Laugh

With my last posting I rambled on and on about the city eye doc and my 'lil visit with him. Apparently I needed to vent. And on the same note, my friend over at Live, Love, Laugh, Hope needed to discuss a pet-peeve of her own today. Let's just say that I will be getting a patent for anti-butt-crack-n-cleavage-spray soon!

Now with that mental image burned into my brain, I really need to get a stick and poke out my mind's eye.

Okay, I thought this tid-bit on my Charles Swindoll daily flip calendar from 10 days ago fits the current neighborhood blog mood...

"I think it is often just as sacred to laugh 

as it is to pray--or preach--or witness."

~ Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, p. 148

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, 

our tongues with songs of joy."

~ Psalm 126:2

In support of my friend, I must say...really America, please get a grip. Or a belt. Or a button-down cardigan. There is not enough brain power to understand nor is there enough stomach acid to digest all of the droopy-droors (a.k.a. baggy-britches) and too-small-tank-tops that have been spotted in our great nation. 

Oh, I just realized I have crossed the line. Yes, the line that my mamma crossed when I wore mini skirts and streaked my hair with splashes of bright burgundy or tweety-bird yellow. I am that woman who shakes her head at the young generation in wonder and bewilderment. Hmmm. 

Well at least if there is a race, I likely will win cuz my britches won't fall to my knees and bring me down with a big, loud thud.

Don't Mess with Me, Doc!

If you have followed my blog since its origin at the beginning of the year, you know I had Lasik eye surgery. And you know it was not a fun experience for me as three rare eye conditions settled into my right eye...actually it started in the midst of the "procedure." 

Thank you to the white-coated men and women for the experience you shared with me.

Anyway, I had some symptoms again in that eye and as per doctor instructions I skedattled myself to the eye institute with the utomost urgency.

You are still having some melting.

 

Ohhh, so that's it. 

What! 

What did you say? 

My eye is melting? 

No, that is a strong word.

It's not actually melting. 

More like, yeah, well, the flap is melting to the eyeball.

Lovely.

So can I go swimming this weekend? In a lake?

No. No.

Really?

I mean it, no.

So, are water fights out of question too?

You know, I may need a note for my husband cuz he dumps buckets of dog water on my head and he fills up his water gun outta the horse trough too.

Is that okay or not?

What?! 

Are you serious?

(with the oddest look on his face and the doctor by the door looked like he would fall over from shock)

Yeah, city-boy, don't you have water fights in the summer too?

- didn't say it, but thought it

So, what about the water fights?

No.

What about horse hair?

Dust?

Hay dust?

Pasture grass pollen?

No.

None of that is good.

And stay out of the lake.

Why?

Angst showing...

There are fish in lakes. 

And fish poop.

And there is slimey stuff in the lake.

And bacteria.

Bacteria is not good.

You are susceptible to bacterial infections right now.

Oh, so that is it. 

Thanks doc.

- thought the above, didn't say it aloud though

Ugh. Ookaay. (trying hard to sound like a 4-year old saying it)

Okay. 

Put these drops in your eyes at night.

Why?

What are the ingredients in those drops?

Ya know, ya'all gave me an allergic reaction of a serious nature last time you gave me eye stuff.

Don't you remember?

My eye swelled shut and I ...

I won't relay the verbage that went along with that part of the conversation. Yes, I let the poor doctor leave. And take his other doctor cohort with him. I heard the newer one say to the regular one, "Boy that woman is really..." I couldn't make out the last part. Not even with my ear pressed to the door.

Now boys, this country girl may have fallen off of the spud truck, but it certainly was not at night. And it was not last night. All ya had to say was "your eye is more susceptible to bacterial infections at this time, please take all necessary precautions" and I would have gotten it.

You gave me hours of pain and agony and more horrid things that words cannot describe. I am going to get my full money's worth outta ya now. If you can't take some ribbing and questions, don't poke me in the eye like ya did and expect me to bring you a plate of brownies.

So, my son sat there watching and listening. He told daddy later that evening, "No more dumping dog water on mommy! You and me can still do it." He looks at me, "right mommy?!"

