The Olde Crone reports, April 1, 2011

Hello.
I am so excited to be a reporter for the Crone's Gazette. This little reporter is just raring to go.

My transportation is provided by the folks who run the Gazette and have been very good to ask my opinion about where we should report from. My first outing was not very far from the home office. We just went north and a little west of the office to a lovely old village situated on the Rio Grande River.

This area was in the past and recently has recently again become famous for it's vineyards and orchards and of course a very good place to raise livestock and crops.

At this time of year, the huge cottonwood trees are yet to have leaves and for all the world look very "haunted" tree like. This reporter did have a bit of an allergy attack because of the horrible Chinese Elm trees which are not native trees. Bit of a sniffle and watery eyes.

In the fall, I am told that this little sleepy village, which is really a bedroom community for Albuquerque is quite a busy bee kind of place. What with the crops being ripe. Apples, corn, (and the most fabulous corn maze in the area) pumpkins and many other fruits and vegetables are offered for sale at the many farms that dot the area. In addition, the area is also known for the artist's that display at the local galleries. The Fall Festival is a wonderful activity, needless to say.

Today we dined at Little Anita's Mexican Kitchen and later took a tour of the area. Not just sticking to the main street but through the back streets and small roads that run parallel to the irrigation ditches. And that is when we found Linda's favorite animal, donkeys. We found donkeys, llamas, horses, cows, goats, turkeys (very frightening birds), baby chick, ducks and guineas for sale. And then we came upon a site that shocked all of us......Camels in Corrales. At one of the farms, the llamas and horses had paddock mates. 2 hump camels right here in New Mexico. Imagine our surprise.

And much to my delight, I found the heart of my story here in a downed cottonwood tree. All in all a very lovely, breezy, warm spring outing.

Hope you've enjoyed this pictorial and travelog. I'll be back next Friday to once again....poke around New Mexico and give you an Olde Crone's perspective.

Oh my, I had no idea what was really going on ...............

Are you really back after my temper tantrums of late?
Did ya think, oh well I'll give the Olde Bagg one more go?
Are you the sweetest friends in the world to tolerate me?

If you answered anyone of those questions yes, then you are ubber tolerant and a loving human bean. I do so hate it when I have to have a headfrommybuttcheeks ectomy. But thankfully it was done with the care and concern that a true takes one to know one accomplished with a swift kick. The rollercoaster I have been on has been ridden by others and they knew where the off switch was.

Many of you came to my rescue with healing thoughts and deeds. Gave me my power back and well, look out world.....the meany, meany bo beany Olde Bagg is back in the saddle. I can absolutely guarandamtee you that I shall not be involved with that emotional vampire ever again.

I did something today I have needed to do for 6 months........6 months! I called a friend who I have been neglecting because I couldn't tell her my truth or share with her. Why, you ask? Because I am flawed and didn't want her to know just how flawed. She is like a mother to me. I have told her on many occasions that if I could pick a Mother, which goodness knows I would have loved to have had a choice, I would pick Ms. Mildred.....hands down, no question or arguement. And yet, I cut myself off from someone I love that much because I am flawed.....and ego centric and human and we talked today and all is well with the world.

As a matter of fact, I am fabu ya'll. She loves me even if I am flawed and said she missed me too and that we never needed to speak of it again. Now.....tell me, is that not gold plated wonderful. She forgave me, without stipulations or rules or hanging a dummy sign on my chest, or making me feel worse than I already did. She just chatted and we made plans and I love her so much. This lady is a true lady....and likes me anyway even if I am a heathen and broken and poor and flawed. I scored a life goodie today.

So the other junk will not be brought up here again. That junk is dead and gone. I don't need that drama in my life anymore. I will rant about more important things like ......... you see, I don't even have any rant in me right now......wait for it, I'm sure it'll come.

But for this moment......nanny nanny boo boo. I win, I score, I am okey dam dokey and I love it.

Get the net, get the net.

How low can you go??????????

Many of you have asked why I am of late a little low or depressed?

