tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88183070113339058492024-03-15T18:10:31.206-07:00Prairie GodmotherAuthor*Blogger*Junk Enthusiast*Gypsy Farm Girl*DreamerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-63730069406913229572023-02-27T19:03:00.002-08:002023-02-27T19:04:36.137-08:00Prairie Godmother<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Allow me to re-introduce myself if you're new here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">this is me.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Kathie Truitt</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-StefJ2_1cxpytXAuCfbMje6KdQXKhM5dMu81_-Gk4Q0fJ5jGtB8PWZgQGKX0CWaMRF6Xwy1ptqE11B4RXiDNRHVBsHH8riN-FFOpiWESl2wG2lYJP5bzc90orTD_QZGnq8_b3FM4k8f7GSR5st2u6kwMLOfNUa8QhH0rRvLjrP-sEArMpNElHw/s1280/most%20recent%20headshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-StefJ2_1cxpytXAuCfbMje6KdQXKhM5dMu81_-Gk4Q0fJ5jGtB8PWZgQGKX0CWaMRF6Xwy1ptqE11B4RXiDNRHVBsHH8riN-FFOpiWESl2wG2lYJP5bzc90orTD_QZGnq8_b3FM4k8f7GSR5st2u6kwMLOfNUa8QhH0rRvLjrP-sEArMpNElHw/w300-h400/most%20recent%20headshot.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> aka....The Hillbilly Debutante, although I've recently thought about changing it to </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">'The Prairie Godmother.'</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">You see, while I'm an author, speaker and influencer/encourager and advocate for women over 50....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'm most famous for.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">drum roll please....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XM-H1gLY_J-d0ecplfnh71i_nLpZClwDstuOCjpgdqW0QbMJBGz0rSXtx0LA7nwwfezOIFwTSAMkePUFKMCOMVobt4l8DD-RYDYnpKKWDYeT1XMEvv02Pm8111-CgljczOxD5q5Uj-GUYxe5xjnzunQunBd2rGW8v4XZd9wayPYE_gxl_VcSUA/s1280/tutu%20at%20dusk%20looking%20up.jpg" style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: xx-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XM-H1gLY_J-d0ecplfnh71i_nLpZClwDstuOCjpgdqW0QbMJBGz0rSXtx0LA7nwwfezOIFwTSAMkePUFKMCOMVobt4l8DD-RYDYnpKKWDYeT1XMEvv02Pm8111-CgljczOxD5q5Uj-GUYxe5xjnzunQunBd2rGW8v4XZd9wayPYE_gxl_VcSUA/w480-h640/tutu%20at%20dusk%20looking%20up.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">TUTU's. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Yep. I have a whole collection of them. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Pink. Black. White. Green.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I wear them a lot. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">They are not 'tucked away' for a special occasion for every day is a special occasion. (See? Don't you think I look like a prairie godmother?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Speaking of prairie....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I live on a small farm on miles and miles and miles of just that. Prairie owned by state conservation department. I don't have to worry about a shopping mall, or apartment complex, or even another farm house going in across the road from me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">So, there you go...."Prairie Godmother" seems appropriate, doncha think?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">While the sunrise is hidden by one of the forest-covered hills, the sunSET shows up every evening in all its glorious splendor. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZpxOPbioXY52KvgzMPoeTBWLpVZv42Er7zYRlLUOOxhcPsjoiuw83Z5U8g2nRidGlZZGmYrxHXze_b4JWw_NUKZzlVln1pd-vGPwQWrppCwixBmBhSUtlQruQ75UcPfYagkqnQLw-d_pqTsyInoUxExO8BjyiKjlnvKu67zBGNeJP-seuOYfPg/s1280/sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZpxOPbioXY52KvgzMPoeTBWLpVZv42Er7zYRlLUOOxhcPsjoiuw83Z5U8g2nRidGlZZGmYrxHXze_b4JWw_NUKZzlVln1pd-vGPwQWrppCwixBmBhSUtlQruQ75UcPfYagkqnQLw-d_pqTsyInoUxExO8BjyiKjlnvKu67zBGNeJP-seuOYfPg/w480-h640/sunset.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Every single night God shows off his artistry in our western sky. It is truly amazing. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We have cattle. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlpLlsQxXDh6oUA9u7eH-ZqFk14E_GleUSn_4PW4BrRI3ydePSXo6fUVKYuJ5ZiG4GFUEgfW1yjvQlSSYyBCU77IGUqzKZ-VG1MlzyW7qjVS7_7vFj79p6YCsUhrKtxkNY25O6YfznU742AwS_PHz2Cj3ii_EiQdlLY9iSWjCQqb6vDG9VQiCqA/s1280/hiding%20from%20mama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlpLlsQxXDh6oUA9u7eH-ZqFk14E_GleUSn_4PW4BrRI3ydePSXo6fUVKYuJ5ZiG4GFUEgfW1yjvQlSSYyBCU77IGUqzKZ-VG1MlzyW7qjVS7_7vFj79p6YCsUhrKtxkNY25O6YfznU742AwS_PHz2Cj3ii_EiQdlLY9iSWjCQqb6vDG9VQiCqA/w480-h640/hiding%20from%20mama.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Soon we will have chickens and ducks and oh! Don't forget the pond full of fish.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I hang my clothes on the line for that fresh-air smell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish4j7xcWf1amCvgPqOx3gNZ2qFIYkgg50mSr5WPmGb6LT-Wn82Ek84B3dF40RcgLNViZikCzsNrJZjcd8gzwm0MLnf_nn29h-hLykVNo8e9bmVMkl4WhQ0fNdE7GMBOPs_noBLKbZG8BFtQ6tpryt9-ZpBIlBQWCi4W_ILr5IH9ifsc3fHlQh2w/s1280/MP%20tees%20on%20line.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEish4j7xcWf1amCvgPqOx3gNZ2qFIYkgg50mSr5WPmGb6LT-Wn82Ek84B3dF40RcgLNViZikCzsNrJZjcd8gzwm0MLnf_nn29h-hLykVNo8e9bmVMkl4WhQ0fNdE7GMBOPs_noBLKbZG8BFtQ6tpryt9-ZpBIlBQWCi4W_ILr5IH9ifsc3fHlQh2w/w640-h480/MP%20tees%20on%20line.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">There's always time for long walks...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iVk4ib2JnG45CcvJVd6Bvq2Adct4vnMOPic1XjNw31A54wtfbdkzGIKD6prnsDYd80WFajsi8fqKVRjhvtZfqGo52_xGtRJviW-Ywk2qRDQPdtK6m7rPri3yJeadPt5wJBBRPHUDApWVByY1M5TTXO0L6C1af4Tds0kQF7ibznpotg0VXyyZ5A/s1280/Out%20of%20Africa.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="591" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iVk4ib2JnG45CcvJVd6Bvq2Adct4vnMOPic1XjNw31A54wtfbdkzGIKD6prnsDYd80WFajsi8fqKVRjhvtZfqGo52_xGtRJviW-Ywk2qRDQPdtK6m7rPri3yJeadPt5wJBBRPHUDApWVByY1M5TTXO0L6C1af4Tds0kQF7ibznpotg0VXyyZ5A/w296-h640/Out%20of%20Africa.png" width="296" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">or a quick baseball game...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4dZCdYR6BlitrqOzj3EPyIUGxBisFgEAnJELJpO_4n5KIZxeaw6WEBCltL75g4GUKAbU2ABNICu8Wk4K-0Unjiv1IMdgcJsrX3FA83WmliYuonaWFBWSj8yCJDf0IncKSaJucGSOzp6mPvdQvwXyRWXHNjJHs2eMlRh-J_eswHY9KbvbWUL2jQ/s1280/grant%20with%20ball%20bat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4dZCdYR6BlitrqOzj3EPyIUGxBisFgEAnJELJpO_4n5KIZxeaw6WEBCltL75g4GUKAbU2ABNICu8Wk4K-0Unjiv1IMdgcJsrX3FA83WmliYuonaWFBWSj8yCJDf0IncKSaJucGSOzp6mPvdQvwXyRWXHNjJHs2eMlRh-J_eswHY9KbvbWUL2jQ/w480-h640/grant%20with%20ball%20bat.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I bake my own bread. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Make my own butter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Make our meals from scratch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Sounds perfect, huh?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">And it is....unless you're an extreme extrovert. And if you're an extreme extrovert like this girl...it get so lonely.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Which is why I'm here...writing this blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">YOU are my lifeline. YOU are my link to the outside world. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'm sure that 'magic' that used to be my life is still out there...I just need to figure out a way to capture it waaaaayyyy out here on the prairie.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I hope you'll drop in from time to time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">....Kathie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-80575272505014234382023-02-06T11:51:00.001-08:002023-02-06T11:51:08.705-08:00$52,306.36<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: xx-large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">That figure is my total sales for being open for only 7 months - and only 4 days a week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Everyone has their own ideas of why I closed the doors after such a short time - and they can think whatever they want - but monetarily, The Hillbilly Debutante Mercantile and Pie Shoppe was a financial success.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Anyway....moving on to what's next.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Right now, I am still writing, doing a podcast (actually, it's a 'facebook live'), and picking up where I left off on my influencing business.) I've also been booked for a few speaking and emceeing events. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But mostly, I am enjoying the peace and tranquility of life here on The Little House on the Prairie.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It's been a long, but fairly mild winter and this house is so very cozy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I continue to do a lot of baking/cooking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">If it's above 50 degrees I hang the laundry on the line.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I go for long walks on our mostly-deserted road.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I read a lot at night.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We've added a new animal to the mix.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Lillian and Willow <strike>welcomed </strike> tolerate a new rottweiler puppy, Grant - although at 10 months Grant is approximately 90 pounds. However, he doesn't know that and continues to sit in my lap and gives me a bewildered look as to why I don't carry him around, anymore.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I remain heartbroken about the shoppe - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">but I am also enjoying the peace and tranquility of home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Thank you for being on this journey with me....and I believe the best is yet to come. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-72635885839268122222022-07-22T10:59:00.005-07:002022-07-22T11:22:39.628-07:00She thinks her sh*t don't stink......<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsU1GSHmCIXrezSBUrBA0-Q1gsLEdcZ53uZNIX6m09hWTt3cNWCdCvO_Jza2FyR1SJiuXqMr8lT_r6C4QSAJ8FA4YFDwu-ZQA-oSo3G4fVZDBZa_8xt0m-wJGFroxbQYrb67D93TShTtPpQI-Fz3NAiq1Kai0rTnIMDrKjgLqiyPbetpSbjhQrA/s1280/headshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsU1GSHmCIXrezSBUrBA0-Q1gsLEdcZ53uZNIX6m09hWTt3cNWCdCvO_Jza2FyR1SJiuXqMr8lT_r6C4QSAJ8FA4YFDwu-ZQA-oSo3G4fVZDBZa_8xt0m-wJGFroxbQYrb67D93TShTtPpQI-Fz3NAiq1Kai0rTnIMDrKjgLqiyPbetpSbjhQrA/w341-h320/headshot.