MERRY CHRISTMAS

Twas just days before Christmas,
and all through the house,
not a creature was stirring,
cept me and my spouse.

He really wasn't moving,
just watching t.v.
and I was scrambling
to put up the tree.

I had worked and I'd worked,
but he doesn't care.
He's stuck on that t.v.
and glued to that chair.

I shopped and I shopped,
and alone, I might add.
No, he wouldn't help
and it kinda made me mad.

Time is flying by so fast,
but not a finger he lifts.
Here I am STUCK
wrapping all of these gifts.

"It's cold in here,
build a fire, if you could."
I have to stop what I'm doing
and get in some wood.

I made so much candy,
peanut brittle, divinity and fudge.
I yell, "I could use some help."
But he still doesn't budge.

When ole Santa gets here,
tho my chances are slim,
I'm going to ask,
if I can fly away with him.

No matter what happens,
what will be will be.
I'm wishing the best Christmas
to you all from me.

That Creek and I

When I wade again
into my childhood,
that creek trickles
into my memory.
Those sun sprinkled days
dance and twist
in my mind,
like that creek
wound through my life
and brought ripples of joy.
That creek and I were playful,
meandering around the bends
of existence.
Sometimes,
that creek and I
would whisper.
Sometimes,
we roared,
but were never stagnant.
We rambled on
until our mud and laughter
splashed into the river.

DO YOU WANT TO RISK A BAD WINTER?

We all know winter is on its way and I've heard lots of opinions of what winter will be and our opinions are probably as good as the weather man's, but would you like a opinion from an expert? I talked to a bear the other day(yes, I talk to all the animals) and he did give me some advice for winter, no matter what it's like.
First of all, he said to spend this fall eating. Eat a lot because fat is required to keep you warm.
Next, hibernate all winter long. Yes, sleep, sleep, sleep. In case you should wake up, keep eating.
Drink a lot of water. It will help you sleep.
He also said, "Be grumpy if you want to." Ok, I made that up. He was a brown bear, not a grizzly and he didn't mention my disposition.
He said, "Make lots of quilts to keep you warm." Ok, he really said to find a cave that has lots of leaves in it to keep you warm, but I don't like leaves in my caves, so I'm going with the quilts.
He did say, "When it's time, bounce out with spring."

BUGABOOS

You sure can tell it's election year. Notice all the conventions outside your door? Yes, the democrat/republican bugs(a.k.a. boxelder bugs) are gathering.
I hear the two contenders are Bugrock Obuga and Bit Bugmy. I think they are neck and neck. Anyway, I saw them racing up the side of my house, and they were pretty close.
I haven't heard a lot of yelling, but their ads are all over my windows. I even saw some in my mail.
There are files, er piles, of ladybugs, too. They are protesting and demanding women's rights. They dominated this scene last year and are demonstrating because these guys have moved into their territory.
I know they are starting to bug me. I'm going to have to upgrade my "Home Defense" and take care of them.

                                                     EXPLORE (Sunday Scribblings)

The canning is done and the mess is cleaned up. Now I need something new to explore.
I could explore new areas of my brain. They say we only use a part of our brains. Then how do we get to the uncharted parts? I need the storage space. The part I'm using is full and overflowing.
I could explore some new literature. Read something different than I usually read. But there again, I would need more brain space. If the story is indeed true about our using only a small portion of our brain(which I doubt), they need to come up with a tiny laser surgery to open the rest of it. Then we could be intelligent to the very last moment of life.
I could explore new territory. I've never been to Hawaii or Alaska.(hint, hint, Tom Gibson) I can probably forget about Alaska cause he got chilly HERE last week.
I could explore DANGER. I've been hearing stories of people hearing and seeing mountain lions in our area. I could meet one eyeball to eyeball. I'd like to have my Bowie knife at my side, no, in my hand, if I did.
I received a photo of "the biggest rattlesnake killed in Baldwin County, AL. Yeah, that's where we hang out when we go there. Goodbye, Baldwin County. The mountain lion might be a little bigger than that Eastern Diamondback(not much), but I'd rather face the mountain lion any day.
I'm ready for a new adventure. Any suggestions?

                          THE DROUGHT(Sunday Scribbles)

Years of living,
die,
as trees burn,
overbaked by the sun.

The crops wilt
like lettuce
topped with hot grease.

The birds' mouths
gape open
begging, begging
for a drink.

                        DROUGHT

Slowly burning from the roots up. From green to brown in a matter of days. Leaves are brittle and ears trying to produce kernels of corn are sparse and scattered. Across the road an irrigation rig is casting a rainbow as the sun shines on the water spraying out. Choking, dying, and only a few feet away.... life.. giving...water.
Oh, for a talisman to make it rain.

                                                    ASIAN CARP ATTACK (Sunday Scribblings)

Have you taken a boat ride down the Nishnabotna River lately? Talk about a shark attack. What about the Asian carp attack? Those fish can fly.
It's dangerous. It's funny. It's absurd. In some spots, there were hundreds of them jumping at once. One pounds you in the back, one socks you in the jaw, one slams you in the head. The boat is full. They flop on your shoes and slap your legs. If you don't get injured, you get slimed and have scales in your hair. Those jokers can weigh up to 50 pounds. If one that big hit you, it would knock you out of the boat.
I read these fish were brought in here to use to clean algae in commercial fish farms and sewage treatment plants. Due to releases or escapes caused by the floods, they have spread. Spread? They've taken over. This is one time the cure is worse than the disease.
So if you want some excitement, take a boat ride on the Nishna. If you were a swim suit, wear an old one. If you wear a suit of armor, it would be WISE not to fall in.

