Time to help the kids!!!

Maggy's life was very much impacted by Seattle Children's Hospital. It is her story to tell so I won't go into that BUT every year 106.1 FM out of Seattle does the One Big KISS for Children's Hospital radiothon. We all donate. We donate for Maggy and in honor of her family, we donate for the kids this hospital helps, we donate for the karma on the chance we will one day need a hospital like this. They do not turn a family away no matter their financial status. They work hard to help children in so many ways. So please donate! Help us to help them reach there goal! If you want more motivation go listen to the broadcast. Seriously. I cry every year.


***Edit***
Maggy asked me to pass on her story so here it is in her words.

Many of you may not know, but I'm not the youngest in my family. When I was 3 years old, my mom had my little brother. He was born with a barrage of health problems, and was sent almost immediately to Children's Hospital in Seattle. C spent much of his short time with us being cared for there. He passed away when he was only 15 months old. My mother slept, ate and basically live at Children's during that time. We have always been very grateful for the care and compassion all of the doctors and staff showed C and our family.

For the last 11 years, one of the local radio stations (KISS 106.1) has held a Radio-thon to benefit Children's Hospital. A few years ago, they also started their own endowment fund for uncompensated care. This year, the Radio-Thon is only 2 days long, and end at 7 p.m. tomorrow (March 1), and they are trying to raise 1 million dollars for the hospital. People can donate online (all year long) or over the phone for Radio-thon, and can donate either a flat fee of any amount, or join Kiss for the Kid's Club which allows someone to donate a smaller amount of their choice every month. I have been donating for over 7 years. Each year I join the Kiss for the Kid's Club for the dollar amount of years C would have been old, in his name. So for example this year, I'm donating $25 a month. One year Monster also asked to donate some of his own savings, and I matched that amount as a flat donation. My mom also donated a large amount in a single donation to the endowment for uncompensated care, to help be sure that every child can experience the generous and loving care that C himself received.

I'm sending this out in the hopes that you would like to donate to Children's Hospital in C's name. It doesn't matter whether you can donate $5, $25 or $100. Every dollar goes directly to the care of these kids, and every single dollar is needed. You can donate online anytime at the link Lila put up, and if you'd like to listen to the Radio-Thon, you can listen over the internet at http://www.kissfmseattle.com/ it ends tomorrow at 7 p.m. and you can donate directly to the Radio-Thon by calling 1-866-987-1061.

Thank you so much on behalf of me, my family, and all the kids helped by Children's Hospital.

smoker ideas

I found a good deal on a small smoker and now that I have it, I don't know what to do with it. I was thinking of maybe smoking a turkey breast or ham for Easter. This summer maybe we could smoke a fish or two, but what else can I do with it?

introducing Andy

This is Andy. He was a stray that my dear friend Ann was trying to get me to adopt before she died. When I heard she was gone, I told Hubby, "Suck it up cupcake, I am bringing him home." When I heard from Ann's brother that he was back home I went and got my cat. Poor Andy had been in a fight while his humans were gone and had a huge abscess on his face. I got him some antibiotics and now he is good as new. (excuse the picture, he was in the garage laying on all of last years yard sale stuff)

Andy has his vet appointment this morning and most likely as I type this, is being neutered. I think my female cat, Fancy, will like him a lot more now that he wont have his balls to stick in her face. She really hated that. He would do it every time he could sneak his butt in front of her face, usually while she was eating.

So.............anyway, lol. That's my talkative, grumpy, not so male (snicker) cat.

Early morning visitors

Woke up this morning to my chickens squawking and hollering. I ran out the door expecting to have to rescue them from a dog and instead found two bucks in my yard. This guy was only a foot away from me (on the other side of the window) and actually winked at me. If you look close, you can see chicken scratch on his lips.Here is is after I busted him and he jumped out of the chicken coop.
His buddy wasn't a very good lookout, he just stood and stared at me. He finally spooked and took off for the neighbors apple tree and the big guy followed.

These two bucks are part of a bachelor herd that used to hang out here in the neighborhood until one of them was poached in my driveway. All the deer disappeared and have only now (a year and a half later) started to return. I am happy to see them again, I have missed having them around.

Spring fever

I am so totally over winter. Not that we have had much of a winter or anything, I am just ready for spring. Spring usually comes late to the desert, sometimes as late as June. At that point it usually just skips spring all together and snows one day and hits the 90's the next.

