Little House in the Praire (Sun Prairie that is)

Well, considering that I have spent my last hour reading on websites about homesteading, I figured I would blog about it. I didn't know exactly what homesteading was either, but somehow one of those random search chases ended up at this little site http://www.homestead.org/. If you have gmail, you know about those little side links to your emails, right? Well, one of them said LDS ringtones (which I think is hysterical to begin with), then I jumped to a modest clothing link that actually got me to websites for Jewish and Muslim women's clothing(very fun), and then I was off to a different blog of a woman who decided to homestead and then on to find out what homesteading was.
Anyway, I have always had a fascination with living off the land. We gardened growing up and made paper once and visited some friends of my mom that owned their own farm. So, through my childhood, somehow I gained a little part of me that wanted to see if I could learn to make things and support myself off of God's creations. Now all of you know me and this may actually come as a surprise to some of you, due to my general distaste for cooking. Hmmm..are there any Amish women who don't cook? I'd like that gig.
One of my all-time favorite books is My Side of the Mountain. It is about a young boy who decides to go and live on the mountain that his family owns and survive alone in the wilderness through the winter. Really, I like any of those books. I remember my mom reading us Julie of the Wolves and Island of the Blue Dolphin-both great survival stories.
Bronwyn's family also lived in an actual tee-pee one summer and I still regret that I didn't know them then. So sad. Unfortunately, I don't think that John will ever have a strong desire to sell our comfortable home and move somewhere and live off the land, so I may just leave this little dream behind. Hmmm....he has mentioned that he wanted to buy a tractor! Ya think?
As I have a long list of things that I would like to do before I die, I have realized that some of those things may never happen. The time and season for those things may be over. What do you do with those ideas or dreams that will never be, but still hang around teasing you? What dreams have you put aside or which are unlikely, but you still hope to accomplish?

Max's Dr. Visit

Well, I know that most of you are not going to sleep well until you know how Max is doing. So, here I go. We just got back from the vet not too long ago and apparently Max is quite ill. You wouldn't have noticed by the way he was jumping around the Dr.'s office. I assured them that generally he is a calm dog. I don't know if they believed me. He just loves people and the smell of other pups is more than he can really handle without losing it completely. So, the vet poked and prodded (I won't tell you where, but you get the idea) and said that he had several irritations and he gave him 4 different kinds of medicine. So, my little pup is on the mend. I am just praying that his kennel is nice and clean when he wakes up tomorrow morning. Any extra prayers are welcome.

Isn't it about...time?

Okay, even though that is the line from some church commercials, I am feeling in my bones that it is nearing the time of a semi-sacred event that I have enjoy for the past 5 years. The other day, I had an overwhelming need for some cotton candy! You guessed it...The L.A. County Fair. I am a fair addict, but apparently this year I am going to have to start my meetings with the Stake addiction program to ween myself off because I have moved unreasonably far away from the fair and will not be able to share in this year's festivities. I sit here pondering about all the things I love about the fair and wonderful memories rush in and fill my soul with joy. I just typed that last sentence with a little more drama than usual but then realized that even though it sounds a little over the top, that is truly how I feel about the fair. I think someone needs to write a poem about the fair. It will of course not be me because I am embarrassed out of my mind to write a poem and even worse that someone might ever read it. Even if I was good at writing poems, which I assure you I am not, I would never think of sharing. So, that leaves the task to any of my friends feeling up to the challenge. I happen to know for a fact that many of my friends are talented in this department, so I await anxiously a poem expressing the pure joy of the fair.
Top Ten Things I Love About the Fair
10) The anticipation of walking through the tunnel before you actually enter the fair... I can feel it already
9)Little baby anythings. Last year we saw some little goats (I think) right after they were born. Kinda gross, but miraculous anyway.
8)Demolition Derbies. I have actually never been to one of these at the L.A. County Fair, but they just have to be on the list because they are so fantastic. If you haven't ever been because you think they are a little white-trash...you are kind of right, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable.
7)Fried dough
6)Hot-dog-on-a-stick. Especially those hats! I really need one of those. If someone could round up one at the fair this year, I'd pay you for it. Don't you think you could talk one of those high school kids into giving it to you. They don't like them anyway. Just an idea for the best birthday present ever.
5)The ice cream shack. What is the name of that place? I know that every year I read it wrong and it seems like it says something about boobs. Maybe it is Bob's ice cream shoppe?? Someone help me out here.
4)The crafts!!!!!!! I can't get enough of quilts. Also, does anyone actually know someone who wears crocheted clothing? Even a baby? Have you ever seen a baby in a crocheted outfit? I mean I can crochet, but what is the sense in that. So I don't like those, but everything else in the craft department I just love. That is where I remembered how much I want to learn how to spin yarn.
3)The milk production presentation. I know how milk is made, but every year I am drawn to sit in those bleachers and listen as if it was the most miraculous thing in the universe. Of course that leads me to #2.
2)The chocolate milk!!!!! What else can I say?
1)The Chinese acrobats. I just wonder if they start stretching and balancing like that when they are in the womb, because these guys are amazing.
Well, I hope I have given you all reason enough to get psyched for the fair! Take lots of fun pictures for me. Hey, maybe I should send Flat Amanda back to enjoy the fair.
L.A. County Fair Homepage