       DISTANCE (from Sunday Scribblings)

I never earned a gold medal
I was never a great athelete.
But I go the distance.
If you need a bite to eat,
I feed you a whole meal.
If you need a drink,
I offer you a fountain.
If you need a lift,
I give you a prayer.

                          TREASURES
Yes, we will all have the real treasures in heaven, but we have some here on earth, too. My treasures are my family. This past weekend, a granddaughter got married. Oh, yes, we were included in everything and another granddaughter and family came and stayed with us, so she could be close to all the wedding preparations, also. How special it all was, and something I will treasure forever.

             LIMITLESS (Sunday Scribblings)

For years I
held the rigid
inhibitions
tucked safely inside.
Too strict, too dignified
to be released.
Last night, I
let them gently
escape.
Now, when all
I have left is
memories,
there will be one
that is different
from all the solemn others.
And I will smile.

                            TONGUE IN CHEEK(SUNDAY SCRIBBLES)

I always write with "tongue in cheek."
When my neighbors take a peek
In the local weekly paper
To check my latest silly caper,
Don't they really realize
That it's just a pack of lies?
It makes me feel like a sneak,
Alas, it's only "tongue in cheek."

                                              STRETCH(Sundayblogger)

It's a stretch of the imagination to imagine me becoming a mother this spring. I'm in my 60's. But I did. A fawn came out of my woods crying and I found a baby bottle that someone had left and began feeding it.
It's a stretch of the imagination to image that fawn, Bambino, coming to the house and banging on the door at 5:30 a.m. and then again in the evening and spending the rest of the time in the woods. But he does.
It's a stretch of the imagination to image that fawn, Bambino, running and playing with the young grandchildren and when a raccoon or opossum come in the yard, he tries to run them off. But he does.
It's a stretch of the imagination to image in the 28 summers I've lived here, and tried and tried to keep the deer out of my garden, that I stood and watched Bambino eat my green beans. But I did.
It's a stretch of the imagination to believe this story. But it's true.

                                               EUREKA

I find that when I jump out of the bath tub and run across town naked, I get arrested.

I find when I think my gold products are 24K., the hock shop owner declares they are not even 12K.

I find when my hair is gold, I have more fun.

I find the golden years are really tin.

I find there's gold in these hills..... EUREKA

                                     PARENT   (from Sunday Scribbles)

My Dad was a farmer and after 2 girls and no boys until I was eight, he made a farmer of me.
By the time I'd ran the tractor in the slough, caught the cultivator between two poles, ran the disc up on the tractor wheel, buried the tractor in the mud, I'm sure he regretted it.
His saying was "Pray for rain, but keep hoeing." And we did. He made work fun. If I had it to do all over again, I'd do it.
Happy Father's Day, Dad, up in heaven plowing that straight furrow.

A funny thing happened to me on the way back from the airport yesterday. My husband drove down, but I had to drive back alone, and I'm a country hick and do not drive well in the city. So with the traffic buzzing round me, I began to tense up. I flipped on the radio, hoping the noise would ease my tension. The song playing(it was an older song, I'd heard it before) was about a man who was raising his son alone, and he told God, I don't think I can do this. God told him, "I'm here with you, so keep your hand on the wheel, and stay between the lines." I laughed out loud. I said, "Ok, God, I got it. Thanks." I made the rest of the trip relaxed and laughed all the way home.

                                                       FORTRESS

I need to build a fortress around my farm. According to Fox News, they soon will come to take it away from me. "They" will either be aliens, Russians, or Democrats.
If it is aliens, then I'm in trouble. They will come in from above and I don't think they've invented those "force fields" that they show on t.v. yet.
If it's the Russians, I should be safe. If they would break through my fortress, I still have plenty of hiding places; they'd never find me. Plus I'm an excellent shot.
If it's the democrats, I'll just give them a big donation.

                                        STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

No, no, I'm not EVEN going to compare myself with the great King David, but he really fascinates me the way he handled multitasking.
You think you're busy? Check out the accomplishments of David. David was a shepherd, a poet,(I write a few), a prophet(I even do some predicting), a hero, a king, a soldier, a commander-in-chief, a statesman, an administrator, a musician, a leader, a devoted father,and a sinner.(I can relate to that one) He even invented some musical instruments. These are great accomplishments for one man's lieftime in any era. Pretty amazing man.
David played the harp for King Saul. There's musical talent in our family, but I didn't get any. Tom does say I'm good at harping though.
There was one tiny episode i experienced that was similar to David's. It also dealt with a sling shot. No, I didn't slay a giant. Years ago when Tom & I were first married, I walked to the back yard to see what he was doing. He had a sling shot and was attempting to shoot starlings off fence posts. He hadn't hit one. I said, "Let me see that thing." I picked up my first smooth stone and placed it in the sling shot. A starling flew overhead. I drew back and shot. The bird fell to the ground.
Tom said, "Kay, go back in the house."
This was one time, I'm sure David and I shared the same feeling. After a shot like that, we'd better hang up our sling shots.