GOOD LUCK CHARM

This is one chick who doesn't own a four~leaf clover, wear a penny in my shoe, lug around a horseshoe in my purse, dangle a rabbit's foot from my neck yet I feel as lucky as the proverbial fat cow who wouldn't fit in the cattle trailer to the slaughter house who got turned out to pasture in high grass!!! Woohoo!!!

Back a spell I won Pioneer Woman's new book, "Black Hills and Tractor Wheels" over at that sweet Teresa's place, Grammy Girlfriend! Now, if that don't crank your tractor ya must not be breathin'!!! Let me tell ya'll this is one book I can identify with! Teresa is one terrific gal who adores sharin' her love of God with others and is as about as proud as a Grammy can get when it comes to her adorable grandkiddos. Her blog oozes the love she shares with family,friends and fellow bloggers. She also has a wonderful Christmas blog A Baby Changes Everything. Life has been tougher than a two~dollar steak for her this past year so please, go pay her a visit, sit a spell...take your shoes off!

I have to tell ya'll the blender I've been usin' was ancient and about as useless as a Popsicle stick in quicksand! Tammy over at Flat Creek Farm gave me the great opportunity to enter her CSN Store giveaway for a fifty~dollar gift code. I'd already set my mind I was gonna buy a blender if I won. Imagine my delight when my Missouri Christian sister contacted me that I'd won but wait folks...it gets better. I hopped over to the CSN site to use my gift code and found a Cuisinart blender originally priced $110.00. This Ozark gal usually gets the standard Osterizer blender at Wally~World but this dream was marked down 46% makin' it $59.85. Well, call my mama 'cause this was somethin' I could do and the blender even qualified for free shippin'. Does life get any better? I entered my $50.00 code payin' out of pocket only $9.85 for my beautiful $110.00 Cuisinart that I love more than a chubby farm boy loves cake. Talk about squeezin' a quarter so tight the eagle screams!

Please go visit beautiful Tammy over at Flat Creek Farms where you'll find all kinds of rural things like rooster saddles (now there's two word I never thought I'd use together) and some of the cutest little mini~donkey's you've ever laid eyes on!

I've heard it said, "keep Nezzy away from the magic markers...she's dangerous!!!" Yep, I love to draw, doodle and have a colorful blast, it's just the way I fly. I was doin' quite the happy dance here on the Ponderosa when Kimberly over at Forever Daisies notified me that I'd won her Sharpie and Sticky Note giveaway. Yippee tie yie yay, if that's not just finer than frog hair split four ways! Ya'll know gal can never have too many Sticky Notes or Sharpies so I'm in Doodle Heaven! Kimberly is a precious small town girl who'll do just about anything to get that perfect photo. Wonder if she gives lessons? Her creativity flows through her lovely blog and when it comes to flowers she's just a daisy kinda gal. Stop by over at Forever Daisies and meet Kimberly.

Yep, this is one gal who doesn't need a good luck charm to be blessed. Oct 15th, 1961 Elvis Aaron Presley recorded one lucky pop song that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained number one for two weeks. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis didn't need a good luck charm either 'cause everything he touched turned to gold but just as The King sang this fine tune ya can hear this Ozark Farm Chick beltin' out that great old sixties hit "Good Luck Charm!!!"

COLD AS ICE

I make no bones that I think winter is about as useful as a rubber crutch. This Ozark Farm Chick is a summertime gal. I thrive in my biker shorts, cute little tees and flippies. I adore workin' my acre of flower gardens and afternoon dips in my swimmin' pool. Ya know, the things dreams are made of. This winter has been colder than a cast iron commode on the shady side of an iceberg and I have not hidden the fact that 'Nezzy' has not been a happy camper. With that said, of all things I could collect... I collect snowmen!!! I know, that makes me about a crazy as a sprayed roach but I love the little cold~hearted fellas. You will fine 'em nestled into every nook and corner of the Ponderosa's homestead from the edge of Autumn through the early stages of Spring.

