Comments

I'm so sorry, i just realized people are leaving comments. (yee haa) I was having comments emailed to me but apparently i need to update my email b/c i haven't gotten any and i just figured no one was leaving comments. But you ARE!! THANK YOU THANK YOU! Now if any of you are waiting for responses to any, ask me again. Maybe on Fridays i can answer questions? Assuming of course there are any? So post questions, thoughts, etc and I'll respond on Fridays. (i hope)
Oh i just usually write, spell check, re-read quickly, and post it! i don't usually go back and scroll thru my blog. I'll be doing that now!

Politics-ACORN

I organized my first political gathering, i guess you could call it that Tuesday AM. Our Congressman, Steve King, office called a week ago wondering if i could pull together a little town hall meeting for our county. Of course I wanted to. But i was a little worried about getting enough people there that it would be worth his time. Well it was a success, Larry you think so?? All i really did was find the location, food suggestions to the manager of the restaurant, and make phone calls. I'm so blessed to be on our Central Committee where i can depend on many of them to either come and/or, spread the word. There was 30 people there. I think not bad for being the 2nd smallest county in Iowa.

This was an opportunity for Congressman King to talk to his constituents about the upcoming elections. MAN!!! I know this ACORN thing has been talked about a lot but i guess i just never sat down and thought about it. So to help me out I emailed my buddy 'Doc' and here's what he said:
ACORN poses as a non-profit organization lobbying for equal rights, especially for the poor or under privileged. ACORN has received millions of tax-payer money as a result of hidden earmarks and pork in other bills. Obama has worked with in signing up voters for registration purposes and later served as an attorney for them. The first bailout package that was voted down with no votes by House Of Representatives such as Iowa Republican Steve King helped knock it down - one earmark was for ACORN to receive millions of dollars more. During their conventions, they have endorsed Obama which violates a non-profit principal of being political. ACORN has been found, this year, to have registered even more adults than there are in Alabama. This is happening in at least 14 states on a very visible level. States without ID's in many states can still vote - it's not a requirement - in Iowa, we have passed this law that an ID must be shown - in 26 states, no ID is required - in the 24 states that do require an ID, only 6 of them require a "pictured" ID - serious? You be the judge - sure looks to stack up for Obama - do a little of your own research and see how he won his first election as a state senator - then, check out how he became a national senator.

This is me now: The thing that gets me more then who these so called 'people' would vote for is how WRONG it is. It undermines our constitution. It's taking away what i think is a right, to vote. They are making it way to easy.

As Congressman King pointed out today, Mutt and Jeff can show up at the polls, ON ELECTION DAY, and vote. Now when asked for a form of ID and they don't have any, all it takes is for Mutt to vouch for Jeff and vice versa. THAT'S IT!! Go vote!

The worse part?? we can do nothing! UNLESS you want to go sit at your polling place and contest any questionable voter. They would still be able to vote, however there vote would be put in place where it would be investigated before it's counted. But who can go sit at a polling place and do this? AND would it do any good at all??

I find it pretty scary whats happening out there. I of course have no answers or solutions. I'd be best to not start thinking of solutions. It's bad enough around here when i say to my DH 'hey i have an idea' if i start throwing out political ideas he may very well send me to DC on a one way ticket. Actually HE is the one that has the great ideas when it comes to politics. He's pretty level headed on hearing both sides and making thoughts with everyones thoughts. views, etc in mind.

What do you all think if this ACORN situation? Does it scare you to think that come election day millions of votes could be cast by people that can't read, write, illegal citizens or heck may be even a dead gold fish!? No lie, they found a fraudulent vote in OH i believe, where the name was a dead gold fish! Heard it on XM radio yesterday.

I did find out Gov. Palin is coming this way Saturday. Oh how I'd love to see her BUT I'd have to be on the road by 7 AM, doors open @ 9AM and Palin isn't to speak till NOON! If i didn't have to find a sitter, or FF-S didn't have to too, we'd be there. But the last Bush event I went to we didn't get to sit on the stage like we did in the past. Instead we had to join everyone else on the floor. Standing for hours next to annoying or stinky people. I decided then, i was spoiled once by being on the stage (thanks to my Dad and his 'office' in politics) i'm not doing it again.