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Sometimes I feel like I'm living in some sort of Hallmark movie. You know the kind - girl moves away from hometown and then returns a few years later for some reason or another, finds love and they live happily ever after.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Of course, the story doesn't come without twists and turns before the protagonist reunites with an old sweetheart. The town, at first apprehensive about the reason behind her return, finally welcomes her back and she lives happily ever after, amen.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">So, my first thought was that since it's been 42 years and I'm no longer that 'fresh-faced ingenue', that settling into life here would be easy. I pose no threat to anyone. Still have the high school boyfriend, so don't have to worry about his current, clingy jealous girlfriend. And since I'm older, I'll easily slink into the wood work, re-kindle old friendships and relax on easy street.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"> Okay - scratch that - I'm 59 years old and realize that nothing is ever easy....but still, this SHOULD be, right? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">After all, like I've told you before, I live on a secluded farm, but still close to town. It's truly a perfect place for writing, contemplating, planning, creativity. A perfect place to settle into my later years and after all these years of being a gypsy, put down roots.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Why oh why am I such a positive, hopeful person, when life's experience has taught me these qualities are not practical and especially not realistic?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Of course, gossip is always rampant in a small-town. I try very hard to not participate unless it is to say something good about someone:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">(Doesn't Mary So and So look amazing with that new hairdo? And how about Bill So and So with that new promotion? Let's not forget Sally Sue - that girl always has been so talented)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But with me? Do people ever like to share the 'good' that they hear about me? </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Apparently, not. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">"I hear Kathie Truitt is back in town....she thinks her shit don't stink"</span> <span style="font-family: Lobster;">(overheard from a business owner talking to one of their employees while their store was packed. You also need to know that I have no clue who this person is. Wouldn't know them if I saw them. Several of my customers overheard this)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">"She (me) thinks she is better than everyone else." (I've had people tell me this to my face and I don't know what else to do to change that perception. I'm the friendliest person you'll ever meet. I don't care WHO you are, what you're wearing, what you drive, what your house looks like, everyone is treated with LOVE and respect, so I'm not sure where that is coming from? If you're reading and you 'see' this in me, please enlighten me so I can work on that).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">My favorite though is when someone calls me a narcissist - people have relegated that term to me several times. Please keep in mind these are not people who hold a psychology degree. (For those of you wondering, my therapist - as in a real therapist that has actually has a doctorate from an ivy league college has assured me that I am NOT a narcissist).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">What I AM is someone who has spent years working hard, perfecting my craft, building my brand and my network - ESPECIALLY my network. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I am also confident. What people mistake as 'cockiness' or maybe even 'narcissism' is confidence.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Confidence comes from two things (at least for me): God, first and foremost - and second, age.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'm 59. Will be 60 in 8 days. I've spent most of my adult life failing, getting back up, failing again, changing my strategy, still failing, and doing it over and over and over again until something 'takes.' </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Now, I am at the point that I don't even care if what I set out to do is successful or not. I truly don't! I have found it's the journey that matters.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">If people would see the real me - and notice I said 'would' not 'could' because they CAN see me - I'm an open book --they'd see someone who has no fear.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I have no fear of failure.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I have no fear of laughter and judgement if I DO fail or fall flat, </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I have one thing to say to you people who think you know me and it's this-</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Hang around with me long enough and soon YOU, too, will be thinking that YOU can do anything and be anything you set your mind to!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Even though I'm getting ready to wrap my 50's - I am learning once again that life is not, has never been and never will be a Hallmark movie.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">And as for 'putting down roots', I'm not even sure what that means. But I am trying to live each and every day to its fullest, not think too much about or plan too much for the future, but to find the joy in every single day. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">I will be honest that right now I am finding that most difficult - but I find it easier to cope with this little space right here that I use to type out my thoughts</span><span style="font-family: Lobster;">. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">And if you're reading this - which you aren't because no one reads these things anymore (thanks to social media), I hope you'll check in from time to time, because boy do I have a lot more to tell you....</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">For instance, the bench. Trust me, you'll want to hear about this stupid bench, mixed with my creativity has ruined my life - but it's for another time.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"> </span></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-18407828222958449192022-07-16T17:13:00.002-07:002022-07-22T10:05:04.077-07:00It will be interesting to see who (if anyone) follows on my journey<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz7s1YuOYS7M_W3l4rVu3QTIMmPLEBGU8Os1amx6pRj5WbLaobVtYlE2YkpytaJdYbD72vpigaM7Rqfy5FyFOlt56ZchrnUVd1TN0B-dSqBQpBFb6Ajt_jXjHgpSFBvECEd4q5toQuvlwDCzyAtiwLcbxYJquABP3UQ9cI0c_4N6vkL87RWtYQQ/s1280/Kathie%20in%20hat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz7s1YuOYS7M_W3l4rVu3QTIMmPLEBGU8Os1amx6pRj5WbLaobVtYlE2YkpytaJdYbD72vpigaM7Rqfy5FyFOlt56ZchrnUVd1TN0B-dSqBQpBFb6Ajt_jXjHgpSFBvECEd4q5toQuvlwDCzyAtiwLcbxYJquABP3UQ9cI0c_4N6vkL87RWtYQQ/w480-h640/Kathie%20in%20hat.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster;">'This will never work."</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">"You're wasting your time and money."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">"This town will never go for this."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">"This place will never be a destination."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Yet, here i am. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Two months in.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Proving the naysayers wrong day after day.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It's not easy, but then again nothing worth having ever is.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">The days are long - which would explain my absence from here the past few months.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I don't really know how long I'll do this - the shop, that is.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Not because it's not working, but because I am not as young as I think I am. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I'm exhausted, but in a good way.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I do want to keep a record of everything that happens, so I've decided to use my blog for that.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I already have some amazing stories since opening The Hillbilly Debutante Mercantile and Pie Shoppe and I'll share them as often as I can.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I don't think people really read blogs anymore, so I'm not trying to gain momentum by being here, but I very much enjoy writing and documenting my experiences, so I'll just do it for me.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">If someone happens to follow along, that's great.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">If not, that's fine, too.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-40983861113451928392022-03-27T17:32:00.002-07:002022-03-27T19:09:52.444-07:00Signs of Spring on the HD Farm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Spring has sprung here on </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">The Hillbilly Debutante Farm.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Charlotte, the miniature donkey - and a farm favorite -demands the most attention.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Every time I walk outside she brays up a storm until I come over and love on her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">This particular day I gave in to her big time and brought out a blanket with a good book and a bottle of wine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"> No, I didn't drink the whole bottle </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">(I know what you're thinking).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I also brought out a bottle of bubbles - yes, I'm a six year old. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Charlotte was not impressed - she ran away as soon as the bubbles touched her nose.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh6fXVbhzHdUIdo6dxsViRI4D_osFf8d7-p_udQaP7f6bE5lqG0P57eAMfbLh92q1Ym_3PmuL_F-w-psPQRbTfmGptc7OL3Bi91W2Pt4-x2vq7mmtlmkPAazQZF619qmmPzKDWpAVeMcd8b84STPGwf5J0ddZirPXMFrQSS4qJ89nLgXl4kDNmQ/s1280/picnicwithcharlotte.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJh6fXVbhzHdUIdo6dxsViRI4D_osFf8d7-p_udQaP7f6bE5lqG0P57eAMfbLh92q1Ym_3PmuL_F-w-psPQRbTfmGptc7OL3Bi91W2Pt4-x2vq7mmtlmkPAazQZF619qmmPzKDWpAVeMcd8b84STPGwf5J0ddZirPXMFrQSS4qJ89nLgXl4kDNmQ/s320/picnicwithcharlotte.