Too Much Of Me To Go Around
I am pretty excited to try this and to let you know how it goes. 12 INCHES is a lofty goal. I hope I can do it. If you hurry and sign up too, we can do it together…
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Oh Rats!
I do have garden updates! And Easter crafts! If only I could get them posted before they are irrelevant!
Sorry I am missing (again). Mr. Vixen was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Wednesday and remains there. He has diverticulitis and an abscess. They are trying to avoid surgical intervention; so they are treating with antibiotics and antifungals. It is very slow going and he is in a lot of pain. Also factor in the fact that he is a ‘man.’ He doesn’t sleep well unless I am sitting there next to him, sigh.
It turned out not to be SLUGS, but instead we believe it’s RATS. Which is worse. Before he got sick, Mr. Vixen made some rat protectors for the strawberries. You have to see these. They work great, except when the giant puppy from hell digs up the entire planter because her man left her alone. Heavy sigh.
I hope I can find somewhere to eat Easter dinner….I don’t have time to shop or cook and Mr. Vixen is NPO! He can’t even have water sips!
Everyone have a blessed Easter. And feel free to send your positive thoughts and prayers his way!
Strawberries and Sweaters and Slugs, OH NO
I promised some picture of my wonderfully, successful strawberry adventures in the SuperGarden. I took these on Thursday. My pride and excitement at not one, but TWO 
nearly ripe berries made me giddy.
The next morning I went out to discover the reddest, ripest of strawberries had a chunk missing out of it!! I was devastated (do I take this garden stuff too seriously you think?). I thought perhaps it was a bug…I went out in search of organic bug spray yesterday and coated my poor babies.
Flash forward to this morning…the other nearly ripe strawberry had a CHUNK missing. My friend Google immediately located similar pictures online and the suspected culprits? SLUGS. Eww. Or snails. I have seen neither, but guess where I am going now? That is right, to buy some organic slug/snail stuff (that is so a technical term). I must save the 
strawberries!!!
I ‘ve been home from work the past two days, hanging out with my niece and sister-in-law. They came from AZ to stay with us so Nannygoat could work her photographic magic with a senior picture session. My niece is an identical twin to Bear. It is amazing how much cousins can look alike. Please go check out the beautiful pictures Nannygoat took HERE.
Now you are probably wondering about the sweater part of the title? Well, if I can’t kill the slugs I was thinking of crocheting them little sweaters for our cool, damp mornings….
Kidding. I am making a super cute little sweater for Big Blue! I am nearly half way through, you can click this link http://ravel.me/Crochetvixen/s1 and see my progress (and the pattern picture). I am thinking it may be completed before Easter, so I will post the pretty girl in her new sweater soon!! Also if you are on Ravelry, look me up - crochetvixen.
Up tomorrow on the blog: SuperGarden fencing and planting!! Easter crafting!! Anything else I think of!!
This post linked up to the Homestead Barn Hop #104 
My days are all filled with an easy country charm
It has been four years since my last SuperGarden attempt. That one was not very successful. Fear not, fellow homesteaders, I am always up for a challenge and I am driven to always succeed. I have spent hours and hours researching and studying before I begin again. I wish I could say I feel confident, but I do feel like one of the most well-educated backyard gardeners ever.
Although I have 2 of 3 of the “main” garden boxes done, we haven’t gotten the keep rabbits/horses/giant puppy OUTTATHEGARDEN fence up yet, so I haven’t planted yet. I do have the seeds, tomato plants and pepper plants purchased and ready to go. I am thinking after our Easter trip to AZ we will get it done.
We did get some planters along the side of the house done. As you can see below, it was an ugly little patch of dirt. Now it is three beautiful planter boxes filled with a blueberry bush, a raspberry, a thorn-less blackberry, a thorn-less boysenberry and one artichoke. All surrounded by strawberry plants. These pics were taken three weeks ago and nothing has died yet. That alone constitutes success for me, ha ha!! In fact, I will try to get some shots tomorrow of the strawberries and they already have berries!!!! I am telling you, I am the best-read berry grower in SoCal. If there is a book on how to raise the best berries I have read it. I have only a vague idea of what to do with all this gardening book smarts, but results seem positive so far!
Life is an exciting business, and most exciting when it is lived for others.
Getting ready to knock another item of the bucket list. Going to take the girls (and their parental units) on an Urban Scavenger Hunt!
Experience the fun of an Urban Scavenger Hunt in downtown San Diego. This Smart Phone guided adventure lets you and your family experience the fun of the Amazing Race in 2-3 hours. You solve clues and complete challenges while learning about the city in a fun new way. This family friendly adventure is appropriate for ages 7-70 and is perfect to get the family out on a day of doing and learning. Start on your schedule and play at your own pace. Register on-line at www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com.