Random Friday Night Thoughts

I found this totally cool website for online scrapbooking It looks totally cool and something i could find myself spending hours and hours on. I've done the snapfish album and that leaves me stressed out, staying up late, and thoroughly irritated when pictures don't all download properly. Not a lovely sight at 1230 AM when you are already exhausted from just the day in general. So i will have to check this out in the days to come.

There is no TGIF when you're a SAHM. Seriously tho, think about it. There are days where i wish I could escape like I did while i worked. I was able to escape the demands, pressures, etc of my job Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No such thing now:) Not wanting to sound ungrateful, I'm not. I'm happy I'm home!!

My sister just called as I was typing this and another 'tiff' has arised b/w us. As my mother just told me 'Thanksgiving is going to be fun for you this year". Oh yes it will! Thanks for reminding me.

I was asked to get Congressman King signs out this weekend in two towns where i know like no body! I have left a message for our co-chair for the central committee and am hoping and praying that she can help me out.

I'm feeling a tad overwhelmed with everything not only with politics but life in general. C'man isn't sleeping all night waking up whatever time the monsters in his room wake him up. I'm still battling a kidney infection and while the pain is nothing compared to what I had Sunday night, I'm exhausted. If i didn't know better I'd think I was pregnant. I could sleep all day if i was allowed to! Feeling kind of nervous about what could be causing the exhaustion.

Then there's the purses. I have parties and craft fairs coming up like crazy! Trying to keep them all straight and ordering purses like crazy! I'm going to be sleeping in a bed of purses one of these days. Actually maybe I'll be taking a nap in a bed of purses:)

Speaking of bed, I must get there now! 6AM comes WAY to early. Gotta love waking up to the shouting of MOMMMMYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! POTTY!!!!! or whatever else that lovely daughter of mine can think of saying to get me out of bed!

More Apples

Ah yes yet another post about apples! This afternoon the kids and myself are going to press apples and make our own apple juice and cider! Remember back a couple weeks ago when the apple thief was at our tree? Well it's her house we're going too. She is no longer a thief but my friend now! Heck she called me and asked me to come over to her house and press apples while her kids watch my kids! Does that sound like a thief relationship to you??
The kids and I went to the neighbors this AM and picked more apples. These apples are HUGE!! I mean like GIGANTIC! I'll take pictures and post later. I had sheet rock buckets and I swear only 20 of them would fit in this 3 gallon bucket!
It was a cold morning tho. My daughter is just like me. We were out there 2 minutes and she was yelling COOOLLLLDDDD. She ended up in the van while I picked apples. I tried to get c'man to help but he was more interested in the work being done on the nearby grain bins. He was NO help.

I did get a call from our Congressman Kings campaign this AM to help pull together a little meet and greet the C'man THIS Tuesday. I'm excited about it. I finally get to do something! I'm waiting for the noon rush to be over with before calling and reserving the restaurant. I'll be posting more details in the days to come.

What's going on in your world folks? Is it Fall weather by you?

BFFE if you are reading this, I don't have your email address!! Please email me and your blog is taking me forever to download b/c of all the pics and videos. So it's been like months since i've read it:(

Just Another Day

We had pigs show up in our yard yesterday. For 2 hours I was out shooing those pigs away every 10-15 min. I called our neighbor to see if they were there's. He assumed they were and he'd be over to get them. Not sure how b/c they just would run back in the corn field. Well today they were back again. Enough was enough. They were destroying our yard.
DH thought he'd corner them in the garage and catch them that way. I flipped. I didn't want no pig running around in our garage. He'd NEVER catch them in there either. WAY to much stuff in there. So he decided to catch them and throw them INSIDE his pickup. Ever heard a pig bawl?? Listen to this:

Well guess what happened!? The dam thing locked the doors. I have to say i KNEW this was going to happen. It was just going crazy in there. oh and it pooped on the seat AND kicked the wind shield causing it to crack. I didn't know if i should laugh, cry or say i told you so. I did neither. Just kept my distance. OK so i know this looks like total hickville but really, it's hilarious and i hope you can see the humor and not think what kind of people are they!? This too is Jeff's old beat up pickup. He drives it a/b 6 miles every day. Nothing fancy and sure isn't now after having a pig in there!