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We love farm fresh eggs, as you can tell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Believe it or not, we went through these in less than a week. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">(I do a lot of baking).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNco6a4DNi1NWFovnQpM103WPmUKyl3BuPNBUE5N_MJtz33I_9vgl5Qs6wm6TuXGU4ms3iEy3bqptRTCY36gHekKnfTOjtplFV0X_a8FOson05EJ92W7gAPIoWxRocbLlZ7tUKzVKty5XTcG5fyZQzpmCFWMenwAIthpKve8IPDzTBR3HP3fL62A/s1280/farmfresheggs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNco6a4DNi1NWFovnQpM103WPmUKyl3BuPNBUE5N_MJtz33I_9vgl5Qs6wm6TuXGU4ms3iEy3bqptRTCY36gHekKnfTOjtplFV0X_a8FOson05EJ92W7gAPIoWxRocbLlZ7tUKzVKty5XTcG5fyZQzpmCFWMenwAIthpKve8IPDzTBR3HP3fL62A/s320/farmfresheggs.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Daffodils are poking up </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8r-VRLN4Kr2lWpjfuYi5XvKVYbwpdosWrGxorWZ5U97NRbDevDCwKvRd40W6U2j6wVBknbLNm7zf1xyyi3_019ooWkFXwYw5uhs2k7vg0CcnlkvlkvUSGqNh5RyrfQweIaJQkPUmXntlT2YrcQCI6KLx8V40Hxs3VWEOhhWagqe-li9Y9Zl04Q/s1280/daffodils.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8r-VRLN4Kr2lWpjfuYi5XvKVYbwpdosWrGxorWZ5U97NRbDevDCwKvRd40W6U2j6wVBknbLNm7zf1xyyi3_019ooWkFXwYw5uhs2k7vg0CcnlkvlkvUSGqNh5RyrfQweIaJQkPUmXntlT2YrcQCI6KLx8V40Hxs3VWEOhhWagqe-li9Y9Zl04Q/s320/daffodils.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">and these little gems, too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Anyone know what they are?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEm4fd37W63grQ1zrS1oIiW_dIZ_XDPTXkYUgMOBmQ9xHzAKdz5wcCsWsK_A_0Xm84aDdH60mNSHbcZdXFTCsAE2FVmT42aHOPwwelZseAE_APUmenA2aNBtTWHLFpMFNCpMEK0SCueXXhSfQLPN_6ObMKig-b4cB-d1w6hMrLGvYbxWZipGiPg/s1280/violets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEm4fd37W63grQ1zrS1oIiW_dIZ_XDPTXkYUgMOBmQ9xHzAKdz5wcCsWsK_A_0Xm84aDdH60mNSHbcZdXFTCsAE2FVmT42aHOPwwelZseAE_APUmenA2aNBtTWHLFpMFNCpMEK0SCueXXhSfQLPN_6ObMKig-b4cB-d1w6hMrLGvYbxWZipGiPg/s320/violets.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It's still too chilly to plant the garden, but we did plant strawberries. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnXhxIybLy5XTI9uzemKYTqqtnC-1-1CSCBKutsDIqBpYMfiIx7t-PpFKPnhp5Kt-nu2P1JiU5aof917hDI7YSlUdt5XOio5MwPVxeFBl73cWC5mGkKv1_beArRcanuG2bfMhKIUsR4uizJck8YzWcPvX0OA4HHRq6aHMm0oCaoKdDhJE_0wgbQ/s1280/strawberries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnXhxIybLy5XTI9uzemKYTqqtnC-1-1CSCBKutsDIqBpYMfiIx7t-PpFKPnhp5Kt-nu2P1JiU5aof917hDI7YSlUdt5XOio5MwPVxeFBl73cWC5mGkKv1_beArRcanuG2bfMhKIUsR4uizJck8YzWcPvX0OA4HHRq6aHMm0oCaoKdDhJE_0wgbQ/s320/strawberries.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I also put fairy lights on some of the trellises and plotted out my flower gardens and outdoor seating areas. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I planned my outside summer fetes, picnics and galas - drew out my guest list and seating arrangements in my head.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Planned the menu.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">When I went to market last week to shop for the mercantile I bought 2 of everything. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">One for the shop.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">One for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Yes, spring has definitely sprung</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Now, if only the temperatures would cooperate.</span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-18321717076104258442022-03-27T17:26:00.002-07:002022-03-27T17:26:41.683-07:00Coming May 3rd....<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3uPZ-n6hWh6hzIqsFGpzrBT7i_3rzVAB4xYSp5FI-8FOCQG4mY9yFQwtdkNh114MDus-_K_e5ojyIh9dEG8TqS1tV261Kb3T8sB1LK32xZ9uw0Iotw-NgVc96i6ss9K93k7b8XR9P1bAyYUWHE5nE_KXTcLFyWuuZg3lHj54YDoYN0tpwHSmLw/s526/HD%20logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3uPZ-n6hWh6hzIqsFGpzrBT7i_3rzVAB4xYSp5FI-8FOCQG4mY9yFQwtdkNh114MDus-_K_e5ojyIh9dEG8TqS1tV261Kb3T8sB1LK32xZ9uw0Iotw-NgVc96i6ss9K93k7b8XR9P1bAyYUWHE5nE_KXTcLFyWuuZg3lHj54YDoYN0tpwHSmLw/s320/HD%20logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It has been a major adjustment returning to our hometown after 42 years. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Not gonna lie...after all those years in big cities, and the last year living on a tropical island on a beach, to a secluded farm in the middle of nowhere near a town of barely 3300 has been tough.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">So, I did a thing. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I decided to open a store based on my novel </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">"The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It's even going to be located in the building in the same town where the story takes place.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'll have clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor, furniture, candles, Amish canned goods, coffees, bumper stickers, tea towels, mugs, soaps. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But the best thing is I will also have a pie bar. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">The bar will seat 6 -8 people, and then I'll have 2 tables. A slice of pie (with ice cream) and then a choice of coffee, iced tea (sweet or unsweet) or soft drink.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">'The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe' is my second novel and is currently a finalist in the 'Screencraft' competition.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Angel Christo, one of the directors of my first movie, is the screenwriter. We find out results April 20th.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Either way - being a finalist is a pretty big deal and I feel truly honored!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Anyway, projected store opening date is </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Tuesday, May 3rd.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"> I'm almost finished with my 3rd novel </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">'Murder in the Mercantile' </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">which is part two in the Hillbilly Debutante' series.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLlLG_GX9NyZW48N2lQGQ6TwANN9DsWXckW5VeIY7UF3ysaj6RwRdcXfCKKbw9Sp1KctZZGBhPIcxkGv3jH_mSg-yiN6CzLpCiFX0xckasSbuCfQ9bKi96uVpqXg_vzZ-zIF4QfKcBnauzMIHMFV_xjWGYBwTL8gvoJTR3LEcjMH2NJrdzT2HOg/s701/BOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLlLG_GX9NyZW48N2lQGQ6TwANN9DsWXckW5VeIY7UF3ysaj6RwRdcXfCKKbw9Sp1KctZZGBhPIcxkGv3jH_mSg-yiN6CzLpCiFX0xckasSbuCfQ9bKi96uVpqXg_vzZ-zIF4QfKcBnauzMIHMFV_xjWGYBwTL8gvoJTR3LEcjMH2NJrdzT2HOg/s320/BOM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Opening a business - especially in a small downtown that was once thriving and is now dead - is no easy feat. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">People think I am crazy and sometimes even I wonder if I am. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I've always wondered what it would be like to bring the fictional business I created in my mind for my book to actual fruition.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I've had soooo many people tell me this will never work.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">That no one will ever want to come to this town or that this town won't support a business like this.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I even had a friend tell me a few weeks ago that I was wasting my time and money - that not one person would step through the door.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Well, he's wrong - I know at least my mom and dad will come. That's two people, so there!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-9709417255383948002022-03-11T10:39:00.003-08:002022-03-11T10:40:09.639-08:00How Kathie got the name Hillbilly Debutante<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ThO1XgOptOQ" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ThO1XgOptOQ/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-90510902897139492062022-03-03T19:50:00.005-08:002022-03-03T20:25:28.580-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Can you believe it's March?!?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I have absolutely no excuse for not writing other than </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">laziness, plain and simple. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">First of all, I hate winter and it contributes 1,000% to my laziness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1mAbNQ2P4rVX5l2mDFoiT_Z9s2gYX4zNkzwX-5yvUjUdUku4J_hrMn-M6GiYyMsqYwRfmImrbTe9rdlAPbDn5oTK-oN0FLufmPAxXlXV262KKhqtShA4QSToKzQBLliSDTqcGR53Mb5P_WxKWP0InHLrw9GPhgzvOW4E_YcS29lsTEN3oX2C4bw=s701" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1mAbNQ2P4rVX5l2mDFoiT_Z9s2gYX4zNkzwX-5yvUjUdUku4J_hrMn-M6GiYyMsqYwRfmImrbTe9rdlAPbDn5oTK-oN0FLufmPAxXlXV262KKhqtShA4QSToKzQBLliSDTqcGR53Mb5P_WxKWP0InHLrw9GPhgzvOW4E_YcS29lsTEN3oX2C4bw=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div> Willow watching it snow on the prairie<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">That seasonal depression is real and it didn't help that we were ill prepared. We donated all of our winter clothes to charity before we moved to the Puerto Rico, sooooo needless to say we have been cccooold.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">The only coat I have and I mean the ONLY one?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">A long mink.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Yep, I have been feeding farm animals and mucking stalls in a fur coat.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Our ancestors sure knew what they were doing when they used animal fur to make coats.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Not one drift of wind penetrates that coat. So, the mink with a ski cap and leather gloves and it's not all that bad.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But still....I know I look kinda weird doing farm work in a mink coat. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I don't care - I'm warm.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Lillian and Willow, on the other hand don't care what the weather is - they are loving their new life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8fhuNGul5660zoRLk0QSRLG5XHo7vGPfrqBKv9VWa03jmaIvxQacmvBPS88EC6d4I4R7ugpnIJp5GnRjBBztVXgoqqtGUUiIQJUVwfEcAFqiCp7rOJru9QydfTMyqP-jRkNtFUB_647M9qEcUw8yYv6chYAg_3tfFKHV9AdCGTBvdK4qUQqdEKw=s701" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8fhuNGul5660zoRLk0QSRLG5XHo7vGPfrqBKv9VWa03jmaIvxQacmvBPS88EC6d4I4R7ugpnIJp5GnRjBBztVXgoqqtGUUiIQJUVwfEcAFqiCp7rOJru9QydfTMyqP-jRkNtFUB_647M9qEcUw8yYv6chYAg_3tfFKHV9AdCGTBvdK4qUQqdEKw=s320" width="240" /></a></div>The girls enjoying a 76 degree day today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Do NOT let their cuteness fool you. