My Week!

How are you? Hope your having the best of weekends. After having been busy the last three weekends it seems strange today to be alone with just my buddy Tinkerbell for a lazy day.

What was your week like? Did it fly by like mine did? I spent my week in a computer class for three afternoons and the rest of the time of course mowing. 

My buddy Tinkerbell spent her week lying on my hat that I lazily left in the guest bedroom on the bed.

For some unknown reason I could not pry her away from this spot all week. Finally I managed to put the hat where it belonged and she had to find a new place to be lazy.

Not sure if you can see the tractor hidden in the bushes. I was mowing Thursday with Holly which is name Kaci and Bailey gave the big Blue Holland that I am never comfortable with mowing on. While I was way in the back field  I rounded a huge tree and before I knew I saw several enormous tree limbs hidden in the high weeds. Immediately I slammed on the brakes not thinking I needed to push in the clutch. I was pulling a dual shredder so it would not stop on a dime and I was either going to hit this branch and possibly turn me over or I was going straight into the creek that was thirty feet below. 

Only thing I could think of at the time was to turn the key off since the brake wasn't stopping it.  Thank goodness it stopped then but as luck would have it that was the end of my mowing for the day. For the life of me I could not get the thing to start again. 

As you can see from this picture I sure needed to keep mowing.

Thank goodness I had these three fields mowed before the incident.

As you can see I have a boring week to write about. lol

I did manage to take some Excel Computer Classes but was highly disappointed.  A friend of mine and I realized we knew nothing about Power Point or Excel so we signed up for these classes.

We found our teacher was very lazy and not much more knowledgeable than the two of us about Excel. lol

Don't ask me why I stuck it out for three afternoons?

 After I received my certificate I celebrated and bought me a small pit so I could maybe eat healthier than I have been of late. I set it in the small fenced in back yard that needs a lot of work on the yard.

I have been trying to figure out how to make a small patio out here so I could enjoy this small space. As you can see the grass does not grow back here. Too much shade so it would be prefect for a patio.

Near the pit I jumped a mile when I saw this lying on the ground.

Thank goodness it is not real. I had to laugh after I landed back on my feet because this is the plastic snake that Gretchen and I scared each other with so many times last summer before she moved out of the pink house. Boy do I miss her. She is back in Texas so maybe we can visit each other now and then.

One last boring pic before I end this long post. I captured Tinkerbell watching me out of the back door.

As you can see my back door needs a lot of work on it. The whole little farm house needs lots of work.

Isn't it something how you can take a picture like this and see so many different reflections in it. I see my black and white bathroom floor, the pink wall in the hall, the yellow side of the house and my legs and feet. lol Can you see all of this.

So now you know how I have spent my week. I must now go and visit you and see what you have been up to all week.

I am going to try really hard to join Donna this Monday for Memory Lane Mondays. I just can't decide what memory I want to share with you that would be of interest. 

Sending you good thoughts for a beautiful weekend.

Love to all

Maggie

Life Without God Is Like A Unsharpened Pencil!

Good morning! I am without a tractor to mow with again so I thought I would share with you a beautiful email that I received from Sybil. I enjoyed it so much I just thought you would too.

I also mentioned on the post before this at Billy's Birthday party I did not get a good picture of my son Clint. Well his brother Chad put this on my facebook page and now I not only have a picture of Clint but one of us together. How neat is that! Thank you Chad for sending this to me.  If you missed the post before this about Billy's Birthday Party out here on the North Forty be sure and scroll on down and see what a day we all had together. You won't believe what his wife bought him for his big day.

Yesterday morning I knew I had to catch up with some mowing out here on the North Forty so I climbed up on ole John and started mowing the pasture near the house. Well ole John worked great until I made him cut into the higher grass and weeds. Then the cutting thing quit on me and I of course had to quit too. It was the only tractor that was working so once again I am down to zero mowers. Ms Pearl is doing her darndest to stay cool and not start kicking things out here but it is not easy on her.

