth and beat the cancer odds. I have to tell ya'll my heart was heavy the day she told me she was tired of the fight. Her bony body was unsteadily frail and she was so stinkin' skinny she'd need to run around in the shower to get wet. Doctors found puttin' weight on our Earth Angel was kinda like tryin' to put a dress on a worm. I'm pleased to say that Angel had her last souped up mega blast of chemo in September. Three weeks later it hit her like a ton of bricks when she lost her hair...again! She tells me it's difficult to remember a time before she had cancer. It's been all consuming for her.<br /><br />Angel Dawn is now a full fledged seventh grader attendin' Tiny Town Middle School. Her favorite part of school is lunch (the girl does love to eat) and gettin' to participate in PE with her friends. The spunky little doll says havin' cancer has made her trust others, especially her family. Like any teen she loves the music of Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne and Zach Brown. Although she still adores purple, she's quite smitten with blues and greens too. Angel is ecstatic that she's able to go outside and do 'normal' things like pick up walnuts and play with her animals. I saw the old twinkle return in her eye when she boasted "I jumped this week!" I have observed that she has become more self~confident and outgoin' through her illness.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOJ6EzPX-MICpp8C-GWUAq8QhjiA4tB0R-HZlHSEfSWlmzL2UsFSnl26C1nPUOfEZeaLP7eML4-bhPy4dXpHaveDaxB2KHTA1ut4EXCv98tFhtUKDccJALONwFz5gD-6M0QKS7Mm2Kro/s1600/GEDC1757.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOJ6EzPX-MICpp8C-GWUAq8QhjiA4tB0R-HZlHSEfSWlmzL2UsFSnl26C1nPUOfEZeaLP7eML4-bhPy4dXpHaveDaxB2KHTA1ut4EXCv98tFhtUKDccJALONwFz5gD-6M0QKS7Mm2Kro/s400/GEDC1757.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />Today she is stronger and has plumped up a bit. Isn't she prettier than the precious perfectly spotless lamb of Passover??? Ya gotta love that smile! She occasionally misses her friends at the hospital but doesn't miss the needles one bit. Angel returns to the hospital monthly to have her port flushed and every three months for a cancer recheck.<br /><br />The girl's as happy as a hog in slop when she's in the presence of animals. She wants to be a Veterinarian or Board Animals when she grows up. Her current menagerie consists of six goats, five cats, twenty chickens, four callin' geese (forgive me, I have not self~control), five ducks, twenty~eight rabbits and the gerbils are multiplyin' to rapidly to count. Eat that Dr. Doolittle!!!<br /><br />Amy Grant sings "God only knows the times my life was threatened just today." This Ozark Farm Chick must confess that watchin' Angel fight her battle tried my faith to the max this summer. The 1984 song that won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance states, "If your asking me what's protecting me, then you're gonna hear me say: ' Got His angels watching over me, every move I make." Angel Dawn can belt out first hand that He's got His <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNIO9KH3UC8&noredirect=1">"Angels Watching Over Me</a>!!!"<br /><br />Please read Angels amazin' story <a href="http://cowpattysurprise.blogspot.com/2010/08/pretty-little-angel-eyes_26.html">here</a> (Pretty Little Angel Eyes) and <a href="http://cowpattysurprise.blogspot.com/2011/02/earth-angel.html">here</a> (Earth Angel).<br /><br />*Angel is a neighbor of the Ponderosa. She is also one of my Sunday School students and a member of my Kid's Church. Would ya'll join with me in prayer that she remains cancer free?Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com111tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-40621029761087782192011-10-10T15:41:00.002-05:002011-10-13T22:24:05.328-05:00PUPPY LOVE<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOdjQmn04dV2jL4NP0kn8YcsHH9se7GCR58LiFbZDPj4JkzVJ2XpduHc8uibQduTqiMeHKlqe8iZgifBTvDqX9Ts5BnDo81jhYNV23fY0-I3u_9bEAul6OWcxEbK_DJF1RgUFsSUX_Fk/s1600/GEDC1718.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOdjQmn04dV2jL4NP0kn8YcsHH9se7GCR58LiFbZDPj4JkzVJ2XpduHc8uibQduTqiMeHKlqe8iZgifBTvDqX9Ts5BnDo81jhYNV23fY0-I3u_9bEAul6OWcxEbK_DJF1RgUFsSUX_Fk/s400/GEDC1718.