Farm Girl??? Part 3

Yes....this is the third in a series.... 

Here are the first two if you want to "catch up"... hahahahahahha

>>Part 1<<

>>Part 2<<

I am trying to be as open and honest as I can. I sometimes feel I am really not cut out for the life that I live!!!

Craziness!!!
I am a city girl.... I now live in the boonies. By choice, but not necessarily fitting in with my surroundings!!!!
But the sound of bugs and birds beat the sounds of traffic and sirens any day of the week!!!! This is my sky view from my porch nearly every day (unless it is raining and dreary!!)

 It is very pretty where I live and I have no complaints....

ok....maybe I have a few complaints!!!

My sweet daughter….  My almost 13 year old beautiful little girl…. 

My tenderhearted chicken keeper…. My most capable kitchen helper…..
My mini-me (at least in looks and attitude!!)......  My Truly....

  

Somehow, in a sense of humor only God could have, I have a daughter that thrills in the hunting of squirrels.  We have always taught her (and her brothers) that if she kills it, she has to eat it.
Not that I have ever, ever (Nope, NEVER!!!!) shot anything for food!!!
Nor do I ever intend to!
As a child and teenager, my Army Man was a hunter.
He no longer enjoys it as he did...
  

Every single day my daughter asks me if she can go hunting. 

Every... 

Day....

I had an “excuse” through the summer because it was not “hunting season”, but now that we are in September I no longer have a valid excuse for denying her this. 

She LOVES to go out hunting. 

I have no idea where this desire comes from!!! 

Is it her competitive nature?? Nope!! Don’t think so….Neither of her brothers want to hunt. So she wins every time... 

Is it her need for food?? I should think not…. There is plenty of food in this house!!!  I have to feed 3 kids that are 11, 13 (in Oct.), 15 (in Nov.)!!!!!  

I just do not understand….. 

It is something I have come to accept as a part of her.  She is not like me at all when I was her age. I wanted earrings, new shoes, dresses and makeup for my birthdays, not a new gun, arrows with real tips (for future deer hunting!!) and a large knife!!!!  It’s kinda freaky, but she is who she is and I love her for it!!! She is pretty awesome!!! 

After she has shot and cleaned it she then prepares and cooks it herself.

Like I said, she is petty awesome!!!

 My oldest son, McCoy,  has always been fascinated with all things lizard….. he is constantly bringing me creepy, scaly things to look at. It seems to me as we have been out on this property  that the things are getting bigger and creepier…..this is an older photo (from Spring 2015), but gives you an idea of things that are thrust into my face almost daily (ok, so he has learned his lesson and no longer thrust them toward me, but it still FEELS like they are thrusted and I shrink back. Every time!!!)... It's no wonder that my hair is turning grey!!! Look at what I have to see!!!!

My barefoot boy…..
My youngest son is by far the least adventurous….
He is always concerned about safety and making people aware of the dangers of our property by telling them about all of the snakes he has seen, the spiders that lurk in the trees, and the many, many thorns he has pulled out of his feet!!! 

However, all that caution does not apply to him. Obviously.  

He runs about the place bare-footed. All. Year. Long.   

So much so, that his running around barefoot combined with an abnormally quick growth spurt when he was nine has caused him to have a condition known as Sever’s Disease. It’s not a disease in the exact definition, but that is the layman’s term for it…. 

It is called “Calcaneal Apophysitis”. Yeah, that’s why it’s also called Sever’s disease….. 

Here is a bit of info on that... >>Heal Pain<<

Over the last year and a half this barefoot lovin’ boy has been in double casts on his feet five times (3 to 6 weeks each time!!)!!!! Five times!!! Can you even imagine how difficult that is for a boy?!?! We went from carefree to be careful overnight!! Because of this issue (which he will have until his heel bones fuse)(somewhere between 12 and 14 years old!) he is forced to wear shoes all the time!!!! Not a big deal if you’re in the city and have to walk on concrete and roads often, but out here in the boonies we have 6.5 acres of grass, woods, creeks and ponds to explore. It has been a very difficult time for my boy….. but he is a fighter!!! He hardly complains unless the pain has become unbearable and still, he tries to run around barefoot!!!  

