What I Learned at Wal-Mart

Ok, so the journey to the ripe old age of 29 and counting has taught me many life lessons.
Manymanymanymanymany.
There are a few things that one must know about themselves to, oh, make life easier on the daily.
An example?  How far past the E you can still go without running out of gas.
So important.
I generally try to be on the phone with my honey while rolling, on a prayer, into the gas station...just in case I don't make it.  I might say something like, "Gosh!  I didn't even notice how close I am to being out!" all the while getting very.serious about when to throw it in neutral.

Another important thing for every gal to know is how early is too early to talk to your non-morning-person spouse.  Like, at all.
When I wake up, give me time to get my eyeballs in then game.on.
I'm cheerful, I'm witty, I crack jokes and occasionally dance.
I am married to a non-morning-person honey who has an even NON-non-morning-person son.  Holy moly.
I have taken Caden to school a few times and do you know how hard it is for me not to chat on the way to drop him off??
Do ya???
But it don't. Lip zipped.  Then it's "BYEILOVEYOUHAVEANICEDAY!" as soon as he gets out.

Knowing what time to go grocery shopping on a Saturday is as good as finding the golden ticket, as far as I'm concerned, especially when it's Wal-Mart.
SPEAKing of Wal-Mart, I happened to learn something new about myself there just this morning!

I had just been to the gym, where I had possibly the greatest workout in a year, and was on a workout-high when I got to my destination.  The parking lot seemed OK, so I parked and proceeded to do my non-grocery browsing first. 
Normally, I go to Wal-Mart and get in then get out as fast as possible.
Today I was all eh, I got some time.

When I was about halfway through the grocery shopping portion, I became transfixed by the beef broth selection. 
All Natural.
No MSG.
Less Sodium.
NO sodium.
So many choices.
The aisle had been a bit crowded but I thought, really who is gonna fight me for my spot?
Then it happened.
It was light at first, as if someone had brushed against me.
I noticed.
I would have noticed if it had been a gnat.  I don't want to be randomly touched.  Ever.
Evereverevereverever.

I immediately told myself it's OK.  No biggie.  I'm in a good mood, I'm sure it was an accident.
Then, the "brush" was still there.  Stillllllllll.
The brush quickly became A LOT OF TOUCHING.  As in, leaning on my left arm touching.
As in THE POINT WHERE I HIT SOMEONE.
Welcome to my breaking point.

I didn't know what I was going to do exactly but my right hand was formed in a fist.
Just sayin.  I don't know.

My head snapped-along with my body-in a split second to the left and while I still had control (thankfully) I recognized who it was.
It was my friend Brad.
Pastor Brad.
And not too far behind him was his lovely wife Tammy.

I'm not sure what I bought after that.

I should probably sit on the front row tomorrow.

Love and self control,
CalmCowLady

Momma-Talk

Sometimes, well lotsa times, as I am driving to and from work my mind wanders.
Just a couple of months ago it would typically drift toward what I needed to get done at work, or how if I drove a little faster I could get more done once I got there.  Imma nerd.
Lately, as I set the cruise control and drive 20-some miles down the highway, one person in particular  occupies my thoughts..

My momma.

I wonder what she's doing now?
Does she have to take Mercy to school?
I wonder if she works today?

I don't usually follow any of these thoughts with a phone call, like a somewhat normal individual would.  I don't know why.  Maybe I think she will probably be busy, or not in good company to talk.  Really talk. Not fluff-talk.  I dislike fluff-talk.

And that's just it, I miss momma-Rachael talk.  I only know this because as I typed that last paragraph I teared up.

I used to walk down to her house from the barn, disrobe from my coveralls on the porch, and tiptoe into sunroom in my cold-gear.  Then I would look her straight in the face and say, "what's wrong???!".  Well, 9 times out of 10 I did anyway:).  No, there's wasn't always something wrong, but I think I have always feared she would have a problem I couldn't fix...or feel like I could. Truth be told, our mother raised a bunch of bulldogs when it comes to her.  We dare ya to blink sideways towards our mother.
Dare ya.

It has only been a short time since seeing her every day, and I could very well drive across the highway a little ways and pay a visit, but that's not the point of this.
The point is in her smile, her laugh and her presence.

The point is that the smallest ( in terms of time spent) part of what used to be my day, now speaks volumes.
I just never realized it.

Maybe by sharing this you can avoid taking something for granted.
I love you momma and you will be hearing from me soon,
Rachael

Dirty Windows and Banoffee Pie

Wow, it has been 20 days since I have graced you with my presence.
Please forgive me.

I think a good portion of the reason is that the Blogger app on my iPad really doesn't work very well.
Blahbluhblahbluhbluhbluhbluh....
Right.

Anyway, as I sit here, the sun is fiercely coming up beside me through my kitchen windows, illuminating the winter wheat planted in Mike's field...and the innumerable hand prints on my windows...
Idon'tdowindows.

...windowswindowswindows.

I do zees though...