Woohoo!!! It's Deep Clean Friday and I've been busier than a set of jumper cables at a Redneck picnic. Yep, faucets sparkle, furnace filters cleaned, floors shine and the dust mites are gaspin' for air. Ya'll know how clean rocks my world but as I was cleanin' I had little eyes givin' me cold hard stares. I'm thinkin'...it might be time to put my crystal gents with the carrot noses away, Spring bein' Sunday and all. Ponderin' on how each and every snowflake is as unique and individual as God made us, I carefully wrapped each snowman to be packed away. In doin' so I noticed that some of my snowmen have yellowed over the years while others are still pure white. Yellowed kinda like us when we allow sin into our lives. Psalm 51:7 says "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Now, I can't take the aromatic plant hyssop used to clean in ancient days to wash away my sins but this plant was also used in religious rituals in comparison to the blood of Christ. That's somethin' this chick can wrap her brain around! Now, if that don't put the pepper in the Gumbo!!!

Ya'll know that goin' to church doesn't make ya a Christian anymore than standin' in a garage makes ya a car. Far to often we are yellowed with unkindness we show others instead of reflectin' love of Jesus. Our hearts can become as stinkin' cold as the little snowmen I just packed away. Spring is upon us, a time of rebirth and new beginnings. I don't want to be like the 1977 British~American band Foreigner who sang "Cold as Ice" on their Billboard Hot 100 list record. As the warm rays of the sun melts winter's remnants from the earth, I yearn for The Son to warm my soul allowin' me radiate the warmth of His precious love. I want to be a servant, a warm lovin' child of God. I want it to never be said of me that "she was...Cold as Ice!!!"

TEMPTATION EYES (a winner)

The molecular formula is C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ for this edible crystalline carbohydrate commonly known as 'table sugar' . Scientifically the word sucrose or "sugar" is used for any mono or di-saccharide. Realeasin' a whoppin' 1,619 KJ's of energy, this sweet treat when added to food is called sucrose. Hosting 99.98% pure delicious carbs when found naturally is called fructose. Whatever form ya milk it from this is one chick who has a whole mouth full of sweet teeth! Give me a little chocolate and it makes me feel like I've done gone and got Yankee rich!!! Yep, the sweet stuff temps me to the max. Whew, there I said it. I feel better now. Folks, I keep all sweet treats here on the Ponderosa frozen deep in a forbidden corner of my freezer or else I'd be as fat as a tub of lard on butcherin' day and it would take two dogs to bark at me!

If things got any better here for Miss Sarah Grace we'd have to hire someone to come help her enjoy it. Gracie is an excellent eater and here she is demonstratin' how to eat a lion cupcake with all the style that is uniquely hers. This rockin' grandma thinks she's doin' a mighty fine job. Why, eatin' a cupcake like this without wearin' it would be harder than chasin' a herd of cats into a crowded dog kennel! As you can see 'Gracie' has a sweet tooth or two herself. I'm tempted to scoop up this little sugar cube every time she bats those beautiful big browns at me!!!

I've been sicker than a sixth grade boy who snuck into his grand~pappy's bag of chaw this week with a nasty stomach bug. Makin' like Mount Kilimanjaro and runnin' a temp of 103 I've been so weak I'd be hard put to pull the skin off custard but I did manage to use Custom Random Generator. Takin' all the strength I could muster up, I loaded the numbers 1-140. Woohoo....we have a winner of the $40.00 gift code over at CSN stores. I know the suspense is killin' ya'll so our winner is number one hundred and twelve. Our Canadian friend Knitwit over at '2kids, 2dogs, 2cars, 2tired' is the winner. Go pop over, pay her a visit and congratulate her on a great win. I wish I had a big old prize for each and every one of ya! Ahhhh, there's that temptation thing again.

Our lovely blogsister 'Knitwit' will be singin' right along with the Guess Who happier than a spring robin on wet ground, "oh temptation eyes lookin' through my, my, my soul!" Beltin' out like that US rock band back in the 1970's whose single was released by Dunhill records. "Temptation Eyes" only made it to number fifteen on the US Billboard charts but that lucky Knitwit made it to number one. Winnin' $40.00 to spend over at CSN Stores she no longer has to look longingly at all that cool merchandise with those "Temptation Eyes"!!!

CONGRATULATIONS GIRL!