Speaking of spiders..... I have found at least 3 different (I said THREE DIFFERENT!!!!) types of humongous spiders that enjoy our property along with us!!!! =/
GASP!!!!!! 

I don't think I have ever been so creeped out by spiders before!!! I'll admit, ALL spiders are somewhat creepy, but these things?!?!  Yikes!!!!  We're talking as big as my hand here!!!

Freeeeeeaky!!!!! 

Along with a few other critters.... this "little" guy was about 3 inches long!!!! 

Since we do live out in the Boonies now we had to consider getting a larger dog!! 

Our Bella, a cute and cuddly Australian Shepherd mix is a great companion, but when it comes to watchdog she is more annoying than scary. We ended up with Aries… you can read the story of how we came to have him here >>Aries' Story<<  and some of his antics here >>Crazy Dog!!<<  but most recently he has been diagnosed with Radial nerve damage in his right shoulder.
This is what I have discovered about it so far....>>Link<<
He had been limping for a few weeks and his right leg muscles have begun to atrophy!!! This is the result of three males fighting an epic battle for dominance with Aries being the smallest and youngest of the three!!!  He is a scrapper and does not know when to cry uncle!!!!   The good news is no bones were broken in battle and there is no infection!!! We took him to the vet because he lost control of his right leg/foot. He was dragging it….. 

But he seems to have regained some use of his leg/foot and we continue to give him cortisone tablets (anti-inflammatory) . The bad news is, when we have him rechecked in 4 weeks he needs to show marked improvement. If he does not we have to face a possible amputation to the shoulder. I was in tears at the vet’s office just thinking of our happy-go-lucky boy with only three legs!!!! But the vet assured us that dogs get along just fine with three limbs and should the worst happen he would go on to live a happy healthy life.  

I do love where we live!!! 

We have much freedom here that we would not have in the city. 

I have a beautiful home with a wonderful view, a completely failed garden, and lots of love and laughter. 

I couldn't ask for more!!!

Blessings!!!!! 

P.S.   My youngest just turned 11 years old!!!!! (11. Years. Old.)   

I am feeling old and crippled.... 

Well, not really, but I do feel like time is flying by!!!! 

I don't have many years left with my children here at home so we try to make the most of every day!!!

Here is my baby, Thoene, on his 11th Birthday and his choice in cake.... cheesecake of course!!!

My "Little" Loves

Clean Britches

There are just some times when you feel like you need clean britches.

After this story you may need them from laughing so hard.

We all needed them because of the terrifying experience that is loading a dishwasher with a 65 pound dog assisting....

Aries....

Yes, Aries.

Somehow you may have guessed this story would involve this fun loving, crazy, happy, bright eyed, bushy tailed dog...

Sweet mercy the things this dog can get himself in to!!!
He is a story ALL. BY. HIMSELF.

On to the "clean britches" part of our night.....

True story.

We've just had an epic (terrifying!) Aries episode.....

I was loading the dishwasher after supper, rinsing off the dishes and such, Aries always comes over to "assist" and check out the dishes just in case I missed something delicious.

Tonight, while he is checking my proficiency at cleaning off the dishes his chain collar attached itself (somehow!) to the bottom tray of the dishwasher already partially loaded with dishes!!!!

Things got a little crazy there for what seemed like forever, but in retrospect was probably only 10 seconds or so....

 Aries, (after realizing he was attached to the dishwasher tray) started backing up, jerking, and jumping sideways and essentially freaking me out.

Picture this now...
the dishwasher tray is attached to my dog's collar..... it is swinging back and forth with his every move, bouncing up and down in ways no dishwasher tray should EVER be doing!!!!

Dishes were jumping out of the dishwasher, silverware was flying everywhere, a whole (large cup) of good ol' southern sweet tea spills onto the counter and the floor, I screamed like a girl (my throat is still hurting...)(really, Army Man could not figure out what was going on!)(all he could see was the dishwasher spitting out dishes!!)(he may have been freaking out a little himself!), glass was breaking, the boys walk in the back door seeing the chaos and start yelling, my youngest (10yo)  starts crying because I am screaming.

Epic...

It. Was. Terrifying.

