30 things to do this summer....

30 things I vow to do this summer.... I am enjoying this summer so lets see if I can think of 30 things that I am wanting to do. Head over and see the other topics at Mama Kat's and see if you can find something else that you like as well!

1. Make salsa so that we have enough to last through the winter.
2. Learn how to use a pressure cooker to can green beans and possibly other things. I have heard that chili is good and that would make it super easy for dinner.
3. Get a tan that is from being outside, even if it is a "farmers tan".
4. Make multiple kinds of pickles.
5. Keep my house clean so I am not stressing.
6. Learn how to can tomatoes.
7. Spend some time relaxing outside.
8. Lose weight so that I feel comfortable.
9. Go floating down the creek more than once.
10. Cut down my computer time in the evenings.
11. Read at least 5 books over the summer.
12. Watch the whole first season of Glee in one day (or maybe two).
13. Spend some time with friends around the campfire.
14. Take Roxy to the water and let her play.
15. Go out and eat with Mister at least once a week, just the two of us.
16. Start making Christmas gifts.
17. Start buying Christmas gifts.
18. Clean out, shampoo and wax my car.
19. Finish ripping the guts out of the inside of the bronco and build a roll cage inside it.
20. De-clutter my house.
21. Organize my craft stuff.
22. Keep up with canning so that we have lots of yummy food this winter.
23. Make sure and at least once a week have nothing to do when we get off work.
24. Not wish the summer away, no matter how hot it is.
25. Grill out and eat healthier.
26. Eat more fresh veggies out of my garden.
27. Give away some of the veggies to those around me.
28. Shoot my bow enough to pull 50 lb. draw weight.
29. Take a blanket out in the dark and watch the lightening bugs (fireflies) with Mister.
30. Go target shooting with the husband and father-in-law.

Introducing.... my tuff truck!!!

BEFORE AFTER
New tires that I was given!!!

We got straight to work gutting the bronco to get it ready for everything that we have to do to get it ready. We took the seats out and were able to rip the back part of the carpet out. Once we get torque bit we will be able to take the seat belts out and rip the rest of the carpet up! Just thought you might like to see the results so far!!!

Tuff Truck - 1981 Bronco - The beginnings

I have her!!! This is my new toy! I got a great deal and will keep everyone updated. Now we get to start the serious work, tearing her down and starting from scratch.
We got a heck of a deal on her. She is a 1981 Ford Bronco, 4WD that works and it runs!!! It was drove up on the trailer and loaded and unloaded. Now I am needing a name. Any ideas?

Guess What Answered!!!

I know that some of you were probably thinking that we decided to have a baby, household things, or something girly. If you have read this much you have learned I am not your normal "girly girl". I like to be outside hunting, fishing and although I do normal girl things like cross stitch, embroider and other girly stuff I am a girl who likes to get dirty too!

So now we come down to what I finally talked my husband into.

Any final guesses?????

My cousin responded with an email instead of a comment and she was right. Do you think you have the right answer?

I am telling you that it might shock you, but again, it might not...

Have I changed your mind in what you are thinking???

Okay I will quit teasing and just tell you what it is.

I know it may sound weird but I am so excited to get dirty, greasy and tired working constantly to get this project done. I will be working on a

Tuff Truck!!!!

The guys pictured above are some of the guys who are racing in the area and have offered to help me get a truck up and going. We are going to have to start from the bottom, put a roll cage in it and get a body on it. Then it will be upgrading everything as I can to make it better

Mister has been dealing with my nagging, begging and everything in between for two years. The first year was just saying how much I wanted one but this last year has been the guys also helping me bug him for one. After this last weekend he decided that it would just be easier to give in I think. :) So hopefully next year I will have some awesome pictures of my "new tuff truck" at the monster truck show here in my hometown. I now am on the hunt for a full size truck frame and motor preferably a 350 to get started with. I think that when I told Mister I was going to the salvage yards to start trying to find something suitable and I was going to have one of the boys up in the picture bring it to the house, he realized that I was serious. So he has started talking to others and finding me what I need. Now to move forward with all the work.