I discovered something recently. I cannot, within the boundaries of the law of society or kharma, fix everything that is hurtful or just wrong. I thought I was a powerful, strong minded, capable adult human female who could withstand just about anything that normal living conditions throw at you...no, I know I am that. I love my family, I am relatively social except for the few instances of scaring naughty neighbor kids and old whiney men in line at Walmart. I have a sadistic streak when it comes to peole who role over and play underdog in an argument and I hate, yes I used the h word my soon to be ex son in law. You all know him under the assumed name of Paper bag boy.

My empathic tendencies have opened up, filled me up by swallowing everyone else pain and loss lately and I am left with a crap load of heavy lifting and it isn't even all my own. I have taken on negativity from many sources. Some out of love and concern for friends, some from the hellacious events in the world and then some because of this hate I have for this loser sub human who continues to jack with my grandkids and daughter. The above was the very first monies he sent to them in the 19 months they have been here and it BOUNCED. Nice work PBB.

I am not beat down by this dead beat. In fact after a wonderful letter from a caring and loving friend (Hi Cee), I now realize, I am okay and will not waste one more moments tears on my girl. She too is a strong, kick the loser to the curb kinda girl and the PBB has flown his flag long enough in front of his children's eyes that they too know what a loser and liar he is. We will all get along quite nicely.

So this is what I said before my attitude adjustment: I need an intervention, or hit man. If you think you can help....call 1800dumbshit.  ooops I'm sorry that's his number. Dial I want him gone.

What I say now is: Darren who?

Thank you Cee for pointing out what a crustie olde bagg I am and how I can do what needs to be done. And I am going to take you up on your offer of magickal help.

We sat in the dark, did you?

Okay, so we observed Earth Hour last night.

This old hippy woman thought that is was past time that the grands started taking part in the peaceful protest portion of life. Or join with the do gooders part. Or lets join because we know it is right part. However you want to think of it is okey dokey with me. We have done smaller events, locally and this worldwide black out of electricity for one hour seemed like a no brainer and something that was attainable for us.

On one level it was spot on a teaching moment shared by three generations sitting in candlelight talking about things like our first camping trips, when Papa and I were younger and I was a hippy and he was an uptight suit type that folks mistook for a narc, but I digress.

For four out of the five of us, we enjoyed the atmosphere of candle light and story telling and shared time. For one of us terror. Abject terror.

I put a mantle clock on the hearth with two candles in front of it so that we could see the time pass. We all noted that at first time went slower. Folks back in the day of no electricity went to bed earlier, shared more in each others lives, passed down family legacy stories etc. But for modern day kids with programs to watch and things to be done in the dark this was a hard beginning. And then we all notcied the terror on Ry's face.

He was frightened that something was wrong or impending. When we focused on him, we found out that he was expecting a tornado or terrible storm because that is what he knew of darkness and candles. We also knew of times when, they as a family, didn't have electricity because of non payment of bills and the emotional tension of those times was a terrible memory for him (both of them really). If you have bad experiences in the candle lit dark, then it holds no romance or purpose other than to be unsettled.

You know even the best laid plans here at Casa de Cuckoo are tainted by the history of financial, physical and emotional abuse of the days of whine, excuses and lies in SC. I grow so weary of not being able to just live life with these kids and not have to think of all the possible negative angles that may make our adventures painful and tainted with ugly colors of the past.

So we had some smiles last night (especially when Papa told the kids that what we were doing was a game that Oma liked to play, see why we thought he was a narc? tee hee) and tried to let Ry see that the dark here is safe and warm and calm. And we did our part in helping with a cause of planetary proportions.

Now if I could just let go of this hate filled heart that beats in my chest. The one that wants nothing good for another group of humans people who injured, abused and misused both sweet, innocent children and left them troubled and wounded all in the name of self gratification and ego. I do try but I'm not sure but that I am losing myself in the hate.

Earth Hour 2011

Lovelies.....you know I am a tree hugging, sandal wearing, Woodstock swearing, solitary witch who loves me some Mother Nature. So there ya go.
Tomorrow night between 8:30 and 9:30 pm alot of other wack jobs, love the earth, green minded folks are getting together world wide and shutting off our electricity for one hour. If that is something you think you might be able to do.....well then ta dam dah. It is a sign of love for where we live.