FINALLY, Aries managed to disengage himself from the dishwasher tray, looks at me with a look of (what I can only guess) "Did I do that?" or "This is all your fault", turns  and goes and lays down in the living room. Apparently, it is exhausting "fighting" with the dishwasher tray.....
Meanwhile , the boys have to go back outside and come in a different door because of the glass everywhere.
Craziness!!!!!

The dish tray ended up in my son's room and the silverware holder ends up by our pantry door (these places are pretty close together).....
At some point we start laughing while we are cleaning up this incredible mess made from 10 seconds of chaos....
We needed the release.....

Someone Army Man said, "I may need clean britches"... then we all started laughing again!!!
It turned out really funny, but boy was I scared while it was happening!!! My throat STILL hurts from that blood curling scream that came out of my mouth!!!
I NEED ice cream!!! And chocolate!!!!!
;-)

Here are some pics I took earlier today of our little rascal..... way before his antics tonight!!!
He really is a good boy, but I think the dishwasher won tonight!!!!

Please, pretty please, no more pictures!!!! 

But you're SO cute!!! 

Aries is watching the boy with the ball. 

He likes the boy with a ball. 

He hopes the boy with the ball will throw it soon.

Bella is really cute too, but very wiggly.

It is hard to take a close photo of her. 

She just wants to be petted and loved.

...And she wants to wiggle.

=)

OK...just one more picture!!!! 

=)

Aries finally got his ball......

He loves his ball!!!! 

  

So after ALL the excitement of our evening, the kids are camping outside and having a blast!! 

Army Man and I are enjoying some much needed quietness.....

All is quiet....the dogs are resting peacefully, and we are still having a giggle about our mis-adventure!!!  

Sweet Dreams everyone!!! 

Try to not have nightmares about dishes jumping out of the dishwasher!!!!  

;-)

I Thessalonians 5:18

{{{In everything (everything?? Even flying dishes and terror??) give thanks: for this is the will of God (giving thanks....not so much the terror!!) in Christ Jesus concerning you.}}}}

Ok.....so I am thankful that no one (especially Aries) was injured in the making of this memory!!! 

=)

Blessings!!!

{Edit}{Next Morning}

PS.....I must confess, after this very "exciting" night I was glad that the kids were out camping across the creek.  It gave Army Man and I some much needed quiet time. However, about 1:30AM as I woke up from a very bizarre dream that I can only imagine came from my overworked senses, it dawned on me that my 12yo daughter was camping outside. Under a tarp of her making (not in a tent). With NO way to block out the snakes with a zipped up tent closure!!!!!! 

She is an adventurer/hunter/fisher....

Here are some of her adventures... >>>>~~Fishing~~<<<>>>~~Hunting~~<<<

Campsite....

the boys had already taken down their very safely zipped tent!!

Anyway...I digress, as usual.... I woke up terrified (hmmmm) that there would be snakes (moccasins to be more specific!!) crawling all over her through the night!!!! Talk about some serious prayer time!!!! I begged God to keep her safe, to put His angels in charge over her and protect her from the dangers of not having a zipped tent!!! 

I practically ran down to their campsite the next morning to check on her. She was very calmly walking up to the house. 

I asked her if she slept OK, was she worried about snakes with no zipper enclosure....she looked at me kind of funny.... I told her about my dream.... 

She immediately dismissed my fears and told me she slept in her boots so a raccoon wouldn't take off with them!!!

=/

All that worrying and possible grey hair infusion to be totally and completely be blown away by her casualness of sleeping under a tarp.....

I have underestimated her adventure-ness.....again.

It would not surprise me at all to find her all grown up and married to some one like Bear Grylls or being a missionary in remote African countries..... 

She can handle it.
She is wired completely different than I am!!!! 

Meet Aries, my Fierce Protector!!

As some of you have surmised by reading a few (ahem, OK, many) of my blogs we live a bit out in the country!!!! >>see>>> Part of our Property!
I LOVE this. (insert hearts and smiley faces)
There is a downside though....
We LIVE a bit OUT in the COUNTRY!!!!
Which means it is further for police and rescue vehicles to respond to calls and come to my rescue should I need it!!!!

Army Man and I began to discuss the possibility of getting a larger (more fierce sounding) dog than our sweet Bella..