"Righto kiddo!"

Oh, maybe I should call the doctor's office and ask him though...cuz I may still have a 'tater stuck in my head from growing up in Idaho. We jez got eeleectricity and indoor plumbin' over there in them parts.

Can this country girl say no to swimming, horse dander, dust, pollen, dirt, and basically living in the country in the summertime? Uh, no. So whatever am I going to do? I don't have a medical degree to figure out a solution...

Well, I already did it. I prayed and thanked God that the docs figured out what is going on. And I thanked Him for their wisdom. And I asked Him for healing.

Then I went to the store and bought me some professional-grade swimming goggles. I suctioned those beauties to my head, donned my jeans & Muck boot & baseball cap, and went outside into the pasture (oh, no) and into the dusty places (oh dear) and held onto the colt (not the hair) while we administered some first aid (watch out for the spray) to Snickerdudel's wounds.

Good thinking for a simple country girl, if ya ask me. Hey, maybe I could use something like that for my eyes while at the lake this weekend? Now where would I buy it and what is it called?

Better call the doctor cuz he has a fancy-looking paper framed on his wall.

Weekend Visitor

Last Friday Uncle Kirky came to visit. It was so great spending time with him. Some years go by with only one get-together. We celebrated his birthday about a week after the fact, but I am sure he was thrilled to pieces to receive a bubble machine, water balloon, and a bee-bee pistol. Yeah, just what every 30-something man wants! We had obvious ulterior motives in the gift selections...playtime!

water balloon kit

bubble machine

bubbles!

bubble play

Our original plan was to build fence while an extra set of muscles and hands where here. Being unaccustomed to the summertime heat, we dragged ourselves through respective Saturday morning chores (including going to town and getting all the posts, panels, and nails), and then had some lunch upon our gathering together once again at the ole ranchola.

With full bellies and impending heatstroke lurking outside near the would-be fence line, we opted for a water fight instead! Those three boys kept after me with their balloons, water guns, and cups of water, so I did what any farm girl under attack would do, I grabbed the sprinkler and pushed back their wet advances. Remember I had already been privy to my husband's sneaky water fighting a couple of weeks ago.

After some good old fashioned fun and games, we left the posts heaped in a pile, went inside for homemade fruit ice cream and a movie. We had to rest up before heading out to the fireworks display. 

Our church sponsors a gathering of friends, food, and fun before the annual small town weekend celebration comes to an end with a firework display. Our little town on the river doesn't try to compete with the 4th of July celebrations of other nearby cities, so she always toots her horn the weekend following the 4th. A parade, logging competitions, street fair & vendors, and carnival rides fill Rainier to the bursting point. Being hillbillies and homebodies, we generally only make it to the nighttime event though.

It was a great weekend of visiting, playing and enjoying our company.

And thank you to the friends who came over for a visit and dinner Monday night-- they helped with some fence-building prior to the eating!  ;-)

New Day, New Week

Some dread Mondays and the back to work scene. I don't. Perhaps my lack of dread comes from my gift to be able to "work" at home...raising our son, tending to our little ranchola, keeping an eye on the critters, peering at all the beautiful creations of the Lord whenever I want.

Charles Swindoll best sums up my feelings of another week with this quote on my daily flip calendar for today:

One of the most encouraging things about new years, new weeks, and new days is the word "new."

(Come Before Winter, p. 141)

"The steadfast love 

of the Lord never ceases, 

his mercies never come to an end; 

they are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness."

~ Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV)

As my husband left for work, I gazed out the window this morning and saw the transitioning fog from its nightly resting place to its state of evaporation. This delicate and lovely act allows for a new sunny day to seep into the corners of my world up here on the hill. 

I grabbed my camera and took a few photos from each side of the yard. The fog lifted to reveal a new day bursting with God's creations and creatures.

Fog clings to the trees before the new day fully breaks

Snickerdudel makes a new friend with yawning Indy

New wild rose growth near an old compost bin

We are ready for a new week! 

Thank you Lord for another morning, 

another week, another chance!