Here's Darren yesterday at Uncle RB's and Aunt Betty's. You can see the rest of the pics here http://picasaweb.google.com/CrazyCowCountryFarm I hope - if I did that correctly. I was going to upload them directly to the blog but this one pic took like 4 minutes and that's just too much time. When you view the album, move your mouse over the thumbnails and you'll see the caption explaining it. You can also double click the pic to get it larger. I haven't quite mastered Picasa but it seems fairly easy.

Ed came upstairs Sat. evening to tell me his mom had called and Maureen and Jeri from Memphis (they'd come to KS for the funeral) were stopping by to have a break and so Betty was throwing a sandwich spread. Since I'd missed the funeral I was very glad to hear that I could meet the ladies and we quickly re-arranged the day so we could attend. Can you believe I remembered to take the lense cap off the camera and got some pics? Well, of course, I forgot to turn it on though and then the batteries died, but hey - I got some pics at least! Unfortunately I didn't get any of Jeri because the batteries died. So the afternoon was spent visiting with far-away relatives and hearing all their stories. "Remember that time....... " "That's not how it went, it was like this....... " I'm telling you, those are the best days aren't they? Listening to the stories, we just love it. And I just had to take those pics of Uncle RB's garages because they just go on and on! He's got more stuff in those garages than most people have in their whole house!

Now, time for a confession. I was wrong. Once. Well, it may actually be the second time, but at any rate, I was wrong. I blogged about http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ about a year ago when I tried it and really didn't think it was worth the expense ($10.00 bi-monthly). The "listmakers" maintain databases of current coupons and match them each week with your "list store" (Dillons, in my area) to get the item on sale and with a coupon. They also maintain a database of rock bottom, fairly good, and "phantom" (just a teaser, NOT the best sale price) sales for that particular store. The list in my area is ready on Sunday and valid through Tuesday. Now, when I tried the game I had to do my shopping on Friday's when I ran errands and that was problem number one. The second problem was that I had weekly "needs" and bought those anyway while only getting a few things from the list - totally didn't work for me. This time around I finally realized the proper way to play the "game" and good gravy, I am loving it! I have these items that I need each week: coke, milk, bananas. These items I will purchase no matter the price but what I finally realized is the rest of my shopping comes only from the list and only things I normally purchase anyway. Well that was the defining moment! Last week I saved nearly 50% (over $120.00) and this week I saved over $110.00!

I know some of you are saying two things...... 1. I'm buying things I wouldn't normally buy just to "save" - totally wrong. With the exception of two frozen pies last week ($1.40 each and I can't make a pie for that!) I have only bought things we normally use. 2. Walmart (Aldi's, etc) is still cheaper. WRONG! Last week I got namebrand (I can't disclose the brand names) cleaning supplies for $.38 each. That's not a typo! I just paid less than a quarter for those canned tomatoes used in cheese dip and I got the really good pens for $.50/pack yesterday. Those are just a few of the items.

I now you're thinking, "I could do that myself" or "I don't have time for couponing" but that's the beauty of The List! All you do is clip Sunday's coupons and print the list. That's it. No tracking sales, no tracking prices, just a few minutes each week and you're good to go. See, the List Makers know that most products are on 12 week cycles for sales. If peanut butter is on sale right now, it will probably not be on sale for another 10-12 weeks. So Gamers buy enough for 12 weeks - whether that's 1 jar or 20 jars. If it's on the list then it's stock up time with a rock bottom price. Once I got the hang of that aspect, I realized how valuable The List is! Your cart can look a little funny -- yesterday I loaded up on feminine products, peanut butter, batteries, crackers, and protein bars (last week was cleaning supplies) -- but the savings far outweigh the strange looks. You can read more by clicking the link above and you can also sign up for a trial membership for just $1. Now the reason I bring this up........

Yesterday, if there was still a shred of doubt left in any of Ed's relatives mind's that I'm certifiable, I'm sure I removed it. I went to the gathering in a separate car because I needed to shop on the way home so I was telling the ladies about The Grocery Game and I whipped out the coupon binder. My poor MIL was so shocked her jaw hit the floor. I have this three ring binder filled with photo pages that have three 4"x6" slots and I have hundreds of coupons sorted, stacked, and in their labeled slot. It may have been just a little too much for the poor ladies. When people see that extent of anal retentiveness you really have to ease them in and I probably rushed them. My bad. Now, if I could just get my office to look that organized......

