I Need Rehab...Maybe...I Guess

I guess that the little email robots and blog minions thought when I said I had a lack of sleep problem and showed all those sizes of cups, that I really meant I had a drinking problem.

So, they sent me this email ad.  

I am a little bit addicted to Tazo Chai Tea.  Yeah.
Like Venti 7 pump chai, extra hot.
Or Venti 7 pump chai frap, no whip.

And essential oils.  Flat out hooked.

Does that count?

Funny Stuff, Feelings

I saw this t-shirt, and it cracked me up.

It is so what I would say…in my recent past.

Before I learned to live life at a heart level, I would cover up feelings with humor.  You might or might not get to see what is really going on with me, what's really happening.

I have changed.  And it's a good thing.

In the past year, I've learned to let it be.  That it's okay to be real, to let people see who I am.  It's okay to have feelings. To let people know when they've crossed a boundary.

To not give away all of myself.  

To take time for myself.

To take care…of me.

And I'm getting better at the being real, every day.

And sometimes, I'm funny.  And it's the real me.

I like myself so much better.  I have goals.  I have a life plan.  And I've accomplished much.

You can do the same, for yourself. 

Thanks, Pathways, for all you do for people…and me.  

Well Planned Gifts Never Go Astray

I love a thoughtful gift.

I'm a giver.  I try hard to help people out and to match the gift to the recipient.  It's not always easy to do, but I try.

The favor was returned, in spades, this past weekend.

Out of the blue, one of my bestie friends and her daughter, also a bestie friend, gave me this.

AND they gave me this.

Both pieces match me to a tee.  

My son is a roper.  I love roping bling.

And as to the Crazy?  Well, you already know.

Spot on, Suzan and Becky.

Spot on.  I LOVE the necklace and the bracelet.

I've already worn both pieces.

Now, nod for your steer and let's get outa here.

Funky Art - Piggy Style

It must be pig week.

I found this little gem on the top of a cabinet in my friend Becky's house.

I love it.

She has a crown. She's a princess pig.  And beautiful.

A colorful, eye-catching pig…one with wings.

Just to remind us all that "When Pigs Fly" is a doable thing.

Because, people, anything is possible.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Choot Like A Girl

I love small town truck stops.

You never know what you're going to see there.

I saw this t-shirt, and it made me smile.

Heck, it made me wanna go shoot my shotgun.  I'm a little behind this year, anyway.

Love the smell of shotgun smoke!

I Saw A Feral Hog In Ben Wheeler, Texas

It was a crazy week last week for ThatJanieGirl.

I traveled to East Texas for the funeral of a cousin.

And I saw a lot of funny things.

I’m tired, but I have enjoyed tripping through small towns, and seeing lots of cool things.

Small towns are quirky.  They have their own type of charm, and their own type of crazy.  And I love them.

This sight, in Ben Wheeler, Texas, warranted a turn-around yesterday when en route to the airport.

And, of course, a picture. 

Of a bus.  Dressed up to look like a hog.

And then, of course, I had to check it all out.  This morning’s research reveals that Ben Wheeler, Texas, is the home of the following events:

The Fall Feral Hog Festival (October 25, 2014)

The World Championship Wild Hog Cookoff (October 24, 2014)

The Far Out Art Fest and June Bug Music Festival (June 21-22, 2014)

And…

The Fall Feral Hog Follies (October 25, 2014)

The town is also home to Moore’s Store, voted Best Live Music Venue by the County Line Magazine Readers!

In doing a little research, I found that most of this town’s revitalization was spurred on by a man named Brooks Gremmels.  What a way to transform a small town of 1000 people!  It is nothing less than amazing.

Mr. Gremmels has passed (read a cool story about him here) earlier this year, but this little town continues to grow and thrive.

It’s just quirky and eclectic enough that it’s going to warrant a “Further Investigation” trip by ThatManILove and I…so stay tuned.

Thank You, Amazon. I Accept.

Have y'all heard the statement, "Clueless, but I don't care?"

No? 

That's because I probably just made it up.  

Because I got this.  

And I'm happy, happy, happy.

And all I gotta do is spend money to make it work.  

That, people, I can do.  Poof!

FREEBIE!!!

FridayFridayFriday Thank God For Friday

That's what I'm talking about. 

Happy Friday!

Out of Season, Out of Time

I ran into TJ Maxx yesterday to see what fares they had to offer.

I hardly ever go physically shopping, I’m an online shopper, mostly.  But, I had snagged this awesome rug there, and wanted another for the next remodel room in progress.

I found one, too!  But I didn’t buy it - I want ThatManILove to look at it.

I did snag some cute tops.

But the killer?  I was in the checkout, and looked up and saw this, this, vile thing.

This, people, is not.even.right.

Ribbon candy is for Christmas.  That way you only have to tie your hands down one season a year, so you won’t reach for it.

Ribbon candy is probably my favorite candy ever.

I bet I’ve not had any ribbon candy in years.  This candy was beautiful, y’all.  I can’t even tell you the craving it flung upon me.

You’ll be glad to know I didn’t buy it...but I dang sure wanted it.  It was even in beautiful Easter-y colors.

Impulse buying at it’s finest...whoever figured out how to put this stuff at the checkout counter is a freaking genius.  

And I hate them.

Nasty Dishes - Not For This Girl

I get daily posts from Camp Wander and One Good Thing by Jillee.

I love their posts.  They are good writers, super informative, and always have great advice on how to run your daily life in a more healthful way.

Healthful might have been my key.

Yesterday, the Jillee post was about cauliflower rice.

Yeah.

C.a.u.l.i.f.l.o.w.e.r.

It is not a flower.  Not what I consider a flower, anyway. 

Ugh.

I know, you probably LOVE cauliflower.

I, however, think it is the nastiest stuff ever made.