Bella is an absolute sweety. She loves her family (us!) and shows it in many ways, but make no mistake she guards her children (that we like to refer to as her "cows") and will growl and charge anything she sees as a threat! Especially those pesky squirrels that keep coming around!! And cats beware because she will hunt you down and take you out before you even realize what is happening especially if you have been in her yard or near her cows....er...kids!  

But the Bug Guy that comes, no problem. :-)

The UPS man...a little problem. 

The home inspector that came a few years ago (when we were finalizing our home purchase), BIG problem!!! ;-)  I had NEVER seen (or heard) her react to a person like that! Ever!!

But, alas, Bella is a smallish dog....an Australian Shepherd mix best we can tell.. with a very non-threatening bark. It mostly sounds annoying. Especially, I'm sure, to a possible intruder!!! She would bark and I'm sure in her mind it is a terrifying sound to ward off any evil doers, but really, it's a cute little bark that will get annoying very quickly! 

As we discussed what type of dog we would like several breeds came up.

A boxer? 

I LOVE their faces and they do have a great sounding bark, but all that drool!!!! After talking to an owner of 2 boxers we decided that maybe they weren't the breed for us after all! I can't even handle baby drool that well!! 

A Husky??

Husky's hold a very special place in my heart...One of my very favorite dogs of all time was a Husky named Manu. He was my brother's dog and a sweetheart!! We used to "talk" and have lots of fun! But I live in the deep south and short of shaving him to keep him cool (which I would hate to see all that beautiful hair wasted!!!), I cannot in good conscience bring a Husky into this heat!! In my opinion they just do not fit in down here very well!! 

A German Shepherd??

Oh yes!!! I LOVE the sleek lines and the seriousness of their faces. They are super smart! They mean business and do not mind telling you about it either! But WHERE am I going to find one??? The stuff of dreams!! Oh well! 

A Bull Dog???

Sure! Why not?? I would even go for a Pitt Bull. But it was not to be...

You know how things just work out the way they're supposed to?? 

Well, it did!

I came across a friend last spring. I have known this lady for years and years (since I was in high school---years and years and more years ago....HA!)! 

Ros is a Master Bee Keeper. 

We are bee keepers too!  You can see this post about us bee-coming (tee hee)(couldn't resist!) Bee Keepers>>Amazing-Awesome-Incredable-Fantastic Bees

We get to chat with Ros on occasion about keeping bees and folks that we know in common. She a is super sweet lady, a master of gardening, a horse lover, a maker of crafty things, a gifted blogger ( Her Blog ) and is married to a German Shepherd Breeder!!!!! =)  Of course, I did not know or realize this last year. The time was not right, I guess. But her husband Norm has dogs. Lots of dogs. I say lots...to me any more than two is "lots"! I think he has five or six (or seven!)!! This is his website>>>~Triple S Shepherds~  

My interactions with Ros have been few and far between over the years. You know how it is...you get busy with life!! Well, we had a lot of contact this summer for a project she had going on and during the course of our conversations I mentioned that we would one day like to have a bigger dog like a German Shepherd.  She just said let me talk to my husband. 

OK.....you go right ahead!!! I cannot afford to buy one! I just want one!!!

After discussing with her husband and revealing some of the situation they found themselves in this summer it was concluded that they did have a male that needed to go to a loving home. 

Unfortunately, his situation is probably not unique. I fear this happens to many dogs that are purchased. 

I will try to tell his story as best as I can remember during the conversations we have had. 

Norm and Ros were called about a fear aggressive German Shepherd (Aries) that needed a new home. He was a handful and needed some serious intervention to avoid being put down. Best I can recall he was purchased as a puppy--a gift for a husband-- and put outside on a chain and basically forgotten and neglected. A very SAD and horrible story!!! 

Norm allowed him to come into their home for some socialization (5 or 6 dogs to keep him company!!) and rehab! He was very frightened and hard to handle at first, but Norm has a way about him. His dogs adore him and for good reason! As it sometimes happens between males, the other male Norm had (Koda) and Aries did not get along. as a matter of fact tried to seriously injure each other quite often!! Often enough that Norm had to separate them. Permanently. 

Enter us!!!

