The twins have landed parts as dalmatian puppies in Lagniappe Theatre’s February production

of 101 Dalmatians. To audition, they had to sing and bark. Anyway, a few days ago they had to go to practice, so Josie came to my house.

To start off, she did a little work on the ipad, and then decided to interact with the cat

that was sitting on the back of the chair. That didn’t last long. I don’t know why,

but Josie must have received some bad vibes. So…she moved on

to finding her favorite music on my phone, followed by

practicing her duck calls.
Then she wanted to go in my bedroom and get on my bed. I gave her a flashlight and turned out the light. Josie followed the beam across the ceiling and walls, but soon decided she wanted me to make a tent with the sheet. So I did.

That lasted until she got the idea

to model my slippers and

put plastic cups on her feet.
But the thing that fascinated her the most

was an old

Pentax camera. We opened up the back, and she watched the shutter

open and close … until it was time for her to go home. Go figure.

Last Sunday it rained in good ‘ol Woodworth, Louisiana. The rain was followed by some cool air, and for about three days it actually felt like winter. I was even able to wear my jacket

that I wore in Alaska last January.
The water left standing after the rain

turned to ice. Even the little pond in the back

rocked a thin sheet of the frozen stuff.
Matilda dared to step out

and break the ice so she could taste the water below.
Although it was cold, we were outside quite a bit.

With a new puppy, you go out a lot, no matter what the weather brings.
When I wasn’t out running laps around the property with Piper,

I was inside enjoying the fire…

and even doing a little cooking on the hearth. By the way, that’s a turkey breast, and it was pretty tasty.
Piper tried to be good

and most of the time

looked really innocent. But what you don’t know is, behind that sweet little face…

lies a toilet paper thief.

The new year is just over a week old, and perhaps the idea of making resolutions has traveled across your brain. I’m not sure why, but I don’t really even like the phrase “new year’s resolution”. Maybe its because the very mention of it conjures up images of gym memberships and life without ice cream. New year’s resolutions always seem to revolve around something you need to do, or wish you would do, but are not really committed to making the necessary sacrifices to make it a reality…so it never becomes one.
That’s why I’m making a “New Years stuff I might like to try” list, thereby setting myself up more for fun than failure.
I haven’t completed my list yet, but so far, this is what I’ve got.
I would like to try

to teach Hudson and Denton to play marbles. Over the years I seem to have lost all mine, but thankfully you can purchase more.
I would like to try to learn the art of afternoon tea

and have tea parties with Josie.
I would like to try to have more picnics.

And, I would like to try to build a treehouse. It’s been at least forty years (or more) since my last one, and I think it’s time…don’t you?
PICTURES TO COME LATER

It’s been way too long since my last post, so I thought that I would fill in the blanks for you.
From October through December we had a steady stream of house guests…mostly family. For some, our house was the final destination. For others, it was a place to break up a long drive and rest for the night. So, if you’re wondering what I’ve been doing, one good guess

would be laundry.
Another good guess would be

hanging out in the Smokey Mountains. We were there the second week in November, and we were not alone.

This time Tommy and Donna came with us. We had a fabulous time!
While we were gone,

Autumn came to Woodworth. Better late than never, right?
As Christmas neared, the boys

decorated a tree in the yard

with snacks for the birds.

We all thought it was a good idea…

especially some of the girls. That’s all I have to say about that.
Josie loves animals,

and is becoming quite the little farm girl.
Our family has grown since last I wrote.

We now have a Border Collie named Piper.

He is three month old, and I don’t mind telling you that Piper is hyper.
For those of you who have come to know and love my family in Alaska, I would like to share that last week,

Blanche went to sleep on the peaceful shores of Daniel’s Lake, and woke up on the other side of the Jordan River.

She was ninety seven. I feel sure that when the angels came to get her, she said, “Do I need my purse?” I will miss Blanche. She made me smile.

Perhaps you recall that last week, for our anniversary celebration, Joel and I wore those

matching blue and white backless dresses. You know the kind. And, the moment you slip into one you hear Creedence Clearwater Revival singing “Bad Moon Rising”.
Anyway… yesterday, my mother-in-law said “yes” to the dress.

She’s fine, thank goodness, and will be back home later today. The deal is that she tripped and dislocated her elbow

just a l-i-t-t-l-e bit. (I know.)
She handled it well, and seemed to be in much better shape than the rest of us who were trying to keep her from moving her arm. Then…when the nurse came with pain medicine, I think the whole family bent over and dropped their pants.