Called the neighbor to see if he could please come over b/c these pigs were becoming dangerously close to being pork chops. He came, said nope they weren't his. But he helped catch the next one.

that one went in the dumpster! Luckily garbage pick up was Monday! here it is the pig being dumped in the dumpster!

So at last the pigs have been taken to the farm. We don't know who's they are and we will just put another 100lbs on them and get them butchered. The bad part is it's so expensive to butcher them and feed them now with corn prices where they are. But since we didn't have to pay anything for the pigs, i guess that makes it a little more justifiable. Oh and I'm SO not a pork person. Really don't like it one bit.

There you have it just another story about life on the farm! Never a dull moment around here and here's another 'story' that really fell in to our laps. Like getting the calf in that wasn't ours, and now these 2 pigs! See what i mean when i say drama finds ME!

I also gave a presentation at MOPS today about Infertility and Adoption. It went REALLY well! I had quite an interest and there were some tears shed. I was hoping to keep it together, but no luck. I'll share more another day.

When is enough enough?? I'm talking about the CCC I'm on. The Community Center board and Miss Personality. We are working on our annual Ladies Night Out. It's a night of shopping, wine tasting, and a great meal. Well last year i sold my purses at it, had a great time. Well this year since I'm on the 'board' I'll be helping putting it together. I said I'd take care of getting all the displayers of which I've been working on.
I didn't make Sunday nights meeting b/c of other things going on (harvest='s no DH, my parents were here, etc) So i told one of the ladies i have a group of displayers and it's all looking good. Yesterday i get a message from Miss Personality that she too has a list of people. LOVELY!! She had to remind me that there was a meeting Sunday night too!! I should have reminded her about the previous meeting that she wasn't at. But i digress.
We talk and sort it all out who's who'. I just got home now to another message saying that she has another lady that might be coming. Well this other lady sells jewelry and purses! I told her i don't think that's very fair b/c i sell the same thing she does and i was trying to stay away from doubling up. She said 'Rachel, that's not very fair. She's sold lots of cookbooks for us and I don't' think we can tell her she can't come' I said 'oh really.....' Why the heck was she even asked. So i just said 'OK!?'
All while I'm thinking, do i need to continue to deal with this crap. I get nothing but grief from her and I've had it. I have so much going on in my life that maybe i don't need to do this community center stuff any more. Seems all it does is bring me grief. But if i stop doing it what about my Zumba that i have going and going over VERY WELL!!! Or the circuits that we are doing on Thursday nights, or the number of memberships I've gotten. Who looses more, them or me?? Am I playing right in to her hands if i say I'm done!? I've just had it with one person and I'm not sure if it's worth me getting all worked up and tense about every time i hear her voice!
She's very snarky when she does talk down to me and yeah, when is enough enough? I'd love to tell her off. Would i ever.
Talk some sense in to me one way or the other.....now that I've vented I NEED to get working on my MOPS presentation for TOMORROW!!

Video

I'm busying working on my MOPS presentation about Infertility and Adoption and came across this youtube video on Wendi's blog. It couldn't speak the truth any better then i can write it!
How Does Infertility Feel

Misc Things

Another one of those posts where I'm going to lump a bunch of things in to one post. Just way to much going on in our lives i tell you! I have so many ideas of what to blog about in the media, like POLITICS but just don't have the time. Although i must say, I just read another blog swarming with Obama supporters thinking the Republicans are to blame for the current banking status. I'd like to remind them who we inherited this from, AND that do nothing Congress we have with the majority being Democrat. How can we get anything done when we absolutely can NOT work together. Lets just get something worked out please! Of course I'm not sure what the solution is and I'm thinking DOC will have some suggestions on that. But why are the McCain/Palin supporters so silent when it comes to the public support Obama supporters offer? Has anyone read the Left Behind series? Does any of this remind you of that??
OK I'll stop.......

So us, I have been a canning fool. Here's what it's been looking like here:

First the coveted apple tree:
Me picking the apples. Good thing my mom doesn't read this, she'd freak out seeing this.
I had this long rod thing that i shook the branches with to make the apples fall. They were everywhere and not very easy to get to. I have SO many scratches everywhere. I tried to get C'man to help but that didn't last to long. It was much easier for him to crawl in there then me:
Miss A isn't to much help. She'd rather sit in the van and watch DVD's. But they both like to help daddy in the tractor.
This really doesn't even show how many apples. There was 8 bags chucked full!

