Life on a Southern Farm: Blogging Friends

Life on a Southern Farm: Blogging Friends

Hey all! Pam over at Life on a Southern Farm has so sweetly awarded us with this awesome blog award.

Please do yourself a favor and visit her blog. She is amazing. she is a wife,daughter, mother, gardener, awesome cook, farmer, builder, animal guardian and great friend. (I honestly don't think she's real. In order to get all that she gets done in one day she would need 5 doubles)...

Thank you Pam!!

Quirks... take a peek!

I was just visiting some of my daily blogs and saw that Tashas Take had a post about Unspectacular Quirks. It's really a meme but I found it very interesting because I just left Meltwater Torrents Meanderins Delta and he had the same thing. Neither one did the meme thing of tagging people (thank goodness) but listed them out.

When I read the comments I saw my good friend Lilly had listed some of hers. Now reading someones quirks is like passing a train wreck, ya gotta look! We are just curious people and love peeking in on how others live their lives!

SO! With that being said....here are some of mine (in no particular order of importance)....bahahahaha

A.) I am a beyond huge procrastinator. I actually ordered a CD on how to over come procrastination and never have gotten around to listening to it.

B.) I'm so afraid of being somewhere early and having to waste time waiting, I am late 99% of the time. I mean when I am walking out the door to an appointment I will see a spot on a counter and drop my things and go wiped down the counter tops. (Hell NO I am not a neat freak) I love a clean house but that leads to quirk C.

C.) I have a maid come every other week to clean. We do all the dishes and with no kids (cept my doggies) the house remains pretty picked up. We need help with laundry and floors and dusting. In between maid visits when I get in a rut (more often than not) I will pile the towels and hubbys socks and drawers on the couch and we just grab and go. Hey don't judge! It's in the fancy living room nobody uses any dang way!

D.) I can not use drawers or file cabinets. I am one of those people that if I can't see it, it must be done. Even when I write down my phone messages...after I write them down... POOF...they are out of my mind. Arghghghghghg...not fun when it comes to work.

E.) I LOVE old books. I don't read as many as I buy. I don't buy a ton but when I go to an antique store and find old books I love the smell and the feel of them. I just want to own em. I have one on my coffee table. I bought it in California when Mom and I visited Yosemite. This cool guy and a junk place that we just couldn't pass up. It is dated in the 1800's. The covers are linen covered but thread bare. It tells women how to run a house hold. It even says that when the man gets home from a tough day at the office, you shouldn't burden him with the details of your day and just have a cocktail ready for him and let him unwind. Of course you are to be dressed to the nines. I'm surprised it didn't say and invite your good looking neighbor over for a threesome! (sorry folks, I have a twisted since of humor). But you see where it is going? Definitely written by a man....

F.) When I drink coffee or tea (if I don't have a straw for the tea) I press my top lip down over my teeth so the dark liquid won't stain my teeth. Yep, I look dumb i spose.

G.) I love boxes! Containers for everything. Like your junk drawer in the kitchen.. I have little dividers in it where all my junk is separated and has it's own little apartment! hahaha Seriously... I can't pass up a chance to buy something to put stuff in. Another good example is at an antique store I found an old wooden silverware holder that has the handle on top and divided down the middle. (about the size of a small shoe box) I use it to put my make up in. I love it. I bought a really old dough bowl that I put on the folding table in the laundry room for hubby to put his keys and the contents of his pockets in. I just love having assigned seating for all my crap!

H.) I love to teach my dogs to talk and do tricks. They seem to have fun and I love watching them try soooo hard to please... They always get treats!

I.) I can no longer watch stories on Animal Planet about the abuse animals get. I will force myself sometimes because I hope it will propel me to action to actually do something about it. I watched a rescue story about the mistreated elephants from zoos and such and cried the entire time. Then I watched a documentary on Polar bears losing their food sources and male bears killing the cubs to eat and cried and cried. I can't even watch the lions take down a water buffalo knowing it's perfectly natural. I feel so much pain watching an animal hunted and killed or captured and beaten. I am crying now just writing this. I am such a sap!

Ok, there are many many more but going back to being late. I am!

Huggs all!

Past Lives - Part 7

Past Lives is a collaborative writing project which features creative and clever stories from bloggers around the world. Our story starts with a fictional Australian character called David. As a last ditch effort to resolve his phobias, David goes through Past Life Regression (PLR) therapy. Join us as we follow David's past life journey through different times and continents.

If you are just joining us, please read Part 1 of the story and follow the links at the end of each story to learn where David's journey takes him. Please note that you will be traveling to different blogs as each author adds their story.


Henry from the roof- “Hey boss! Don’t stand right under it! Move outta the way. Please, Boss! If it drops…..”

