Crazy and Exploring the options that go with...

Date nights are always better with a Peach Margarita at 35% off because they are having a Weekly special on them. Yeah, It was lovely.

I am officially saying that I am crazy, bonkers, insane in the membrane (or menses, if you are so inclined - ALL women are!). So I'm thinking about a lot of things lately, and honestly last Friday, things REALLY crashed on me. Our vacation is cancelled, and while I wanted to buy the pretty prefabbed things for my garden area... yeah, that ain't happening anymore. So since it looks like the groundhog may have been right *crosses toes, legs, lips, eyes, and fingers.... ok uncrossing the last two, I am typing* You're going to start seeing renovation project updates on our little bit heaven. Though sometimes, I don't know about y'all... it's kinda rough here.

One of the first projects we will be working on is boxes for the plants. More specifically, prepping the area where we are moving my Ozark Everbearing Strawberry plants. We will also be setting it up where we will have two grapevines, and two blueberry bushes. At least that's the plan.

Also at some point this year, I will be installing a Cherry tree, a tree house, and two large squares of raised straw bale gardens. No, that is not a redundant statement. I am enclosing the straw bales in a raised platform for sitting so I can start small gardens this year. We also have two buildings to tear down, the Garage to fix, driveway to correct... and getting rid of some Rose of Sharon bushes. By and by, if you have any handy tips to rid yourself of these wonderful bushes. Please share. They sprout like ... rabbits almost.

I'm also looking at the couponing more closely now, since I look down and realize. These chicks, with the *OMG I PAID NOTHING for my GROCERIES thanks to *insert big anime sparkles* COUPONS?!* blogs.... they all live in large cities. Large cities with grocery stores that have totruly compete for their consumers. Unlike in little po-dunk towns like we live in, Heh... They'll cut you deals, but they aren't cutting their belts. Coupons help, mind you. Just not as much as I think.

Btw: This last pic, be my hubby enjoying his drink, Dos Equis!

Honey, It still tastes like urine to me. I just don't do beer.

It's a Circus! At least my Mental Images are!

So, the other morning, I'm waking up, and Tor comes in. The dogs came in begging to be let out to relieve their poor little bladders. I asked Tori to open the door and let the dogs out. She was grumpy and decided she didn't want to. So she knitted her fingers together, and essentially polished the door knob with them.

Being half awake, I trudge into the living room. I take one look at how she's trying to open the door, and realize what's happening. I hear her saying the door is stuck, no more 'I Can't's because well, Mommy doesn't allow those words in my house. After watching this performance for five minutes, I realize one thing. She's just going to keep doing this balderdash until I do it myself.

So when I get them out, I look at Tori and I tell her that I'm disappointed that you did that. She looks at me with her eyes welling with tears at these words. I was worried. I spent all morning pondering what this might mean for her future.

So I immediately imagine myself, standing on plank, which is balancing on a ball. And in my arms, the squirming ever changing child constantly throwing me off balance as I try to straighten her up to what she should be.

When I look at this image, It really hits home. Is my daughter going to be one of those people who will constantly seek everyone's approval. Will she take it hard when the bully says she doesn't like her? Have I created a horrible person?

I roll this around and around in my head... until finally my mental image of me crashes to the ground, cradling the mental Tori as I hit the ground with a swift painful woosh of air escaping. My daughter sits up on my chest and looks down at me smiling... 'You're Silly Mommy'.

And it's true. My daughter does stand up for herself. She enjoys her own thing, and doesn't let anyone stop her... unless it's her elders pointing out that it's kinda dangerous. She even argues with her family members to make her point clear. She stands up to bullies. She's even told one that if they keep being mean, they'll never get married.

Which makes me think, my Hubby and I have done something right if she thinks that getting married is such a great thing to achieve. .... As long as she graduates college first.

I'm sorry.... It's a hard thing to say.

The other night, my son was playing rough with my Mom. For those of you who aren't familiar with the typical Child playing Formula, here you go:

Happy Child x Excitement x Sparring Partner x Tickles = Injuries!!