Now the canning part. We made Applesauce. It worked out great b/c C'man liked to do this part:


I HATE running the apples thru the food mill. What a process. I had DH doing it last night. But here's the applesauce ready to be canned. I've done 3 pots of it so far:
I've also canned peaches, peach jam, pears and apple pie filling. Of which i made an apple pie last night, WITH a store bought crust. It was AWESOME! My hands are completely cut up and I'm really sick of apples, BUT i think I'm going to have to do some more apple pie filling!!

Other things, oh my van that i said had a little accident. Here it is:
My dad backed in to it! I'll say no more.

Friday night was our schools Home Coming. The kids love parades so we like to hit this one. Always LOTS of candy that i end up tossing BACK to the kids on the floats:) C'man loved it as you can see

Miss A preferred to stand behind Daddy's chair.

The middle of the month we made it to the Clay County Fair. I guess it's the largest county fair in the US!! It was kids day so they got to meet Clifford. There was a story too. They loved the story but not to sure of Clifford.
For me besides the food, the highlight was these geese. It's Santa with his 12 geese AND each one of them has some theme. See the baby on the back? one has a flask tied around it, another a binky, just HILARIOUS! I have a video I'll try and download. But what they did is they drank soda from a liter bottle! Each kid got to let them drink from it. It really was comical!

OK i have to wrap up this post. I have a purse party tonight and I'm excited about it. It's for one of my new friends i met thru MOPS. I'm looking forward to hanging out with friends and eating! I did have a purse party last Tuesday that went really well! I'll have a craft fair this weekend too. Business is picking up. As always, let me know if you are looking for a new purse or wallet. 20% discount if you mention your a blog reader:)

Apple Trouble

Before you read this, if you pick no other in the past to reply, for whatever reasons, START NOW with this one!! I have a dilemma!
So we have this AMAZING apple tree in a ditch on a gravel road that goes to our farm. The road is a public gravel road and the ditch is too. I guess you could say the state owns it. This apple tree sits right in the ditch and produces the most AMAZING apples every TWO years. I've been at the mercy of my FIL one time a week or so ago, to pick some in the bucket of the tractor and then last week we picked more.
OK back to my dilemma, DH calls me on the cell and says 'you'd better get going, some lady is picking the apples'. I immediately start freaking out. For one wondering why HE couldn't stop and talk to her and two, two years ago the same thing happened and some person took EVERY FREAKIN APPLE and left us with nothing.
SO....being the kind of person i am I'm all worked up. I hop in the old van (another post in and of itself lets say it involves a little fender bender) parked down at the end of the driveway. But wait, the door is locked. Run back up the driveway to find keys and see C'man is awake.
Oh the child police would have a hay day knowing i was going to drive 3 miles while my kids were sleeping in the house. C'man came with me and off we went.
DH's last words were 'tell her she'd better not eat them, we sprayed them' he tried to think of some toxic spray to tell her but couldn't. I wasn't going to listen any way. If i had had a gun I'd had strapped that on me and been on my way.
I get there and she's pulling away. I flag her down and proceed to tell her 'you pickin those apples? We sprayed them!!"
Her face went white. 'Oh dear she said, what a horrible time of the year to spray them, what did you use?'
"ahhhhh I'm not sure" Mean while I'm thinking about sending my son to the back of her van and unload those apples but quickly realizing he's in his underwear and not big enough to do such a devious act.
We proceeded to talk about the apples, how she asked permission to get them from the land owner (remembering this tree belongs to know one per say) and she is just a real nice lady. We talked for some 10 min. We ended the conversation by her calling me tonight to find out what kind of spray was used.
I told her it was probably what ever the crop duster used but wasn't sure.
I call DH pissed at him for setting me up like that. WHY couldn't he had just talked to her, WHY did he tell me to tell her it'd been sprayed, etc but he said she should know it was sprayed with the hi boy and more then likely the crop duster 'dust' wouldn't have gotten on it.
SO in you come...................what do you think? Do you think i was cruel, lying, deceitful crazy lady?
My plan is when/if she calls is just to tell her that DH said it was the hi boy that got it and just wash them really well and wish her well. Oh and that I'd love some of that apple cider she plans on making.
Thoughts?? Are any of you peeing your pants in laughter?
Any responses i will put a number in the hat and will personally mail you some of the coveted apples! Don't be shy, i would like more then one or 2 responses. Oh and really they are SAFE to eat!! No spray, well other then i guess insecticides but even that shouldn't be much, if any. I just ate one myself and I'm still kickin!!

