THREE BLIND MICE

It's colder than a two day corpse in an ice house and the multi~layers of frozen glaze on the ground range from freezin' rain to fluffy wet snow. Here on the Ponderosa we feed critters....all sorts of critters. This is one Ozark gal who feeds wild birds year round. Rocky the squirrel always has an ear of corn hangin' on the big Oak tree to nibble when a cravin' strikes him and Tiger the Wonder Dog continuously enjoys a full meal deal. The cattle always have well rounded meals and the donkeys tummies are plump. I have to admit I've seen,'coon, 'possum, skunk, armadillo, coyotes, deer, wolves, big cats, lost horses, neighbors buffalo and yes even bears takin' advantage of our generous portions but there is one thing 'round these parts that is about as welcome as an outhouse breeze in the heat of summer are mice. Even worse are their giant kissin' cousins 'RATS'!!! Big fat furry bold overfed rats!

I would walk around the place doin' chores hearin' little movements 'round the foundation. Since the place is surrounded by active birds, lizards and who knows what that will sun on my steppin' stones on a warm day, I truly didn't give it a second thought 'til one day after unloadin' my supplies I noticed somethin' dart by outta the corner of my eye. Bein' the curious chick I am I decided to make like Nancy Drew (didn't ya just love those books???) to take the watch and wait approach. Much to my surprise a well fed rodent zipped straight to Tiger's dog dish grabbed a kibble, devoured it then helped himself to more. Since Tiger wasn't present, 'cause he was at my Mother~in~Love's runnin' with her dog Bobby (Kinda like Dumb and Dumber, did I ever mention that Tiger is about as sharp as a bowl of mashed 'taders???) I removed his dish from the scene. I offered up a delightfully delicious dish of green Decon pellets and impatiently waited. Heaven help me here... I'm not a patient kinda gal! Almost immediately I had three rats feastin' on their poisonous banquet. I watched them devour three large Jiffy Peanut-butter lids filled with Decon then after a playful game of tag 'round the tires of my car one of the little fellas curled up on my doormat and took a leisurely nap. This is the moment I picked up the phone and demanded Hubby to bring somethin' 'stronger' home 'cause I wasnt' havin' no 'Watch Rat' on my doorstep and the Decon was about as useful as buttons on a dishrag at this point!!!

The little furry fellas finished off my supply so I brought their platter in. The next time I passed by the French door there stood three fuzzy varmints searchin' for their dish lookin' in at me as to say, " oh please, pretty please Mam, may we have just one more morsel???" Later that day I put out the 'bait' that was used at our local feed mill to keep such critters at bay, surly that would be the death of my new found friends. Thanks Hubs, sorry for the bossiness but times like these call for a chick to be a bit demandin'. Heck, these Super Rodents were cartin' off my ten pound supply of Hombri Mini Blocks off faster than I could put 'em out. No doubt for the big orgy they were were plannin' to have above our family room that night. I made the little ferrous tenants my famous poison peanut-butter balls. Ya know the ones my dear DIL said, "If Mom kicks the bucket, were not takin' anything outta her freezer 'cause we'd be dippin' 'em in chocolate and eatin' them!!!! The ones that almost always insure sudden death but this time my deadly treat didn't work any better than a rubber-nosed woodpecker in a petrified forest. This was war!!! Somethin's eatin' my storage building!!! Really, gnawed a big old hole right through the thing and it has big thick wood siding. I purchased some Just One Bite, a warfarin free product as was the Hombre, and placed it everywhere. I made the peanut~butter balls outta it, I mixed quick set concrete and granola with it. It's been several days since I've heard the pitter patter of little toes or the gnashin' of teeth. Hopefully... I've seen the last of their antics!!!

This English nursery rhyme and musical round was published in "the Seconde part of Musics Melodie in 1609 by the teenage author Thomas Ravenscroff. We as humans are far too often as blind as those three blind mice. We walk around with blinders so busy and burdened with cares that we can't see the 'Light' that surrounds us every blessed day. God is our light but folks Satan is workin' overtime. He is out to steal our joy, ruin families and darken our days. Today I beg you to pause, take off those dark glasses and enjoy the rays of His real truth. Bask in the warm lovin' light that our Heavenly Father brings 'cause I sure don't want to end up in total darkness like one of those "Three Blind Mice!!!"

