Doe down

Matt shot a 95 lb. doe last night and she was beautiful. It was too dark to get a good picture but you will have to trust me!!! We will need maybe one more deer and then anything else we will donate to the shelter here in town. Our freezer will be full and I am so excited. We fixed a bunch a deer steak, floured and fried. Mmmmmmm... They are good anytime of the day. I had eggs and steak for breakfast and honestly they are good for a snack too.

So I hit Walmart for the Black Friday sale and it was crazy. There were more people than I have ever before. I got one of the flash drives that I wanted, a $2 Pyrex casserole dish, five movies and then I hit the baby clothes for AJ. I got the cutest little outfit and I can't wait til she is here. Maybe she will take away that baby fever for a little bit!!! (Three more semesters!!!!)

Speaking of AJ, she is due in a little less than 2 weeks! I can't wait to hold that little precious baby girl. I am hoping that Brandy's labor goes like she wants it to and goes well. I know that whatever needs to be done she will do it so that her baby girl gets here safe and sound. I am so proud of her and how she is handling everything.

We are having Thanksgiving today with Matt's grandpa that has Alzheimer's. I am looking forward to spending time with the family but feel for his grandpa.

I am working on Christmas presents and have finished one totally and then half of two others. In between school and everything else I am running short on time. I am trying to get all sorts of stuff done today. I have a two week thematic unit that is due Dec. 3, a review of a Spanish book due Dec. 1 and a comparative paper. I also need to read for class Monday night and I am teaching a lesson on Thursday night..... So, I am going to wrap this up and get to doing homework. But one last thought to leave you with.....

Boomer Sooner!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Although the turkey didn't get away here in Oklahoma the deer sure did. A couple were seen but none were shot today.... Another day I guess. I made some sweet potatoes that so far are amazing, update on that later and Two coffee cakes. And they are amazing through and through! I hope everyone has a great day and is safe. Gobble Gobble 'til ya Wobble!!!!

Rifle Season in Oklahoma

Rifle season opens tomorrow and I am excited. Matt is hunting one place and I will be hunting another. His grandpa and him stay down near where they are hunting so I have the house to myself. I have made 10 jars of jalapeno jelly and am thinking about make another batch. The first was green and I am thinking red for the second. I do need to get to bed but am excited about this jelly so..... I am also wanting to make salsa tomorrow and a big batch of chili. I have five bags of tomatoes frozen in the freezer just waiting to be turned into wonderful spicy salsa!!! I am hoping so get me a big buck tomorrow but we will see. Happy hunting to all those who are out tomorrow and be safe!!! Hopefully I will have some pictures!

Writers Workshop: Destructive Pets

This is a part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. It is the most fun and you really should jump over and check it out. We always have tons of fun and learn all sorts of new stuff. There are five prompts to look at and chose one to write about. Or choose them all! Mine this week is......

Describe the most destructive thing your pet has done.

Meet my girls, Sasha and Roxy....

The little white miniature schnauzer is Sasha. She is 2 1/2 years old and she was picked out from birth. She weighs 12 lbs. The big white lab is Roxy. She just turned 2. She THINKS that she weighs 12 lbs but she actually weighs 85 lbs. That doesn't stop her from trying to sit on our laps though!

Which of these girls would be the destructive hellion in our home?

Is it the big gorgeous lab that loves to LAY on my love seat that is a rocker recliner???? (I am so worried that she is going to break this but isn't it hilarious to see? She has learned this from the little one who lays on the back of the couch.)

Or maybe it is the cute little one who loves to cuddle under a blanket while I am cross stitching...

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BINGO!!!!

I know that she looks innocent but you should see what she can do.

Although she is absolutely beautiful she is the one who is a destructive hellion in our home.

Now which story to tell......

Here she was trying to *help with the dishes*

Or there was the time..... I am going to let you in on TWO times she has been majorly destructive...

I came home early from work that night and was looking forward to relaxing for a bit... But that didn't happen at all! I walk in and Sasha gave herself away that she had done something. When she has done something wrong her ears lay flat and she hangs her head. She knows that she is in trouble! I walk through the house to let Roxy out of her kennel and realized what she had done...

My book bag is a messenger type bag that can handle my books for when I have two classes a night. A normal school book bag was too small for the books, binders, pencils, pens, stapler and all that other stuff that I need. I had set it by the desk that the computer and all my school stuff is on. The one thing that I didn't do was zip it up.

Big Big Big mistake. It was my first ever of course! It looked like it had snowed inside my house. She had pulled my small dictionary, my big binder, my book and some dividers to put in a binder out. The binder was okay, the dividers were demolished and she decided that she didn't like linguistics any more than I did... she tore the back cover off and the last page - which are both charts that were important and something that I needed. She had also found a magazine and had demolished it as well, hence the snow....