Thanks for reading my commercial for save our planet....after that we can all go back to being well what we are. Meet you in the dark lovelies. Blowing grateful kisses.

Who am I?

Today I feel a little like Alice addressing the Caterpillar (or capapitter as GK used to say). You know the scene where the houka smoking Caterpillar is saying "Who are Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu?"

Today I would answer I am: my own worst friend and my very best enemy.

I have always envied others who know who they are and how they will behave in any given situation....give or take, more or less, in the ballpark. I never really have a true vision of how I will do anything. I have, since I discovered my inability to hold fast and true emotionally, should have wings sewn or at least embroidered on the seat of my pants.

And of all the lovely emotions we are designed for, anger is the one that just blows me out of the water....although the older I get the more confusion is having a race with anger in that department. I should probably restate it by saying when I am frustrated, I do not play well with others.

Most of you followers of at least a year or so know that my life changes on a dime. Bill Cosby said it best, when he remarked that kids grow up, leave home and then come back again and bring other people with them. Yep. And if you are one of the fortunate ones, you learn to like the people they bring. If not then you know what it's like to walk in my moccasins. Now I am speaking of big people, not the grand kind of people. They are grand after all and that goes without saying.

But the grands do bring their own set of circumstances and sometimes life is on the side stage laughing her butt off when you get a grand like my precious boy with special circumstances. Or one like Gerea Kaye, who you know full well has been in charge in this life and many before this one (she was at the very least Drill Instructor (hi Magaly) or Napoleon's mother). Both of my grands are sweet, kind, giving, loving, talented, good kids and at night when I go to bed I am glad I get 6 hours without them. That way I won't feel like eating them the next morning, after all they are just kids.

In the last 19 months, we have changed dynamics in this house and become an extended 3 generation family with what I might brag about as no prisoners or fatalities. Except for maybe bits of my sanity.

When my daughter Shelley was a child, Sweet Man and I had to "attend" family gatherings. Actually they were more like command performances with my Mother and Mother in law. Split our lives 9 different ways to dance to the drum of "family". It was a very a unpleasant situation each time. So I told Shelley that I never really wanted it to be like that for her and her family some day. I didn't care about being with her on any "holiday" except her birthday. It was only she and I, sans doctors, nurses, father, when she was born and I wanted us to share that for as long as we have together on earth. But in the case of any other holiday, she wouldn't have to split herself and her kids in two different ways for holidays. It would be totatlly up to her.

So there you have it. It's my fault....I forgot to say.....and by the way there should be days when I don't see you too. Only kidding......most days.

I believe our success at this extended family thing is because we all like each other and are willing to do what it takes to make it work. The only real frustration and anger inducers come from without the walls of this sanctuary and we manage those with help and protection.

I'm just a grumpy old bubby today with an attitude and that too will pass..................it better, soon.

BTW, all together between this blog and Olde Baggs n Stuft Shirts, I have blogged 675 times. I'm having a What is it?, giveaway at OBNSS. Go see if you can tell What it is?

Hello Spring

Yesterday was a brand spanking new day of spring. That's a seasonal statement not a meteorological one. Yesterday Arizona blew through on it's way to Texas.

All of the blossoms of the fruit trees and my tulip tree are now scattered all over the ground. As are my outdoor decorations and cushions on my outdoor furniture. The back porch swing swayed so much yesterday that it sounded like someone was building a new addition onto the back of the house. We're talking sustained 30 mph with gusts of 45 or better. You couldn't even see the mountains for all of Arizona in the air.

But this isn't La Nina or El Nino this just springtime in NM. I didn't take any photos, I didn't want a sand blasted lens. It did calm down around dusk and we did, "where are my cushions?" come out, come out wherever you are. The kids and the dogs played outside and all is calm........until it starts again this morning. That's the price you pay for no humidity I guess.

so much for trying to play nice......please excuse me lovelies but this guy needs to be outted.

For those of you who are new or relatively new to my Gazette, you probably haven't heard my story of the paper bag boy. I had to quit venting about him because he stalked me here and would get upset and gripe to Shelley and so I stopped, not for him but because I didn't want to cause anymore problems for her but........as the saying goes......the time has come, the time is now.