Right now though I wanted you to read this and I should go because I signed up for a darn computer class this afternoon and I hope it helps me. His last one did not so we shall see.

Now here is the email Sybil sent me:

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every

 now and then

   And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast

 after a long, hard day at work.

   On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage

 and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.

   I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

   Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask

 me how my day was at school.

   I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember

 watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit

 .

   He ate every bite of that thing... Never made a face nor uttered a

 word about it!

   When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom

 apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits.

   And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits

 every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if

 he really liked his biscuits burned.

   He wrapped me in his arms and said. "Mom put in a hard day at work

 today and she's real tired".

   And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

   As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times.

   Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.

   I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and

 anniversaries just like everyone else.

 But what I've learned over the

 years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to

 celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys

 to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

   And that's my prayer for you today...

 That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of

 your life and lay them at the feet of God.

   Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a

 relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

 We could extend this to any relationship

In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a

 husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own.”

   So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.

 And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life.

   Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some

 kind of battle 

"Life without God is like a unsharpened pencil - it has no point!"

So grateful for all of you. Enjoy your day I hope it is a Georgeous like the one I have here today!

Love to all
Maggie

Prefect Birthday Party!

Today I wanted to share with you the prefect Birthday party held out here on the North Forty for my oldest brother Billy. About 60 of his closest friends and relatives helped him to celebrate. 

God could not have given us a prettier day than we had for this celebration. A little windy at first but after an a while it was prefect weather. 

 All week long I have had to keep a secret about what he was going to be given for his big day by his sweet wife.
She had told me when we were out shopping in Warrenton that she had bought him a old 1947 Ford Truck.

I am not good at secrets and it killed me all this time waiting for the party so he would get his surprise.
Then there was a delay in it being delivered to the North Forty which really added to my stress. lol

Finally the moment arrived and Linda had him blind folded and walked him over to the gate where his children and grandchildren were pulling up in it.

I don't know if you can see his expression very good in this picture but it was priceless. For the first time in his 65 years of life this man was speechless. Honestly it shocked all of us because never will you be around this man and him be without words and lots of them.

 He made some tears flow for a minute down my face because he was real emotional there for a minute. Who wouldn't be getting a present like this?

Isn't this a beauty! This is a 1947 which is the year he was born so how lucky  is that. His wife Linda contacted her son-in-law Kevin near Dallas and he found this truck near there on April 1st.

Needless to say it was the icing on the cake for this party. Here you see a few of the guys looking it over. My brother Tommy has his head under the hood. I could not get over this horn. Can you see the huge thing in the middle that is the horn. hahaha

Now let me show you a few of the 42 pic's I took of the day. 

One of my favorite pic's of the party was of my oldest son Chad and Billy's daughter Lisa.

Two cousins sharing a moment together. Look at those smiles.

Before the arrival of the truck Billy was calm enough to take pictures with some family.

Standing behind Billy and Linda are Ruby and Jeff. Ruby is Linda's sister and my life long friend. She went to Warrenton with us a few weeks ago with her brother Oscar and Bonnie who were here too for the party.

I managed to snap a picture of Tommy my younger brother. Isn't he handsome.

He reads my blog I have to say that......no he really is a cutie.

I found out yesterday that I can be jealous of my granddaughter Kaci showing someone else more attention than her grandma yellow hair.  Her dad went on a business trip Thursday and Friday and came home with this adorable chocolate lab for Kaci and Bailey.  So of course they could not leave it home and she came to the party with them and everyone there fell in love with her. I was jealous of all the attention Kaci was giving her instead of me.

Here you see Kaci showing it to Ruby.

I finally gave in and fell head over heels in love with her too. As of yesterday they were still trying out names. I told Kaci that I like the name Maggie but she told me I was weird. Imagine that!

Billy and I under the gazebo. You can see the pond behind us. I forgot to ask if anyone caught any fish. I was too busy walking around visiting and taking pictures. 

My brother Tommy again with his lovely wife Susan and beautiful daughter Erin.