The Big O....

Oh dear, i hope you weren't thinking i was going to talk about THAT now did you?? Get your minds out of the gutter:) No i'm referring to Omaha. My brother, SIL and my nephew are flying in from DC tonight. They have a wedding to attend tonight. My parents and then my sister from MN are all meeting up in Omaha tomorrow. DH isn't' coming b/c he wants to get in the field. They planted some early beans b/c they need to seed that ground down to pasture. Those beans are ready. Oh speaking of 'farming' i guess DH has gotten a different combine. He had gotten a different one last year ($50,000) and it needs some work done to it. SO the salesman, his friend, said he'd give him what he paid for that one toward this other one. WHICH is $90,000!!!!!!!! Can you believe that. My DH is spending $90g on a piece of equipment used about 3 months out of the year. And actually to buy a NEW COMBINE would run you up over the $150,000!! No wonder I got a 'newer' van.

Back to the weekend. We are staying at this hotel and it has a great indoor water park. Bummed that my niece won't be able to make it, but not as bummed as C'man will be with my sister pulls in tonight and there's no JoJo. JoJo has a volleyball tournament she is playing in this weekend.

What's all you readers doing this weekend?? Come on ya'll we need to put some comments in here. Make me feel better about this blabbing:) BFFE- you're good at this THANKS!

I must be out of my mind with this canning business. I've canned: Tomato Juice, Tomato Soup (still hot), Spaghetti Sauce, Pears, Cinnamon Pears (yesterday), Peach Pie Filling, Peach Jam, Froze a BUNCH of peaches and in the crock pot now is apple butter.

Tomorrow, or Friday, I will be canning a flat of peaches. The pears and peaches came from the organic store down the road from us. I'm not sure why i ordered so many flats but i did. They are the best dang peaches and pears you'll ever taste. Oh and i had gotten blueberries a couple weeks ago too! OH and Strawberries, waiting to make jam with them. Froze them till i had time.

I can can while the kids nap if i stay focused. Both kids have been napping for 3+ hours the last couple days. That allows me to get it all done. I'm trying to avoid using the pressure cooker. That thing scares me! Not to mention it hasn't been used in over 2 years so we're not sure how accurate the gauge is. None the less, I've called on the, 'canners for life' mentor and she advised me for the soup I could just do a hot water bath.

That's what I've been up too the last couple days. OH and picking apples. On Monday I entrusted my FIL with my life and let him hoist me in the air with the bucket on his old tractor. I was rather frightened. More by what my mother and husband would say if they saw me. At one point he about cut my head off by shoving me in to the tree to far:) Today was DH's turn to pick apples with FIL driving. I opt'd to climb the apple tree. Yes, that too was a sight. I got poked in the bum by a branch and nearly fell out. It still hurts.

So anyway, need apples come on over. We have plenty. I'd also like to hear any recipes you may have for canning and any stories you have about doing it!

Zumba bumba

WOW what a workout this Zumba is. Here's a link to our instructor at a local dance event. She's been on the news quite a bit with the Zumba. She is so cute too. Click on ZUMBA to see the news clip.
Back to me doing the Zumba. I think my legs and arms were all over the place. It was SO MUCH FUN! I just am so glad there was no camera crew, mirrors, or anyone behind me, b/c i felt like an octopus. The turn out wasn't to bad. Not the best, but not bad. I think those of us that were there LOVED it and will be busy talking about it gaining more interest by our enthusiasm.
We had 2 classes just this time. I did both classes. WOW! i was sweating so much my hair was just soaked. What a great work out! I do need to get different shoes tho. My arches starting hurting and now my big toe hurts. I think it's b/c i do so much of it on my toes!?
But it was fun and will be a great work out. I did notice that I'm going to have to miss one Monday night b/c i scheduled a purse party. Daaa
I'm talking tonight with a young lady that is at the beginning of her and her DH's infertility journey. Actually they've been on it for awhile but have just now visited with an Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). They live out in PA, originally from near me. I'm so hoping I can be the support she needs as well as help her, encourage them, and just answer any questions they may have. I feel that I've been down this road one to many times and know exactly what they will experience.
I'd better get going, she's do to call any minute.

