Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Time an Frustration
I blog on another site, and tonight, when time is so precious, I posted my new hair post on my other weight loss site. Dang it! Now I have to start all over again.
Later, after exercising and laundry... then it's bed. Ok, maybe tomorrow...
Monday, July 6, 2009
Story Time
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Got Cilantro?
Worked at the fruit/veggie co-op today. Lots of great foods. Started salsa, pickles, and chopping the fresh herbs that were delivered. I still have a partial case of apples leftover that HAS TO BE canned TODAY! Tim took Tyler to the Crawdad Festival so I will get busy as soon as the twins take their afternoon nap ~ if they take their afternoon nap...
Friday, June 5, 2009
Four-Wheel Drive Friday

Tyler is such a photo hound! He is always saying, "Take picture me, mom!"
Who can resist those dimples?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Because I Don't Twitter....
OK - lets give it a try...
I don't think I made it...
I Have No Words...



A little about Mongolian Spots:
A couple of years ago, when we first met Tyler, I saw marks on his back and was concerned. I was immediately informed that they were Mongolian spots and that they would fade. Hmm... ok. I then never thought about them again. (He is now three, and although he still does have a few spots, they are considerably lighter.) Then, last year when the twins were born, I came into contact with Mongolian spots again. Only this time, I was a little frightened. (I had forgotten about Tyler's spots ~ he wasn't living with us yet.) The twins were brought directly to me at birth. Of course I opened up the blanket and examined every little detail. The nurses very calmly said that the marks were Mongolian spots and that many Hispanic babies are born with them. My pediatrician said that although it is no big deal, with the babies being adopted, I needed to educate myself, my family, and anyone who would be in contact with the boys. She documented all of the marks, and she checks them at every visit. Here is what I found out about Mongolian Spots...
(by the way, I don't usually even notice their spots. It wasn't until I saw these photos that I went, Hmmm.... who else doesn't know about Mongolian spots?)
What is it?
Mongolian spots (also known as "slate grey patches") are nothing more than dense collections of melanocytes, the skin cells which contain melanin, the normal pigment of the skin. When the melanocytes are close to the surface, they look deep brown. The deeper they are in the skin, the more bluish they look. Either way, they are not related to bruises or any other medical condition. They do not predispose to skin cancer or any other problem.
Who gets it?
At least one Mongolian spot is present on the great majority of babies of Native American, African, Asian, or Hispanic descent. They are also present in about one in ten fair-skinned infants. Despite the name, Mongolian spots have no known anthropologic significance, except for being more common in darker-skinned infants.
What are the symptoms?
These flat birthmarks can be deep brown, slate gray, or blue-black in color. They do sometimes look like bruises. The edges are often, but not always, indistinct. They are most common on the lower back and buttocks, but are often found on the legs, back, sides, and shoulders. They vary from the size of a pinhead to six inches or more across. A child may have one or several.
How long does it last?
Mongolian spots are present at birth, and most of them fade (at least somewhat) by age two. Most have completely disappeared by age five. If Mongolian spots remain at puberty, they are likely to be permanent. Fewer than five percent of children with Mongolian spots still have any by the time they reach adulthood. Those who do tend to be the ones with multiple, widespread spots, or with spots in unusual locations.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I Have No Idea What To Title This Post...
I'm incredibly tired. (Could be the contraband wine I'm drinking. Tim doesn't drink alcohol anymore so I hide a bottle in the back of the fridge, and when he is at a meeting, I have a glass. Only one ~ ok, only a half. I'm a lightweight.)
Tim is at yet ~ another ~ school board meeting. (Monday night was the Crawdad Festival Meeting. Yep, he's the chairmen of that. Nope, he's not busy.)
The boys are sleeping.
Ashley is camping. With boys. (And chaperones.) In the White Mountains. We've had rain the last 3 days ~ I bet she has had snow. Silly girl didn't pack her heavy jacket. Oh the lessons we learn as teenagers...
The house is blissfully quiet.
Why am I so enjoying this peace? Because:
a. I have three boys. (Did I mention that they are all three and under?)
b. My three boys have loud voices. (OK - only 2 of them are loud, but the 3rd just screams.)
c. Construction has started!
So, the footings have been dug, the stem walls poured, the wall chiseled out. Tim says by August we will be moving furniture and kids around. Does anyone want to start a betting pool on when the addition will actually be finished? I want in!
The addition will add three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a new and improved laundry room, and a family room. Before you get all excited ~ yes, it is cool that we are doing this, but it isn't HUGE! The bedrooms are average sized, and the family room is slightly smaller than my master bedroom. (Although, my master bedroom is pretty big.) I'm mostly excited because by adding a laundry room to the back of the house, I can enlarge my kitchen by knocking down two walls. Yippee! The kitchen phase isn't scheduled for another year or so though. OK - and the state of the economy will play a role in that phase as well. Tim works construction. Off time is good ~ in short spurts. It means he can work on the house, but with all good things there comes a bad. No construction jobs means limited income. You do the math.
I do have construction photos. I'll try to get them posted.
Later though.
I'm going to enjoy this blissfully sinful glass (1/2 glass) of red wine. I know I have a few pieces of dark chocolate around here somewhere...
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I Have 2251 New Email Messages
Did you want a response back?
Hmmm....
I'll see what I can do about that.
Was the message you sent urgent?
Call my cell phone.
Is my blog current?
Why should my emails be current?
Be patient.
I don't have any real legitimate reason.
Spring Fever. That's it.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Fair Week ~ Thursday
This is T. entering the show ring with his heifer. (I don't think he names his cows.) He and Ashley have been competing against each other for a long time. He is the one who gave her the nickname, Little Roth. She still goes by that... They get a little competitive with each other. It is all in good competition though ~ they respect each other's animals.
"Judge, This is your class."
Can you read her mind?

Setting up the cow...

Talking to the judge...
The judge will ask a series of questions to determine the knowledge that the showman has. Ashley has a lot of knowledge about cows.

"Ideally, how old should a heifer be when she delivers her first calf?"
"Why is this heifer so fat, and without a calf at her side?"
Only one of these questions was a legitimate question...the other was rhetorical.

"Come on judge. Is that all you have?"







Monday, May 11, 2009
Fair Week ~ Wednesday
Here is our lovely, Ashley, sitting in the bleachers talking with friends and fellow showmen. I always take pictures of her wearing her show number. I don't know why. I love the look on her face here. She is happy. She also looks a little mischievous. Her reply: "I don't know, but I figure I should do something with them."

She has a number for each species that she shows. Here she is in the Small Stock Barn getting ready to go show. That is her hen, Matilda, in the cage to her left.
Good thing Gramps was around. He had a bottle of water and happily shared his drink with Henrietta. She was a thirsty little hen. She drank four capfuls before she was satisfied.

OK - the truth.
1. Ashley hasn't named ANY of her hens.
2. I name her hens to irritate her. It's a "Mom Thing."
3. She would never name her hens any of the names that I randomly selected here. (Did any of you catch on to the fact that this chicken/hen has multiple names?)
I wonder how long it will take before she reads this post and figures out what I have done. Shhhh....no one tell her.