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Please.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">They are always up to something and it's usually no good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">They've been sprayed by a skunk, not once, but TWICE this week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">For the record, tomato juice is WORTHLESS - unless you're making a Bloody Mary - because i</span><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">t does NOTHING to get rid of the skunk smell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">Yeah, all those stories about bathing</span><span style="font-family: Lobster;"> </span><span style="font-family: Lobster;">dogs in tomato juice when they've encountered a skunk - all lies. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">(Baking soda mixed with dish soap</span><span style="font-family: Lobster;"> WORKS).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Before we moved to this farm we stayed at my mother in laws farm.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">She had 22 outdoor cats.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">When we left she had 9.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">NINE!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Lillian and Willow - guilty.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We inherited 3 cats when we moved to our farm.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">2 of them ran away and found a home at the farm just south of us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But one brave cat stayed. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">She is pitch black with the most beautiful green eyes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Her name is Blackie.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikBK4Hbgjk93z6AWUf94J3Vg2MPZOddu7CCQQyuYHPhE7294JctihQH1TPcHEIOvU_JL9zrRPkE7G1GSY_8nS3qqYYxKNyht6J8mSHrOd-FA0uT46vSjZb5CtLvV9hPNx7MXd-zUTxCBuhjYhlyI3mIKEoKeYXq05KpEheLWNlUnE0eEzBjvXAdw=s701" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikBK4Hbgjk93z6AWUf94J3Vg2MPZOddu7CCQQyuYHPhE7294JctihQH1TPcHEIOvU_JL9zrRPkE7G1GSY_8nS3qqYYxKNyht6J8mSHrOd-FA0uT46vSjZb5CtLvV9hPNx7MXd-zUTxCBuhjYhlyI3mIKEoKeYXq05KpEheLWNlUnE0eEzBjvXAdw=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(showdown at the OK corral)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">This here, my friends, is a stare down.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Cue western music.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Blackie is daring Lillian to come after her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">(she is very close to shelter, so she's not in danger)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Anyway, I was so proud of Lillian. When I thought she'd charge after Blackie, I'd say,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">"No, Lillian. We need cats here. Let's not chase her.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">She did sooo well and then SHAZAM! - Willow bounds out from nowhere and of course then Lillian just had to give in to peer pressure.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It's okay - Blackie made it safety. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We'll start the coaching process again tomorrow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Pray for Blackie. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-73425847637355164612021-12-22T13:07:00.001-08:002021-12-22T13:07:05.761-08:00News from the Farm<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Things have been absolutely crazy hectic here. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">All of our belongings arrived from Texas to the </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Little House on the Prairie</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">a week ago so I have been unpacking and trying to figure out how to fit 3200 square feet of belongings into 1200.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Yes.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We have downsized.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'm not eager to show you the interior until I have everything sorted and put away, but here are some of our sights from the outside:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We are waiting for our 'Little House on the Prairie' sign.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh88InCpHGVCu2oCQ2L8IazuIIRJCHqNC3Ye8-JH9YvdPT2IYBDhkhcGeKlsCi9qEWdjFF9kxm0OL0ph8LLxNjuJnb36P2CE1Qp2atRuete192K9eycZIaog3M0NZMVYHci7gM31_OjVcdTA_CVllBy7fK5QfVtqoT7HXKRn9OdhfgROuspzAKngw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh88InCpHGVCu2oCQ2L8IazuIIRJCHqNC3Ye8-JH9YvdPT2IYBDhkhcGeKlsCi9qEWdjFF9kxm0OL0ph8LLxNjuJnb36P2CE1Qp2atRuete192K9eycZIaog3M0NZMVYHci7gM31_OjVcdTA_CVllBy7fK5QfVtqoT7HXKRn9OdhfgROuspzAKngw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I spend almost every evening with my hiny parked here on the bench watching the bright, brilliant sunsets.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDzsC2oHMQYcH647MdxFmCjSeCURjPZJJewjMMxoPsg0GX5kqO5VFDBQflW2ls95Fy1AVnTr8fAMCTxK4lmrlx30H0SyTI4ORWPQnvdfFMmYsuAqCsXGpf_pTq9K0hAAF1JC_0AcL2Zwy9WO61-0QOhW8o5mmkSBcUFfAEqmgmd_lwlFZpE14fWw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDzsC2oHMQYcH647MdxFmCjSeCURjPZJJewjMMxoPsg0GX5kqO5VFDBQflW2ls95Fy1AVnTr8fAMCTxK4lmrlx30H0SyTI4ORWPQnvdfFMmYsuAqCsXGpf_pTq9K0hAAF1JC_0AcL2Zwy9WO61-0QOhW8o5mmkSBcUFfAEqmgmd_lwlFZpE14fWw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I spend a lot of time wandering around my future garden, dreaming of spring planting and summer vegetables.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3eYXKGObDfSV9LsW0iCQRPsoGLuEyFkxYPWOjNq6OtpXtwdc7q0Z1KIxx3Nc49k5r-RTzyKI2lbtYpGCXXfajd0nh3zKrH_OEfkTGeA0dPWNkaN4eFR8rcVIt6JyPKcRT6pfM5GKl3l0SN_BAWQrd7UH9lVZRSrKyIavWJIewI4VKdVc41S0lKg=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3eYXKGObDfSV9LsW0iCQRPsoGLuEyFkxYPWOjNq6OtpXtwdc7q0Z1KIxx3Nc49k5r-RTzyKI2lbtYpGCXXfajd0nh3zKrH_OEfkTGeA0dPWNkaN4eFR8rcVIt6JyPKcRT6pfM5GKl3l0SN_BAWQrd7UH9lVZRSrKyIavWJIewI4VKdVc41S0lKg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We rescued this little girl -</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdaM_e4yh5PZ-t1g-ebhHfNvn10-fFlczfEgCjG3Xo5uCr9fg1-Iw9TL2N1aXpfsZ-AVJtfIYZTjz7jQI-zYEFgyFYBZo5gpq1lgAibxZO3Fa1mqC7Fvr4uHz9aMi8ki-z9RW4dIa8A6xIenMUPmFOSMcu310lOuVGqJ0JCvmrS0Wsk4bR5GL7yw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdaM_e4yh5PZ-t1g-ebhHfNvn10-fFlczfEgCjG3Xo5uCr9fg1-Iw9TL2N1aXpfsZ-AVJtfIYZTjz7jQI-zYEFgyFYBZo5gpq1lgAibxZO3Fa1mqC7Fvr4uHz9aMi8ki-z9RW4dIa8A6xIenMUPmFOSMcu310lOuVGqJ0JCvmrS0Wsk4bR5GL7yw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">and named her Charlotte.</span></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;">In the meantime we also celebrated 40 years of marriage and can you believe that during the celebration we didn't get any pictures of us toghether??? I'm so mad!!</p><p style="text-align: center;">What were we thinking?</p><p style="text-align: center;">I guess we weren't - we were having too much fun seeing friends we haven't seen in so long.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But I do have a great picture of me with my son.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwbNUCN6inzxuiXoXLfndPSPzWMLwYDTcV930WERIeDc1nmCjAWhWxA8s89qZjSTBTh9ypaA_sp1HhgAUbihqpz_QbjsdqArhxEFaLpmNmFeFLe8pTu7QscDxUwPEmXCUoCyP6-bvp1bAP04s1mxTnqwJ2UNVfLAtUHAuBs7HNj3vrUHMkuHLF0Q=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwbNUCN6inzxuiXoXLfndPSPzWMLwYDTcV930WERIeDc1nmCjAWhWxA8s89qZjSTBTh9ypaA_sp1HhgAUbihqpz_QbjsdqArhxEFaLpmNmFeFLe8pTu7QscDxUwPEmXCUoCyP6-bvp1bAP04s1mxTnqwJ2UNVfLAtUHAuBs7HNj3vrUHMkuHLF0Q=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It's an awful picture of me, but I love it because his smile is so beautiful. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We were looking forward to a house full of little ones that week, but one of my daughters little ones broke a leg, so they weren't able to join us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was disappointing because as you know, that time together is oh, so precious.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know some of you are scratching your head about the last post.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">More on THAT next time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kathie</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-35306513585546708692021-12-16T09:20:00.000-08:002021-12-16T09:20:13.808-08:00Coming soon!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4KpvSeyc4M73U18EUfLN4BPm0dkGo6ZBd9I1H6G7pE3O58bF_PRe1_67kHFyCOEG323q0oEmd0TXYf_eNtjk9U51_vAuF-A2goiei4S8Rgjjv_JIO0gIUD0yYsgCFl9S4kJiM8FRiwcNoY7R0J5t9dvAcQXTFAmllxk6sox1F9Gh_dBc-WVCv-w=s1154" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1154" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4KpvSeyc4M73U18EUfLN4BPm0dkGo6ZBd9I1H6G7pE3O58bF_PRe1_67kHFyCOEG323q0oEmd0TXYf_eNtjk9U51_vAuF-A2goiei4S8Rgjjv_JIO0gIUD0yYsgCFl9S4kJiM8FRiwcNoY7R0J5t9dvAcQXTFAmllxk6sox1F9Gh_dBc-WVCv-w=w640-h640" width="640" /></span></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-51910549029298140112021-12-15T12:40:00.006-08:002021-12-15T14:45:51.064-08:00Beautiful Sunsets<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;">I'll <strike>swear</strike> swan</div></span><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">(that's a word my grandma used a lot)</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ7-euaS-9yB8aYYtxjAcF52nU1dZFEXkO5qkYFvxxEQl2BcZBh7Cl0oZTpvPcRqlK13fh580XaESGkA6U8QmZIacmutVAReBEuxowW9r172LTnSVbqMUQsf86Aj12l0v0Qnbf9mhudQhXHPmMaL71om6gLQRmiE4SXRgi9zAxA_qjnC0Nv4HJrg=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ7-euaS-9yB8aYYtxjAcF52nU1dZFEXkO5qkYFvxxEQl2BcZBh7Cl0oZTpvPcRqlK13fh580XaESGkA6U8QmZIacmutVAReBEuxowW9r172LTnSVbqMUQsf86Aj12l0v0Qnbf9mhudQhXHPmMaL71om6gLQRmiE4SXRgi9zAxA_qjnC0Nv4HJrg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We have the most beautiful sunsets you will ever see...right here on this prairie.</span><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8UYZZOkEJI7zFJAV4tr1QmLf-BbMG5B0NwAO0XdWhNgTC9aibBO_WPBFSA_rBuRqYSIXQ8FF-y8mV44yqjI7tdxPZNDub0sVMonJ__fbjv8Pin26hSLDRJ4V-bE6P-hNDtP9SrVRrdse_RFADlDda2QtHf20sPTMMtqsFe-7iq3lX5jVddrpbcg=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8UYZZOkEJI7zFJAV4tr1QmLf-BbMG5B0NwAO0XdWhNgTC9aibBO_WPBFSA_rBuRqYSIXQ8FF-y8mV44yqjI7tdxPZNDub0sVMonJ__fbjv8Pin26hSLDRJ4V-bE6P-hNDtP9SrVRrdse_RFADlDda2QtHf20sPTMMtqsFe-7iq3lX5jVddrpbcg=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"> </p></blockquote></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-28905003108038532482021-11-04T09:04:00.005-07:002021-12-15T12:47:02.014-08:00Little House on the Prairie<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I knew this moment would happen.