I was running around my house, chasing my dog and yelling at her. She did the best thing that she could do and slipped out the door. About 5 minutes later, as I am trying to put things back together, she peeks her head around the door to look at me. Matt came home a few minutes later and didn't make the situation any better by laughing but at least he helped me clean it up and try to piece it back together.

I sent a message off the Roxanne (my lifesaver) and she loved the story but also said that she would make me a copy of the pages that I need. So I went to Wal-mart, got some red duct tape (it matched the intact front cover), and fixed my book. I have learned that she HAS to stay kenneled up and that makes all of us much happier in the long run...

But before I learned that hard lesson..... Here is story number two!!!

Matt went to pick up the box springs for our new bed that we were going to make. While he was doing that I ran to Joplin to get a set of sheets and the stain that we would need for the bed. I bought two quarts of stain and set it, still in the plastic bag, on the kitchen table. Didn't think a second thing about it.

I got up and went to work that Saturday morning and Matt was out hunting so Roxy was in our room in her kennel and Sasha had the run of the kitchen/dining and living room. I call Matt at a little before 11:00 to make sure he had gotten home to watch the OU game and he had. I asked him what he was doing and his exact words were "Cleaning up your dogs mess". A million different scenarios went through my head.... What had she gotten into now?????

Now I should say that Sasha is a nosy dog and loves to know everything that is going on. When I come home from the store and set the bags on the floor the first thing that she does is stick that nose inside the bag to see what is in there that she might like.

She also loves food. So if a bowl or bag is left in reach or to where she can jump up to (like the kitchen table or the kitchen counter) she will have it on the kitchen tile floor. She has grabbed a two pound loaf of homemade bread before, ate 1 pound and hid the other pound for later.So I am trying to figure out what she has knocked off.

-----She knocked the stain off----

------Ebony stain on my cream tile floor ------

Only one quart opened and luckily it wasn't shook up so Matt was able to clean it up except for the grout, which looks like I have black mold growing in it!!! I was so glad that she didn't get into and spread it all around. I would have cried then. The only thing we can figure is that she had just done it. She knew she was in trouble and ran outside and stayed out there until Matt was done!!!!! I was the one then who was laughing at Matt. We had friends coming over for a football party and to watch the game. They came in just as Matt was finishing up wiping it up. We only ruined one mop, three towels and Roxy's blanket. And of course the grout in the tile! It is looking better now and is *hardly* noticeable.

I love both of my girls and wouldn't trade them for the world but there are sometimes..... And then I look at them cuddled up next to me in the morning, or while I am cross stitching and I have one on each side of me, or when we are outside and they are looking at what Matt is doing while staying near me and taking care of me. Then I feel that puppy love that is so strong and wonderful. But..... They are both kenneled up when we leave every day. I love them but I am refusing to clean up any more *snow*, food, and messes out of the floor just 'cause my baby is nosy and bored!!!!

And then I get that lick on the cheek and the cuddling at night and forget about it for just a little bit!

Big Buck....Gone....

My morning started with a text from Matt at 6:45 this morning "He is big!" I then replied with a text saying "Shoot him!". His next text tells me that although he had him at 20 yards, he couldn't get a clean shot at him. I told him that it sucked that he couldn't and there is silence for a little while. Then the next text that comes in says " I mean big or bigger than ralphs". His grandpa has two deer that are on the wall that are nice size and beautiful deer. We want one on our wall so bad but it has to be the right one. I was driving to work when Matt called me on his way to work and all he kept talking about was the deer. He though that he had a good shooting line but wasn't for sure and it wasn't quite light enough. (We are in bow hunting season right now. The weather has been very cloudy and dreary.) Once it got light enough he saw that he did have a perfect line to shoot, not branches or twigs in the way. He is wishing that he would have taken the shot but is also glad that he didn't take a shot that he thought might be a bad shot. I really hope that he gets to see this deer again this year and who knows, maybe we will have one on the wall by this time next year! My husband would be the happiest hunter out there to get this deer. Hopefully I can have some pictures of him on the wall. Rifle season opens this weekend and I will be hunting on the land that he saw this deer on.... Maybe I can get the deer and it can be MY deer on the wall. A girl can always hope!

Near the end, near the Saviour

Mema is near the end and before long she will see the husband who has been gone for 17 years, she will see the mother who she misses dearly, she will see our Saviour. That is an amazing thought. Soon she will be seeing the creator of the earth..... Just please be sending up prayers for all those who are still left here, including Matt and I. We will miss her so much and there will always be a void but it will be an amazing time for her. We will be shedding tears but also rejoicing that her race is finished.... This song is what sums it up...

wondering....