Zane- “Shut-up! Get that thing off of that rope right now!

Henry- “As you wish, Mr. Zane.”

CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop!

Dr. Harlowe switches off the video.
"David, is this too upsetting for you? It's been over a week since your last visit and I hope you are rested and have been thinking about your progress."

David has a stunned look on his face. He can't speak. He stares at the blank monitor where he witnessed himself reliving a traumatic death.

"David? Are you alright?"

David blinks and clears his throat. "Yes, Dr. Harlowe. I'm fine."

"Have you been able to understand how some of your phobias may have rooted in your repressed memories?"

"Um.. yeah, I guess." says David. "I can easily see where my fear of being trapped or tied up came from."

"You sound as if there is more we haven't touched on. Can you share your feelings right now? What else is bothering you? Talk to me David."

"Well Dr. Harlowe, there's the water thing. I thought if I joined the Navy it would get me over my fear of water. I am confused by it. I love the ocean. I am intrigued by it's beauty and mystery. Yet, you couldn't get me to swim in it on a bet. Same goes for lakes and even swimming pools."

"What scares you about swimming pools?" Harlowe asks.

"It's the thought of swimming near the drain and getting stuck." David replies almost as if he were talking to himself.

"Lets explore that a bit more this session, shall we?" Dr. Harlowe dims the lights and begins regressing David to a time when he was traumatized by water.

David starts to panick and choke.

"David...listen to me...DAVID....go back further...a little earlier..."

Davids breathing slows and he's calm.

Harlowe: "Tell me...what is your name? I would like to know how old you are and what year it is."

"My name is Seth Wilkes. I am 14 years old. The year is 1864 and I live in New Bedford, Massachusetts with my mama, little sister Victoria and Grammy. Two months ago mama agreed to let me set sail on the Charles W. Morgan whaling ship. I have always dreamed of working on a whaling ship. Cap’n Morgan is my uncle. He says I’m too scrawny to ever be first mate but I can be his cabin boy. He even let me bring Lilly, my Australian shepherd along. She has a heart shape right on her forehead. That’s why mama said she knew we were meant to be together, I have the mark of a red heart on my arm. Grammy says it’s from an angels kiss.

I am old enough to learn a trade. Ever since Daddy died, Grammy said I would have to be the man of the house. I had polio when was little so now I walk with a limp. Mom says I am lucky to be alive. She says what I lack in size I make up for in heart. I hope I have a good heart. Mom says Daddy died because his heart just wasn’t strong enough.

My family has a long history in the whaling business. Uncle Morgan says whales are primarily hunted for their oil, which is used for lighting and lubrication. Uncle says that oil from New Bedford lights the world, making our city one of the richest in the country! Since nearly half of the world’s whaling fleet is based along the coast of New England it is only natural that I follow in the family tradition of whaling.

We have been at sail for 6 weeks. So far I am adjusting to being at sea okay. I got real bad sick the first couple of weeks. All the crew just laughed at me every time I had to run from the dinner table to get sick. Lilly didn’t get sick at all. She stays right by my side. Uncle forbids her from his cabin because he has his dumb fat cat Manny in there. Lilly wouldn’t hurt Manny but Uncle spoils that cat something awful. It’s my job to clean up the quarters and that includes Manny’s quarters. He has a fancy purple satin pillow he sleeps on. When Uncle sits by the fire in his velvet red chair, Manny is always in his lap.

I have a bed made up in a little room just off Uncles room. It’s real small and doesn’t have a window so I don’t stay in it much. Sometimes I just sleep down below with Lilly in the store room. It’s warm in there and smells like home. The smell of flour always reminds me of Grammy’s homemade bread. How I would love a piece of her hot bread smothered in honey right now.

The worst part of being at sea is First Mate Obed Hendrix. He has a monkey that rides on his shoulder. He got it on one of their trips to Tahiti. The monkeys name is Simon. Lilly hates Simon. She barks at him every time she gets the chance. One time she chased him all over the deck and everybody laughed except Obed. He told me if I didn’t keep her away from Simon he would toss her overboard. Obed and Simon are just alike, mean and ugly! Obed makes me clean up after that horrid beast. Simon will throw poo at you if you aren’t careful. Uncle just laughs and says it keeps the crew entertained. Just wait until Simon throws poo on uncle, he will certainly have a change of heart!