I will have to figure out a name to put on the side so that will be the next thing that ya'll will have to help me with. I will have the pink ribbon on it, of course, but beyond that (and the sponsors names that I am trying to get) I am open for suggestions! HELP

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little announcement that I made you wait for!!!

What will we be doing tonight? Only what everyone in the area should be doing!!! I will be watching my buddy, Devin, show off his skills with Barbarian. I actually do know Devin, just so you know. The Mister and I went to school with him. He will put on quite a show for the hometown crowd. Photo Credit

Photo Credit

Then there will be the tuff trucks.

Like Steve in Mischief

Another Steve in Trouble II

Richie with Bam Bam

Pat

Warren with Crazy Fireman

Matt with Iron Horse

And they are having tractor pulls this year!!!! So we will be having a load of fun this weekend. What will you be doing this weekend?

Writer's Workshop - Emergency

Directions From Mama Kat's Blog
You can learn more about Writer’s Workshop here….it’s never to late to jump in!! Here is what you must do:

Choose a prompt that inspires you most.

Write.

Come back this Thursday and paste the URL to your actual post (do this by clicking the title of your post after you hit publish, an extended URL will come up in the address bar. That’s the URL you want to use) into the Mister Linky that will be up…this way anyone can click on your name and head over to your place to see what you wrote.
Feel free to write on more than one prompt if you so desire. I do it all the time, but it’s my game…and I don’t know how to shut-up…so it should be expected. And remember the more comment love you give, the more comment love you get so comment comment away.

The Prompts:
Which one will YOU choose??

1.) A song you can’t escape.(inspired by Stefanie from I’m not much into health food, I am into champagne)

2.) Explain a time there was an emergency. What “mode” did you go into? Freaking out, calm and collected, etc.(inspired by Jennifer from Momma Made It Look Easy)

3.) Write an open later to a cartoon character.

4.) Write a poem about a moment you would like to relive.(inspired by Mama B. from Peanut Butter in my Hair)

5.) List 10 things you never knew until you were mom. Mine?(inspired by Christy from Life With Triplets)

If you have a chance, try to stop by and say hi to the person who inspired the prompt you’ll be writing on this week.

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On May 10, 2008 we were pumped to go to the Monster Trucks that were coming to our hometown and on that night we got around and started getting ready. When we got into the truck the neighbors cows were right up behind the house. And by right behind I am talking that all 100 head were pushing into the corner of the pasture and you could see the strain that was being put on the barbed wire. We took mental note, talked about how that meant that bad weather was normally coming and went on with our plans for the night. That bit of information was tucked into my mind for later use - little did I know.

We have quite a few friends who drive tuff trucks and one who drives a monster truck so we wanted to get there early and see everyone before the action got started. We get there and pull into the pit and park the truck and get out and like any true redneck, find the beer tent. We were over shooting the breeze with some of the people we know and look around in the sky and west was jet black and the other directions it was bright and shining. We mentioned it and never really thought about it. We live in Oklahoma where the weather changes every five minutes. Then all of a sudden the wind picked up and started blowing things over. The beer tent was grabbed by about 10 of us and it took all that we had to hold it down. The port-a-potties fell over one by one like domino's. Dirt and hats were flying everywhere and as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. This odd still comes over everything and then you start hearing the radios go off. To the west they were watching a tornado and we kept hearing them call out its every move. It missed up but it had moved on to Picher.

We had friend who lived near there and kept trying to call them but were unable to get through. I felt so helpless and although I finally got a hold of our friends I still felt like I should be able to do something else. I know simple first aid and CPR but realized quickly that this was going to take more than that. I was told that by staying put and not clogging up the road I would be doing more good, emergency personnel needed to get in immediately. I sat in the truck, listening to the radio coverage and wondering about everyone who was there. There were lots of prayers going up for those who were affected by this tragedy.