I went to check on Mema and she was laying there peacefully and wasn't even getting upset when they touched her. Which led me to believe that she was either doing really really good or really really bad. After my mother-in-law spoke with the doctor we found out some information. She is towards the end and her body is shutting down. Although I do feel sadness about this I am also relieved for her. I know that she had been wondering why she was still here and was tying to figure out what she was supposed to be doing. We have a week, give or take.

Matt and I were sitting there talking to her and she told us both that she loved us and missed us multiple times. I told her that I shot my first deer and her face lit up and she had a huge grin and asked me "Are you kidding". I told her that I wasn't and a little about my deer and she said "That's good". I am going to miss her when she is gone. I am also going to miss the fact that she loved me no matter what. But end the end we will know that this wonderful woman helped us through so many tribulations and in the end we were able to stand there beside her and help her through til the end....

Tuesday,,...

Good Morning! I have had a busy last couple of days. I got most everything done on my list this weekend and am gong to try and have the rest done in the next couple of weeks. Although I am working late tonight I may come home and take a nap!

Mema is still the same. They are trying to manage pain right now but it is such a hopeless feeling. Whatever is God's will is going to happen, I just wish that she wasn't in pain.

We were out hunting this weekend and I saw a pretty little doe eating about 60-70 yards away and then saw a buck running full speed. Pretty soon I saw a doe running full speed and the buck right behind her. I had never seen a buck chasing before so it was a neat sight to see.

Hopefully I can get christmas lights on the outside of the house tomorrow......

Goals update.... Mema update....

Matt's great grandmother was put into the hospital yesterday and we spent the evening up there with her. I am hurting so much for her because she is hurting. She is in such pain and just doesn't know what is going on much. They have her on morphine but she is still saying she is huring, which is totally unlike her. She is one tough old bird. She is 94 years old and have lived a long life. I know that God has plans, I just wish she wouldn't have to suffer like this.

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UPDATE: Finished #4 about 9 pm....

UPDATE: finished #6 & #7 at 5:15 I took a break to go eat lunch with Matt's Mom and Grandparents and it was a wonderful break. Now on to do #4!!!!!

UPDATE: Finished #3 at 11:45 pm

My school goals for this weekend (Friday to Sunday) are
1. weekend class (Friday and Saturday)
2. two week thematic unit

3. class observation paper from a Spanish class

4. read 100 pages for Monday nights class

5. create study guide for class discussion Monday

6. read 50 pages for Tuesday online class

7. post answers for Tuesday online class

8. book review of a Spanish text book

9. Do assignments for Monday's online class

10. Post to two discussion boards for online class

This is bound to be wonderful! I depend on my crock pot so much during school and it has so many uses! I save on my cooling bill during the summer by using it and save time during the winter. They are wonderful for any couple and I have given a few as wedding gifts! Run over and check her out on NOVEMBER 17!!!

I forgot to say that I had to do a Monday online class when I was Making my list!

My school goals for this weekend (Friday to Sunday) are
1. weekend class (Friday and Saturday)
2. two week thematic unit
3. class observation paper from a Spanish class
4. read 100 pages for Monday nights class
5. create study guide for class discussion Monday
6. read 50 pages for Tuesday online class
7. post answers for Tuesday online class
8. book review of a Spanish text book
9. Do assignments for Monday's online class
10. Post to two discussion boards for online class

This is what my list looks like now. (It makes me feel like I have accomplished something!)
My school goals for this weekend (Friday to Sunday) are
1. weekend class (Friday and Saturday)
2. two week thematic unit
3. class observation paper from a Spanish class
4. read 100 pages for Monday nights class
5. create study guide for class discussion Monday
6. read 50 pages for Tuesday online class
7. post answers for Tuesday online class
8. book review of a Spanish text book
9. Do assignments for Monday's online class
10. Post to two discussion boards for online class

This is exciting and makes me feel special! Ha ha! I am going to work on numbers 4 and 5 the rest of today....

Some 10 or 11 week grumblings and ramblings....

I have about 6 weeks left of school ( hence the title) and it is hitting me hard. I am taking 11 hours this semester. That is on top of working full time at the day job, part time (around 10-15 hrs) at the night job and driving two nights a week to class. It takes me about an hour and a half to get to class and the same to get home. I have one night that I get home about midnight. I know that everyone else seems to be loving the time change but I am not digging it. I should be getting out of class at 10 but my body is telling me that it is 11..... Which makes it feel like 1 when I am getting home. And I forgot to figure in my time for homework, like the two week unit of lesson plans, complete with quizzes and tests.....