Erin joined the party after running a 5k in Austin that morning. Gosh if that had been me I could never party after running a 5k. haha....She is going to have her own celebration on December 8th. She is getting married.

I was naughty and took pictures of the Oliver family eating. They shooed me off because they knew it was going on the blog.

Here you can see Billy being led to his new truck. Sorry these pictures are in no kind of order.

Tried twice to get a good picture of my son Clint but never could. haha...

Another favorite pic is of Bailey, his Uncle Chad and mom Andrea. Bailey is eating a hamburger.

Bailey told his parents that I should have more parties like this out here. You know he is right I really should do parties while I am lucky enough to live in such a peaceful place.

Andrea had a big bruise on her arm and from here it looks like a tatoo. On the same arm she also had a burn. Poor girl had a bad time the last few days. I hope Andrea you have a safer time of it this week.

Any time my family gets together they play games. I looked around and some were throwing horse shoes, others playing washers. Mostly I noticed lots of smiles. Just so lucky to have had such a lovely time with everyone.

We did miss though my daughter Christi who had to work and my baby brother Gary.  

Gary was not able to come because he had just the day before gotten home from MD Anderson. He is doing pretty good and I hope to be able to see him tomorrow. Maybe Billy will drive out in the old Ford and pick me up for a ride and we can go check on Gary. Gary and I appreciate all the prayers you have been sending up for him. 

Well I could bore you some more and add the twenty more pics but I will spare you for now. I know that some will wonder why I did not show their picture but I will show more of the party another time.

Oh remember the pic I showed you of Mama Kitty in the last post. Well she had her babies on Billy's Birthday which is today. I have not seen them since I guess she had them under the porch but she is here now at my feet wanting attention. I can't wait to see them. Wish I could give you one.

Hope your weekend was as special as mine was. I am hoping this evening to sit back get comfy and try to come by and visit with you for a while. I do miss you.

Sending you lots of good wishes for a prefect week. I hope those storms that are out there miss all of you.

Love to all

Maggie

Pictures of the North Forty!

It is rare that I am being lazy this evening. All of my equipment I use for mowing the North Forty are all broken. All of March and now most of April I have been dealing with broken tractors.

Now I find myself this evening with nothing to mow with so I thought I would just drive around and show you where I hang my many hats.

Sit back and relax this will take a while. Picture Happy tonight!

Before I get in the mule and drive you around the fields let me show you what I have hanging around on my porch.

I love this basket. It speaks volumes for letting you know that You  and Spring are Welcome here.

This lovely plant I received from my grand babies for Easter. It sets on a round table that is covered with one of my old table clothes. They also gave me a beautiful Easter Lily that is inside of the house. 

My two signs that Hang on my porch. The one by my pink porch swings says Dance as if no one were watching. Sing as if no one were listening and  Live every day as if it were your last.

Hanging by the front door is my wreath that says  When In Doubt Look Up!

On my side walkway coming from the car I have a big strawberry basket hanging on a bird stand.  I just can't wait to see if it produces.

Of course it would not be a country porch unless you have a fat Momma Cat lying around and yes she is pregnant  I was ugly today and told Tinkerbell (my inside cat) that she was fatter than pregnant Momma Cat.

Yep Tinkerbell got her feelings hurt when I told her that so she is not talking to me right now.

Hop on the mule and lets get our tour started. First we start with the little pink house that sits behind mine.
I am seriously thinking of opening a business in this cute house.

Past the pink house to the left is a field where I go fishing. Next to the pond is a beautiful gazebo.

Saturday we are having a 65th Birthday Party here for my oldest brother. 

My main goal tonight was to try and shoot a picture inside of this out house because would you believe buzzards have laid two eggs in this ole building and they guard it so I can't get too close. I did see the eggs really good one day but did not have my camera.

This field sits to the right of my ole yellow house.

A pasture that I need to mow.

A side view of where I live in the ole yellow house.

Front view coming in from the road.