P.S. Somebody better go see the B-52s and sing 'Hot Pants' super loud for me.

What a day!

Well, by my other post today, you can tell it wasn't the best of days. It got worse when as I was vacumming the kitchen floor, Max decided that he needed use the restroom. He has been sick since last week and apparently has forgotten the his restroom is found outside where all the grass is. He neglected that information and I again found myself doing something no self respecting person should have to do. After cleaning it up and on my way out to the trash can, I saw my husband getting out of his car with a vase of flowers. He just felt like I would need some today! He's a good man! Just thought you'd want to see my beautiful flowers.

Oi Vei

This morning I woke up to a highly congested husband. I had a 'my poor baby' moment and then to my deep distress I realize a few hours later that I am the one to be pitied. I have a sinus issue. I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a bad week. Not only am I feeling sinusy, but it is sooo humid here right now. I made the mistake of getting motivated to be healthier this morning and I decided to take my beloved Max for a walk. There is a really darling cemetery near my house. You might be wondering about my use of the word darling for a cemetery, but it is one of those old ones. It is surrounded by fields of what I think are soybeans, right next to a red barn. Have I mentioned how glad I am that I live near a red barn? If I was going to play the Glad Game, I would mention the red barn. So, anyway, after I had committed to the walk, by packing my little bag of water bottle, banana, ziploc baggies for dog poops, keys and cell phone, I opened the door and my common sense not stopping me, I headed for the cemetery. I was sweating by second 2 of my walk, but I perservered. I know, props to me. So 50 minutes later I returned home. I don't think it is actually a 50 minute walk, but we are trying to train Max not to pull on the leash. To accomplish this you have to stop everytime the leash gets too tight and stand still until he lets up on it. For the first 1/4 mile I stopped every 3 steps. He finally learned. Either that or he got so exhausted from the humidity that he had all he could do to keep up. Either way, the rest of the walk wasn't so bad. Here's to hoping the week gets better!

Irene Cara - Fame

John found this for me this morning and I couldn't love him any more at this moment. If you want to send him Thank You cards, feel free. Ok, girls our job is now to get these moves down so we are prepared for an impromtu dance off! Solid Gold!

P.S. Rachel's Birthday

For all of you who love Rachel like I do, you would want to know that her birthday is coming up here quickly. August 17th to be exact. So, if you have not as yet planned a special day with her (if you live in Ca) give her a call. You know that she loves birthdays (primarily her own) more than most people, so get ready.
Need an idea about what to get her? I thought you might.


Rachel's Amazon Wishlist