Yesterday was a mild day and the bees were out in force. I actually watched one of them bury herself in the chicken feed. She wandered around for a while in it and then just wiggled her way right down into it. Weird little bug. There is something in the feed that really attracts the bees. Every day that it is warm enough for them to be out, they are all over the scratch. The chickens don't seem to like that much and steer clear. I fed them yesterday and am watching close to make sure they don't starve. So far so good.

I have plans to split my hive this spring and am working (nagging) on Hubby to get me another hive built. So far he seems very hesitant. I think he is intimidated by building it. Not sure why, he built a nice big shed for the dogs complete with loft, windows and dog doors. He also built our nice chicken coop. A beehive should be a walk in the park.

I have also been looking through seed catalogs and planning this years garden. We learned a lot last year and are going to make a few changes this year just so things run smoother. We are going to plant the potatoes and onions first (like soon) and the lettuce and radishes last. I got over excited and planted all of the instant gratification plants first last year and had too short of a growing season for the plants with a longer maturity time.

I also put in an order for chicks already. I am going to get two more Black Australorps, and six light Brahmas. I had really wanted some blue laced red wyandottes but I had to order a minimum of 10 and they were over $4 a chick. *sigh* So no pretty hens for me this year. My hens have already started laying for the season and are keeping us stocked nicely.

HURRY UP SPRING!!

Crash ..... minus some flesh. AGAIN

Tripped at school and bit a hole in his lip.

The Steel Anniversary!

We are about to celebrate our 11th anniversary. Very weird to realize it has been so long. I love him more every day. He spoils me rotten. We have been very lucky to grow together rather than apart as we have gone through our 20's and are entering our 30's. Anyway the gift this year is Steel. I asked for a collapsible baton and a fixed-blade knife. Yeah I  have become that woman. Luckily JW thinks it is hot hehe. Now I am trying to figure out what to get him. He wants a new bi-pod but I like doing fun things too. I want something unique. Survival minded. Ideas? He never reads this so no worries there. Come on y'all help a girl out.

Here she is!

So far I am really liking this gun. I love the way it fits my hand and how light it is. It's been too cold to go to the range so she remains unfired, but better weather is on the way, so that will happen soon. The only problem I have is the button to turn on the laser is pretty stiff and hard to turn on with the weapon drawn. Much practice is needed. I do not want to use the laser when practicing on the range as I want to rely on my own skills and not on a bright red light. BUT I am going to practice turning the laser on and off here at home with the gun unloaded.

I have plans to take the next concealed carry course at the end of March and the next step will be to buy a holster that is comfortable. I really liked the idea of the Flashbang, but after reading a few reviews I don't think it will work for me. Let's just say I am not as well equipped as some other women.... I had found a site a while back while looking at holsters that showed a woman with six guns on her body. The only one visible was the one she was carrying on her hip. I cannot for the life if me find that site again :( I thought it was on the flashbang site because that was one of the holsters used. Can anyone point me in a good direction to find something comfortable and practical?

WHOO HOOO

MYGUNISHERE! MYGUNISHERE! MYGUNISHERE!

I will post pics later tonight when I learn to clean it and after I have played with it a while.

I AM STOKED!!

Crash ..... minus some flesh

You can see tears on his cheeks, this one HURT!

This is the pole. If you look close, you can see bits of tongue on the bottom right of the tongue imprint.

frustrated

I want my gun! I am about to go park myself in the gun store and throw a first class screaming temper tantrum. Ok, not really. But patience has never been a strong point with me and to make it worse, one of my friends walked right in yesterday and walked out with the gun she wanted. ARGHHH! Yeah, I have jealousy issues too. Sigh.

Not much going on here in Gracieland. Although my little foster puppies did try to take on a herd of deer this morning. The pups sounded like a herd of coyotes and that really confused the deer. They stood on one side of the fence, leaning over it to see what these weird sounding little furballs were. The pups would run up to them with their tails high and their scruffs up yipping and yapping, then whip around and run back to the porch with tails between their legs. They were pretty convinced they had run those deer out of the yard when they finally got bored and wandered up the hill. Pretty proud of themselves right about now.