So let me regale you with the tale of the Paper bag boy, shall we? I have a lovely daughter, Shelley and two fabulously entertaining grands Ry and GK. They all came to live with us, it will be two years ago this July. Prior to that they lived in hell.....er South Carolina with the paper bag boy. Paper bag boy had to move home to be close to the Queen of England (mom) and his backwoods bubba Daddy in Columbia, where people knew how to be nice to people. Cuz Gawd knows we here in New Mexico are a bunch of hooligans with no class.

Up to the time of their move in May 2007, they lived in our old house not but 1.2 miles away. So I got to see the grands lots. Paper bag boy had come from SC and married Shelley in 2003. The two had met while she was working in Mississippi.

Anyway, when Paper bag boy could no longer stand New Mexico and all the horrible hispanic people here (not that he is prejudice except for blacks, hispanics and anyone else who isn't a bubba just like him), he moved home to be close to mommy and daddy. He (PBB) has never had a stellar history at keeping a job but I don't think he worked but maybe 4 months the whole 2 years they lived there. Shelley stayed home at first but they couldn't have the luxuries they needed like food, rent, heat, lights, diapers, formula.....you know all those extras that growing kids need.......so PPB borrowed from us and his folks. And this is why Shelley left everything she had moved from NM to SC, all the furniture, dishes, glassware collection, and brought the kids toys and clothes and came home to some security, and shelter from the idiot storm.

Shelley filed her taxes this year and was going to receive a nice return that she was going to use to take the kids to Colorado to the Ren Faire and to put a down payment on her own car since she has been using our second car for almost two years. That is until today when she found out she would not be getting a return and would instead be paying off Darren Thomas Doar's $22,000.00 unpaid tax bill. And that's the balance after the kids vacation and the down payment on the car money.

He said today, just as he has for all these years,the same old lie....."honey, I'll take care of it". The only fool who believes this fool, is him. And now you know why I call him Paper bag boy.......the bag wins the IQ test.

Just in case you are wondering, yes, Shelley is in process of getting a divorce. Yes, Shelley is going to go to the IRS and give them a written testimony as to her copability but his non payment of taxes. Yes, Shelley is heartbroken, yet again, but this is just one more reason to kick this dumb ass to the curb. He has nailed the last nail in his coffin. Bye, Bye PPB.

Spring Break travelers log............

As is our custom, here at Casa de Cuckoo, we drove. We always go for a drive when Papa alias Sweet Man has time off work. He and the kids chose the mountains.....they usually do.

We headed to the Sandias through the canyon that is named Tijeras (scissors) only this time instead of heading up to Sandia Crest or Madrid, we headed south on NM14 to Mountainair.

The drive this time of year never fails to give us some surprises. Wildlife, forest changes and a look at how everyone up in the mountains fared during the winter. Lots of folks must have had the same idea. Lots of hikers, bikers, bicyclists, and lookie loos. Most of the traffic ended about mid way thru the  mountains. Then we were pretty much on our own through villages like Torreon, Punta de Agua, Escoboso....don't you love the way the names sound...er look?

Every once in awhile we came across locals and stopped to talk and ask about the state of the mountains and general talk......it really is an experience that I think most folks skip. We stopped at a great little hole in the wall for lunch.

The Alpine Alley in Mountainair is a cross between an art gallery, library, bookstore, coffee shop, cafe, diner and there was live music. Well I tell ya we scored on the place, the food and the fun. Great eats, fun folks to visit with and the kids got to dance to some guitar strummers extraordinaire. And even got a round of applause when they finished. Outside the cafe and in there are local works of art. This ship and star are on a larger sculpture done by the local welder.

Since we are city folks and love goats and donkeys, we asked if there were any farms close by. We knew about Sierra Vista goat farm back towards Albuq. but were curious about any locals. They sent us to a place called Jackass Junction.......uh no, but it was a good try. We did see horses, cows, goats, rabbits, red tailed hawks (a pair doing a mating flight) but not one donkey, mule or burro. Boo hoo on the part of Ry. He thought we would for sure see "donkeys". And that's a whole long other story that I will share some other time.

