Thank God for Holidays

I think what I really mean is, thank God for holidays for which I receive presents. I am now celebrating a little known holiday (actually, I probably made it up) called

Hunting Season Is Over Praise Jesus! Day

I'm not sure if everyone knows what this day means to me. It means that these --

Stairs of Many Splinters will receive carpet! Please, don't hold yourself back...jump up and down for goodness sake!

In the mornings I get up and put my robe on (and pants of course) and slowly make my way down the Stairs of Many Splinters to make my Oatmeal Loving Husband some Loving Oatmeal. But do you know what you always forget in the morning when your ponytail is barely hanging on and your eyes will only open half way and your cat wants to walk between your legs while you navigate the treacherous stairs?

Your phone. I always leave it on the bedside table. 

Then, it never fails, that phone will ring or buzz or vibrate or make a ding dong noise and I'm like .... hmm.
It is far away. Up the Stairs of Many Splinters.
And all this brings me to my point....
This is what I need for Valentine's Day.

Doesn't she look happy? Wouldn't I look that happy if I had one? Am I that lazy? umm...I don't want to answer that? It looks fun though....
What I'm getting is this -

on these -

and gosh, aren't we just excited? (Don't they look very intimidating from the bottom? before you've had your coffee? before 8 a.m.? without carpet? can't you feel the burn?!) I thought so.

Now, as soon as we get this carpet down after the celebration of Hunting Season is Over Praise Jesus! Day you can bet I will wear my socks on my stairs and I will slide down them on my bottom sides. And there will be a picture.

And some random photos of my Meeko to end this post. 
In case anyone was worried about my cat's love of water, well, here ya go.

Now, everyone go out and do something wonderful with your hunter husband to celebrate the new holiday of Hunting Season is Over Praise Jesus! Day and to celebrate my getting carpet on the Stairs of Many Splinters day!

p.s. Just got a text from the hubby (and yes, I had to go upstairs and get my phone!!) and said he was cooking dinner tonight! What a great holiday so far! I wonder if next year kids will get out of school for this?

I Bought Turkey Bacon

There comes a day when you realize you are kind of a grown up.
My day like this came when I visited the Big City. It's not really a big city...but to me! Me, who lives in the middle of a field in the  middle of nowhere, to me it is BIG. I went to Lexington, KY.

yea, there's a castle in Kentucky

There is also a Kroger in Kentucky (who knew right?). My cousin Ross & I went to Kroger so we could cook dinner. Mexican enchilada casserole...ooh it was goood. Little did I know that this Kroger is the biggest, coolest Kroger ever to exist.

As I walked though the store, past the Starbucks and the Diamond Store and the Cookware I was obvious in my astonishment. I mean, OBVIOUS. It was probably embarrassing. Not even probably. I was embarrassing. A silly girl from the country where Kroger only has single aisles and strictly cheddar, american, and mozzarella cheese (in the plastic zippy packages) and NO Starbucks.

This Kroger is bigger than Wal-Mart. How can you have that many aisles of frozen food? How can you choose between all these cheeses?

Poor Ross. In his mind our trip was supposed to go like this -- get rotel. get chips. check out. go home. --

Mine went like this. -- walk through doors. drop jaw in amazement. is that a jewelry store? we can get Starbucks in here?! here's the chip aisle. but...there's another aisle behind it? what's back there I wonder (drag cousin along. Let's hustle, lots to see!!) canned goods, grab rotel, round the corner & WHAAAAT? you can get a salad? soup? dinner?! Look at all the fresh fruit...vegetables...and CHEESE! wow at the cheese...make complete circle and somehow end up at the checkout...but, wait! there's more to see! I don't want to leeeeeeeave! (Ross drags me out.) --

I leave with a sparkle in my eye and a new favorite vacation spot. I also discovered where the cooks who write all of these recipes with all of the fancy ingredients shop at. You know what I'm talking about. 
I read a recipe like.....

1 lb bucatini or perciatelli pasta

2 cups Italian canned plum tomatoes

2 ounces thinly sliced Prosciutto di parma, chopped

I mean...what? It's basically pasta, mushrooms, and some cheese but dang! Doesn't that sound fancy?
But where, I wondered, do I get this crap?
Well, we know now don't we. Kroger. Fancy Kroger.

And then, the next day when Ross asked where I wanted to go for lunch and I instantly replied KROGER! They have a salad bar!! .....
........
and then I had a *what did I just say?* moment. And Ross looked at me sideways and my Aunt laughed.

So we went and had Italian.

And after that little trip I arrived home and realized. My favorite place to go in Kentucky is Kroger?
It's official.
I'm kind of a grown up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE SISTER

Little sisters are just the best.
It was her big 21 Sunday. (Or as of midnight Saturday night which is when we were out at Mason's Pub)
In case anyone was wondering, I am usually in the bed by 9. 12 is late. Really late. Some might ask how I ever made it through the night.

Well, margaritas would be the answer my friends.

Happy Birthday Sarah Beara!

Also, silly straws, big plastic rings, and cheesy star shaped sunglasses.

that is NOT my hairy arm, in case you were wondering

I survived.
But barely.