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

The road is long, eleven hundred and forty-five miles down and eleven hundred and forty-five miles back. There are times the miles seem to crawl by slower than a slimy snail drunk on molasses crawlin' up an ice hill in January. I knew the trip would be a difficult one but this Ozark Farm Chick had no clue how stressful it would be. We have traveled this road many times before but this time the trip to Brownsville, Texas was for my Daddy's memorial service. It would be the last goodbye and a time for closure.

I was lookin' forward to leavin' the frigid temperatures behind but dang, if we didn't hit ice in Temple, Texas and the the temps in Brownsville were colder than a bankers heart on foreclosure day at the widow's and orphan's home. I didn't expect the shingles to come along and play tag over the Grand Tetons on the second day of the trip. I'd rather jump barefoot off a six foot ladder into a five gallon bucket full of porcupines than to speak in front of a room full of adults but Mom requested me to offer up a tribute for my Daddy . Yep, I sucked it up, swallowed my fear, shoved down my emotions and presented it just for my sweet Mama. I had this Norman Rockwell vision of family time togetherness but the days were full and crazier than a run over dog. I have to praise my children for jumpin' in to do whatever it took to support my Mama and contribute to the beautiful service.

Dad himself was a giver and would of been so proud of the generations he helped to create. He sure was delighted to be a grandpa himself to my two in the photo above. Dad was there to pick me up when I fell. He's the one who always made sure I had 'enough' money. He's the one who brought a truck filled with ten bred heifers to help stock the Ponderosa. The one to put Geek Son in his first saddle. The man who told me with conviction that Social Butterfly would survive her heart surgeries and grow up someday to make me a grandmother. What can I say? The man knew his stuff!!! I just pray that I can offer love and support to my family in a way that would make my Daddy's eyes light up and plant that big old ear to ear grin of his face.



Dad was honored with a twenty-one gun salute and the most beautiful flag ceremony I have ever witnessed. A slide show of Dad's life was presented throughout the service. The family released red, white, and blue star balloons were soared into the heavens and a wonderful meal was shared with dear friends and family. Just like our journey, life is like a long and winding road. This was one of the last Beatles song that Paul McCartney wrote back in 1969. Paul actually had Ray Charles in mind as he wrote the words but the road didn't go there. Just as I am elated to be back home, I know in my heart my Daddy is too, 'cause he too has traveled "The Long And Winding Road."

GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME

The Ozark skies were grayin' and there was a crisp wet feel in the air that confirmed a dreaded Missouri ice storm was headed our way. It was January fifth nineteen hundred and seventy three. This Ozark Farm Chick could be heard beltin' out the song, "I'm gettin' married in the mornin'! Ding dong! The bells are gonna chime....", from Mama's little country kitchen as I prepared the rehearsal dinner. The circumstances were definitely not desirable for the perfect dream weddin'. Mother Nature had blessed us with a most horrific ice storm as a wedding present, the wrong flowers were delivered to me and mine were a guest at another weddin', the photographer did not show...Heck, he didn't even bother to call. The handsome little ring bearer ran across my train and ripped it from my dress. Just a typical hitchin'...right??

Well this is one gal who wasn't gonna let a few mind blowin' disasters keep her from marrin' the man of her dreams. I AM Nezzy ya know!!! The Best Man drove all night and delivered the groom's parents and grandmother. Even though they were sittin' in different towns the flowers were switched, just in time. Who needs a professional photographer when ya have a future sister~in~law with a trusty brownie flash camera willing to snap away??? Oh my goodness glory, thank heavens for the extra diaper pins we discovered in the church's nursery to pin the train back on my dress. Despite the horrific circumstances we said our, "I~dos'!

Thirty eight years ago I sang the song that Alfred P. Doolittle sang in the 1956 musical "My Fair Lady" as I cooked and listened to my Grandmother Dow (Ma) gigglin' at me in the background. Thirty eight years ago on January sixth I married the man on my dreams after beltin' out that old show-tune song...."Get Me To The Church On Time!!!"

.........and they moved to the Ponderosa and lived happily ever after! I just love a happy ending.