Cost: $39.20 for a team of 2-5 people after Promo Code: USFamily
When: Play anytime during daylight hours
For More information and to Register visit: http://www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com
Rejoice While You Are Alive – Thoughts From My Jubilee Year
- I will continue to strive to become the cowgirl I’ve always dreamed of being. I want to spend at least 2-3 hours a week just working or communing with my horse. Ground work, saddle work, grooming work – whatever I do, I am committed to creating a deeper bond with my beautiful beast. I want to have a deeper spiritual experience with this way of life that I have fallen so deeply in love with.
- Save more, spend less. I spent the first half of my life (yes, I plan to live to 100) trying to overcome deficits and rebound from the unexpected. Someday I would like to retire…and I think I will need some kinds of funds? I think what I really am trying to say (to myself) is: I need to become more responsible with my money. I can almost guarantee that 85% of my money troubles are because of my lack of self-control.
- I will attempt to become a healthier version of myself. I am fully aware my body will never be the same. I am never going to be 20 or 30 again. I will never have a pre-baby body, because I am post baby (x3). I will never have normal function of all my body parts, because I have broken things, pinned things, torn things, slipped things and generally gotten some serious use out of my body these past 50 years. I am still in shock that I was able to quit smoking on November 1, 2012 after 34 years of that addiction. I am even more surprised by the fact that quitting so has been so much easier than I ever, ever thought possible! I am not sure what the difference is, anyone would have thought being pregnant (x3) would have been motivation, but it was not for me. This time it is almost like I just adopted a new stance. My brain and I got together and decided I am a non-smoker. Not a quitter, not an ex-smoker. I am going to try to apply this new self-mind-control to other aspects of my health. I need better control of my diabetes and I truly, truly must lose about 30 pounds.
- Meditate, appreciate, enjoy. Try to find something every single day to really grasp and enjoy for the moment. Forgive, move on, find peace within. Have faith, preach faith, feel faith every second of every day.
- Find my voice. The voice inside me, always longing to get out. Make note of it when I hear it, allow it to flow and be savored.
- I am going to go heavy on following clichés/quotes. I will try to find every cliché or quote I’ve ever heard/read. I have ever liked and try to do it, best I can. Today I am starting with:
Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think ~ Horace
My Jubilee
The year of Jubilee in both the Jewish and Christian traditions is a time of joy, the year of remission or universal pardon.
“Thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year,” Leviticus 25:10
Today marks the first day of my jubilee year as I am going to call it. It sounds so much more magical than ‘half a century’ and ‘semi-centennial’, agreed?
Yesterday, I was grousing about stretching myself this year. But now that I understand the essence of the year of the Jubilee I am excited to spend it in joy, savoring my universal pardon and granting forgiveness to my past. I am looking forward to every.single.thing.
I am still going to come up with some stretch goals, but perhaps they will be something different from what I have anticipated. I don’t know, but I look forward to finding out….
Big Day Tomorrow
Tomorrow, January 3rd 2013, I will turn 50. I don’t think I mind being that old, at least not very much. What I do mind are the things I have not accomplished by now. I have this overwhelming feeling I should have done more by now. I have no idea what more or how more or why more. I just have a feeling.
I said in my last post I was not going to do a New Year’s resolution this year. But now that I realize I am going to be 50 tomorrow, I believe I want to do something that is like a resolution but not quite the same. Perhaps more like a bucket list. Not a list of things to do before I die, even at 50 I am hoping I am only half way through this life. Maybe a list of things to do this year. Things I really want to do/learn/whatever. In this year. Some easy to carry out and some that are a stretch. That’s it… I want to come up with a couple of stretch goals for my 50th year.
Maybe by tomorrow I will have some ideas and I will share. Or maybe you have some ideas?
New Year, New Effort. Oh wait, that is tomorrow.
Well, if 2012 was notable for anything, it’s that I had ALOT to blog about and yet all there is on my blog is blank pages. It is my sincere hope that I change that in 2013. Not for you, for me.
Today, I saw a post from PB&Jazz and I was inspired (we’ll see how long that lasts, LOL):
1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
Break a bone (or six). If any of you have made it to 49 years young without breaking a bone, I must say I don’t recommend it.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I have no recollection of making one last year. I also don’t recall ever keeping a single resolution I made in the past. I am now making an executive decision to not make any more.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My son and DIL (MacDougal and Funsize), gave birth to my fourth granddaughter in August.
4. Did anyone close to you give die?
This year we suffered the unexpected and sudden losses of my dear Uncle Paul and my too-young-to-be-gone brother-in-law, Kenny.
5. What countries did you visit?
I don’t even have a passport, LOL.
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
The winning lottery ticket. Or a money tree.