I heard tale of a ship that was crushed to pieces by a bowhead whale. That whale is found in the Bering Sea. We are headed there now. It’s said there are so many whales being slaughtered there that the sea turned red.
Uncle has always hunted the east coast for the sperm whale. It is mostly sought after because of the quantity of oil it contains and because it floats when it is killed. The ship has many functions and one is to serve as a mother ship to a fleet of smaller whale boats that 6 men row out to kill the whale and drag it back to the ship. It also has a brick oven used to melt the whale blubber which is then stored in vats. Below we also store thousands of pounds of whale bone to sell when we get back to port.
Tonight after dinner Lilly got after Simon again. Simon started it. Lilly was minding her business chewing on a piece of whale bone I gave her. Simon jumped down from the cupboard and snatched it right from her mouth. Lilly knocked the cake off the table that was for desert. Everybody was mad at Lilly. Obed said if she didn’t get locked up he wouldn’t be responsible if she disappeared. I decided to sleep in the store room with Lilly. I don’t trust Obed.

*THUMP*
All of a sudden I awoke from sleep by this awful noise. It scares the bajeezus out of me. Then…*bam* there it is again. I hear men swearing and there are boxes and bottles falling from the shelves. What is happening? Is it a whale?
The ship is tossing and crashing hard. A keg of ale is rolling toward us. I grab Lilly and try to reach the door. Just then another huge crash and water is filling the room. I scream. A shelf has fallen and trapped me. Lilly is swimming toward me. I can’t move my arms. I’m trapped. Water is rising to my neck. Mama…all I can think of is mama…and Lilly……."

To read PART 8 in David's journey, you will be travelling to Rocksnowhite, in Romania. David's next PLR Session is in the next couple of days so check back to find out where his past life journey takes him.
If you would like to contribute a story and join in David's journey, please email lillyslife@gmail.com

Something fresh and fun in the world of blogging..

A couple of my best blogger galpals (Lilly and Vikki) are writing chapters in an ongoing story. I was hooked from the first glance of the title. "Past Lives"


Please take the time to read it. It is short and you will be hooked as I am.
First click here --> Lillys Life and read the first chapter. She has a link to ---> Vikki's blog for the second chapter.

You never know where the next chapter takes David the main character! (or who will be writing up coming chapters).....hmmmm

(This is the amazing brain child of Lilly~ a fabulous unique girl of her own!)


Past Lives
To read each of David’s Past Life Regression Stories:

Past Lives Part 1- Lilly/ Lilly’s Life

Past Lives Part 2- Vikki/ The Red Chair Gallery

Past Lives Part 3- Lilly/ Lilly's Life

Past Lives Part 4- Lou Ceel

Past Lives Part 5- Dina/ Deepwater Journal

Past Lives Part 6- Vikki/ Red Chair Gallery

A face only a mother could love....and me

Scorpion fish

Image ID: expl0369, Voyage To Inner Space - Exploring the Seas With NOAA Collect
Location: South Atlantic Bight, Southeast United States
Photographer: Paula Keener-Chavis, NOAA
Credit: Islands in the Stream Expedition 2002. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration

Pic located on: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/expl0369.htm

I found it on a cool blog Logging The Cyber World

You can't help but feel sorry for this fish. He looks so sad.
I would like to have some in a pond. Then every time I feel like I look like @#$! I can look in my pond and say...oh yeah...it could be worse!

hehehe Happy Monday.

Yesterday!

My goodness yesterday was a blur. I didn't get home Wednesday night until 10pm. *Had a late dinner at PF Changs with my galpal coworkers*
Stayed up until 11 catching up on my tivo of Nancy Grace! Then 2 minutes (it seems) after my head hit the pillow it was 4:30 am and time to get moving. Bobby and I had coffee and were watching the news. Mark beebops in at 5am to make his lunch with a cheerful " Good Morning YALL, and Have a GREAT DAY!". *BAM* he's out the door.

I made Bobbys lunch, hit the shower, posted a quick post on my Blog and was out the door by 7am. Got to work by 8:30 and was in training *roll playing, argh..* all day. Finished work at 7pm. Decided to skip dinner with the group. Got home at 8pm and Bobby was playing his game on the computer.

Jumped in my comfy clothes and headed out to do my 2 mile walk. Bobby told me Mark had gone to his quarters in the shop to shower and get ready for bed. I threw a few rocks at the metal shop walls to hopefully get his attention. He didn't appear so Willie, Elvis, and I continued on with our ritual (now for a month) evening walk.

After about 2 mins of walking, Willie stopped dead in his tracks turned and took off running behind me. I turned around to see the 6'8" gazelle running at full speed at me. Mark was in his walking clothes ready to join me for our evening walk. He told me he hates when I don't get home in the evening as usual for our dinner and walk.

What a joy it is to have a buddy to hang with on arduous tasks like EXERCISE! Bobby works out in the shop with weights. He's more of a loner when it comes to his exercise.

Again, Mark makes my day!

I'm in conference today.. just another pic of M and J

Sorry guys, I will be busy in conference at work until Friday Night....
Have a great day......