You've Got a Friend

The tendency to strongly desire the best for one another could depict friendship. Some characteristics of a good buddy might be showin' sympathy and empathy. Ya'll want your friend to be honest, understandin' and compassionate. I don't know 'bout you but I want to trust my friend and receive emotional support. I'm not askin' too much here, am I? Friendship is completely a give and take relationship. The Good Book says in Proverbs 18:24 that , "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. We all have access to Jesus...the perfect eternal friend but baby we're mortal and need those great flesh and blood friends too. In that category this very blessed Ozark gal has had some chummy bosom chums. Yep, we're tight like a wet swimsuit two sizes too small on a long ride home from the lake.

When I was just a young chicklet I had the best girlfriend a gal could ever hope for. (That's me next to my little dog Tiny.) Why, we were as tight as pages in a big old book and as happy as a dog with two tails. We met in the first grade 'cause back in the day we didn't have kindergarten. We traveled through elementary school, high school and college together. Where you'd see one you were gonna see the other. Yep, we hung together like long hair in a biscuit. Folks, could I tell ya'll some stories! When we married, we were Maid of Honor in each others weddings but years and miles have separated us in body but not the bond of friendship we share.

I met my grown-up best friend at Church. Not that she replaced my childhood friend at all but it's just a different kinda friendship. She is a sweet spirited gal who loves the Lord with all her heart and my adult years has been better 'cause she has touched my life in only the way a great friend can. I always know my secrets are as safe as a tick on a stiff necked dog with her and I can count on her for absolutely anything. She is my cohort, companion and confidaunt who just makes me as happy as a lone rooster in the hen house!!!

While makin' the long trip back from Brownsville Texas last October, I was about as low as a gal could get. Knowin' that I would never see my Daddy again and bein' so far away from my family, it was the toughest trip I've ever made. Under the best circumstances, it is a difficult drive. The one way the journey is 1145 miles long. We had spent the night in Arkansas where I know my good old bloggin' buddy lived. I knew she lived in Tiny Town and that she worked at the Post Office. We got up the next mornin' and I asked Hubby if we by any chance traveled through Tiny Town and he said, "no...but we could."After travelin' up a mountain on the windin' roads where ya saw the road below had me shakin' like a scared cat in a dog pound, we reached the Post Office of Tiny Town where I requested Gail. "She don't work here,"...."She works over in Teeny Town." My Hubs bein' the hunka hunka burnin' love he is drove me to Teeny Town as exhausted as we were to meet my beautiful bloggin' buddy. It was a delight and the highlight a very difficult trip. I took one look at her and she took one fearful look at me. ( Ya, see....she thought I was a postal inspector....heeehehehe!) I told her to ," get out here and give me a hug!" She did and we hugged and talked and hugged and laughed and did I mention we hugged??? Pop over and meet the sweetest gal, Gail...."At the Farm."

Look at this!!! I won the lottery over at Teresa's at "Grammy Girlfriend". She also has been a great bloggin' friend who is a big believer in sendin' real cards by real mail. Just look at this lovely box, it was chucked full as Pappy's belly after Thanksgivin' Dinner. Not only was it filled with beautifully assorted cards there was a gorgeous ceramic 'laugh' hanger. She included a book, "Your Late Again Lord", the impatient guide to God's timing. How'd she know.....I want everything YESTERDAY? There were winter envelopes with snowmen on 'em. Just happens I collect the little cold hearted fellas. A 'Cooking Light' magazine with recipe makeovers for a healthier me and a 'All You' magazine filled with $24.00 worth of coupons. I clip 'em...I'm just that kinda chick! If that wasn't enough there was a beautiful John Rossini "Life Itself" calendar that I can slip in my purse. I keep my life in these things and this one is already filled out and ready to go. How did she know??? Thank you Teresa my friend. Please hop over and wish her a great New Year, the last year really threw her some life challenges.

Yep, this chick is as wild as a peach orchard hog about the many great friends I have been blessed with. In 1971 Carol King wrote a song that won the Grammy Awards both for Best Pop Mail Vocal Performance and Song of the year. Jame Taylor sang the song and Warner Brothers produced it on a little seven inch vinyl. Remember those??? The song ,"You've Got a Friend", has been popular throughout the ages with lyrics like "when your down and troubled and you need a helping hand." I just want my friends to know that in this new year of ours that no matter what, no matter where, "You've Got a Friend!!!"

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FRIENDS!