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Her name could have easily been Hatchet, Buzz Saw or Wood Chopper but 'round here she's known as Pepper. This little Blue Heeler is wound tighter than a new girdle and has the jaw force to gnaw through most anything. Bred in Queensland, Australia, these popular ranch dogs are cultivated to herd wild~eyed cattle by 'nippin' at their heels. That's how she came to acquire her second name, Nipper. She joined the Ponderosa early this spring where she practiced her 'nipper' skills on this Ozark Farm Chick's naked heels. Now, that's about as cozy as wearin' barbwire panties. Ya'll should of seen the back of my heels! Ouch!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlUEVhKmteMbbM-cOOjdT4IqXsablL0UXQTfgXVsEiSp4QN2WC1E6O0pf0iy4uhHHUgB8M5k3d3lxh665-VFyv6HhxID4LqB5eHWFFIeFBjuXY0w8G9lkPkuZSmWtWkAeth-LJeM8dko/s1600/GEDC1717.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlUEVhKmteMbbM-cOOjdT4IqXsablL0UXQTfgXVsEiSp4QN2WC1E6O0pf0iy4uhHHUgB8M5k3d3lxh665-VFyv6HhxID4LqB5eHWFFIeFBjuXY0w8G9lkPkuZSmWtWkAeth-LJeM8dko/s400/GEDC1717.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />I do declare, trainin' Pepper Nipper not to jump on others or chase cars is goin' slower than a bread wagon on biscuit wheels down a dirt road. When this little prunin' expert sees cars or bodies she's off slicker than a chased greased hog on a downhill run. I swear she was more obedient as an itty~bitty puppy than she is now. She's gotta be in those rebellious 'teen' years.<br /><br />Pepper has cluttered my otherwise immaculate yard 'cause anything she can drag, carry or kill ends up smack in the middle of it. She could chew the north end off a south bound polecat (skunk) or most anything else. She has pulled the drain tubing outta the bottom of my car, eaten the corners off the house, bedded down in my daylilies and massacred a forest of cannas. 'Chews 'em off right at the base folks and hollers, "timber"! The other day I was workin' in my rose garden when she nipped off all open blooms off slicker than a schoolmarm's leg. Hubs tried to convenience me our little Nipper was just helpin' deadhead and truly wasn't out to slaughter my beautiful gardens. Nope, this chick's not buyin' it! It's a conspiracy...she's disserverin' my efforts.<br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UyXzwtIlZyg?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UyXzwtIlZyg?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifflash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="360" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />Puttin' all her trouble aside, Pepper Nipper is as smart as they come and very affectionate. She's always at my side (or on my heels) and will forever be my protector 'cause she's loyal that way. The song written and sang by <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=iQPUU7axWA0">Paul Anka</a> for his girlfriend Annette Funicello (yep, they were really datin') hit the Billboard Hot 100 single chart in 1960. Donny Osmond's 1972 version is the more familiar adaption we all know and love today. Although Pepper tries my patience to the max and back again, I've definitely found myself fallin deep into this "Puppy Love"!!!Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-51460833339051396342011-10-03T14:45:00.002-05:002011-10-08T13:59:16.756-05:00IT'S GROWING<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuZVLaXt7JnscbbKQrgzbNrK1Y4Ff718_TRfya9QPDFo1lyIJwSQYi-wYqoEsFqOv36ZfGXqIcFZq8nCIrLeMlwbVAj7no23vPJJepWSLeT5Mtw6WQVqFK_EIwD2RH9YytNKt6zRXWHE/s1600/GEDC1773.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuZVLaXt7JnscbbKQrgzbNrK1Y4Ff718_TRfya9QPDFo1lyIJwSQYi-wYqoEsFqOv36ZfGXqIcFZq8nCIrLeMlwbVAj7no23vPJJepWSLeT5Mtw6WQVqFK_EIwD2RH9YytNKt6zRXWHE/s400/GEDC1773.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Barren as a freshly spaded female dog, this ginormous hole in the ground sat empty and lifeless a good part of the summer. We had just enjoyed a wonderful Ozark shower before the bulldozer was summoned thinkin' it would make for an easy dig. Mr. Burly Tobacco Spittin' Dozer Man uncovered earth that was drier that lizzard spit on a hot rock only an inch below the surface. The in-ground silo was dug just awaitin' some form of life.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSDV1YZMfukbs_zT8qby60zPNUGxSNATmtpNYf2RRa155GlAYTsAoSvCSxX0_EwoAh9y0w_SZ_JVjTCBQIs13pvWFq-3axvOP9R5I5Ih1qtfaUy4tLkMetpkSOC9mZWZ5EX00Tb_D3jQ/s1600/GEDC1778.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSDV1YZMfukbs_zT8qby60zPNUGxSNATmtpNYf2RRa155GlAYTsAoSvCSxX0_EwoAh9y0w_SZ_JVjTCBQIs13pvWFq-3axvOP9R5I5Ih1qtfaUy4tLkMetpkSOC9mZWZ5EX00Tb_D3jQ/s400/GEDC1778.