Well it's a dreary, rainy Monday and I've stalled doing my chores long enough. It starting raining yesterday while I was shopping (and left the windows down in Ed's car, naturally) and hasn't stopped. We're flooded AGAIN. The pond overflowed into the river and I can't even wade out to Moo's barn. The horses have crowded into two stalls (Whyyyyyyy? There are FOUR in there!) and won't even come out. I don't blame them though and after cleaning the stalls, I just left the barn open for them. Today will be spent cleaning and doing laundry. And hoping we don't lose electricity.

I had a friend laugh at my blog several months ago and said he was probably the only person who read the dang thing. Got me curious. Every couple of months I check the backdoor for the site statistics and, if all the stars are aligned correctly and the moon's in the seventh sun, I don't break the whole damn site in the process. Last time I completely screwed up two of the pages and they'll probably never be the same. But it's always an interesting way to spend a half hour.

Apparently someone in New Zeland visits often, Japan, Africa (but I know who that is), and I know Amelia is in Canada, but what's funny, what makes me laugh out loud are the search results that pull up this site. Some poor unsuspecting soul landed here after searching for "crazy wild farm girls" - you know they were disappointed! And believe me, I should have NEVER put on the blog that ditty about sheath cleaning on the geldings! Lesson learned. The reason I mention this is because Ed just called to tell me they're back from the funeral and he learned today that some of his relatives in Memphis read this blog! Hey y'all! Here's a shout out to all Ed's family! I think that's just wonderful that you guys stop by here. I'll try to post some pictures of the boys in the next few days, if I can remember to take the lense cap off.

Ed has a wonderful family that comes mostly from the hills of Arkansas and we all tease everyone about being hillfolk. Lord help you if you get his mother talking about her younger years and the way her grandma did something back then. That accent starts going and Ed just eggs her on calling her a hillbilly. Even though it's all in good fun, she just gets spitting mad at him! All the rest of us just laugh, but for some reason, he has so much fun getting under his mama's skin. Poor woman, she was in a car with him most of the day and I imagine her nerves are just plain shot.

I let Ed talk me in to letting the boys stay up until he gets home. And I let the boys talk me in to giving them a pie for dessert. And then I let the horses talk me in to just one more treat for each. When on earth did I become such a pushover?

I did forget to mention that I spent the afternoon yesterday getting interviewed by a reporter for a weekly magazine talking about LiveOps and working from home. The story is about.... well I don't think I'm supposed to mention that right now but it's supposed to run this summer and if they use anything from me I'll get a copy. So I'll keep you posted. It really is amazing isn't it? The reporter just flat out did not believe me when I told him I make more now working part time from home that I did as a Manager when you factor in fuel and daycare. I even gave him the figures and offered him copies of my invoices for pay - wonder if he'll take me up on that? Hopefully I got him convinced, I can be persuasive every once in a while.

We went to the rodeo last Friday and the boys had a blast. Kenny, a.k.a. He Who Is Obsessed With Bulls, was in awe of the bullriders and decided that he really wants to give it a try when he's older. Overall the little fair/rodeo was really cool, I mean where else but a rural county fair can you hear the announcement, "Josh Duerksen, you need to get yer hiney back over there - yer mama's looking for you and she's mad as a hornet."

The remainder of the weekend was spent sealing the deal for a horse we obtained. We've both been wanting to ride and so we were just talking to a lady about her horse for sale when she mentioned she would trade for car work or hay (hell, EVERYONE will trade for hay right now but there's none to be had!). The timing was perfect since one of our boarders left their trailer here for another month for Ed to weld. We went and picked her up then spent the weekend at the auction picking up the remaining tack we needed. Silver looks all white from a few feet away but up close you see little gray "flybites" all over her. She is simply beautiful and we love riding her. I am so impressed with her training and soundness too. I was steering her to the side by pulling the reins out with my arms when I realized she was fighting that terribly. Then I accidently let the other rein touch her neck and she turned on a dime where I was sending her! She neck reins just beautifully and I decided that trying to change the way a horse has been doing something for 15 yrs is just stupid. The only thing I'm having difficulty with is she tends to crowd me while I lead her. A few taps with a crop though and she steps away, I just have to remember to be consistent. We're all so excited to have her here and go riding!