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">This morning I woke up to 32 degrees and frost. Do you KNOW how long it's been since I've been this cold? Brrrrrrrrr</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">What's worse is that I have very - and I mean VERY - few winter clothes. </span> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">(When we moved to the tropical island I thought we'd be there forever! Silly me!)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">'Oh cool! Time to shop, right?"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Well, yes and no.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Normally, I'd see this as an excuse to shop, but remember-</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'm living in an RV, which means 'no extra space'.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">None. What. So. Ever. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">(Yes, I know 'whatsoever' is one word. I did that strictly for dramatic pause. )</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But guess what?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Our RV days are numbered.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">In a few weeks we will be moving into the most DARLING little farm house EVER.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Behind this little house with brick corner posts and red tin roof</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">are 41 rolling acres (with a fish-filled pond).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Out our front door and across the gravel country road lies hundreds and hundreds of acres of conservation land - </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I mean, y'all - this literally IS a 'Little House on the Prairie'.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I don't have pictures to show you right now, but here's a brief description:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">There is wallpaper EVERYWHERE. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Every single room.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">It's outdated. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But you know what?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I don't care!! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">We both LOVE the wall paper - it gives it a 'lodgy/cabiny feel - and we're not going to change it.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">The house sits east and west, and while the sunrise is mostly covered by hills and trees, there is absolutely nothing in the way of those brilliant sunsets.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">At night it is so dark that the stars twinkle like fairy lights.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">And it's SOOOOO quiet.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Where we are now is quiet, but sometimes you can hear those big iron horses in the distance. But this place is so rural that the only trucks we will have are feed trucks - and only during the day. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'm not sure if we will be 'up and running' by Thanksgiving, but most definitely for Christmas.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">The bad thing is I sold almost everything when we moved to Puerto Rico - but the good news is I'll get to start over.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Nothing makes me happier than 'setting up house'.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">Counting the RV - this makes our 36th house in 40 years - so I'm pretty good at this by now.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">I'd never be so bold as to say this is our last house - </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">But hopefully this is a place to let our gypsy souls rest-</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">at least for a while.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">------------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: x-large;">'All who wander are not lost'</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-74554371834852158432021-10-28T18:41:00.005-07:002021-10-28T20:03:04.835-07:00If only I had a piano....<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I love this quote I found on instagram. I didn't write it but wish I had've!)</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Someone: You're SO dramatic!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Me(with a rose between my lips, throwing glitter around, dressed in evening wear during the day, draping myself across a piano: </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><b><i>"I have no idea what you're talking about"</i></b></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JDuCwbAl6PxxO04YGMboZZbWXlqXCqUgAe7M4GY-V_tzlnCqzqDSpmPNGyYs9G-scmjomPPzBcI0wJUXzWWNUGxM2PGkGdUJYpOegnK1zMnVIZtKIBm8bDkOAc2EshIAEDFA4r80/s2048/couchtutu2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JDuCwbAl6PxxO04YGMboZZbWXlqXCqUgAe7M4GY-V_tzlnCqzqDSpmPNGyYs9G-scmjomPPzBcI0wJUXzWWNUGxM2PGkGdUJYpOegnK1zMnVIZtKIBm8bDkOAc2EshIAEDFA4r80/s320/couchtutu2.png" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">(relaxing after a speaking engagement sponsored by the University of Oklahoma)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">AAALLL of this is 100% true</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">....except, I don't have a piano. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nohcCVY21tkbOf4kBRAAvyVJlMqatWH-GQ_JtzBO6YgIMXmo-FXI3UJKZCeXrhhV0xM3tFRdFraYTWiq9cK7Lyn-r_I3RxhSRJ1M4qjF-fbZCY_qF7h5jSqqQok8KJ0k8c-3Yk8M/s1280/pinkduster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nohcCVY21tkbOf4kBRAAvyVJlMqatWH-GQ_JtzBO6YgIMXmo-FXI3UJKZCeXrhhV0xM3tFRdFraYTWiq9cK7Lyn-r_I3RxhSRJ1M4qjF-fbZCY_qF7h5jSqqQok8KJ0k8c-3Yk8M/s320/pinkduster.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Lillian and I out strolling around the farm)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">I have been creative and over the top imaginative for as long as I can remember.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Example: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">As a 3 year old I became a frog and - naturally - would only answer to </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><b><i>'Froggy Baby'.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">At age 5, I at least became human and demanded to be called </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">'<b><i>Danny Boy</i></b>'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">About 7 or 8, I believe I decided to become a girl, which was wonderful because all during my childhood my grandmother had a section of her closet dedicated to me for dress up - dresses, sweaters, and nightgowns that with the help of gloves and her marvelous costume jewelry, transformed into beautiful evening gowns in which to stroll around the kitchen waving at my<strike> adoring fans</strike> my grandmother.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">As I got older my creativity morphed into what I could etch onto pen and paper - pages and pages of plays, stories and mini-sagas almost all revolving around a young heroine and her horse.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">At 13 and 14 while my friends were noticing boys and of course boys noticing them (and not me), I found a new love - the stage!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Ahhh - I felt so alive with the costumes! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">The makeup! Oh...don't even get me started on the makeup!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">I was such a plain-Jane, but underneath allll of that caked-on foundation, teal blue eye shadow, red rouge and layers of mascara I felt BEAUTIFUL. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">For the first time in my life I actually felt beautiful - so much so that I wore my stage makeup after a play on a date. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Needless to say that was also my LAST date with that particular boy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">(Can you imagine what it must have been like for a teenage boy to ride around with a 16 year old looking like a drag queen?)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">To me, makeup and clothing is 'art', which I love even more than writing - <i>please don't tell my agent I said that.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">When I call myself 'plain' please know that I am PLAIN AS DAY - pasty white, no eyebrows, no eye lashes, no lips - absolutely nothing distinguishing about me <i><b>at all</b></i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">I once even walked bare-faced past my own father in the grocery store and he didn't notice me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><i><b>My own dad!!</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">So, when I say makeup is my ART - <i>makeup is my</i> <i>ART</i>! And my plain, white-as-a-sheet-face is my canvas. I love to watch my features 'come alive' every morning as I paint! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Yes, I know natural is the trend..</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">But I couldn't give two-hoots about trends.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><i><b>I do what I like!</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">However, as much as I love cosmetics - CLOTHING is my NUMERO UNO art medium.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> I live, eat, sleep and breath clothes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">The only thing BETTER than clothes are ACCESSORIES.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: courier;">All it takes is one hat, one belt, one fabulous piece of big, oversized jewelry to transform my world</span><span style="font-family: courier;">!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Case in point - see below:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-UAal5zJj2f_5sv_XvD5n0lFmKgIxiu5510yMEWKD9hVM35tarWgyrQKVdpNxD0U1CeGL5Oc03ZQwnclFCwZAYgy3GQRw-tw4jVeiRUb1wY2vkPjgwPjq79hzqX60bHMnRaKs05-/s2048/IMG_3927.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-UAal5zJj2f_5sv_XvD5n0lFmKgIxiu5510yMEWKD9hVM35tarWgyrQKVdpNxD0U1CeGL5Oc03ZQwnclFCwZAYgy3GQRw-tw4jVeiRUb1wY2vkPjgwPjq79hzqX60bHMnRaKs05-/w360-h640/IMG_3927.PNG" width="360" /></a></div>(long day spent at home reading by the fireplace)<br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">When kids came along and husband had a career in Washington DC, I put away my 'weirdness', otherwise known as 'myself', so as not to embarrass anyone. Kids can be so cruel and I didn't want my children to be known as the 'boy/girl with the weird mom'. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">So, I dressed to 'fit in'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">But once everyone was out the door and I high-tailed it to Texas I went back to my art.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Now...the 'down-side' to being me is that people mistake my love for the unique as 'attention-seeking'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;">Sorry, but I don't dress for anyone else.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;">I only dress for me and how I feel and who I want to be each day. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-large;">I look like this everyday - even when I don't go anywhere. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">The pink tutu above? I may wear it on a Tuesday to pump gas, or my black tutu </span><span style="font-family: courier;">(I'm famous for my tutu's)</span><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> on a Wednesday to get groceries, but Honey - I also wear it on any given day just to walk </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">around the house. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">I have also been known to wear one just to go outside to feed livestock.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">At home and in the barnyard there is no one to show off to except the cattle, the dogs and the donkey - <i>and an occasional coyote. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">So....if anyone thinks my weird, funky outfits are for them? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Nope. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">It's all for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">And YES - sometimes I DO wear evening clothes during the day.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLluTF6GUNUzC0U7zt9hyOfI_H6WnSA4oKC3SNHHxTF0idt2Xx0yGCrF__o5osPGJFcXKpguVpiXSb6Tb-D92KqE6vV49SHpvCsO8y-Hi8y8IZa8qP5ZuI7tgKey6bOk-bv7fSTfDg/s2048/sparkly+skirt.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLluTF6GUNUzC0U7zt9hyOfI_H6WnSA4oKC3SNHHxTF0idt2Xx0yGCrF__o5osPGJFcXKpguVpiXSb6Tb-D92KqE6vV49SHpvCsO8y-Hi8y8IZa8qP5ZuI7tgKey6bOk-bv7fSTfDg/w360-h640/sparkly+skirt.PNG" width="360" /></a></div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Because my feeling is that life is too short, and if you want to wear a sparkly evening skirt with cowboy boots while you drive your husbands truck to the post office than you should just do it. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Now before I close this out -</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Question: Which font should I continue to use?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Left or </span><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">right?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> </span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-91953055153422251802021-10-21T14:55:00.018-07:002021-10-21T15:06:01.552-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I wish one of y'all would tell me how you feel about this font...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I love it, but not sure how easy it is to read. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Anyhoo - it would be great to hear from you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It has been a whirlwind past few months. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Yes, we are still <strike>living in a van down by the river</strike></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">living in an RV behind my mother in law's garage.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">On most days I'd tell you it's really not bad....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">and then other days I could - and have -cried.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"> I love, love, love being back on the farm. I love being out in the middle of nowhere - especially after dark. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">We have the clearest night sky and the brightest, twinkling stars I've ever seen in my life. I'm telling you - our sky rivals anything I ever saw in Texas - or even in the Caribbean.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jFAP2kP3AZAA0sSFg6zNZCYBP82JCLNOhkJB_kiegIw6zJIrAlFRzl3AIVqw8CkYQGMhpohVzrAgS-II2ZkqYDt50QHDvd-kT7-O9Pye8mihJNpAAf2saLYu26PoIe7j7LPCciWG/s1280/LillianandWillowgolfcart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jFAP2kP3AZAA0sSFg6zNZCYBP82JCLNOhkJB_kiegIw6zJIrAlFRzl3AIVqw8CkYQGMhpohVzrAgS-II2ZkqYDt50QHDvd-kT7-O9Pye8mihJNpAAf2saLYu26PoIe7j7LPCciWG/s320/LillianandWillowgolfcart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"> Lillian and Willow are living their very best life. No more pink golf cart rides, but for the first time ever they can run free without leashes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Terrorizing the cats.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Barking at the old bull.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Running from the donkey.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">At night they are EXHAUSTED.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Life is so good, yet.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Eventually, I'm going to need a house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">-----------------------------------------------------</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">About my other job: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8n4MOMzvgIFP0EhWyhdkEYwxtckCc2eGQJjhBhugBnD6xDbIRgGlpRxS825i9_y7gvTcYxkTIGXXCNsQoR4lzf9nK_krcDQB99ymkyVaygJ5qB-2I5aEeUNvSrFziYlFE91kJTYk/s500/The+HD+cafe+book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8n4MOMzvgIFP0EhWyhdkEYwxtckCc2eGQJjhBhugBnD6xDbIRgGlpRxS825i9_y7gvTcYxkTIGXXCNsQoR4lzf9nK_krcDQB99ymkyVaygJ5qB-2I5aEeUNvSrFziYlFE91kJTYk/s320/The+HD+cafe+book.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I had a meeting with the writer of the Hallmark Movie, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">'Coyote Creek Christmas' and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">another meeting with one of the directors of my first movie who is also a screenwriter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I sent 'The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe' to both so now it's a waiting game.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Speaking of that....I'll be opening a shop based on the cafe in the book and will even be in the same building:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">The Hillbilly Debutante Mercantile and Pie Shoppe opening May 3rd in downtown El Dorado Springs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Til next time....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcrJY6BfuWSEr1d9MZvuoahAOWGW-9CFZsw373u-Hadv82YzHQSWseViyrSO4jup440sUMWBX7MjqOZqF6vMk8-2SPdJgPjzovWehdLOY_xk15k1SZpiLFvwxpRdetVXPhybx-ye9/s1280/pinkduster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcrJY6BfuWSEr1d9MZvuoahAOWGW-9CFZsw373u-Hadv82YzHQSWseViyrSO4jup440sUMWBX7MjqOZqF6vMk8-2SPdJgPjzovWehdLOY_xk15k1SZpiLFvwxpRdetVXPhybx-ye9/s320/pinkduster.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-28516989447402786422021-10-04T14:30:00.017-07:002021-10-21T12:01:56.012-07:00False Victim and The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Here's where I give you a very short spiel about my books....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">'False Victim' </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">is a true story about something that happened to us when we lived near Washington, DC.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCGfqotrFEc_HGmCQJkhppFWu7DEPqwEqC9D9LmXZpKLgeIKJs1X2NixLz6D9hrVMOIBjdH5YXLH05INYvQ_JK4OPmlYtlNW7p6uRB6VKvsBg4LBbU2_kXHPI32DtYvg1ed1ketk6/s499/falsevictim.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCGfqotrFEc_HGmCQJkhppFWu7DEPqwEqC9D9LmXZpKLgeIKJs1X2NixLz6D9hrVMOIBjdH5YXLH05INYvQ_JK4OPmlYtlNW7p6uRB6VKvsBg4LBbU2_kXHPI32DtYvg1ed1ketk6/s320/falsevictim.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It was featured on Investigation Discovery and in 2020 became a Lifetime Movie</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">"The Neighbor in the Window'</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">in which they took a looooot of what I'll call 'creative liberty.'</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">My very favorite book that I've written is this one right here:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNydjlCPDE1f8Yk66_lfOd4uLPF2hGPnEwCmvX5sbVrw0dKrbvsyI5HpnzDTD-aoCdeJP0drtbhEUZdofmCEyI3HwioERWZDxIbNy6MAJUKj1hpi3A0w2VbB5IMuSFCy423APP2Mju/s500/The+HD+cafe+book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNydjlCPDE1f8Yk66_lfOd4uLPF2hGPnEwCmvX5sbVrw0dKrbvsyI5HpnzDTD-aoCdeJP0drtbhEUZdofmCEyI3HwioERWZDxIbNy6MAJUKj1hpi3A0w2VbB5IMuSFCy423APP2Mju/s320/The+HD+cafe+book.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It was sooo much fun to create and write.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It is a completely fictitious story that takes place in my hometown of </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">El Dorado Springs, Missouri.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It's also under contract for movie rights, although my contract ends November 1st.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It made the finals with Netflix and then was dropped.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">(I'm guessing Harry and Meghan got my budget - kidding.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I'm crossing my that it will get picked up by someone else. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Anyway, now you know...I write books.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Kathie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-71317269196387848452021-09-28T20:03:00.001-07:002021-09-28T20:03:44.849-07:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>'Blow up your TV....</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>throw away your paper,</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>move to the county</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>And build a home.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>Plant a garden...</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>Eat a lot of peaches....</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>Try and find Jesus</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>On your own.