Thirty two years ago today Joel and I were married. We never have celebrated by giving the traditional anniversary gifts. You know…paper, wood, jewelry and the like. Lapis is the traditional gift for for thirty two years. Conveyance gifts are the modern choice. A conveyance is anything that transports you, such as a car.
But once again, we opted for nontraditional. Yesterday, we each

got cardiac ablation, a technique used to correct abnormal heart rhythms.
Oh, we could have purchased a NICE car, but we chose the road less traveled. And that has made all the difference.

We’re still “enjoying” ninety degree weather here in Woodworth, Louisiana. But yesterday, there seemed to be a hint of Fall in the air. The humidity didn’t seem AS BAD, and there was a gentle breeze…very gentle. So, I spent my morning at the barn

doing a little light barn cleaning.
While Lyndsay was here, I purchased

ten Blue Laced Wyandotte pullets. The man at the feed store said that I could not show them because this variety has not yet been accepted into the A.P.A., but I assured him that I only intended to show them to my neighbors.
Well, now they are teenagers,

and are living in Rose’s bedroom until they are ready to be put with the adult chickens.
Rose has been patient,

but I think she’s ready to have her room back.
Anyway, after I had done my light barn cleaning, on that beautiful day with a hint of Fall in the air, I decided to spend some quality time with the girls.
I sat in the doorway of their quarters

and watched as they ate dead bugs that they had not been able get to when the gate was closed.
As they got used to my presence,

I was able to make friends

with a few of them.
I had forgotten how relaxing it is to ‘chill with the chickens’.
People say that chickens are nasty…..but from my experience, they don’t want you walking around on their floor with dirty feet. As a matter of fact,

they are even willing

to clean them for you…if you can take it.

Saturday was the party to celebrate

Josie’s first birthday.
Children of all ages

showed up. Before long,

they split up

into little groups

with others

with whom they

shared common interests. Isn’t that the way it usually happens?

“Girl, you know you got that right!”
Anyway, as the afternoon progressed, the “Birthday Princess” proved that

you can have your cake and eat it too…

or at least fix it so no one else wants to eat it.
Then it came time for presents.

Alexis, who in the grand scheme of things, is not very far removed from age one, and who has a little sister

who is one, brought the perfect gift.

She colored a toilet paper tube and presented it to the birthday girl,

who really liked it.
So, the next time you are faced with the task of coming up with a present for a one year old, consider a toilet paper tube……just sayin’.

Last Friday, while I was in Target, I bought the boys (and me) a basketball. After lunch, Hudson came over, spied the thing, started playing with it.

I showed him how to dribble. He asked, “Mammy, were you a basketball player back in your day?” I answered, “I sure was.” He said, “My friend Caleb is a basketball player.” When I told him that he could be one too, he replied, “I know,

but I’d rather be a ninja.
A few minutes later, Denton came through the front door. I heard Hudson say, “Denton! Did you know that Mammy was a dribbling champion!”

I’ve taken most of the summer off as far as writing is concerned. I guess you could call it my silent period. But, I’ve come out the other end of that, so I’ll catch you up a little.
That girl from New York, the one that went waltzing across India,

is back. She brought home an unusual instrument

that has only one string. She doesn’t know what it’s called, but it’s a twangy sort of thangy. Joel used it to accompany himself as he sang “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”, but that didn’t work out too well for him…or anyone else for that matter.
The other girl from New York will be here until Thursday morning, when she will shuffle off to Buffalo. But for now she and Katie

are enjoying each others company.
Donna, who got married on her birthday,

is now working at Woodworth Family Medicine.
And Josie

turned one on August 16th.
The twins are still in full form. As a matter of fact they came over this morning. I decided to let them release a little of their energy by

mowing the front yard. They had a fabulous time.

They use a free style mowing method, and there is no method to their mowing.

When they finished, it took me longer to connect the remaining dots than it usually does to mow the whole yard. But, that’s alright…it was their first time to mow.
When I got those dots connected I went inside where they had enticed Lyndsey

to make them each a snow cone. After she got the ice ready, I helped Hudson build his snow cone. Then I turned to help Denton, and out of my mouth came, “Wait, what have you done?”

He said, “I just wanted the juice without the ice.” I replied, “I just don’t see that happening.”