Has anyone noticed it is always the nerdiest guys that buy all the girls drinks? They probably are making lotsa money and all these bar-frequenting-ladies are stealing it away...one Sex on the Beach shot at a time...
A little piece of my heart goes out to these boys every time I see this interaction happen:

NERDY BOY: sweaty palms, wrinkly button-up shirt "Wow! Is it your birthday?!"
BIRTHDAY GIRL: "Yeah!"
BIRTHDAY GIRL'S SISTER: "It's her big TWENTY-FIRST! Woooo!" 
NERDY BOY: his eyes light up "Well, has anybody bought you a drink?"
BIRTHDAY GIRL: lying through her teeth but batting those eyelashes and smiling innocently "Not yet...I'm not really sure what kind to get."
NERDY BOY: grin "I'll get you one. And your friend!"
BIRTHDAY GIRL AND CUTE SISTER: give him their flirtiest smile and high five when he turns to the bartender with hope in his heart
 
goodbye $12 bucks
Maybe it works for them sometimes. Probably no. What a terrible relationship, abusive really.

As an old married lady who couldn't flirt if I wanted to, I think I will stick to wine and early bed time hours.

Day 2 of Captivity

Well, we aren't really captive.
But it is fun to pretend.
We woke up this morning (late) and said hurray! No work today! Because outside it looks like this...

our 2 lane road is now a 1 lane road!

and of course when it is snowy in Alabama we all kind of stand around and go,

"Huh? What is this stuff that is slippery and cold? I must buy all of the bread and all of the milk from the grocery stores!"

But really. Unfortunately for Brian and I we were hungry for biscuits and gravy. Yum.
I run to the fridge and open it up. What do I see?
Sausage.
and I know we have Bisquick.
what is missing? oh yes, the milk.
So, this is why people buy all the milk. Snow makes you want biscuits and gravy!!! I get it now!

We look at each other and we know. We must get milk.

In true Alabama fashion we leave our sweatpants on and bundle up the rest of ourselves in something camouflage and grab the truck keys off the hook. We venture out onto the snow filled roads on our Great Quest for Milk. (We could have had oatmeal, but that's not nearly as exciting)

We encountered many treacherous obstacles. Huge icy snow balls from the plows blocked our way. But we had no fear! The Adventure-mobile ran over these enemies with great big tires and smashed them without a second thought. (also, the Adventure-mobile needs a better name)

Mini-Snickers fueled our Great Quest for Milk. They are delicious in the morning. Like a pre-breakfast snack.

I had 4. I only gave hubby 1. mwahah

After traveling many miles through valleys and wrong turns and icy curves we arrive at our destination.
Warehouse Discount Grocery.
We drag our Quest weary selves through the aisles to our goal. MILK.
And there is is. Chilling in it's case. We triumphantly grab a jug and high five. ( well, we thought about it anyway)

And, strangely, even though we were great adventurers and will probably eventually become famous for our bravery, we still had to wait in line and pay, like commoners.

This story is getting a little ridiculous I think. 

The doors opened at our command and into the chilling wind we strode, smiling at the thought of warm biscuits and gallons of gravy.

that's the "i got milk" smile

We were greeted like King and Queen upon our arrival back at Castle McCormick by our humble servants (2 dogs and a cat). They had the day off apparently and so we whipped up some biscuits and gravy quick like.


The Great Captivity Feast occurred soon afterward and we cleaned our plates and licked our lips, triumphant Questers!!

THE END

Also, this is cute...

from day one of captivity. Nap time.

I mean, what else are you supposed to do when it snows?

Super Dorky Things I Am In Love With Today

The 1966 version of Batman! So cheesy, so good. The Batmobile is pimp, the bomb Batman carries around has the longest fuse ever placed on a bomb, Robin is definitely against drinking ("I'd rather be dead than not be able to trust my own eyes!")
-Holy Hallucination!
-Ker-splash! & Zwapp!
-Holy Heartbreak!
-Holy Jumble!
Also, I love these...

and THIS! I would look really cute in this and I'm almost sure dinners would taste better if I wore this while cooking...

And my goodness my lips are chapped today!! But I think that my poor lips would be miraculously healed if I had this...

SIGH. Who wouldn't want this to keep all of their quilts and secret moneys in that you use to buy important things like clothing and cute boots that you don't want your hubby to know about!!

I mean.......Whaaat?

Aaaaaand...all this stuff...

And some Mexican food....like a chicken enchilada with cheese sauce instead of red sauce and chips & salsa AND A MARGARITA!  with my favorite friend R.WADE.

Also, does anyone ever even know what they are paying for when you get your tickets at these Mexican places? Cause I don't! Les, MexX2, = $23.95

huh?

In case you were wondering Brian is now taking me out to Mexican tonight. But he doesn't know it yet. Poor guy....I'll text him for warning. But it is his fault really because he is in the woods with the creatures instead of here with me listening to all of these random thoughts and hunger cravings! So there!

And I also need one of these...for, well, rolling big things. Or whacking robbers on the head (while wearing my apron.)

And after all of this hard work of lusting after silly things that I don't need but can't help but want because, after all, they are so cute, I will take a refreshing drink of an expertly prepared margarita kept nice and chilly in one of these....