DIZZY

It all begins on December one, when Geek Son and The Latin Lovin' Hillbilly celebrate their weddin' anniversary. My dear Mother~in~Love celebrated her eighty~third birthday on the third of this month. The youngest Brother Outlaw had his birthday on the eighth which was also my In~Laws anniversary. Dear eldest grandson, The Cool Dude, turned sixteen on the tenth. My sweet Daughter-in-Orneriness , yep...that would be the Latin Lovin' Hillbilly, lit her cake ablaze on the fourteenth and Geek son blew out thirty-six candles on the eighteenth but young Tex, man of many faces and cute as a box full of six week old puppies, celebrated eleven years of bringin' sunshine into our lives on the twelfth of this very full and dizzy December.

This is Joel who climbs walls with the greatest of ease. Boy mechanic, who can build anything he sets his mind to. No medium is safe within this one's reach. From boards to boxes the adventurous lad always has something goin' on up his sleeve. It is a joy to see him growin' into a fine young man of God. Livin' up to his name Joel, which is Hebrew, "Yo'el"~meaning Yahweh is God and Michael, also Hebrew ,"M'Kah'el"~meaning who is like God, truly loves the Lord with all his heart. Now, this is the kinda stuff that make's this Grandma Muzzie's heart sing.

Now, ya'll don't let the face of this astoundin' mad scientist scare the bejeebers outta ya. Yes, he does have a flashin' lit thingamabob in his mouth. Doesn't he look wilder than a mule chewin' a mouthful of bumblebees? Joel's experiments could give Victor Frankenstein, Doctor Phox (Star Trek Enterprise) or even Doctor Bunsen Honeydew (The Muppet Show) a run for their Bunsen burners. Ya'll know every great mad scientist needs a yummy birthday cake with a beaker full of bubblin' magic potion and scientific equations on it, Right???

Well, this chick's been runnin' 'round in circles busier than a funeral home fan in the middle of August celebratin' family and then we have Christmas. When daughter, Social Butterfly and her betrothed were tryin' to set a weddin' date she told her darlin' dashin' fiance, " Mama won't allow anyone else to get married or birth a baby in December." They married in January. Ya'll know what happens if Mama ain't happy! Just sayin'.........

In 1969 Tommy Roe sang it best on his 7" vinyl from ABC records with his Pop worldwide single hit which contained a whoppin' eleven key changes, "Dizzy". I've been runnin' 'round in circles as busy as a one legged man in a kickin' contest feelin' like Goofy in the video below...DIZZY!!



God bless each and everyone of ya'll. Have a Merry Christmas and a most prosperous New Year!!!

LOVE POTION NO. 9 (Not Wednesday or Wordless)

Ya'll don't have to have a personal acquaintance with Madam Ruth, know anybody with a gold~capped tooth or have kissed a cop down on 34th and Vine to want a long tall drink of this sweet little potion. This picture was taken several months ago when Ian was tryin' to get a sip of his Grandpa's tea. Oh bestow my heart this one has me in a love trance. Poor little fella's lapper just isn't quite long enough! Heeehehehe!!!

This is one Ozark Farm Chick who has been wound tighter than the girdle of a preachers wife at an all you can eat pancake breakfast just tryin' to get-'er-done. Between the Ponderosa, shoppin', programs, fudge, decorating, gift~wrappin' and a Mother~In~Love who is havin' a heap of problems I can't decide if I've found my rope or lost my horse...little lone have the time I desire to write a readable post.

In 1959 then again in 1971 the d00~wop group, The Clovers, sang from 125th Street, Harlem, of a drink concocted to make you so smitten ya didn't have the brains of a stunted swamp chigger. "Love Potion No. 9" was the song. I become just that brain dead around my grandkiddos. I'm so completely lost in their love my heart almost bursts. This season when we are meeting ourselves comin' and goin' let us remember the reason for the season. Let us drink in the greatest love potion ever gifted to mankind and bask in the glorious love of Jesus. There is just no greater love ever experienced, not even... "Love Potion No. 9!!!

God bless ya'll and enjoy the "Love" of the season.