I did get enrolled for the next semester and will be taking 13 hours. I only have 3 more semesters left but it is all draggggggging on right now. I always get this way towards the end of the semester but this year it is seeming worse. Maybe getting older has something to do with it????

I am taking a weekend class and am excited about it but would love this weekend to do homework and crash. The rest would do me good but......

My school goals for this weekend (Friday to Sunday) are
1. weekend class (Friday and Saturday)
2. two week thematic unit
3. class observation paper from a spanish class.
4. read 100 pages for Monday nights class
5. create study guide for class discussion Monday
6. read 50 pages for Tuesday online class
7. post answers for Tuesday online class
8. book review of a spanish text book.

Items 2-8 will have to be done Saturday night or Sunday since I will be in ANOTHER class on Friday and Saturday.

This is making me really tired to think about all of this, maybe I should take a nap....
I will be thinking of you all enjoying your shows and normal activities while I am stuck in a book! *repeating the mantra* This will all be worth it in the end, this will all be worth it in the end....

My first deer! EVER!!!

I am a girl who loves to hunt. This year was the first year that I actually bought women's camo and the only reason I finally did that was because I started bow hunting this year. Thanksgiving get togethers are always worked around us having to be out in a tree stand Thanksgiving morning. I have been out hunting like crazy and have not gotten a deer yet. I had a doe six yards away from me and I wasn't able to get a shot.

We went out Friday night but it was so windy and nothing was moving. We decided to go to the same tree stand Sunday evening and got up in it about 4 pm. Driving to the stand we had already seen deer moving so we were a little worried about spooking some walking in. We got up in the stand and I was looking around and messing with my phone. I had updated my facebook account with a text and had sent out a tweet asking for everyone to keep me updated on the Minnesota-Green Bay game. So I had all sorts of wonderful friends like Bre keeping me updated on how the game was going.

I had sent a text out earlier to the wife of the guys land that we were hunting to see how he was feeling ( he had surgery on Tuesday). My phone started vibrating and I reached down to get it and happened to look to my left and saw a deer walking across the clearing. I was telling Matt to take my phone and trying to grab the muzzle loader. I got it up, the safety clicked off and was looking through the scope. When I adjusted my head the brim of my had hit the scope which kinda shoot me up slightly. Matt bleated and the deer stopped cold in its tracks and looked in our direction. I took a breath, centered and pulled the trigger. Smoke was in my line of vision so I couldn't see anything for a couple of seconds. When I looked up I saw the deer running back towards the timber with its tail down. and I immediately looked over at Matt and asked if the shot was good. I have confidence in my ability but still there is always that chance. Matt said that it had buckled and then took off running. We hear him running, a crash, get up and run and then crash again.

We waited 30 minutes and in that time I called his grandpa that we hunt with. I was whispering "Ralph, can you hear me?" The response I got was "HELLO! WHO IS THIS?" After repeating this a couple more times Matt tapped me and said "You have already shot, you can talk normal." I kinda looked at him and then realized he was right and carried on the conversation in my normal voice "Ralph, I shot a doe we haven't found her yet but I did shoot her and I was the one to see her first not Matt and we are going to wait for a few more minutes and then go get her.... *taking a deep breath* I am so excited!!!" He starts laughing at me 'cause I said all of the above in one run on sentence and didn't even stop to take a breath!

So as we were waiting I called a few more people, telling them I had shot a doe and then we got down. Walking over to where the deer was we did not see any blood at all but I told myself not to worry, that we would find some. Another 20 yards and we still hadn't seen any. We heard him crash so we knew that he was down so we spilt up and started looking. Matt calls me over, saying that he saw blood. But when I asked him where the blood was he just grinned. So I start looking and spot me deer. Resisting the urge to run over to him I walked over, poked him with my gun and then (quietly) squealed. "Matt, it's a buck look!!!!" We BOTH thought that it was a doe that I had shot but when we got over to him he had 5 inch spikes. I was even more ecstatic after finding that out.

We drug him out, field dressed him and took him to be checked in. As a side not. I DID field dress him myself and am not ashamed to say it. I may be a girl but I can still get my hands dirty. Matt figured that he would be right at 100 pounds field dressed and when he was put on the scales he weighed 95 pounds. I was as proud as could be!!

I have been wanting to get my first deer with a bow but wasn't going to pass up this opportunity it get my first deer. I am still on cloud nine and have made Matt laugh all day. I took my digital camera "just in case" so we got pictures so here is my first deer!!!!

Walking Stick

This is what I found by our front door Saturday afternoon. I can remember being little and seeing these things ALL the time. I saw one last year but this is the first that I saw this year. Matt said that while he was in his stand he had one sitting on his rail and saw a squirrel eating one the day before!