A deep dish Banoffee pie. Yum!
If you have never heard of Banoffee pie, it is just how it sounds..BANanas and tOFFEE!
All wrapped up in a deep graham cracker crust, topped with freshly whipped cream and caramel.
Heaven.

That was after our dinner of steak, gravy, mashed potatoes and asparagus...it'sokIran5miles.

Speaking of running, I have been doing a lot of that now that my back doesn't hurt.  I'm pretty excited about this, and have been logging around 10 miles a week plus running the famed "stairs".  I have quickly become part of the "early crew" at the gym.  We, as a unit, tend to lift at the same time and end up on the cardio equipment together, acting as an audience for the non-"crew" people who venture in.  Last week it was...um...entertaining, when a guy came in wearing only a wife-beater, white compression shorts, tall striped socks and yellow sneakers, and proceeded to do high-kicks in front of the mirrors.
Ew.
Lots of...emphasis.
Ew.

So anyway, work has been going great!
When I am at the clinic, do the small animal gig, I typically work with 4 other women(1 of whom is a vet) and this little firefly...

Her name is Reece(like the candy), and she is all of a foot tall.
I call her Trixie, becauseIcan, and she enjoys throwing her ears back and running through the clinic, or stopping to scratch her back on anyone's foot that might be crossed and dangling at the perfect height.
I love her.

Last week was filled with strange small animal people, and even strang-er horse people.  I can't even start..

I will tell you though, that if you have a budding veterinarian in your life, make sure they understand all aspects of the career.
That it's not all puppies, and kittens and happy clouds.
There's a lot of sad situations and not every day ends happily.
We have had a young person job-shadowing at the clinic and is just figuring out the reality of what goes on.

Other than all that, things are going well!
How are you?
Are you keeping your New Years resolutions???
I haven't had bread or chocolate yet...but am planning my attack for tomorrow.
Thousand layer chocolate chip cookies are going to be my drug of choice.
Yep.  That's it.

21 days of no chocolate or bread and those are on the top of the list.  Who'da thunk it??

Here are a few pictures from my back yard that I took yesterday...(and I'm sharing because this is a captive audience)..

 

I hope you have a beautiful day, and week and I promise to be back in less than 20 days:).
Love and blessings,
CowLady

Bye Bye Chocolate and Rolls

But not like that!
Not chocolate and rolls as in cause-and-effect.

Chocolate.
And.
Rolls.

Just for 21 days.
The first 21 days of 2013 tobeexact.

Why, you ask?
I have lost my mind. I'm fasting in response to a challenge Pastor Brad posed in Church Sunday.
I have never fasted, I mean never really fasted. I have thought about it a time or two but never had that push to get going.
Ya know?

Speaking of crazy things people feed their dogs, let's give pancakes a big round of applause....
Don't. Feed. Yo dawg. Pancakes.
Or people medicine.
AND if your dog has part of its body hanging out of another part, don't wait TWO WEEKS before you decide to bring it to the vet, k pumpkin?
Same goes for fish hooks protruding from your pets mouth.
Chyeah.

(See how I slid that advice in there very nonchalant-like?  Don't be like me.)

So yeah, Pastor Brad gave us a challenge and it was to fast something for 21 days.  I picked chocolate and bread..actually more like rolls because I rarely eat bread in any other form.
I was all like pshhhh! I.got.this. Now I wish I hadn't been so....vocal.
Way to be confident Carly.

But I mean really, I got this.
I gotta go call my mom...

Are you ready for the new year?
The old year was kinda dragging, huh?

Personally, 2012 was by far my favorite ever.  Ever. Rrrrrrr.
And here's a few reasons why...
(In no particular order.)

Umm, can we say there were some cute babies?

Wonderful visits from people very near and dear to our hearts:).

The cowgirl made her last ride...

  

 And this boy met his Uncle Chuck!

I cooked Caden dinner for the first time.

I found the missing Crayon..

Mercy lost a paw...

and I gained one!

Jarrod was Chuck's best man...

..but I think it was a close match;)

I grocery shopped with this guy almost weekly!
(There really aren't words, but I'm pretty sure he heard the "click" of the shutter here...)

I got yelled at a couple of times.

.And I didn't win the "herdswoman of the year" award...

 

 

 But mama was always there when I needed her most...

 

as well as Bossman.

Our families grew...

 And we became one.

 (Our jeans mighta grown some too...)

We relaxed a bit...

Got pampered a little..

And cared for the ones who couldn't do it themselves.

We learned new tricks..

played on new toys...

And sold some of them..

 

Chuck liked cats for 5 minutes..

 

Caden did too!! 

 

And we owned one for approximately 3 hours.

Hundreds of tractor hours were logged...

 

..and a few grays pulled.

I witnessed countless sunrises...

 

..and was never let down.

There were a few miracle babies...

 

..and just some we consider special...

 

We celebrated our first Christmas in our new home..

but there was a long line of "firsts"...

I said "goodbye" to my babies...

 

 

and "hello" to a new beginning.

 

2012 was a year of love letters...

 

and joy rides..

  

May God continue to bless your family this New Year, as he has blessed mine beyond measure!

Love,
ForeverThankfulCowLady