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>----John Prine</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkxI2eSewu4sXH5TQRKelWcFGj3PdaZwBo02v7XWBK1DMQGf0V8mVyDMCgCb8JqATC5-Gj3aZLeeTyMYV9XaxYWiPV_gTvR0vJe8f-A_eIR79Fr2eSn8VPJIMePH4VVS26m5sQHTA/s1280/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkxI2eSewu4sXH5TQRKelWcFGj3PdaZwBo02v7XWBK1DMQGf0V8mVyDMCgCb8JqATC5-Gj3aZLeeTyMYV9XaxYWiPV_gTvR0vJe8f-A_eIR79Fr2eSn8VPJIMePH4VVS26m5sQHTA/s320/sunrise.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-56283893481228356752021-09-28T19:51:00.004-07:002021-09-28T19:51:55.342-07:00Lillian and Willow<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">So, if you're gonna hang out here then you need to know about </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Lillian and Willow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Willow is the dachsund - a gift from my mother-in-law, and Lillian is my prized Scottish Terrier. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJobV5yKZf2Vz1Eh4DEI5Bp6K7iDw39wq8FcnyIRh92beNq1xFQmyDYxtRhnhihi-enPmL4yt5ldyLflRd-02Q7krhZ9xT6omwkcOmbtPgFkDYoHvbptgvm4y863u1Z_cuOYST48AE/s1280/LillianandWillowgolfcart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJobV5yKZf2Vz1Eh4DEI5Bp6K7iDw39wq8FcnyIRh92beNq1xFQmyDYxtRhnhihi-enPmL4yt5ldyLflRd-02Q7krhZ9xT6omwkcOmbtPgFkDYoHvbptgvm4y863u1Z_cuOYST48AE/w300-h400/LillianandWillowgolfcart.jpg" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I try not to have a favorite, buuutttt...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I have wanted a Scottish Terrier since my husband worked at the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">White House and came home every day telling me 'Barney' stories. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Actually, I'll never forget the time I had lunch at the WH and saw Barney outside taking a dump while his very own Secret Service held onto his leash. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">No, I'm not kidding - a man with a black suit, black sunglasses as stiff as a board holding the end of Barney's leash while he pooped - I mean, you KNOW that isn't what that SS agent had in mind that he'd be doing when he went to 'Secret Service School.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">But anyway - years later I now I have my very own Scottie and while she doesn't have her own security detail she is definitely the star everywhere - and I mean EVERYWHERE we go.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Walking through the airport with her is like being the ugly stepsister. I could literally walk around naked and no one would notice. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">People oohh and ahhh, tell her she's beautiful and take pictures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I swear she understands what's going on and KNOWS she's beautiful and eats up every bit of attention.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Unlike most Scotties, she loves people. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">All people - even children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Except me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">And she ignores me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It's weird because I have never had a dog that did not absolutely love me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Then there's Willow.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">What I'm lacking in love and affection is made up ten-fold by her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">She is always at my side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">If I'm travelling she won't eat til I get back.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">She follows me everywhere and is always underfoot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">She even sleeps close to me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">My husband jokes that she'd nurse if I let her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">These two are as different as night and day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Willow loves the farm and spends her day roaming the barnyard and pastures. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">We go for a walk every morning and every evening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Lillian likes to be outside for a little while and then trots up to the main house and barks for my mother in law to let her in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">She's very prissy and not crazy about the walks as you can see by the picture below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TDOSfBAHBCHfsZEHKMU_Q_JWpa20ML9fecTAJ2vtOT3_lLTy6LYo8s4vNL8NQwSefeTSHDXcVaZeu6w4Z1I8n7IvxXVo_IcRDFJElEs3OoSzk57vZLRC6a0yT-Oz0L7s3yJwc_ab/s1280/walkswithdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TDOSfBAHBCHfsZEHKMU_Q_JWpa20ML9fecTAJ2vtOT3_lLTy6LYo8s4vNL8NQwSefeTSHDXcVaZeu6w4Z1I8n7IvxXVo_IcRDFJElEs3OoSzk57vZLRC6a0yT-Oz0L7s3yJwc_ab/w300-h400/walkswithdogs.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Can you see the little shadowy figure up ahead?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">That's my Miss Lillian.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Do you have animals that bring you as much joy as these do for me?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I'd love to hear about them!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Kathie</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-86058980232885337672021-09-26T16:02:00.000-07:002021-09-26T16:02:55.623-07:00'Don't be sad that it's over....be glad that it happened'<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">As I gazed out at the ocean one last time before leaving Puerto Rico</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">I was reminded of the Dr. Seuss quote...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">"Don't be sad that it's over...be glad that it happened."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4EFXsXnTbbC_W3OFHTfLPN5x3OrtUFahbT3gBPsWiohFanGcC9VDM9y4sL-g8njrtFnGCpsan-fBNQPduvKa83qIf9bWI9MhwR3ji7QA6OyzMiNAIbcJKG8z7EbR7Wh9dijKDU_e/s1280/DrSeussquote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4EFXsXnTbbC_W3OFHTfLPN5x3OrtUFahbT3gBPsWiohFanGcC9VDM9y4sL-g8njrtFnGCpsan-fBNQPduvKa83qIf9bWI9MhwR3ji7QA6OyzMiNAIbcJKG8z7EbR7Wh9dijKDU_e/s320/DrSeussquote.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster;">And I am so very glad.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">This was one of the best years of my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-11006022594729289112021-09-12T16:58:00.004-07:002021-09-12T17:00:50.625-07:00I Dunno...Do you think this too orange?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuvL6Q22dvYpOS7QUi-H-ktwmnNJCn0ruzFKIN613vMhElCe32vLejviMmzeaMTKJzQCnab9jYPkn6QYd4r2vcw50GG-8OZwW-Hxcl2DlUWte5R00tgReciLW8DAUOVmO0azkr1Kt/s1280/Dixie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuvL6Q22dvYpOS7QUi-H-ktwmnNJCn0ruzFKIN613vMhElCe32vLejviMmzeaMTKJzQCnab9jYPkn6QYd4r2vcw50GG-8OZwW-Hxcl2DlUWte5R00tgReciLW8DAUOVmO0azkr1Kt/s320/Dixie.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Years ago when I was living in Alexandria, Virginia near Washington DC, I traded my Mercedes Benz for my horse/barn fees for one year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">(Long story. You don't wanna hear it.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Then I purchased a 1991 beat up rusty (she was beautiful) Chevy Suburban for a mere 1500$.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I named her 'Dixie'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">In a land where everyone fancied themselves to be 'rich and famous' and needed to prove it by what they drove.....I felt so FREE in that mess of a vehicle.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">(And I almost was free when my husband came home and saw what I'd done...but once again, you really don't wanna hear that story.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Anyhoo.....now, that I'm back on the farm I wanted another Dixie. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I'd love to tell you I searched 'high and low' but in this day and age of social media all I had to do was put the word out and within minutes someone sent me a photo of her in a marketplace ad.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It was love at first sight and I knew she'd be mine no matter how she ran!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">(I have a great mechanic)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">And yes - I'm leaving the orange!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG1n_wFGcxWzAzNaygMoxgiRBHUm5hOT0v9rcoFVgL5KDjv4qjt6QPtyJFjxD6h9840hL5w-iWiRhb8G9qMCtLVAMzlVBdBR6fXku5H3HQGtxd50_DWJYkYFfqr-saS0bhU7uv1e8/s1280/Dixie+Deaux.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvG1n_wFGcxWzAzNaygMoxgiRBHUm5hOT0v9rcoFVgL5KDjv4qjt6QPtyJFjxD6h9840hL5w-iWiRhb8G9qMCtLVAMzlVBdBR6fXku5H3HQGtxd50_DWJYkYFfqr-saS0bhU7uv1e8/s320/Dixie+Deaux.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Of course the visits to the gas pump are going to be pretty painful - especially when I'm use to just filling up the golf cart (my transportation in Puerto Rico) for 10$.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICUMvcOHmLkQTbpstD6vpYi4JUip38xFLTlrKpxQ2ic1VEUG8bMvFOR5KeRtgTHVj6xgj4iGcawCojIvQX4rPiZOVZqWjm-wuLMzhNaPmr8zTlfMOCL68NE6tSSPMmF0dGSf54zPS/s1280/DD3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICUMvcOHmLkQTbpstD6vpYi4JUip38xFLTlrKpxQ2ic1VEUG8bMvFOR5KeRtgTHVj6xgj4iGcawCojIvQX4rPiZOVZqWjm-wuLMzhNaPmr8zTlfMOCL68NE6tSSPMmF0dGSf54zPS/s320/DD3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">We picked her up this morning and drove her straight to Doug - our favorite mechanic. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">She has a few things that need to be worked on.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I'll be headed back to Puerto Rico to pack up our things, so she will be ready for me when I get back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Her name? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><b>Dixie Deaux</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I'm looking forward to a lot of fun treasure hunts and junking expeditions with her. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">In the meantime, feel free to recommend a place I can shop for cool seat covers! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">til next time...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Kathie (and Dixie)</span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-53090351413717323702021-09-10T20:46:00.030-07:002021-09-11T20:12:06.571-07:00Plot Twist!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Lobster;">'Plot Twist!'