We just saw a bobcat!

No lie! THIS was in our backyard right outside our glass door. Art girl said, "look at that big cat" and I said, "That's a BOBCAT!"

Then I screamed (I mean SCREAMED!!!) for the only man in the house to come running and DO something and my screams scared it away. So I didn't get a picture of it in our backyard but it was there, man.

Okay, so far we have seen or heard, coyotes, deer, muskrats, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, turtles, raccoons, a groundhog, and now a bobcat! Not mention every insect known to man.

Did I say I loved the country? What is there left? Bears? Cougars? Javelinas?

Please remind me I love the country. I love the country, I love the country, I love the country.

Hammes Farms

Last week we went out to our new best friends' house, the Hammes. Pat has a big farm operation and he farms our land 'cuz I'm not getting a tractor and all the stuff you need to farm and he really loves it, anyway. He has some serious equipment, man!

Here is Fifi on the biggest tractor I've ever seen. That yellow thing on her arm is a floatie. She wears them all the time in the hopes someone will take her swimming.

BIG tractor. And Pat has three of them. Apparently he needs three so he and his two sons can all drive at the same time. He also has three or four smaller tractors that I didn't take pictures of because I was mesmerized by the BIGNESS of these bad boys.

Did I mention that the tractors are BIG? Did I ever mention that I used to ride on my Grandpa's tractor with him? Quality time, man...quality time. Maybe I secretly wish I was a farmer. But after seeing all the hard work that is involved in farming, maybe I secretly wish I was a rich supermodel that could eat chocolate and not get fat. Hey, it could happen...

I'm glad I don't have to drive these to farm my land. He sometimes has to plant or plow from 5 am to midnight. He has to beat the weather.

After he grows all the crops he can he has a couple of these to deliver the grains. Behind the truck are the biggest silos I have ever seen on private property. I couldn't even begin to get them in the picture frame. I think he has four or five of them, I can't remember.

So, the next time you eat something, think about our new best friends and be grateful that farmers like the Hammes love their job. I think I'll go and have me some chocolate.

Fourth of July Rodeo

Holy Cow! (pun intended) We had a blast on the Fourth of July! We went to our first Rodeo. Of course Rex didn't want to go but once we got there he couldn't keep his eyes off the arena. Bucking broncos, calf roping, trick riding, and bull riding. Then we saw awesome fireworks. I love the country.

After the rodeo we went home to light some more fireworks. We bought some big stuff in Oklahoma so we used some of it. I think I have created some pyros.

Sugar and Sweets

Oh Man! I just read a post from an artist mom's blog and I can't stop laughing. You have to go here and read this. Seriously. Tears, man. Every now and then I go blog hopping. I don't know if that is the official term but I'll go to a blog and link to another blog from the first site and so on... you get the picture. I don't remember how I got to this woman's blog and I don't know this person but she is right up my alley.


http://pamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/sugar-and-sweets.html

A little rain never hurt anybody

In the Midwest in rains. June is usually the rainiest month from what my farmer tells me. As soon as it stops my little Bee goes out for some fun.

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Here comes the delightful rain dance of a six year old...

Splash, splash...

Kick, splash...

JUMP!!! Now you have seen the dance. Go and practice at home. I want to see it perfect at the next rain dance recital.

This originally was a painting blog

I did this new thing called "painting". You take a piece of wood and you slap this gooey paste all over it and then you put paint on it...or something like that. (Oooh, cute ear.)

I had Mini Me take an action shot so that you could tell it is really me. Exciting, I know!

Up close you can see the texture of the panel. Looks like linen, but it's not. It is really the gesso brushed on with a 3 inch foam brush. Pretty cool, huh? Aunt Joanna, you want to paint with me? I'll make you a panel just like this one. My Aunt Joanna doesn't paint like I do - she's actually very good. VERY good. She has 6 girls and 2 boys just like me... she doesn't paint anymore. I wonder why?

This is just the first layer or "block in". You are supposed to see the drawing as my paint is very thin and transparent. I love the texture of the panel. I have never made my own panel before. I kind of like it.

Now I wish I didn't have the ink lines all over. I think it looks pretty good for a first layer. Mini Me is so pretty. I hope the finished painting is just as pretty as she is. One thing about the midwest is that it is humid and it takes oil paint several days to dry. Not like AZ where your painting is dry the same day. I have three paintings in the works so I can paint every day.

I'll keep you posted. Or not.

Cereal from a mug

"Keep the doors locked, they blow open."- Hubby


I just ate my breakfast cereal out of a mug. Hey! At least I had a spoon! I think we are bringing a new level of laziness to our family out here on the farm. It could also be that I only have six bowls and one dishwasher that NO ONE will empty.

When I went down to the kitchen to get said breakfast I had to step over a mattress. A MATTRESS on the stairs! I also noticed the kitchens doors were wide open and flies had come into the house. I guess it could have been worse... like frogs, rabbits, or deer in the house. I love the country but there are certain rules, like, shut the doors to keep out the critters. And this rule, keep the mattresses off the stairs.

The other day I slept 'til 1:00...P.M! 'nuf sed.