Ok, that's enough nonsense for one day! I'm sure more will reveal itself tomorrow! It is supposed to be a snowy weekend after all.

The Banana Bread That Came Too Late

I got up this morning.

Then I got back in bed. 

And as I watched the Today show, ate a swiss cake roll (WHAT?! yes, it's a breakfast food), and sipped my coffee I thought "I wish Brian was here to bring me the computer..." and then I thought "um, excuse me, Bonnie, what are you doing?!".

Do you know about our bird? At my parent's house there was this bird. A cardinal. He decided he loved our house and especially our windows. This little bird would fly himself into our windows from sun up to sun down.
all - day - looooooooooooong
He was a little annoying, but heck, poor guy! He didn't know what he was doing or why, he was just doing the same ole, same ole thing and it made you wonder....what are all the other cardinals doing? They are probably out being good daddies, looking stunning on tree branches, and pecking at yummy morsels of whatever it is cardinals love to eat the most.
But not our cardinal, his name should probably be Dougie, and you wonder why he was missing out on life? He was missing out on the grand life of the cardinal! And it makes your heart a little bit sad to know that it was our windows that distracted poor Dougie from his life. He saw himself in our windows and didn't like what he saw there, so he tried to fight himself, erase his unsatisfactory image, and in the end it just breaks your dang heart!!

A crash was heard throughout the Decker household one sad day, and outside we discovered him. Our little Dougie, crushed underneath (of all things) the bird feeder. The bird feeder!! It fell on him, and unexpectedly and out of nowhere, ended Dougie's little life.

And what had he done?

Exactly. What have I done? What has anyone done? Are we ever ready for our lives to end? Would it be better to know, do you think? Should we know when our lives are going to be over so we can be ready for it? I don't know. Are we just going through life, fighting ourselves and the things we can't change, while we are missing out on the meaning, the excitement, the LIFE for goodness sakes?!!!

from Pink of Perfection

 We are lucky that we have two neighbors out here on our little mountain. One is nice, one not. But isn't that how it always goes? Our nice neighbor is a little old man who once drove his lawn mower down the road and into our driveway and proceeded to mow all the way down one side. He brought me a baby pumpkin for fall and I knew then that he was my favorite neighbor. He talked to my hubby and as he left, he mowed down the other side of our driveway.

(I'm pretty sure he was telling my hubby to get out there and mow the yard for the love of a neat yard, neighbor!!)

He stopped by the house the other day on his way to town (to get his wife something to eat, she wasn't feeling well) while my sister and her boyfriend Matthew were here. Matthew is a pilot! GO SISTER! So he has these dorky electric airplanes and he brought them to fly around in our big field.
As greeting, my neighbor slowly rolled up the driveway and called out "I thought we was gettin' invaded!"

Too cute.
He told me about his wife, she wanted to come meet me soon!
And everyone wants their sweet elderly neighbors to love them the most. I was excited!
I thought, "I will bake these sweet neighbors some banana bread."
But last night his wife passed away. She had a heart attack.
And it really just hits you then....

What have I done?

Everyone Needs One

There is something about waking up whenever you want to in the mornings. In our big king size bed I can pull the flannel sheet and quilt up under my chin and burrow my head down into five different pillows. Meeko manages to mold himself to some part of me, right behind my knees or, if I'm on my side, curved into my belly with his head under his arm. He doesn't want to get up either. It's these kinds of mornings when I can wake up, look at the clock, and think hey! I'm doing pretty good. I can lay my head back down, relieved that I haven't slept the day away, and snooze for a few more minutes.

When I do wake up and put on my fuzzy socks and a flannel shirt, I brush my teeth and Meeko and I head for the coffee pot. Romantic, old, black and white movies rule the t.v. today while I snack on everything that I own that isn't healthy and drink as much coffee as I please while Meeko makes sure to sit on my lap if I sit still for more than a minute. I think he is afraid that I will forget that that is his lap.

Now it's almost lunch time and I think Annie & Ninja and I will take a ride down the road. They can hang their heads out the windows and sniff the heater vents while I get myself some french fries and a milkshake.
In case anyone was wondering about my love for good french fries, well, it is unconditional.

Deciding to get married was the most important decision that we made and I highly recommend it to those who have a relationship as wonderful as mine and Brian's. But ours is the bestest. So don't get your hopes up if you've got your eye on the "Most Amazing Couple EVER" trophy. It ain't happenin.

But I've decided that being apart from each other has created some of the best days for me and for him. He can go take up post in the woods with cute little creatures and cold cold weather while I can be a lazy bum all day long and just relax. By myself. Being with someone all the time makes you not appreciate them when they are around I think. Shoot, it probably makes you just sick of em. When he comes home he is excited to see me and tell me about his day. I'm excited to see him and tell him about my day.

This is called marital bliss my friends. Marital Bliss.

So while I wait patiently on my manly man to re-appear from the woods, covered in camo, and wielding a big gun I will do what I love best and read my books and cuddle with Meeko and take my babies for long rides in the car.

Everyone needs a Sunday like this.