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Meanwhile, down in the bottom land there was activity takin' place. Hubs had planted a couple of the fields in dwarf sorghum this year. Yep folks, ya heard me right, this stuff was "dwarf". Can ya imagine if we planted the "giant" stuff? In spite of spring floods, tornadoes and summer drought this species of heavy headed grass yielded a whoppin' 311 tons. Woohoo baby, the cows are gonna eat high on the hog this winter just like my hunka'~ hunka' burnin' love who's outstandin' in his field! I love this man!!!<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE6mxYoZxpFQdV5rBqi8oMaClhyTdBU03TVPiU1suNPerOf1lE6uoF2WPPVX3-zftf0N9BTAHPuVh4Cm5Zw6JjQY3X-7vTB_k05CR9to-khL_OnN79w-o1eP9CS-uO4wm_wovRGrkBoA/s1600/GEDC1782.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE6mxYoZxpFQdV5rBqi8oMaClhyTdBU03TVPiU1suNPerOf1lE6uoF2WPPVX3-zftf0N9BTAHPuVh4Cm5Zw6JjQY3X-7vTB_k05CR9to-khL_OnN79w-o1eP9CS-uO4wm_wovRGrkBoA/s400/GEDC1782.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The chopper ate it's way through the fields like a hungry 'coon knawin' on a juicy ear of corn fillin' up one truck's appetite after another. We chopped our sorghum into silage (livestock feed) but with over thirty varieties it abounds in uses. It can be used to make syrup, molasses, fodder, alcoholic beverages, feed grain and seed. The trucks ran hard fillin' up our big barren hole in the ground where it suddenly took on a hue as green a gourd guts.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4upmd8E7U0n_9IZVDLy49nUlR2Ucc2bNeeEbfjbKtJKVY1wCFFnzDFuGx9QaP6tFRLRd5l4-hiAZgAjv6TlTpfbn3MwZ0tiDGgq3sU4Eww8IvzoQU3o1GPT0r2dGAHSmEayZ5PYCkf20/s1600/GEDC1777.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4upmd8E7U0n_9IZVDLy49nUlR2Ucc2bNeeEbfjbKtJKVY1wCFFnzDFuGx9QaP6tFRLRd5l4-hiAZgAjv6TlTpfbn3MwZ0tiDGgq3sU4Eww8IvzoQU3o1GPT0r2dGAHSmEayZ5PYCkf20/s400/GEDC1777.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>Tractors packed the green morsels down as tight as a camel's derriere in a sand storm while the trucks continued pilin' more in. The heat of the product began to radiate the sweetest smell arisin' from the once comatose cavern. New life grew as nature's enzymes worked hard to produce a priceless commodity. The choppin' crew said, "we ain't never seen a crop like this before!" Our phones began ringin' almost immediately with farmers wanting to book and purchase the quality livestock feed. Ya'll gotta remember...it's Tiny Town...word travels faster than an hyperactive auctioneer high on coffee can holler, "sold!"<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymx07F63WEgFfL86nEvyFyVnBDj5v4FbpnS6wZjmElIY1nhka5XILIT3XxsWeOaY1hN9WBa0erONffgtJW-jtvPcC36Czp9eaDnVaYFYqdi-GjzesATj4lDCsvWgDes9OwKrNT3VZCUU/s1600/GEDC1770.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymx07F63WEgFfL86nEvyFyVnBDj5v4FbpnS6wZjmElIY1nhka5XILIT3XxsWeOaY1hN9WBa0erONffgtJW-jtvPcC36Czp9eaDnVaYFYqdi-GjzesATj4lDCsvWgDes9OwKrNT3VZCUU/s400/GEDC1770.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I got to thinkin' that big old hole in the ground is kinda like a life without God, empty, barren and unproductive. Then ya plant the love of the Lord in our hearts and it simply makes us priceless children of God. Now, ya'll gotta love that transformation more than fresh molasses drippin' off a homemade biscuit. My Mini~Me asked Jesus into her heart a little over a year ago and kept it to herself for awhile 'cause she didn't want to hurt her daddy's feelings. She thought he might feel bad 'cause she now had a Second Daddy~God the Father. Doesn't that just melt your pea~pickin' hearts?<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_c6zmx6Io6aJV_m6l7HYcCKM8vP63-ElPAMSIsjnkORPRWYFrGuw2LPNYh3l_H5m-jDabdp0YtXiop-3FI4QbYIOqkWcOtnrd5f1VRE0g8719-G4MW_ooy-vaSIpOwzymE3ewRfUxjA/s1600/GEDC1765.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_c6zmx6Io6aJV_m6l7HYcCKM8vP63-ElPAMSIsjnkORPRWYFrGuw2LPNYh3l_H5m-jDabdp0YtXiop-3FI4QbYIOqkWcOtnrd5f1VRE0g8719-G4MW_ooy-vaSIpOwzymE3ewRfUxjA/s400/GEDC1765.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" com="" img="" giftarget="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br />This summer Miss Honor decided to take a stand and be baptized, her public obedient declaration that she has decided to follow Jesus. Our little princess is not barren. The Temptations said it well when they sang,"like the rose bud blooming in the warmth of the summer sun," in the song written by Smokey Robinson back in 1965. I'm just pleased as punch to say that little Honor's faith, walk and relationship with God..." <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucmBlSBNhl0">It's Growing</a>!!!"Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com124tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8453489823242941473.post-21852850152734379442011-09-27T20:35:00.002-05:002011-10-01T11:18:13.276-05:00IT'S A MAN'S MAN'S MAN'S WORLD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0001.jpg?t=1317158668"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0001.jpg?t=1317158668" alt="" border="0" /></a>The day was prettier than a fat spotted pig standin' smack in the middle of a Missouri cornfield. It was June 18, 1997. 'Twas the day Geek Son had a job interview and my lovely daughter~in ~love , The <a href="http://whitetrashmama.blogspot.com/">Latin Lovin' Hillbilly</a>, had a late stage doctor's appointment. This Ozark Farm chick was the designated driver for her appointment in the Big City. "I've been leakin' all mornin, is that a problem," was the question. "Hon, your water is breakin'... ya need to call your doctor right away," was my reply. Plantin' both feet firmly in the ground the well rounded Latin insisted we eat first. Mexican!!! She'd heard those stories how you couldn't eat while in labor so off to a Mexican Restaurant we went. Nope, this one couldn't survive on ice chips alone. Our Hillbilly sweetheart called her doctor's office as soon as the last bite was consumed. Faster than a hound can suck an egg we hoofed it off to the exam room where our soon to be mama was whisked away to the hospital. That was the day I called Geek Son away from his interview. Comin' by it quite natural, the babe ate salsa and chips before he had the teeth to eat 'em. Meet Ethan Issac, the center of attention at his first birthday party.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0002.jpg?t=1317159151"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0002.jpg?t=1317159151" alt="" border="0" /></a>He was the first grandkiddo to ride a tractor. Yep folks, gotta start 'em young 'round these parts!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0003-1.jpg?t=1317159385"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0003-1.jpg?t=1317159385" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ethan or 'Ike' as we sometimes call him, was the first put in the old washtub to eat his chocolate Easter bunny. Ya'll know what a twisted neat freak I am. It worked so dang well, I'd do it again!!! Matter of fact...I did. Heeehehehee!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0004.jpg?t=1317159530"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0004.jpg?t=1317159530" alt="" border="0" /></a>This clone of his father, is an bright inquisitive child who drank in every experience with enthusiasm and gusto. He's always been a sweet tenderhearted child who has never gotten to old to give his Grandma Muzzie a great big squeeze.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0005.jpg?t=1317159793"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0005.jpg?t=1317159793" alt="" border="0" /></a>As he got older, he grew a patch of hair on his chest, a mustache under his sniffer and he started talkin' like a briny pirate. 'Just one of the many great birthday parties The Latin Lovin' Hillbilly has thrown her handsome pirate.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0006.jpg?t=1317160447"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/scan0006.jpg?t=1317160447" alt="" border="0" /></a>Faster than the swish of a cow's tail on a humid Ozark summer day, Ethan appeared to become a rebel. I said appeared ya'll, don't let the vision of this fine young man fool ya. He's a kind thoughtful young man of God.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/GEDC1684.jpg?t=1317169282"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy212/Cowpattysurprise/GEDC1684.jpg?t=1317169282" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sure shootin' this is one fella makes this rockin' grandma more blessed than the first mosquito that entered a nudist camp. My heart is full. Just as James Brown sang back in 1966 in his number one hit on his Billboard Top R&B single, Ethan has a fine strong foundation for walkin' right into " <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKPiBeZOkxg&feature=related">It's a Man's Man's Man's World</a> !!!"<br /><br />BTW: Geek Son still works for the company today where he missed that first interview. :o)Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10175389676508928061noreply@blogger.com99