In all of the chaos there were so many different numbers going around about how many had lost their lives but the number ended up being significantly lower. But there were whole town and counties devastated by the damage that was done. Seven lost their lives that tragic day. New stations were flocking to cover the damage but News On 6 did a good job of covering the whole event. Click on the link to read more.

Photo credit

One year later we were all thinking of those who went through this and there was a local news crew who was covering the year anniversary. The wind picked up and the sky was green. I started worrying when the wind picked up and was blowing branches and other objects against the side of the house. Matt was heading into town and as it picked up he was going over an interstate bridge. It picked his truck up and floated him to the other side of the road. It blew over with no damage in our town but in a local town the tower for the TV station had been blown over. It was the news station that was covering the anniversary. They had gone off the air 8 minutes before and luckily there was no one inside the building. The tower crashed onto the new station and a house next door. Luckily no one was injured. The news station was off the air for a few months repairing the tower and the building. But just like every other situation, we bounced back and are going strong.

But one has to wonder what May 2010 might bring for us.... Lets hope that it is nothing like the previous two years...

O'Reilly Outlaw Nationals Tough Trucks!!!

We had a great turnout from the local crew on Tough Trucks and they put on quite a show! Steve Barnes, Steve Darnell, Matt Schumacher, Richie Gering, Pat Pulley, John Jungeblut, Mark Jones are a few who came with their modified tough trucks and made a splash on both nights. Saturday night Steve Darnell took first with an amazing run in Mischief and John Jungeblut rolled Thunderstruck coming into the final turn. Once he was upright, he finished and gave an awesome finale with a series of spins at the end. Matt Schumacher was amazing with his Mustang and turned in some amazing times. Steve Barnes, Pat Pulley and Richie Gering all showed their talent with some intense driving. Last Minute and Feelin' Froggy took spills during the night when the ground behind the buses became tacky. No one was hurt and everyone gave a terrific show for the crowd. You can follow these guys and see the schedule on Midwest Tough Trucks. They have some awesome photos and other info about the guys and also schedules.

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There was also a stock tough truck competition. These cars weren't modified and in fact, a few came from the salvage yard on Friday! Dexter was driving for Bargain Center and put on quite a show that included "jumping" the six smashed cars in the middle after his final run. There was everything from a little Saturn to a full size Suburban. They all gave it everything and we had lots of fun watching.

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Now for some other info!!!! I have been wanting to race at MoKan but can't get my hubby to help me get a car ready. When we met I was street racing at night and he asked me to quit but I have missed the adrenaline and action so I thought that MoKan would be a good alternative but we have just never gotten around to doing it. I told Matt Saturday that I was going to get a car from the salvage yard and run it that night. That was followed by a very emphatic "NO! I will get you a truck and we will start building you a tough truck." I had told him last year that this was something that I wanted to do but I think that he figured I would decide that it would be a hassle and not want to do it. But I am still wanting to do it! So I talked to a few of the guys and they are willing to help so we are going to start looking and figuring out what we need. I would love to have it done by this time next year but we will see. We are going to have to totally rebuild the engine on whatever we get, a roll cage will have to be built and put in it and then all the body stuff as well as all the changes on the vehicle that needs to be made. I am thinking that I want a Chevy with a 350 in it. My first thought was to paint it all pink but I am thinking that maybe I will paint it black and put racing stripes down the middle and my pink ribbon on the side or on the hood in between the stripes. Somewhere I am going to put names of those who are close to me that have been affected by breast cancer. My mom's name will go on there and my friend Kathy's name will be on there too. We have a friend who does amazing paint jobs on vehicles so I may hit him up and see if he can help. But I am now needing a name as well. Someone suggested Pink Panther but that is just not quite sounding right to me.... anyone out there have any ideas?