Country Friends

Who needs human friends in the country? Although Kiara has several friends, her favorite playmates are Kenai and Belle, our goats. Here's what I often see when I look out of our window...

When the goats have gone in for the night, human friends will have to suffice...

Why is the Grass So Tall??

Figuring that a B&B should always have a manicured-looking lawn, we went ahead and splurged on a nice zero-turn mower less than a year ago. I volunteered to take over the grass mowing job since Paul is at the building so often, but I'm thinking that I might be fired very soon. I had to go get him once to get the mower out of the mud it got stuck in. Another time I had to report that I had accidentally bulldozed into the brick side of our steps crumbling it into pieces. (My argument was that it waws over 150 years old so it was about time to replace it anyway!)

But this time I think I've really done it. I filled the mower with gas and proceeded to cut the lawn. After a while it started to sputter and die much like a mower does when it runs out of gas. That couldn't be though because I had just filled it. I lifted the seat (where the tank was on our LAST mower), took off the lid which read "Do not top off" and looked inside... yep, plenty of gas. Then I looked to the right and noticed a big black container-like part. Hmmm- what goes in there? I took the top off and looked inside. It was empty. Then it hit me. That's where the gas should've gone.

Sooo, the lawn will have to wait until Paul can flush out the system and add new hydrolic fluid 'cause that's where the gas went. We are praying it didn't do any damage to the mower. If all is well with it, I bet he'll have the grass cut before I even get home from work! I guess I don't blame him for wanting to take the job back!

Pertinent Quote

I happened upon a quote in another blog that ties in well with my last post. Couldn't resist sharing...

“I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”~Martha Washington

41 Tomorrow

Tomorrow is my 41st birthday. I am spending the day with Kiara at my mom's house. As I reflect on lessons I have learned so far in my life, I think these would be at the top of the list...

1. Contentment is easier to hold onto when you can find be thankful in every bad situation. When you loose $5, be thankful it wasn't your whole wallet. If your boss is annoying, be glad you aren't married to him! If you are having a bad hair day, be glad you haven't lost it all from chemo.

2. When people ask "How you are doing?", they really only want to hear "fine" or "great". People do not want to hear much more than that... especially complaints and problems. They have enough of their own. God doesn't want me to complain, and I've really tried to get better as I grow older (and I seem to find more things I feel are worth complaining about).

3. My goals here on earth must be Christ-centered. There will be no corporate ladders, salaries, IQ tests or beauty pageants in heaven... so why focus on worldly things now? I try to focus my thoughts on what matters to God and brings Him glory. This isn't easy, but it is one of the most important things I'm realizing in life.

4. Enjoy every single moment of life because it really does go quickly. Study the beauty of your child's eyes as she looks at you. Take a deep breath to fill your lungs with crisp morning air before heading to work. Watch the deer out in the yard even though you're in a hurry to start dinner. Those little events in life may become a memory you will later cherish.

5. As I grow older, I think more and tend to analyze more-- which lends itself to becoming more set in my ways. Yes, age brings wisdom, but I hope all the wisdom I'm gaining doesn't make me more judgemental. I am cognizant of this tendency and will strive to keep an open mind, accepting of others, and willing to think differently about things even though I might know a lot about it.

Well, I'm sure I could come up with more... but the smell of a birthday cake that my daughter is now baking for me is reminding me to get off of the computer and enjoy a little time with her and my mom. Life is for the living now. I must go seize the day...

A Future Rachel Ray

So, what do kids in the county do when they're bored? Well, if they love to cook, they get creative outside! Yes, Kiara is a mud pie makin' girl, and when summer arrives it brings forth all kinds of "ingredients". Today, she's making her signature dish: Pecan tree leaves with a hint of seed pods.

Tomorrow she may make her Hay and Goat Poo Casserole... mmmm. Anybody wanna come over for dinner? Hey, any practice she can get to take over the B&B is good with me!

We did drive to the Richmond Zoo last weekend to give her a break from all the culinary stress...

We especially loved feeding the giraffes!

And the little prarie dogs were sooooo cute!

Here's what the zebra thought of us taking pictures of his family...

Look at the tiger in her cage... Oh, wait... that's our cat Ellie on the stairs! :)