BREATHLESS

Look up in the wild blue yonder. It's a big old turkey vulture. It's a seven forty seven. Nope, it's Super Nezzy! Faster than a mad speedin' cantankerous bull. More powerful than a cornered ticked off mama cow. Able to leap tall corral panels in a single bound. This mere mortal Ozark Farm Chick commonly known as Nezzy is now a woman of steel eatin' only a small bowl of Quaker Oatmeal and a slice of whole grain cinnamon toast instead of carryin' Krypotonite.

Mornings begin early here on the Ponderosa and this one was no different. We were gonna load out cattle prior to Hubby goin' to work. Breakfast was finished, Hubs four star lunch was packed and his water thermos filled with cool sparkling iced well water. It was six O'clock AM and dark as burnt toast! I notice the love of my life puttin' on his camouflaged manure stompers and asked what the heck he was doin'. "Off to herd those cattle and separate 'em to load the cattle trailers" was his nonchalant answer. I commenced to tell my man that I'd be as much help as Blind Bartimaeus blindfolded in a lunar eclipse bein' night blind and all when he handed me a flashlight. Yep, not the big cattle stick I usually carry, not a hot shot but a flashlight! As I have often stated, my favorite sayin' 'round these hills and hollers is, "ya want me to do WHAT???" I had that feelin' way down in my innards that this was not a good idea and in so many ways just wrong but bein' the good helpmate I am I bolted out the backdoor in my yoga leggins covered with some old CK jeans, a cute little tee topped with a Carhartt hoodie, my Nike' manure runners and ladies and gentlemen....my trusty Maglight! I am after all Super Nezzy!

We blindly corralled and penned the critters then began sortin' and cuttin' them out according to sex and size. I was flingin' gates open and stepin' in to turn certain bovines when all the sudden I flung the gate open at Hubby's command and a group charged. I did not have my stick, all I had was my Maglite which did not detour the black furry animal who ran right into me nestling it's head into my chest. Nope it wasn't cooing or sayin', "do ya love me Mama," he just wanted me outta his way....now!!! The Dark Knight pushed his nose just under my ribcage below the Grand Tetons liftin' me up off the ground. Lord have mercy, I thought I'd gone to meet my maker! Still hangin' on to my defense weapon with my left hand, the Maglite, I placed my right hand on the head of another bewildered steer and pushed myself back touchin' my tooties on Mother Earth once again. Gotta love that solid ground!

Baby, I was breathless. Gettin' hit in the chest with a full throttle locomotive will do that to a gal. I leaned up against the corral to locate my lungs , catch my breath and count all my fingers and toes. After we loaded three cattle trailers, I took my achy~breaky body and my useless Maglite back to the house to lick my wounds. As soon I a caught my breath I kinda felt like that rockabilly piano poundin' Louisianian who was the kissin' cousin of Mickey Gilly and Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Lee Lewis. Singin' his boogie woogie country gospel rhythm and blues songs, Jerry's 1958 single fit my situation perfectly. When I think of the animal I came eye~ball to eye~ball with feelin' the heat of his stinky corn breath and the slime from his slobbers I just wanna sing, "You leave me aaah breathless...ah."

"BREATHLESS!!!"

Daddy's Girl

He cradled my entire tiny body in his big strong hand as he reached out to greet me. The first words I heard from him was, " Well ,would ya look there??? She's a real farmer..... why, she's already milkin' and spreadin ' manure!!!" This Ozark Farm Chick was the firstborn and the only boy my Daddy would ever have. Mama loved dressin' her perfect precious baby girl satiny dresses piled with poofy layers of ruffles and lace but Daddy clothed me in cowboy outfits and countrified bibbed overalls. He showered me in cap-guns, cowboy boots, cowboy hats and yes, even my own pony. Later on he taught me how to fish amazin' him by casting both left and right handed. Heck, I could even cast upside down which always put a big old smile on his face. This was a man who wasn't big on affectionate hugs, kisses or sweet sappy words but if he liked ya~ you knew it, he would shower you with gifts and look out baby if he loved ya 'cause restraint was not in his vocabulary.