Suffice it to say, Mom got a good Nose bump (no blood, thankfully), and Ian got a knotty noggin. So, like all good Moms, I tell Ian and Mom to apologize to each other... Now let me clarify.

I am not an 'I'm sorry' will cut it kind of Mom. I believe a child's first real lesson in responsibility occurs in these moments when a child has injured another. Teaching them to make a proper apology, not just saying "I'm sorry", but clarifying why they are sorry. As in... "I'm sorry Mom that I broke your $60 China Plate that is REALLY hard to find"... Ok maybe not that specific, but at least 'I'm sorry I broke the plate'. Even for accidents.

I don't want my kids to go through life like some I know, people who look at you and say It was an accident. ... Yes bub, I know it was an accident you rear-ended me, but you still have to pay the piper... or my repairman in this case.

My daughter took awhile to really slam this lesson home for her. My son... I swear he's part Mule. ... No comments from my friend's pointing how stubborn I am, my blog, shh.

Going back to why we are writing this in the first place - Ian wasn't going to apologize. Instead, He took off running when we pointed out that giggling when Memaw's eyes were welling wasn't funny. After we retrieved him from his room - he was completely focused on his knotted noggin, that it must be all her fault. So Mom tries talking to him. He starts to cry, bawl, basically 'Memaw Lecture Neutralizer v3'. I had to intervene. So we try just calmly explaining that he needs to apologize too because he hit Memaw as well. That doesn't work.

Said son turns from Mule, to Stonewall Jackson. That's ok... I'm John Pope... or.. Jonita? So, while I put Ian in sit down time, I endure glares from my Mom, who might I add is still working on her Immunity from MLNv3. I explained to her several times, you did this to me HOW MANY TIMES?

Finally Mom leaves because Ian is still Stonewalling me. Finally he breaks down in sobs after realizing that Memaw is gone. So we sit down and talk. I asked him why he was in trouble.'I hit Memaw'. Well Ian, that wasn't nice, but that's not why you are in trouble. You wouldn't apologize. So we talked about it, in four-year old language by the way. We even brushed over responsibility for your actions.

In the end, he said he wanted to apologize to Memaw. So I call Memaw on the phone... He was silent the whole time. Just teared and sniffled. Also it was really late so I said he needed to go to bed and I loved him.

By the way - before you start. Even Pope lost troops, and I won this battle by at least getting the message of responsibility across. Be sure that Stonewall and Pope shall meet again!

It's a Taco... It's Chili... It's... WTH?!

So last night, while the kids were out with Mary building their Snowwoman, I was making a pot of Chili... Well kinda. I started making a pot of chili, and when I went to get the handy McCormick Seasonings I keep about, it hit me.

I forgot to buy Chili Seasoning!

So here I stand, this massive pot of would be chili staring at me bubbling slightly like, HELLO You forget something. So I look about in desperation, what DO I have? Cheesy Taco... Cheesy Taco... American Burger... Cheesy Taco... Pot Roast... Cheesy Taco... Cheesy Taco. Hrmm... I think I have enough Cheesy Taco to use two packets.

Then I stand there looking at it pondering. Something seems to be missing. It's thick. So... Lets add some Cut up Tortilla bits, I've always wanted to try that. *Plop Plop Plop* Smells weird, better let it boil and bubble for a bit, any true witches brew needs too.

Low and behold, it's done.. ish. I'm not sure, I need an unsuspecting subject, who is innocent enough and acclimated to my off the hook cooking they would at least try it. Ah ha! Till Death do you part... Well, not with this stuff. Maybe it'll be 'Till Toilet Doth Call' after he eats it.

Low and behold, I serve him a bowl. 'Try it.'. He looks at me suspiciously and takes a tentative bite. Chews... swallows... ponders. ... ... ... Then proceeds to shove the rest down like it's his last meal before the firing squad.

Don't get me wrong, I had 3 bowls myself, and I'm working on leftovers today! It's nomish. It's great... and no toilet callers!