Front pasture near my house.

Side view of the ole yellow house.

Hope you enjoyed our ride around tonight. I know some of you have seen where I live but for those that haven't I thought they might enjoy these pictures.

I pray you are well and enjoying your week.

Blogger is messing up now so I guess I will say good night and

Sweet Dreams!

Love to all

Maggie

 








A Lovely Wedding!

Last night I attended the wedding of my dear friend Janie's daughters wedding. 

Here Janie is in the church where I grabbed her before everyone else came in so I could get a picture.

Isn't she beautiful?  She surprised me by being so calm before the wedding. 

Janie and I have been friends for over twenty years. We met in prison! No not as cell mates but co-workers.  

Janie and I posing in front of the pretty wedding cake. 

After seeing this picture of me I have been depressed ever since. Can't believe my fat face and the long hair that never got cut for the wedding.

The happy couple entering the reception hall lead by a Mariachi Band. I was not quick enough with the camera  and only captured the last  Mariachi player. It was five of them and they serenaded us through out the meal.  Our dinner was delicious with  steak as main course and some rolls to die for. lol  And then I wonder where my fat face comes from. It's two rolls under each eye.

Let me present Mr. and Mrs. Benito Juarez.  I have to add the bride Andrea had the flu but she still managed to a gracious smile all night.

The hall was decorated beautifully. They even had a candy table. Yummy! 

Janie came over to our table and greeted my friend Sharon who was kind enough to be my date for the wedding. 

Here we are right before leaving! No that's not beer cups but tea and lemonade. haha

From the looks of us in this picture I know you don't believe me. 

Other than the fat jaws I have a big problem taking pictures. 80 percent of pictures that I am in my eyes are closed. Now tell me how can I solve this problem. Honestly I am seeing the camera the whole time so my eyes have to be open right.

We did side shots of each other because I told Sharon that is only picture I can take without my eyes closed.

Here you can see my long white hair. I keep saying I am getting it cut off and yet as you can see it's still long.

It was a lovely evening. I know my friend Janie worried herself sick about everything being prefect but it turned out her worries were for nothing. As most of the time we find out they are.

Janie lives in Navasota  where the prison is located where we both worked for many many years.

Janie is planning on retiring from there in August. She was smart and always worked in Administration and never went into Security.  The short 9 months I worked up front with her we became immediate friends and have remained close even after I left the unit.

Janie is a very sweet Christian Woman who radiates her love for Christ in the way she lives and loves everyone around her. I always have admired her for having the faith that she does.

She is one of those that would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. I am lucky we connected like we did and remained close.

The rest of this post is for the person who scolded me for not being a good blogger.

I received a email the other day from a blogging buddy who told me that I was not posting enough or coming by her sight regular. She informed me that I was going to loose friends if I did not shape up.

Well I never took the time to answer her email because it left me speechless and you know that is not a common thing to happen to me.

Besides I did not know what to say to her but now a few days later I want to say that I feel we all do the best we can with keeping up with our blogging. Some of course a lot better than others.  But  give your friends a break out here in blog land. You have to remember that life is different for each of us. If you find someone like myself who has not writing post as much as they did then take into consideration that maybe something difficult is going on in their life that would keep them from writing. Also I admit I am behind with visiting a lot of you but please know it's not intentional.  I think of you often and try my best to keep up but I am finding at my age I am slower in a lot of things lately. 

Taking care of this North Forty out here has me going every which way until after dark each night so if I hurt  anyone's feelings as I obviously have from this email then I am asking for forgiveness.

Also my brother Gary is going through cancer again and he is in MD Anderson Hospital which is a hundred miles from where I live so when I visit him I leave early in the morning and it is late at night when I get home. I know I am not the only one that has loved ones in the hospital but trying to give you some idea of why maybe you have not seen me come by your site. Also I have visited sites where I have had trouble leaving comments. I can't honestly say it was yours.

Just asking to give your blogging friends a break. You may need one yourself one day.

Love to All

Maggie