We changed the subject and drove up to a place, Capillo peak, where there had been a forest fire 3 years ago. None of us had ever seen anything like that......whoa. We met some folks who have 80 acres there and had 40 acres burned. They gave us an insight into the events of the fire and also how they view the beauty that is left now. That was a gift we never would have had otherwise. Isn't life interesting? The forest to me looked like nowhere land but at their story telling I could then see the beauty of what Mother Nature had done in the fire. 

And we found a wonderful playground for the kids to work off some energy. Plus.....we brought home trip rocks....to be seen later. You know what a trip rock is don't you.....everywhere we go, my grands find a rock and bring it home. You should see my front yard. 

Here's an almost belated St. Paddy's Day to ya.....

We did a bit of wearin' of the green today. Had cabbage in our fish tacos. And did the traditional pagan hangin' of the snake.

What? You've never heard of the long held tradition of displaying an orange snake for St. Paddy's Day. Well....you don't live in my neighborhood then.

My Mother was English/Irish/Scotch/English all over again. My daughter's father (not Sweet Man) was Scotch/Irish. My grands paternal families are a mix of British (lest we get confused with English), Welsh and Scottish. So for the three woman of the family + our dear little boyo, we are for all intensive purposes eligible to claim an almost Irish ancestry.

Now I know you've read all about the "story" of St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland and being the patron Saint (male), Bridget (female) of the emerald green isle of Ireland but I bet you have never been told who the snakes were. Don't fool yourself into believing like lemmings that the slithering kind of snake went sliding off of the seaward side of Ireland into the Atlantic, cuz that just didn't happen.

Like so many tales of old, the main ingredients of the story were changed as they passed down thru the ages or through social filters developed by man to control mankind. The snakes were the heathen, pagan and Druids of Ireland. St. Patrick brought Christian religion to Ireland. And Ireland had been the stopping place for many of the displaced "non-believers" as the Romans took over Britain....ya can't go much further west in Europe unless you have a boat, ship or can swim a heck of long way. So all the riff raff ended up in Ireland. I am the great, great, great of that riff raff as are many others.

Now back to the orange snake. I have through the years noted that the further from Ireland folks live, the less "traditional" the celebration of the day. Most Americans think of green beer, corned beef and cabbage and parades with lots of police, fire personal, etc. But here in the west...uh just mostly the beer.

When I was a kid, I was raised Methodist in a very Catholic state. When I found out that green was a traditional color for Catholic Irish and Orange was the color for Protestant Irish, well, I was shocked. I'd never seen an orange leprechaun...nor a green one but you get my drift. I've been vague on the taking sides for most of my life. Well my Mother being English Methodist....uh yeah, wouldn't wear green. I don't know but okay.

So now that I am my own person....and the head of Casa de Cuckoo...........we have a new take on the holiday. (And you would think anything different coming from me?) So when I found this perfectly adorable orange no less, snake I knew he was destined to be yet another social protest of sorts for this old hippie lady. We have a St. Paddy's Day tree, very green, very Irish with leprechauns, clover, pipes, top hats, sweet cheeked Irish lads and lasses in the inside and a big ole, in your face pagan snake on the outside.

We're saying here's to the ones that got away. CHEERS.

And so there ya go...bye, bye, mind.................

Warning: this is a real report from Casa de Cuckoo, no one was harmed in the typing of this blog but embarrassment is afoot.

I had my cards read at the used bookstore the kids and I went to last week. GK wanted very much to find out whether she should take the opportunity to go to a charter school or stay with the same group of friends at the public school. This is one of those cases when.....well honey.....guess what...you're going to the charter school we've been trying to get you into for 3 years. But she wanted to know anyway if it was the right choice. And her cards indicated she would come to a fork in the road and one would be blocked but it was a good thing for her future. Rock on with your bad self cards.

Then I had mine read. This is where the wicket gets sticky. This is an exact quote. "I would need to be mindful of the days that I have invested in a project and not rush anything". Sounds like a straight forward don't lose yourself in your work admonition until yesterday morning.