I have been given the title of cubmaster for our little cub scout troop. I am having a hard time adjusting to not having a den of little boys to teach every week, but there is usually someone that needs help so I don't get too bored. Last night though, one of my boys (of course it was Crash, who else would it be?) decided to make things a little bit more interesting. He stuck his tongue (the whole thing) to a metal pole and couldn't get it off. His brother was yelling to him to spit on it, I was trying to get to him to pour my bottle of Pepsi over it, but he panicked and ripped it loose. Leaving behind a fair amount of tissue. He's eating soft bland foods for a while. I doubt he will try that again. At least not until next year.

Starbucks..... Because they are oh so right!

Grabbed some drinks. Only one is actually coffee heh. I bought some iced vanilla thing for my guy to take to work tonight. (Yeah I got a funny look when I told her to not ice it.) Tea for Niece. Hot Chocolate for my girls. Strawberry Cream thing for me. If you can't tell Oil am not a usual Starbucks customer but today deserved it. Any company that is happily supporting Constitutional rights ostensibly a good one to spend my money at.

recommendations?

I was wondering if any of you could recommend books about preserving meat. We would like to learn how to build and use a smoker, and just any other way to preserve meat. I have my dehydrator, but it's big and bulky and not very practical in an emergency situation.

Dad of the year.

I am sure almost the entire nation has seen this by now. I still totally love this guy's response and from the other info he has posted, it seems like it accomplished it's intended purpose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kl1ujzRidmU

I found a page today where he responded to all the attention he has received from this video.

http://www.litefm.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=421220&article=9744152

My favorite part was when he let his daughter read all of the comments on YouTube.

"People were telling her she was going to commit suicide, commit a gun-related crime, become a drug addict, drop out of school, get pregnant on purpose, and become a stripper because she’s too emotionally damaged now to be a productive member of society. Apparently stripper was the job-choice of most of the commenters. Her response was “Dude… it’s only a computer. I mean, yeah I’m mad but pfft.” She actually asked me to post a comment on one of the threads (and I did) asking what other job fields the victims of laptop-homicide were eligible for because she wasn’t too keen on the stripping thing."

I also wanted to share something on the Dad's (Tommy Jordan) facebook page that made me laugh out loud.

"I'm extremely lucky to have a very strong wife who tolerates me and puts up with my mistakes, and who herself is strong enough that she can put me in my place with only a look.. no really.. you haven't seen her "I'm not kidding anymore" face... it's serious.

(For example I can apparently destroy a laptop and garnish world-wide attention in mere seconds, but I guarantee tomorrow morning my wife will say "Hey Chuck Norris. Make the freakin BED WILL YOU PLEASE" because I'll forget to.
(I have to admit the "Chuck Norris wears Tommy Jordan pajamas" comment will stay with me for the rest of my life. I want that on a bumper sticker!)"

I honestly want to be more like this guy.

Bow hunting..... for me!

My hubby bow hunts. Elk, deer, bear. He loves it! I want to do it as well, for a host of reasons. I want to have an alternative to guns for a TEOTWAWKI situation. I also want to do something with him that he enjoys so much. He thinks that with the advances that have been made in the bow world we should easily be able to find a bow that I can handle even with my muscle issues. My sweet brother in law who I know loves me had an immediate response that I would never be able to pull it back. That tends to be his response to things. He thinks my writing is a joke and my dreams of doing anything gun related are completely stupid. He loves me like a little sister and he would do anything for me but he comes from a world where women sit down, shut up, and do nothing and having goals beyond that are not attainable to them. So I am looking for thoughts and ideas. I still am planning to get recurves for us all, I think they will be handy to work with. What thoughts do you all have on compound bows for women? Any amazing finds out there you want to share with me?

Reclaiming me!!

I think the time has come to reclaim myself.  I've been sick for a month and that has meant that everything suffered. I haven't written. I feel awful.

Well I finally went to the doc (After TinCan and JW both gave me some lectures! ;)) and got on antibiotics. I scheduled an appointment with the new doc. I am slowly making steps.

I realized though that the confidence I have been building doesn't seem as evident to others. I look in the mirror and think, "She is not the beautiful woman I think she should be." I have put off things I did for myself to take care of other people. I stopped getting my nails done to save money. I stopped eating the foods I need and want to eat because the live-in folk don't like my healthier meals. So I am changing that. I am going to make the foods that are good for me. If they don't like chicken they can eat something they make. If they don't like salad they can make their own meals. If they don't like cheap cereal (gotta save somewhere, lol) they can get a job. I need to feel that I look as beautiful outside as I think I am. Make sense?