Well, next to sour kraut.

Those two things will never find it to my table via my hand.

I can promise you that.

I know.

I’m weird.

The crazy thing is, it looks pretty good.  

In the picture.

It Was 80° Yesterday

This weather app messed me up.

In my defense, I will say we have had unseasonably weird weather lately.

One day, it will be 80°.

The next, 14°.

So, when I checked the weather yesterday, I wasn’t surprised to see 12°.  And I don't mind the cool weather.  It's not ever gonna stay around long here - and I am hormonal, people.  Give me 57-67° and I am happy, happy, happy.

As you might guess, I was surprised when I went outside, in my heavy turtleneck sweater, leggings, and boots, to find that it wasn’t really cold at all.

Yup.  It was around 44°.

Chalk this one up to walking down the trail of Mi Vida Loca - the Travel Version.

I had looked at Minot weather.

Instead of Midland.

Needless to say, I turned around and changed clothes.

It’s never boring around here.

The Neverending Saga Of the Wonderdogs...continued.

I left them for one hour.  ONE hour, people.

They found a SEALED padded envelope, with supplements from  Great Taste No Pain.

They tore it open.

And then, they tore plastic bottles open.  Bottles of Digestizyme Plus.

I will tell you, they seem to be digesting their food well.

Blue Rock Holistics should be proud their product works well on Wonderdogs.

ZACCCCKKKKKKK!  ZANNNNNNNNAAAAA!  GET IN HERE!

Dogs...Are Expensive. And Worth It.

Ah, for the love of a dog.

Or two.

One of my Facebook friends, Joe Murphy, posted a little note on his account.

“The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400.”

Shoot.  I bet it’s more than that.

If you add the arthritis diagnosis, because you chose hunting dogs to be a part of your life, and now, they’re older and can’t get around as quickly...you should add the cost of 1.5 Rimadyl pain pills daily to that cost.  And now, we've started laser treatments to battle the arthritis.  Not to mention the bags of all natural dehydrated food.  And the natural supplements.

And if they’re still hunting and doing what they love to do, well, all I can say, is S&^* happens.  They might run through the barbed wire fence and have to have $250 stitching job.  Or, step in a gopher hole and have to have their leg set (can’t remember $$$$.)  Or, run a 12" mesquite thorn up their leg, which somehow went into the paw of their foot, and ran, under the skin, where normal humans can’t see it, up the front of the leg almost to the knee??  Took about 2 days to figure out he wasn’t just sore - so, another little operation.

And what if you have a stitch licker?  The kind that tries to “Heal Thyself” by licking any and all wounds?  Thereby dissolving the stitches before their time, and the 6” wound comes gaping open, causing yet another trip to the emergency vet for restitching?  Then, a rerun, so this time, stapling?  Ughhhh.

I think we are at around $20,000, and we’re right at the 11 year old mark with Zack.

Zanna has been relatively painless, but she’s so weird, she probably doesn’t dive right in like Zack.

But add up dog-sitting, dog-walking, dog-going-to-the-park time? I’m not even going to say.

Our boys have it right when they say they have been replaced by two Wonderdogs.

But when we die, guys - you can have Zack and Zanna, the stainless steel dog bowls, the kennel, AND the pooper scooper.  (Oh, joy!)  Irregardless of what you think, you’re still in our wills.  We do so love you both.

And oh, by the way -  the exotic granite, gold leafed doggie tombstones, engraved with Zack and Zanna's birthdays?  They're in the garage.

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The Blessing of Sons

The weekend is over, and I’m trying to think up blogging topics.  Instead, I’m thinking about the blessing that our boys are.

Younger Son just left our house, headed back to his house.  Elder Son is roping somewhere around San Antonio.

I miss them both.

Over the last 15 years, our blended family has experienced seasons of laughter, togetherness, and celebration.  We have also experienced estrangement, lack of communication, seasons of agony and worry and despair.  We’re just like any other family in those areas.  Thank God the good times outweigh the bad, and Love?  Love heals.

Love. Heals.

So, today, I’m thankful that we’re all in communication.  Thankful that our sons know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we love them unconditionally.  And that we will always love them and always, always, always, be their biggest fans.

So, with that being said, I’d like to say to them:

As y’all go about your respective endeavors today, remember this: We Love You.  We love each of you individually, and we love you both. We are thankful you have become brothers, and that you love each other.  We are thankful for each of you, as our sons, and as each of you, as men.

Continue to do what you do, as always, with excellence.  We are here, cheering you both on.  

ZZZZZZZZZ Yummy Essential Oil Dream Salve by Rebecca at Camp Wander and One Good Thing By Jillee

So, I’ve been making this essential oil Dream Salve.

It’s amazing.

It works.

I first was introduced to Dream Salve by the good peep Rebecca at Camp Wander.  I bought some.  Fell in love.

Her sister, who writes the blog “One Good Thing by Jillee”, posted the recipe for Dream Salve on her blog.

And one day, I decided to make it.

Loved it so much I made the mistake of talking about it on Facebook.

And ended up giving away every jar I made, but one, which is for my personal use, by golly!  I will SHOOT you if you try to take it.

So last Saturday, I made more Dream Salve.  Got smarter.  Made it in smaller jars so when my friends wanted some, it wasn’t such a hit to the old storage bin or my pocketbook. 

Here's the link to the Dream Blend Essential Oil by SparkNaturals.  Yes, I cheated.  I used this instead of mixing my own blend.  But hey, it was my first time and it will not be my last.

We love it. It’s automatically relaxing, due to of all the good essential oils in it. You put the salve on the soles of your feet, then put on socks.  Then sleep like a baby, baby.

Thanks, Rebecca and Jillee.  Y'all rock.  And...

This household is officially addicted.  It’s all your fault.