That's when I realized I had been doing the countdown for Celebrate OZ and was 2 days off in my countdown. Now how in the hell did I do that? I know the difference between 17 and 19. And I also know when I was giving thought as to when I would do Celebrate OZ I thought to myself, self don't do it on St. Patrick's day but on the full moon...............and still I'm just typing along like a fool, targeting the 17th as the day. I confused some of my participants, have to wear egg on my face which is good for my complexion but lousy for my ego and...................Wow, the cards were spot on again.

I hope I have set everything and everyone straight now, most especially me. So if anyone of you can trust anything that I might suggest......please come and enjoy the CELEBRATE OZ party on the 19th of March which happens to be this Saturday. Which by my defective figuring is Weds, Thurs, Fri away.

I gotta make a phone call to the scarecrow and ask him to share.

We actually played outside today.........in the Faery Garden

As promised, I said I would tell you when I found our first turtle of the season. Well today is the day.

We went out to clean up the faery garden area. Kinda ignored it when fall came last year. All those encounters with pneumonia had done me in and I had no energy for leave clean up then so..................we did spring clean up instead. Our temps were so low this past winter and I was leary of what we might find.

Wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. The violets got freeze burn and so did the lavender but the roses are fine and so are the hollyhocks and nothing gets to the hummingbird vine. All of the strawberry plants are gone though. Can't be sure it was the winter....it could have been neglect on my part.

Anyway, as we were cleaning up to go in to have lunch there she was. Ms. Beauty with her tail end up. She must have been out and about while we were raking and headed for her winter hole. We took her out, looked her over and then put her back so she could go back and be safe until she comes out for real in April. Saw a few breather holes but no babies or any of the others out stomping around.

We cut the lavender plant way back and gathered the branches that had leaves on them and then stripped the leaves to dry......I must have rubbed my chin many more times than I remember because I definately have an allergic reaction and a bright red chin.....not attractive. Who knew I was allergice to lavender oil. Sure smells good though.

This was the year to cut things way back anyway so we still have miles and miles to go and lots more cutting to do. The kids helped, as did Shelley and we moved rocks to a new area so we have cleared more area to plant veggies. Tomorrow we are going to move the bird bath out of the faery garden and replace it with another focal point which will help the turtles hide from Ms. Ellie Mae the terror terrier. Also claimed some pods, twigs, dried flower pods for some upcycling for the fae housing during Spring Break this week.

And if I can still move tomorrow, I may even get to enjoy coffee on the back porch where we moved an old table and chairs. It could prove to be one of my favorite, spur of the moment, things. Sometimes they turn out to be the best.

Have a super week, don't forget to come and visit my other blog Olde Baggs on March 19 for CELEBRATE OZ.

I get crustier as I get older....just as anyone that knows me

I'm having an affair with the day. No one is home. No one is expected home for awhile. I have not one stitch of clothing to wash, nor dishes to put in the dishwasher, or floors to sweep, or well....yeah I do have mending but to hell with it.

Today the sun is shining, the birds are pooping where they want in my yard and I'm typing on the computer cuz I want to waste some time. So there world. Take that and that.

GK asked me this morning at breakfast why she feels like she is coming out of her skin and can't pay attention in school? I told her cuz she is 10 and has spring fever. And that discussion disssolved quickly into a million other things about nature, kids, birds, and so on and on. RyLeigh Eoan will tell you that every morning at the breakfast table is the same. We have discussion. He calls it "morning talk". Some days, we're almost late to school because we're running our mouths so much and loving every moment of it. It's the best part of the day, no matter what.

I have realized for along time now that Ms. GK just gets me talking on a subject cuz then she can stall and doesn't have to do what she has been asked to do....Gawd knows I can pontificate forever. I remind myself of my grandfather, Daddy Jack. The man never shut up. Always had an opinion, never cared whether someone else, "carried the same one". There were folks in McKenzie TN that would cross the street to avoid conversation with Jack because it could take all day or so they said. I always thought it was a kick in the pants to get him to telling his tales. And he had one for every occasion.

Daddy Jack had a sister named Sue. Aunt Sue was a "show me the hole and I'll tell you all about it" person. And  they were cut out of the same cloth. My Mother used to say she had never met anyone more like Aunt Sue in her life than me. That may be true but, I beg to differ now. GK has now taken the reigns to that ride. She has more information than the pantheon of Gods and Goddesses do. Just ask her. And I know exactly where she gets it. Aunt Sue.....hehehehehe

Happy Thursday ya'll, I'm headed outside to watch what Mother Nature has for me to be blessed with this morning. Just happy to have another day to see it.