Zummmbaaa

Guess what i'm getting ready to go do. ZUMBA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Hxw_Jf2B4

Oh it ought to be interesting with my 6ft body trying to do this!! Stop the chuckling BFFE, SML, Laura:)

STay posted for my take on it all!

My Mouth May Hurt

but not my fingers! I can still type. Dear me, what would happen if i couldn't do that. So lets see....what's on my mind.
Right now the little monsters, i mean children, are playing in the basement. I hear screams of delight coming. Delight to them may be oh DEAR to me! I have already changed Miss A twice before nap time. BUT she did 'pooters' in the potty! She then woke up from her nap, pulled her diaper off and i didn't know that, so when i got her, she had pee'd in her bed. SO that was time #3.
C'man changed clothes after coming home from the farm and being just covered in dirt. 1/2 inch of rain on a farm equals LOTS of mud! Then after his nap I dressed him for the 3rd time only to find him on top of a dirt/mud pile with NO SHOES! He had worn boots out there but they go stuck in the mud. However, that didn't cause the big mess. That darn sand and water table i got off of craigslist is what did him in. I hate that table. It's going back ON craigslist. The sand never stays on the sand side so that means I'm stuck cleaning sand/water/muck and my kids are constantly covered in it.
WHY did i think that would be such a wonderful toy to get them. It has caused nothing but grief. Even the cats like it, I've found them pooping in it. So BYE BYE! Anyone want it???

Yesterday was our first MOPS meeting of the year (mothers of preschoolers). This is my 2nd year. I am also a table leader and i can say I have a great table. We aren't very crafty, so we were thrilled yesterday when our table made this dipped pretzel 'dude' and it was already dipped, had the mini chocolate chips for his buttons and all we had to do was tie licorice for his collar and the other 'dude' we had to put a dab of frosting on the tip of the pretzel, put a gummy ring on and then his hat which was a gummy drop. It actually was really easy for us! To bad our kids didn't get to eat them. I know 1/2 of us ate it right there!! Fun times

Speaking of MOPS next month I'm the speaker. I will be educating mothers about infertility and adoption. Something I'm not sure any of the mothers have experience. Considering i think 5 moms have 4-7 kids out of 40, I'd say not. But still I'm sure some have struggled to get pregnant with one. I won't go any further b/c I'm sure you'll be my sounding/reading audience as i prepare for it.

What's on your minds? Not much reaction from my previous posts. Lots of 'hits'/readers but no comments. Not sure what to make of that. But i would appreciate any feedback:)

Off to see what the monsters are doing they are coming to find me!!

My Achin Mouth

Here you thought you were done hearing about my mouth. WRONG! I had my root canal today. I'm not very happy. It was HORRIBLE! I wouldn't wish that upon anyone, not even ahh...Obama! (ok well maybe)
I told the doc. that my dentist really had to numb me up, like REALLY numb my mouth. He said oh don't worry we will.
He shot that med. in to my mouth and pain ripped across my lips. I even said AHHHH.
Then he started with more needles, and then grinding, then me jumping b/c i was not all the way numb. I don't know how many times he had to give me more numbing medicine, at least a doz times. It was just awful. My entire body was as stiff as a board waiting for him to hit another nerve. At one point i was sweating but i was shaking.
Are you cringing in pain with me yet??
It took a good hour to get it done. My mouth was pried open for a solid hour. Now my mouth can move for a solid hour of talking, but NEVER this wide open. When it was 'over' they had to take an xray. After finally getting my mouth shut, i couldn't open it again to have that thing shoved in to my mouth. I just couldn't do it.
Well Mr Dentist, or whatever that guy is called, got it in there alright. Shoved it right in, i almost puked on him.
OK well I'm stopping now b/c i think I've said everything i can and I'm rather cross. I'm working on canning spaghetti sauce. Another process in and of itself.
I still would like some feed back on my previous post. I know there has to be someone out there that either disagrees completely or has something to add to it.