Daddy had a bit of an ornery streak in him that ran through his whole lifetime. As a boy he once told his sister he was gonna buy the little one room High Point School he attended when he grew up and burn it to the ground. Bein' as ornery as a cornered banded bull he in fact, did just that! We had a little old spinster neighbor lady who called late one cold December evening in a panic fearin' that Dad's hayfield was ablaze. As it turned out, it was just the aura of the red Christmas lights that adorned the old well house the prankster decorated in the middle of the big pasture. My best friend and I were chewin' buttons the cold snowy mornin' the jokester decided to try out his new four wheel drive pick up as he drove straight over the steep hill our house rested on instead of takin' the gravel road 'round the hill. Squeals streaked from my children as he chased them around his house snappin' his false teeth in his hands sayin, "I'm gonna bite you!!!" He once took my son to Charlie's Country Store in Filly to get any bottle of soda pop he wanted. Seein' three year old Geek Son 'round the corner with a liter of orange pop as big as he was totally cracked Dad up and of course bought the colossal thing. He initiated my DIL into the family with a WalMart bag filled with the most realistic rubber black snake ya'll have ever seen grinnin' that grin and sayin', " Here, I bought something for ya!"

He's the one who taught me how to saddle and ride a horse and make snow igloos. The one who showed me why you don't shoot a shot gun strait up in the air. Yep folks, he got a big belly laughin' hoot outta that one! He taught me how to drive a car and the control the big tractor after I ran it into the only truck in the wheat field. I received loads of Dad advice like, always carry enough money to get home when ya go out on a date and never look at anything after you've already purchased it. Helpful things like it doesn't cost any more to run a car full than it does empty. How to stand in front of runnin' cattle turnin' them into the workin' pen and even how to jump those corral panels if necessary. He taught me about castration, vaccination and dehorning the wild eyed bovine critters. Even as he walked me down the isle on my weddin' day to marry the man of my dreams ( or as Dad called him, "that long haired hippie guy") he was sayin', "it's not too late my little chicklett....you can still back out. That long haired hippie became the father of his grandchildren, son and treasured confident.

Mom and Dad moved from their Missouri farm in Stockton to Brownsville, Texas where Dad no longer had to feed cattle in the ice and snow. This is where Dad began his long battle with leukemia and many other forms of cancers. Shocking his doctors by surviving impossible odds time and time again, Hubby and I often called him Timex..."takes a lick and keeps on tickin'! He lost this battle the middle of October. He will live on through his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This little great-grandson dude is Dad incarnate. When Joel was born Hubby called him 'Little Bill' and when he gets that ornery gleam in his eye and grins that familiar grin I can see my Daddy. Dad was a lover of the Grand Ole Opry that I often heard echo from his bedroom on the Saturday nights of my youth. Kinda like Red Sovine who hung out with the likes of Minnie Pearl, Charlie Pride and Hank Williams. Daddy fed on Sovine's truck drivin' hit's like Teddy Bear, Cryin in the Chapel and Lay Down Sally but I long to belt out Red's 1974 hit song 'Daddy's Girl' loud and strong.




You will be missed but this Ozark Farm Chick will forever be 'Daddy's Girl'!!!

LOLLIPOP

By porin' some sugar in a sauce pan then stirin' in a good portion' of corn syrup, water then enhancing the concoction with a flavoring that will delight your taste buds and bring your brew to a rollin' boil ya'll can have a lip lickin' sweet treat in about twenty minutes. The edible candy on a stick dates back to 1784 where it initially was referred to as soft instead of hard candy. The word 'Lolly Pop' is broken down into 'Lolly' meaning tongue and 'Pop' meaning slap. Today's modern reference dates back to the 1920's where lollipops were rumored to be invented by George Smith who started brewin' these hard candies in his Connecticut home namin' them after his race horse "Lolly Pop". How fast can you get to the center of a Tootsie Roll??? If you would like to try your hand at makin' these candied sticky lickers just click on this 'tacky' recipe. Heeehehehe!

This confectionery sweet darlin' delight just celebrated her fifth birthday on October, 14th. A luscious dessert to our family she is always spreading sweet fondant blessings through her good natured kindness and consideration. Named Sarah Grace,the youngest of four, has lived up to her Hebrew name meanin' princess. Grace originates from the English language simply meaning full of grace. If that one just doesn't crank the rusty tractor so we just call our sweet little bon-bon Gracie.