For those who are wondering...........

Why yes, thank you very much I have lost my mind.

My computer is still out of commission. Doesn't mean I haven't posted for the Celebrate OZ countdown using Sweet Man's computer but well, it's like borrowing a loaner car. Sure, you can still get where you're going but you don't know whether all the tire iron and such are even in the trunk. Or what is in the glove compartment....or if there is even one there. You know, I know my computer and how to get where I wanna go and where I have my pics and shortcuts and blah, blah, blah. This one is well......not mine.

Seeing as the economy hasn't really cooperated with us and our budget....yeah well like I'm the only person on the planet chanting that refrain, I will need to wait to take my computer to the "get better" computer shop. It is the power supply unit. I'll be typing along and poof....gone. Just shuts itself down. It also has a charming aroma to it.

So if you have pondered, hey, how come she is posting the countdown and not leaving comments on my blog, doesn't she love me anymore? It's not the love part, it's the borrowing and having to fight my way through Sweet Man crap on the puter.

Makes me nutz.

Bloody Mary....a wordwide urban myths...........???

This post is all about worry and fear.......yeah real life.

My darling friend Nydia in Brazil has an even more adorable son named Lucas who has become very dear to my GereaKaye.....she has sorta adopted him as another little brother. But this one doesn't mess up your side of the room and keep talking when you've asked him to stop 10,452 times and poking and well.......little brother things. They have shared info, pictures, spells etc. through the mail and Lucas is thought of at bedtime and included in all things GK.....including clucking.

Clucking and worrying is what GK does best. I'm not sure what kind of hen she would be if she really were a chicken but she'd be a loud clucker, that I know. Probably one with fluffy bright pink and black tail feathers.

Lucas came home with a worry about a Lady in White dying in the bathroom at his school in Brazil. Have ya heard a similar story????? Well we have here in Albuquerque, half a world away. And the story scared GK and when I told her about Lucas having a hard time with this non entity.....she said well that's just an urban legend. (BTW, she has all the answers now....so just in case you need any questions of universal proportion answered ask now before she gets grown and losses all the facts). But she certainly wants Lucas to not feel badly and certainly not to believe this "tale".

Which actually brings me to my question for all of you....did you ever have a "tale" told to you that frightened you when you were a kid?

Happy March 1st

Hello lovelies.

Hope all of you are glad to be only a few short weeks from Spring. With all that has been happening in and around Casa de Cuckoo, I haven't had a lot of time to enjoy watching the changing of the season around here. The only exception is the sound of the Robins and Mountain Jays sparring in the backyard.

Ms. Ellie Mae Scootles, our Yorkitsu, has been on alert as of late. She has been having some very interesting conversations with the bird neighbors. I keep telling her not to worry these will only peck her head not try to carry her off like the crows might have. Honestly, some days her yapping is so annoying, I'd pay the crows with extra sparklies (like on Secret of NIMH) to carry her away. I hear this yap, yap, yikes coming from the backyard and I am so used to Bwarffff, bwarff....big dog, lips flapping barks that we had for so many years that sometimes I'm wondering what idiot is letting there "almost dog" bark. and then I have the realization is that I am that idiot.

My sweet slobbering hulk of a dog Willow Ozgood has been gone a year now and I still want to believe that I will look out the backdoor and she will be laying on her back kicking up her big ole legs, lips so big they cover her eyes, laughing at life and scratching that itch that only a good wallow in the dirt takes care of. And then of course come in and want to get up in my lap and share all the dirt in the world with me. I miss my giant furbaby so much. She brought me such joy and love. And as much fun and energy and love as Ellie Mae brings......she definately is not an old lady's dog. She is in fact, 200 percent a kid dog and I am so glad the kids have her here to let them lavish her with love and play.

I don't want to make this a sad post but just a rememberance of a very good dog and a short time spent loving her.

Hope your first day of March brings you joy and glimpses of the newness that surrounds us in nature.