7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Wow, this year was filled with etchings…the birth of baby J, Ladybugs first bike ride without training wheels, heartbreak, candy skies, riding with Bear, new people and new places.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I was able to not only make the best out of a horrible situation for my daughter, it turned out to be one of the best things I was able to do for my family in many, many years.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I allowed myself to forget how short and precious life can be. And I let fear deep inside; still trying to kick it all the way out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
See above, LOL. Broken bones, torn ligaments and surgery. All from one little, bitty fall off a horse.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The best thing I spent a large amount of money on was the new place we got a two-year lease on. I wish we could buy it. That would be a dream come true.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My kids have come through some truly difficult times this year. They were always there for each other and they make me so proud.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Fishboy. But we are working on moving on without him.
14. Where did most of your money go?
MOVING! So damn expensive…first, last, moving vans, time off, etc.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
MOVING. Ha, ha. Never thought I would say that. But we are so happy and in such a better place physically and emotionally because of it.
16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
Mmmmmotorboatin’!”Pontoon” – Little Big Town
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I don’t think happier is a big enough word for how much better I feel this year than last year.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter, but working harder on it!
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, but so better off!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Riding. Ground work. Chasing dreams.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Recuperating. Working.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
My mom and dad were here for the holidays. All the kids and grandkids came over for Christmas Eve. We opened one gift (pj’s) and Great Grama read Twas The Night Before Christmas to all her great-grandkids. RolyPoly, being 2, was hysterical during the reading and we all laughed until we cried. The next morning we went from house to house seeing what Santa had delivered, then back to my home for dinner. This was the first Christmas I have been with my Mom in many, many years and it was so wonderful to share it with her and all our grands!
21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
No, but I am learning to love myself again.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
No contest, Parenthood
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope.
24. What was the best book you read?
I read too many books. I can’t choose just one!
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Beirut
26. What did you want and get by year’s end?
I didn’t know how much I wanted our own place in the country, but I got it and now I don’t know how I survived without it.
27. What did you want and not get by year’s end?
I really wanted to be comfortable enough to ride out on the trails every single day.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really enjoyed the Dark Night Rises opening with my kids.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
This year I turned 49. Since I worked and my birthday is so close to Christmas, we didn’t do anything.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I truly believe winning the lottery would be immeasurably satisfying. I would at least like to try it.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?
Ha, ha ha hahahahahha. I just try to find something clean that I can still zip up.
32. What kept you sane?
Calypso, my four-legged equine BFF! Ok, my husband helped too.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don’t think I will ever stop pining a bit for Brad Pitt. I can’t stop myself.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I hate how divided our country seemed this year. It was disturbing.
35. Who did you miss?
I miss seeing RolyPoly every day. And I miss Bear since she got so busy.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
My new co-worker and friend Ms. Iowa.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
Be prepared!
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Life ain’t always beautiful
Sometimes it’s just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart
Life ain’t always beautiful
You think you’re on your way
And it’s just a dead-end road at the end of the day
But the struggles make you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin’ it sweet time
No, life aint always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life aint always beautiful
But it’s a beautiful ride
It’s Getting Crowded Up In Here and I Love It!
The den has welcomed yet another new face! Say welcome to Bumblebee, our newest granddaughter. Born to MacDougal and Funsize on Aug 31st, the chunkster weighed in at 9 lbs. 8 ozs.! Her big brother RolyPoly weighed 9 lbs. 5 ozs., so she has moved into second place as biggest baby in the family, directly behind her father (MacD was 9 lbs. 11 ozs).
Stunning beauty though she is, apparently my grandchildren have some unspoken agreement in which they torture their parents and I by never making things easy. Within moments of her birth, before we could see her or hold her, Bumblebee tested with a very low blood sugar, rapid breathing and a very rapid heart rate. While the blood sugar came up with an IV, the heart rate continued to be very high. She added an abnormal EKG to the mix and she was off…transported from the local NICU to Children’s Hospital.
She has atrial tachycardia, but after testing, observation and medications the specialist believes the cause to be “one of those things” and she will be on medication for approximately 4 months with testing and monitoring along the way. If all goes well, she may never have another issue. But let me tell you, she scared the CRAP out of us. They were talking about external conversion (the paddles, people!) and possible congenital abnormalities and other scary as hell crap.
However, she spontaneously converted to a normal rate on her own and only had three very short events the first night she was in the NICU. Today she was released and we brought her home. We thank God and all the people who prayed and wished us well. As I have said a million times before (see Ladybug), miracles to happen.
And my miracles are pretty damned cute too. (also if she looks familiar, she looks exactly – like identical twin exactly – like RolyPoly.
Find the Vixen
Out On The Prairie
Spread The Frenzy
Barked Back