I am looking forward to really retaking myself. I want to be the best mom and wife I can be. So I plan to dig back in to the book, to shoot more, to pamper myself with the food I need and the fun things I like.

I might even save for a few gun courses not just one. I really do like the idea of getting certified to at least help out at the range near me.

We gots awarded........ A lot!!!

First Girls With Guns game us the award, then A Girl and Her Gun followed and then my buddy North chipped in. Since he was multi-awarded and added more awards I shall try for the same.

Below is the rules of the award:

1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award
3. Pick our five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
4. Hope that the five fifteen blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.

 *Framboise Manor*-  Kymber's blog, very cool!

 Defends Her Own  - Pam's blog. A big favorite!

 Ghost Prepper - He seriously rocks!! Some majorly awesome survival info going on! 


An Ordinary American - He is one of the most amazingly blunt and honest men. He is sick of the crap and tells it. I adore him!


Lagniappe's Lair - He always answers my annoying questions, lol. Great fun to read about his gun knowledge. Murphy is pretty darn cute too!


Lawyer With A Gun - Mixing the law and guns. Who knew it could be this fascinating?


Nine Pound Sledge Hammer - He has become a great friend along with his sweet wife. He is a no-nonsense blogger.


Nobody Asked Me - NFO is one of those men I wish had been around to father me. I love my dad but he and I are completely different and he has no patience or desire to like the woman I am. NFO is one who makes me remember I turned out pretty okay.


Red Woman - She loves the things I do and makes the great green PNW her home which means she lives in a piece of my heart.


Rock In A Sea Of Chaos - He is just awesome. Read, absorb. 


Small Holding - He guides us, he is an example I hope to emulate one day, and he is nicer than peach pie.


Standing Outside Looking In - Stephen is another great man I wish had been around to father me. His heart is huge and his knowledge great.


Tales From The Clothesline - She is my kind of Mom!!!


Orange Jeep Dad - He has a gaggle of girls and works very hard to provide for them, love them and prepare for them. Awesome guy!!


Zydeco Ranch - Mudbug is fabulous and living the dream!! My dream anyway lol.

Goodbye

Rest in Peace my sweet friend.

I have a friend

I have a friend who has the sweetest, most gentle spirit. She would walk a mile to help someone she didn't even know, even if it meant she would spend the next week in pain. She would go without food to feed a stray cat (and she has numerous times). Ann works at a nursery during the summer, watering plants and even pulling the throw aways from the trash and nursing them back to health in her yard. She can't stand to see anything in pain, even though she herself is more often than not in too much pain to walk. She once saved a pigeon who had been electrocuted by a power line. She fed him through a dropper every day until she found someone with more experience than her to take over.

This dear sweet woman is in need of prayers right now. I sit here with tears in my eyes at the thought of the world losing such a gentle GOOD person. Ann is in the hospital with a brain bleed. She underwent surgery last night to repair the bleed but she has not yet regained consciousness. I wish I could do more than pray, but there isn't. All I can ask is that you join me in my prayers for her recovery and to ask that you send healing thoughts her way.

You matter to me.

I am a horrible communicator. Really. I hate being vulnerable. I hate putting myself out there in case I am not wanted so I rarely do. I don't want to be that annoying chick. That weird girl who won't go away. The one you are nice to because you are to polite to do anything else. That being said I wanted to take the moment to tell you guys that you matter to me. Especially those who comment and make the effort to let me and the others know you are here. I love the input, the help with questions, the support.  Stephen, Matt, North, NFO, Hermit (I hope you read this where ever you are), Duke, AOA, TinCan, Pioneer, Brigid, Maura, AGirl, Mudbug, Red, Ryan, 45er, Suz, Midwest. I read your blogs all the time on my phone. All of you are incredible. Some of you inspire me. Some of you make me think. Some of you make me wish I had the courage to be even a small percentage of the people you are. I honestly don't know how to thank you for being the people you are or the influence you are on me. You guys are a lot of the reason why I got the courage to even buy my own guy rather than continue to pretend that the one my husband gave me was okay and using the discomfort of it as an excuse to avoid getting my permit or taking classes. Those things are so darn far out of my comfort zone but you guys have helped me reach a more confident place. I am not strong but you all help me with that. Thank you. I may not have reached out like I wanted but know that to me you guys are considered treasured friends and I would love to help any of you in any way I can. I don't have much but if I have it to give I give it to you.