This Ozark farm chick knew she was gettin' both granddaughters real ballet slippers and leg warmers for their birthdays but durnin' an intense conversation Miss Sarah Grace told this rockin' grandma she wanted a pretty pink Hot Wheels Car...with glitter. My response to Gracie and her siblings was, "Do they make pink Hot Wheels Cars...with glitter???" With 'nos' flyin' from all directions and heads shakin' back and forth like they were watchin' a ping pong tournament, I knew this was not goin' to be as easy as slidin' off a greasy log backward. Well, not wantin' to get caught with my pants down I flew into action buyin' a Lamborghini gold Hot Wheels car, pink paint and clear silver glitter nail polish. That teeny~tiny car got two coats of pink paint for four days in a row then two glitter coats for two days. Yep, I was havin' more fun than a tornado in a trailer park and was as pleased as punch on how the pink sparkly little Lamborghini turned out. The astound look on Sarah's face and the dazzle in her eyes as she pulled the little car out of the bottom of her ballet bag made the effort so worthwhile. Why, Geek Son even said he wanted one so I asked him what color??? He answered, "Pink of course...with glitter!"

Her smile is as warm as the bright sun on a summer day and sweetness is her orb. Just take a look at that face and tell me ya don't want to eat this child up. In 1958 Beverly Ross and Julius Dixon wrote " Sweeter than candy on a stick, huckleberry, chimry or lime" for their single 7" RCA record "Lollipop" sang by a female quartet. In viewin' the video I noticed a familiar face doin' the cheek-poppin' sound for the song. Yep, I was correct..it was a very young Andy Williams. After a little research I found the video was filmed during the Chordette's appearance on the Andy Williams Show. In my mind this song was written for Sarah Grace ' cause each and every time I lay my big browns on her I just want to belt out, " Lollipop lollipop , Oh lolli lolli lolli "Lollipop"................

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Cleanliness is next Godliness may not be found in the Good Book but this Ozark farm chick takes this old wives sayin' as bona fied gospel. It is after all it is my favorite day of the week! I sport affection, delight and passion toward Deep Clean Friday. Woohoo!!! I know, I'm obsessively twisted but clean makes me ecstatically blissful, it makes my toes curl. Yep, on Fridays ya can find me vacuum in one hand, toilet brush in the other, happier than a hungry tick on a bloodmobile. Creeks arisin' or wild~eyed stampedin' bovine is not gonna detour this demented chick from spotless mirrors and disinfected faucet screens. The floor glistens, toilet sparkles, furnace filters dustless, carpets fluffy makes everything perfect in my little corner of the world. These are the things that make me happy and ya'll know what happens if Mama ain't happy!

Let me take ya back in time. Just before my body blew out in shingles I received an email tellin' me that I had won this adorable Middleton Collectible Doll doesn't she look like a real livin' breathin' baby?

This precious little bundle of joy came from Oz Girl over at City Gal Moves to Oz Land who is the sweetest little city gal gone country givin' every reader a little old taste of her rural country life. Please, go pay her a visit, ya'll won't be disappointed! I have to tell you when this angelfaced dumplin' arrived I opened the box and just seein' the tiny baby wrapped snugly in plastic... well...I panicked! My endorphins surged while the survival instincts of a mama lion kicked in as I hastily ripped plastic wrap right and left freein' the helpless babe from total suffocation. I gently lifted her out of the box supporting her floppy little head into my warm safe maternal arms. She is weighted and feels just like a live baby and I swear as I move 'round a room.....her eyes follow me! Just sayin............

The next giveaway I won was truly an unexpected surprise. Heck, I didn't even know I entered the darn thing. I just love The Suite life of Lucy and Ethel and am always flappin' my jaw over at their place. Guess I flapped at just the right moment and won a this wonderful novel ,"Not A Fire Exit" written by Christopher M. Finlan. Sweet Lucy also threw in her mama's ( JoAnn Derden)latest beautiful CD, The Story of Noah's Ark. JoAnn's musical interpretations are just amazin' and this is comin' from a chick who knows her tunes! The Suite is all about beating and finding a cure for SMA, Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Helen wrote a book called "The Jeffrey Journey" and how this devastating neuromuscular disease turned her world upside down givin' her precious baby boy his angel wings. Ethel's son , 'Kevin Dude' as I like to call him, just celebrated his birthday and is seventeen years old and is battlein' the effects of SMA. Please go pop over and wish handsome Kevin a happy birthday!!!