IV'E GOT SO MUCH TO GIIVE

Hillbilly Entertainment Center

Hi, my name is Nezzy and I am a virgin. I have to confess, lately I have been propositioned temptin' me to give up my pure untouched chastity. Yep, this Ozark Farm Chick is a giveaway virgin and those wonderful folks over at CSN Stores have tickled my fancy so I'm gonna jump right in with both feet like two starstruck lovers in a barn filled with hay and have a grand giveaway! After I saw what CSN Stores have to offer I was on this giveaway wagon like stink on a polecat!!!

These fine folks have just about anything a body could ever want or dream up. They have everything I would ever need for my Deep Clean Fridays, my personal day of the week!!! Sorry, I'm just twisted like that. CSN Stores have washing machines to wash your finest leggin's, vacuums to make your home dustless, great dust pans to sweep it up all up in and even toilet brushes to make the commode sparkle. Bestow my heart they have polish to shine, steam machines....fan me now baby and even fancy soap dispensers. What would a Deep Clean Friday be without a stylish close hamper to put those nasty manure and dirt covered cloths in and a great basket for the clean folded items??? Now if that just don't make your skirt fly up I don't know what would. Oh I love to clean, it centers me and make my heart sing!

These fine folks as CSN carry more stuff that Wally~World and then some. For your kitchen they have blenders that whirl and microwaves galore. Heck, they even carry dishwashers ya can wash it all up in. I snooped though their inventory and found luxury thick fluffy bath towels to toilet seats for the bath. I even spotted a Rubber Ducky there. You can stock your bedroom with everything from mattresses to designer beddin' that'll make your toes curl. For the great outdoors I looked at beautiful patio furniture, bird feeders some of the most charmin' birdhouses ya ever laid eyes on. They even had a selection of lawn mowers for this Lawn Ranger. Ooooh, I do so like my grass even but what I truly want to talk about are television stands.
Shortly before Christmas Hubby bought a beautiful flat panel plasma television that would not fit into our current unflat regular television console. Ya know, kinda like tryin' to hammer a rectangle peg into a square hole. My current console was about as useless as a trap door on a canoe so Hubs brought in this Craftsman Workbench from the barn and thought it would do nicely. Hence, the Hillbilly entertainment center. Well let me tell ya Mable, this chick was online with credit card in hand faster that a fly on a fresh cow patty. I found the perfect little console to sneak into my little television corner at flat panel TV stands at that wonderful CSN Store. Woohoo!!! Now isn't that prettier than a blob of butter meltin' on a stack of wholewheat pancakes???
My Non~Hillbilly flat panel TV stand from CSN Stores.

The fine folks are givin' me a whoppin' $40.00 gift code to give to one of my lucky readers. I'm just so happy ya'll could tie me to a ping and roll me in the mud!!! What do ya'll have to do to enter. K.I.S.S. (keep it simple sister!) All ya have to do is leave a comment. That's all folks! I apologize but this contest is restricted to US and Canadian readers only.
God bless and good luck ya'll!!!

HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART

Several weeks ago I was hit with something so intense that it stabbed into my heart faster than a champion butcher could debone a chicken. Not childbirth, broken bones nor even a hit in the chest by a seven hundred pound wild~eyed bovine has come close to the pain I have endured. I feel as though I've had a Cardiectomy. Just like a star in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, this chick might as well been a living sacrifice in the underground temple of the Thuggees and let Mola Ram reach into my beatin' chest and yank my heart right out. It has left my spirit lower than an Ozark black snakes belly in a muddy tractor rut. Sadly I am in a position I can do nothing but pray and believe me I've prayed. Forgive me Lord for I am not a patient person...I'm Nezzy, your action figure, a doer, a fixer and a peacemaker.
Yep folks....I'm a Martha. I'm the gal ya see speedin' across the room or yard like a flash of lightin' makin' sure that everyone is well fed, havin' a grand time and gettin' along with one another. I take action. It's the way I fly....I'm just that kinda chick. I see a need, I get~'er~done! Now, will ya'll see me sittin' at the feet of Jesus' soakin' in every sweet breath of His Word like Mary??? You bet your sweet bippy ya would but you could wager your bottom dollar I'd be trimmin' his toenails and scrubbin' his callouses while makin' sure he had his favorite snack within reach along with a nice cool tall glass of iced tea in his holy hand. I'm about as confused as a hungry cow on AstroTurf just waitin' and prayin'. It's Hubby who reminds me that we don't have the answer but we know the Almighty One who does. It is Hubby who recognizes the helplessness in my gaze and tells me, "it'll be allllll~right!" He says it so well. I know it will be all~right 'cause I know who holds tomorrow but that sure doesn't mean I sit still well or the pain is any less consuming.