And oh my goodness, Ed called yesterday and said he'd really like to have BLT's for supper but I reminded him that everyone in the free world knows you simply can't eat them without homegrown tomatoes. Well his boss had brought a whole sack to him at work!! Oh they were wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Is there anything better than tomatoes in the summer? I'm running into the store today for a cucumber so I can make greek salad and will make a loaf of bread to enjoy it.

The past week I've been training for my new job, I think I'll just call it "the shopping job" even though it's not mystery shopping or anything like that. My boss is leaving the country in the next few weeks so I won't have her help and so I'm trying to get as proficient as possible before she goes. But between training for that, caring for all the horses, chores on the farm, phone calls with two companies (and I'm training for a third one), and back-to-school activities - well it's just been crazy 'round here! The boys and I went through every single article of clothing they have so I could inventory and make a needs list (I have a friend in California that just had a mild heart attack at the thought of a children's clothing inventory - breathe honey, you'll be ok) and surprisingly we're in good shape. We need socks and underwear, jeans for two of them, winter shirts for Darren, and a coat for Vincent. Not back. And we've already got their supplies - Vincent wears the backpack containing ALL of his supplies most of the day now. He's really so excited to go!

Ed just left for western Kansas with his mother and brother for the funeral of his great uncle. They've got a full day of driving ahead of them. I think I'm going to see if I can get the tiller fired up today whlie he's gone and work on a project. I doubt if I can figure out how to get it running but, hey, if I can run a chainsaw, surely I can figure out a mini-tiller!

I see Moo at her gate patiently waiting on me along with five of the horses in the corral. Better get my chores done.

Poor Moo. She was happy at first to be back in her pasture and not have those crazy horses running too close to her..... but she has realized she can't get into the oat pasture anytime she wants and she's letting us know she aint happy. How does she do this, you ask? Well, it's simply. Every time a human walks outside she goes to the gate and moos. When a human walks into the pasture to feed her, she moos. And follows you, closely. And nudges you. And Moos some more. I almost feel sorry for her, but not too much. With the chickens getting picked off little by little (the dang girls have taken to roosting in TREES and we can't get them back into the coop!) we have lost the cleanup crew for around the house. Much as we love Moo, it's not enough to entice me to dodge cow patties if you know what I mean.

The goats are in time out as well. We've gotten used to them laying all over the patio and trying to get into the garage even though they've got several acres of their favorite treat out back, hedge trees, but Ed saw them venture into the pasture north of us planted in milo. Can't have that. So they're locked up as well. It's odd - the house is almost normal with all the animals locked up! We can't have that, something crazy will happen soon I'm sure.

We're getting ready for a big weekend. My new boss will be here tomorrow for some further training and we'll work together all afternoon. Then the McPherson County Rodeo is Friday night and the boys are so excited to go. Kenny insists on wearing red because he wants to see how angry he can make a bull. Saturday the lady who bought Midnight (we sold him a few weeks ago to a lady stationed at Fort Riley) will be here to spend the afternoon and maybe go with us to Bud's auction. Then Saturday evening she's having her new horse trailer delivered here. I started a list for Ed's garage board but I think it would overwhelm him if I added too much. We need to finish getting the chicken coop ready for chickens again, mow, finish the corral fence, mow, trim Smoke's hooves, mow, build the hay feeder at the back of the barn, mow, and he's doing a side job on a truck for a friend. And we'll probably mow some more! It's not easy mowing the back 8 acres with the riding lawn mower and I just keep thinking that one day we'll get a tractor and the time will be...... well pretty much cut in about a quarter. When the front 8 acre pasture needs mowed this fall I think I'll see if someone with a tractor would do it. Much as I love to mow, several full days of it will sour you right quick.

And good gravy, school is starting in just three weeks! How on earth am I going to make it when all three of those little guys get on the bus? I'm sure I'll just stand there crying. Vincent is so ready though and he's just so excited.

As usual, a week fly's by and it's either complete chaos or just same old, same old. This week has been pretty busy as the rains have let up. We are mowing every chance we get during the cool mornings and evenings then staying shut up in the house with the a/c during the heat of the day. Summer has arrived. Temps are up in the 90's and will climb to the 100's probably in the next week or so. Thank heavens for one thing - the mosquitos will die!