Then low and behold right after I returned from Texas I found out that I won a giveaway over at Just Between Me and You where you can meet The Grandmother with the Yellow Hair, Maggie. There you can read about her hilarious antics in law enforcement and if your not real careful you just might run into Mrs. Pearl. Now, if we aren't gonna have a heyday for breakfast 'round the old Ponderosa with all these goodies. Just look at this Pillsbury Grands Mini Biscuit Prize pack, isn't that just the bee's knees??? I have a VIP coupon for free biscuits, a $15.00 gift card for whatever this chick's little heart desires, a delightful biscuit basket, a cow salve (butter) dish and spreader. Just butter my buns and grab me a biscuit 'cause this sure puts me standin' here in high cotton!!!

That's not all folks, if ya order right now....oops...sorry, I got a little carried away. While trippin' to Texas I made an appearance at Grandma's Briefs. Yep, two places at once. I'm talented that way. I was grilled to a buttery golden brown, flipped every so gently and served up on a golden platter. This is a lovely little sight is where we rockin' grandmas can brag and maybe offer a bit of advice on the wonderful world of Grandmas. You can read my grillin' at Grandma Briefs and while your there give that beautiful Lisa a big old shout out. Tell her Nezzy sent ya!

Since I've been busier than a one armed paper hanger with jock itch, I thought I better be takin' care of business combinin' a hodgepodge of posts attempting some sort of catch up 'round here. "Ive been taking care of business every day, taking care of business every way", as goes the song written by Randy Bachman while he was still a member of The Guess Who. The BTO song "Taking Care Of Business" was featured on their 1973 album, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II. "I've been takin' care of business, it's all mine. Takin' Care of business workin' overtime," is how you'll find this spastic chick most days out here smack in the middle of the Missouri Ponderosa.

PRINCESS

Jezebel was the name his new baby sister would sport. After all, we were all told the anticipated baby girl's name was in the Bible. Her mom and dad primed her older brother to have a suitable answer for those pryin' kinfolk who weren't beyond pumpin' the innocent young lad for info. She was the baby who came to her mother in a dream and was given the name before conception in that very dream. She is a true princess, a notable archduchess and delights us in livin' up to her royalness. She is my Mini-me a true reflection of my young self. The uncanny resemblance is not only in looks but actions, abilities and mannerisms. So much so it sometimes scares the bejeebers out of this Ozark farm chick.

Honor Elizabeth is a continual joy to our family. Her name even glorifies God. Honor meaning integrity and Elizabeth meaning God is my oath. She kept quiet about her salvation for almost a year not wanting to hurt her daddy's feelings 'cause she now had another Father, her second Daddy. The little aristocrat even shared her brand new 'real' ballet slippers with her little sis. Her heart is big and her imagination is massively bigger. "Mama, when will my Kitties hatch?", she asked with her tiny outstretched hand filled with a smooth oval rock her brother had placed there convincing her it was a kitten egg. Her mama tossed the ripe kitty egg into the backyard never to be seen again. That was 'till a white stray Mama cat appeared during an Ozark ice storm delighting our girl that her kitty egg had indeed hatched. The egg not only hatched but the miracle feline gave birth to four fluffy fur balls in their garage that winter. As her mama found the last fuzzy babe a suitable home Honor discovered another kitty egg. Not takin' any chances the 'kitty egg' was sent home with that last kitten.

Honor celebrated her seventh birthday last month. Her party just happened to fall on International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Now, if ya have never heard of this enthusiastically awaited yearly event ya don't know my adventurous Geek Son's family. They all dress up to the last eye patch and parrot. Yep, my grandsons have gone to church wearin' not only pirate garb but eyeliner! Pirate flags fly high on their house during this day and buccaneer signs are hung throughout. They have startled neighbors, delivery men and pets alike. Havin' a party on International Pirate Day kinda' cinches a birthday theme, don't ya think???

Well, that's it in the bag. No wait, that's Honor in the bag as toothless as a hillbilly after his first bar fight. Isn't she simply precious??? Melts you heart doesn't she? "You are my princess, you make me smile~~You make my life seem worthwhile," sang Elton John on his 1982 studio album Jump Up which featured the song "Princess". Honor is a special young lady who loves the Lord with all her heart and is always kind and considerate of others. Just like Elton I can proudly shout and sing I love you Hon, 'cause you are my "Princess"!!!