Barry and Robin Gibbs touched on the subject in their soft~rock adult contemporary ballad sang by the Bee Gees in 1971 released by IBC Studios in London on the Atco Label, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart." I sing out the words, "please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again!" I know God is in control and I covet your prayers. I'd be much obliged if someone could tell me " How Can You Mend A Broken Heart ???"

Note: A Cardiectomy is a scene outta Indiana Jones Temple of Doom where the heart is removed from a living sacrifice. I have not had a heart attack, surgery,my heart literally removed or any physical ailment concerning my heart. What I'm experiencing is totally emotional.

EARTH ANGEL

Smilin' like a goat in a brier patch this little lady celebrated her twelfth birthday on January 11th. She said her ice cream and cookie cake was the best part of her special day. This past year has been tougher than the back-end of a shootin' gallery for Angel. Yep folks, that in her real name. Last August a tumor at the base of her brain-stem was removed and diagnosed as malignant Medullobastoma. The surgery removing the tumor compromised her right side motor skills makin' it difficult to perform tasks that most of us take for granted. This 110 pound doll was hit hard with radiation and got so skinny ya couldn't see her shadow on a sunshiny day. Bless her heart, her weight plummeted into the mid~sixties as she lost her own beautiful hair and her skin was burned by the treatments. A test revealed another mass where the first tumor was removed. Angel underwent a second surgery which uncovered only scar tissue this time. To get the nutritional requirements needed to fight this battle, doctors put in a feeding tube. She has been undergoin' chemo treatments weekly and will continue to do so 'till mid~September.

Angel said the worse day of her life was when the doctor sat by her bedside talking frankly with her in detail about her illness and the course of action to treat it. The best part of her journey has been the many friends she has made at the hospital. She just beamed as she spoke of her special friends Kate and Emma who are in a commercial promotin' St. Judes Hospital. Her Christmas was so very special this year filled with love gifts from Physical Therapy, Church, Hospitals and many, many strangers just like you. Angel's Christmas last year was not celebrated with festive presents but only by the love of her family. I have four legal pad pages filled with the love gifts sent by you, my wonderful blogsisters. You guys are the best! This Ozark Farm Chick is still overwhelmed with all the love, emails and prayers ya'll have heaped upon Angel. I do believe ya'll are sportin' your own wings!

Although Angel misses runnin' and playing with her dogs she is beginnin' to write with her right hand again. She is attending school as her condition allows for sometimes chemo shoots her immune system through the basement. Poor gal discovered that two of her best buds moved away during the absence of her illness. She is tried of people tryin' to do everything for her and just wants to be 'normal'. Angel is now weighin' in around 80 pounds and when she hits the 90 pound mark that feedin' tube comes out baby!!! Through it all she has retained her odd but wonderful sense of humor. A nurse asked as she was leavin' the room, " dear, is there anything I can do for you?" Angel piped up, "yeah, you can clean my window." Just as the nurse was about to find someone in housekeepin' Angel finished her statement, "on the outside." She was on the seventh floor!!! She's twisted like that...heeehehehe!!!

Angel told me that havin' cancer has made her more aware of God and has drawn her closer to Him. She once told me in Kid's Church shortly after her diagnosis that if God wanted to take her it was OK, she was ready to go as long as He brought her brother back home safely from that 'Big Sandbox' in Afghanistan. Doesn't that just melt your heart? The girl does live up to her name 'cause she's just a precious selfless Earth Angel.

"Earth Angel" was actually written for the B~side of "Hey Senorita" but a D~J flipped the record and the song quickly climbed to number one on the charts late in 1954. The Penguins first sang the American Doo~Wop tune under the Dootone label on the seven inch vinyl record. Our young Angel loves the songs of Taylor Swift, the color purple and any animal who takes breath. She is a sweet soul whose smile can light up a room and loves the Lord with all her heart. Even though life has been as rough as a old dried up corncob her attitude makes her my hero...my Earth Angel!!!

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!!!