We just happened to be going to Ros' house for a completely unrelated thing and got to meet Aries! He was a sweet boy!!! Very happy and a little goofy!!  A completely different dog than he was just months earlier!! It is amazing what love and attention will do for a dog!!!! He got plenty of both from Ros and Norm and blossomed under their care!  They had decided that we could become Aries' foster parents with the adoption being finalized later!!!  This made us so very happy!!! 

 He hopped right into our truck like he had been doing it his whole life!!!! =)

Checking out the front seat on the way home!!!!

Checking out the wind.....

We are thrilled to report that Aries is a wonderful addition to our home and family!!!! I have few more photos of his first days here then I will continue my story....

He is a BIG boy!!! He is still underweight, but that will correct itself with time!!! 

 He does great on the leash!!!! He still has a few issues when off the leash, 

but that also will get better with time!!!

 He LOVES to play with Army Man!!!!! It is the highlight of his day!!!

 He also likes to check on the kids to make sure they are eating their vegetables!!!

;-)

 The first time he was able to run around our yard with out the leash!!!!

"Exercising" with Army Man!! ;-)   It was the funniest thing!!!!

More "exercising" with one of the kids.....so stinkin' funny!!!!!

                         

Bella                                                                                                            Aries

We have had Aries in our home for almost two weeks now!!! He has adjusted quite well to the craziness of our lives and is a great fit for our family!!! 

 Watching the kids play around.....and getting a taste of the chaos that can be our house!!!

Posing for photos....

Fast forward to today...   ~~Bug Guy Day~~

Remember way back at the top of this blog where I said Bella did not mind the Bug Guy??? She actually runs up to him in excitement and greets him with adoration. She is a very sweet dog and he is a very nice man/boy!!!

Aries, however, almost broke through the front door in his determination to protect his people from his perceived threat!!!! He was not at all impressed with the young man that went around our house and sprayed every window and door with his potion of death (for the bugs!)!  He rammed the french door and growled and barked most menacingly!!!! 

GOOD BOY!!! I kept saying!!!! He did beautifully!!!! Just what we want him to do!!!! He sounds authentically mean!!!! =)

But.....the Bug Guy is really a nice guy. He was very understanding about our new dog and his imminent attack!! He has a German Shepherd himself. 

So....now to work on being a bit more specific about who he can terrify with his ferocious barking and growling!!  ;)

As I have been writing this blog ALL afternoon and into the evening between making supper, taking Aries outside, eating supper, cutting my boys hair and other general household chores....Aries has snotted and slobbered on me, nudged me with his nose, watched me intently, butted me with his head, and to top it all off, coughed up a few pieces of food into my lap while I was eating.....Yep.....never a dull moment around here!!!

Blessings!!!

(Edit) After a very miserable first experience (17 years ago) with Lab-mix puppies (we're talking destroyed shoes, giant holes in the yard, tables and chairs with chewed up legs, and a wall with a hole in it--I kid you not!!!) Army Man and I decided to NEVER  (EVER) get another puppy!! We would always try to find an older dog that needed a home.  Which is why our story with Aries is such a blessing and answer to prayer!! =)

(2nd Edit!) I received a Facebook message from Aries' first rescuer!!!!!! She gave me permission to copy it here to give a bit more background on our Aries!
"Hi, I saw on Facebook through Roslyn that you now have Aries. My husband and I have known Momma Horton for years now. We are the ones who brought Aries to her. I had a friend who worked as the local (to me) animal control officer. She called me one day begging me to take this dog that this woman was trying to turn over. She said that he was severely emaciated and poorly cared for. The woman got him as a gift and as you know put on a chain and forgotten. It was so bad she actually refused to let the shelter keep his harness. At any rate the shelter couldnt take him in due to her living outside the city limits. The woman explained she was going to dump him off the side of the road somewhere if she didnt take him in. My friend called me and begged me to take him since we already had two german shepherds. We told her we would and would try to find him a home that was worthy of his loving nature. He was so timid and barely knew how to sit let alone any other training. We worked with him for a few months but it was clear we didnt have the right home to keep him forever. He needed much more attention we had time for with our jobs and kids and the other dogs. Daddy Horton had spoken with my husband about him breeding shepherds and his love of them so we asked if they'd be interested in adopting him. They are so good with animals. We brought him down while we were back in Alabama visiting. I wanted you to have a bit more background on him and introduce myself. "