The vet was here Monday and he gelded Fire and Midnight. Ed took the day off so he could be here as well and get Fire's hooves trimmed while he was sedated. We were both out there the whole time and it was really interesting. The vet was wonderful and really took his time to get the boys comfortable before giving the shots to knock them out. Then we just waited and talked calmly to them for a few minutes before, WHAM, they sunk to the ground. Midnight did way better on his landed and just kind of plopped down. Fire? Well both men tried to lay him down but ended up running with him as he kind of rolled a few times - he just fights everything. I sat at their heads holding the upper leg for the vet and Ed got to work. Within about 15 minutes they started raising their head and then were up and walking. We left them in the corral with Smoke for about an hour to watch their bleeding and walking abilities. After that, we turned them out into the good pasture with all the others and they trotted off.

We put Cinnamon and her two kids out back with all the others and, amazingly, it couldn't have gone better - they're all getting along great. So you know what that means, yup, Moo's back in her front pasture. We led her out there the other day and then shoo'ed Sparky in with her. I think she's happy to be back in there.

Oh. My. God.

Word of advice to those more dimwitted than I (I'm sure this number is very close to zero) do no, I repeat, do not allow pet cows to birth and then move in to your chicken coop.

I will be unavailable for the day. Week. Hell, probably two weeks. It's bad in there people. Bad.

That was so sweet of you, Amelia, to ask about Moo and Sparky. :) They are doing quite well. Sparky is starting to graze just a little, although she mostly shakes her head wondering what that green stuff is and why she should be eating it. She hangs with mama pretty close except when Moo sneaks into the oatfield. Ah yes, we have a bad cow. She has somehow learned to wiggle her tiny little body (ha!) through the five-wire fence and help herself to the oat crop. Now we have no problem with her eating it mind you, it's the dang going in and out through the wires that have us irritated! Ed mentioned today that he'll just make a gate for her tomorrow and show her wear she can safely enter/exit at will.

Needless to say, after several months of a pregnant cow living (and birthing!) in the coop - well it aint pretty in there. In fact Ed mumbled something about a match and a gallon of gasoline. Our three boarder horses in the front pasture can't be put out back with the others but they'll be leaving the end of the month as their owners are transferring to Louisiana. Once those three vacate Moo and Sparky will go into that pasture and I'll..... well I have no idea what I'll do to the coop but I'll figure something out to get it back to a chicken coop and hopefully matches won't be involved.

Poor mama hen - she's lost 13 of her chicks over the past week and is down to just two of them. She decided to stop roosting with them in the coop (can't say I blame her) and took to going under one of the cars. Something's been feasting on them each night and I noticed this morning it's just the two little chicks now. Next time a hen gets broody and hatches some we're going to keep them in the coop - we'd like to have a crew of layers just stay in the coop and pen area for easy egg collection and still let the remaining out ranging for cleanup.

Brian and Kim sold their horses so we only have our three in the back with Cartman, the gelding from Arizona. Cartman's finally adjusted to the fly biting and doesn't look like a horse with hives any longer! With just the four of them out there they are grazing like there's no tomorrow and we've taken to putting out just a handful of hay each day for them. I swear Fire gets fatter ever day! Unfortunately, for him, we've scheduled his gelding next week along with Midnight's. The vet will come out for a farm call for vaccinations and surgery. I guess they just lay a tarp down and knock 'em out - 10 minutes later it's done. Won't this be interesting? I can't decide if I want to watch or not seeings how I normally faint dead at the sight of blood. We'll just have to see on that.

All the ladies I know online are doing those "Day In The Life" pictorials where you take many many pictures throughout a 24 hour period of just your normal everyday routine. I keep thinking I should do that but then I remember - I have the most boring life! Really, it would just be pics of me shoveling shit, feeding animals (including three on summer break from school), and cleaning the kitchen. Again. And then again. Totally boring.

Oh, and just as a follow up, Ed did finish the back of the corral fence today for me. Yay for him. :) I finally broke down and turned on the air conditioner yesterday when the house hit 85' at noon. Just couldn't take it any longer and I'm glad I did as it's nearing the 100's this week. Hopefully the rains have stopped though and we can get on with the worst of the summer. The sooner it hits, the sooner it's over and my favorite season of all begins - fall.

Don't you hate it when life throws a huge pile at you all at once? That's what happened to us. We've been dealing with some personal issues that are deeply personal so I really can't post here about them. We've had some business issues with boarding that relate to a customer who turned out to be an asshole so I can't really post about that. I have a new work at home opportunity but signed a confidentiality clause so I can't really post about that. So...... that leaves, what? The weather? Well discussing the weather will only send me into a tirade about the rain coming back. Other than making our fall/winter list of improvements we've pretty much just been trying to stay afloat - literally.