</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">That's my go-to phrase every time something in life doesn't go the way as planned. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Sooooo.......</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Forget everything I told you earlier about living it up in the fun and sun on the beaches of Puerto Rico.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It was fun while it lasted, but back to reality earlier than expected.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Here was the original plan: to be in in our hometown of El Dorado Springs, Missouri from August to October -Just long enough to escape hurricane season and the unbearable humidity. Then, October 1st we would head back to the island to for more fun and sun and then move back here permanently in July of '22.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">As you know life can change in an instant - and it did.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">When we got back here we realized that our family needed us so we decided to move back earlier. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">So...I've traded in the beach life for the farm life. </span><span style="font-family: Lobster;">And you know what? I'm not really sad about it. I mean....I'm sad to leave the friends I've made - and I have made some good ones. But, the truth is....I've felt the tug of home for quite some time now. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">We need to be close to Jay's parents, but also wanted to give them their privacy. So rather than move in, our daughter and son-in-law so graciously gave us their travel trailer to live in while we plan a home build. We are thinking construction won't even be able to start until March or April. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">It's a great RV and we are ever so grateful......but two people in such a small space is going to be a great challenge.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Did I mention two people in such a small space is going to be a challenge?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1_ZAtePgJJexoERbK0mI_e6CNNHerdar6V2BMd4OZo8cMH_DAuZq-MnIepchK40ItQDyNqed305SfKURL7c4ZlqJnlf7PafqgsicOxTwtbwc3U9GYl_CMO8Kr8ySrGdwZH2hLW2S/w225-h400/trailer+on+bench.png" width="225" /></span></div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">But we're determined to make the best of it. We are gypsies anyway - this is our 35th move in 39 years. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"> </span><span style="font-family: Lobster;">And much to the embarrassment of our kids, we've decided to name it 'Love Shack'. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDsI0q6hQMfi1ZyxjBV_w3H3beJ9j0hrPUZo0QxJmpnjg_FyotRMKFGXZ5u1lcp4T7UJZ0uYnKAC6aq6FR6pBpp62ndmUVelc36GtSquux6AeOMOy_Wu5IqFs5KzH5uNARgZg5mXz/s1280/trailer.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDsI0q6hQMfi1ZyxjBV_w3H3beJ9j0hrPUZo0QxJmpnjg_FyotRMKFGXZ5u1lcp4T7UJZ0uYnKAC6aq6FR6pBpp62ndmUVelc36GtSquux6AeOMOy_Wu5IqFs5KzH5uNARgZg5mXz/w225-h400/trailer.PNG" width="225" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">Sing it with me.. 'Love Shack, Baby, Love Shack....a little place where we can get together......'</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">In the meantime, my morning is spent feeding cats - my neighbor has 42. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Lobster;">Nope. </span><span style="font-family: Lobster;">That's not a typo. The dude actually has 42 cats, which breaks the stereotype of the 'crazy cat lady'. He's a middle-aged handsome man. A pilot. He just likes </span><span style="font-family: Lobster;">cats. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">And women. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">I know what you're thinking. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: large;">And yes - he's single. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8NSup8oBh4mw1VLVsTrGR3KrfXeH9B2nNt6JTcUA6e4dJ6t_hyphenhyphenTW_m4Xx8RhxVd5U6ebQ-jNxJ9rbEM88L7mvnSb_cLrd0YJN9Shu9mk5Fjn80H13qRRKW8dW2BhAVysMFn5u3eY/s2048/feeding+cats.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8NSup8oBh4mw1VLVsTrGR3KrfXeH9B2nNt6JTcUA6e4dJ6t_hyphenhyphenTW_m4Xx8RhxVd5U6ebQ-jNxJ9rbEM88L7mvnSb_cLrd0YJN9Shu9mk5Fjn80H13qRRKW8dW2BhAVysMFn5u3eY/w225-h400/feeding+cats.PNG" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Told you I knew what you were thinking. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've also invested in the obligatory farm boots. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's back to being conscientious of copperheads.</span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aOa5ZCUqpNOBkVhyBckC3Gf6zVLnVXCbU9VlbP6iKBjJ3wOMLTOX1rfF3czpvWp-XR-O6R2MmBjJVeNJyhoSBYXC-eOJtvSz5POkkOSS70TUvyokc9KzH_4zU0e1xE-pFxTPn4JV/s1280/rubberboots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="961" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aOa5ZCUqpNOBkVhyBckC3Gf6zVLnVXCbU9VlbP6iKBjJ3wOMLTOX1rfF3czpvWp-XR-O6R2MmBjJVeNJyhoSBYXC-eOJtvSz5POkkOSS70TUvyokc9KzH_4zU0e1xE-pFxTPn4JV/s320/rubberboots.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not being paranoid, either. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have an overabundance of cicadas and copperheads looovve to feast on cicadas and since the trailer is parked in the absolute middle of nowhere and I have to be out and about all hours of the day and sometimes night....Ima gonna wear the boots.</span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I am so glad to be back in El Dorado Springs - pronounced El DoRAYdo </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(NOT El DoRAHd0)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">where I am close to my parents again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Old friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peace and quiet.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Jay and I were kids and talked about marriage I always thought we'd stay and the farm, raising animals and babies.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now that we've traveled the world and the babies have babies of their own, here we are back on the farm. </span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's a lot to do here to get this place where it needs to be, but we are excited to do it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can't wait to share it all with you. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a few days I will be headed back to our home in Puerto Rico to get things packed and bring back to the farm. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It will be a chance to say my 'see you later' to friends I hold so dear.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please join us on the new venture. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or is is ADventure? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kidding...I'm SURE it will be an ADVENTURE!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Til Next Time...</span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kathie</span></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Lobster; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Lobster;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-34584101027700412612021-08-13T18:28:00.083-07:002021-08-13T18:54:46.745-07:00Let's Get Caught Up!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, what have I been up to for the past 7 or so years, you ask?</span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">Well, wow...where in the heck do I start?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> As I mentioned in my last post, I up and moved to Texas back in June of 2014.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've always loved Texas. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I bought a run-down fixer upper, fixed her up, added beautiful landscaping and built a pool. I thought I couldn't be any happier until I stumbled upon another house and fell in love.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This house was perfect.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She was named Rosebud Cottage due to the over 30 breeds of Roses. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in between that time I parted ways with my publisher (I've authored 2 books) and decided to publish with another house.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This worked out well because the first novel needed re-editing something awful.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once I re-edited, Lifetime purchased that novel and then I sold the other novel for movie option, as well. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Let's save all that for another time!)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, back to Rosebud Cottage -</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh my, how I loved that house. I truly thought it was my forever home...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOwVgjpd8YpHaSo8DEDJvkDvjhjw37ZPKyoOkG0d8QBdMOLYG_07gwjG8au_IS5_e5jUo4tqccJvULBcn73jV82Ms4JJX1XuQ4DMM-DDqXaNTe7Xmicw5h6kDmPdJ2ZRXprHptS4u/s960/rosebuddiningroom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOwVgjpd8YpHaSo8DEDJvkDvjhjw37ZPKyoOkG0d8QBdMOLYG_07gwjG8au_IS5_e5jUo4tqccJvULBcn73jV82Ms4JJX1XuQ4DMM-DDqXaNTe7Xmicw5h6kDmPdJ2ZRXprHptS4u/s320/rosebuddiningroom.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but then....</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">chalk it up to us being crazy, gypsy, ants-in-our-pants kind of people, we decide after a 5 minute discussion(no, I'm serious - after only FIVE minutes) to up and move to Puerto Rico.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why, you ask?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> Let's just say we decided to follow my husband's mistress. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is a picture of her.....</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OmoTSYhtgB2NiqvuF3stLxawaIOKDaCcT9Hp0QXU9skAwLrvrK0ohU4cLUba2aLRA-6EBpAv1Y9G5PK36JgDrE_3ZgFytIjqVpYqbPF9vm28TuCsZH-XRSqcXJqDQPZMjfYM-YGu/s1280/beachphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OmoTSYhtgB2NiqvuF3stLxawaIOKDaCcT9Hp0QXU9skAwLrvrK0ohU4cLUba2aLRA-6EBpAv1Y9G5PK36JgDrE_3ZgFytIjqVpYqbPF9vm28TuCsZH-XRSqcXJqDQPZMjfYM-YGu/s320/beachphoto.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Isn't she lovely? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And while I wake up at 5:45 each morning to this beautiful sunrise out my window:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4LMazlkpUI0nizDrXw5fesDJffft2EQ0f3jSMGyK65R9xo4be7aBHuWIGe_qdSwV__aveRNP6aW46ezRGgeQqe6WgoC5Ipv49dJMxzPVd4oIND3KnVUAdI_w_D4d1H1WCbLpzUD8/s1280/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4LMazlkpUI0nizDrXw5fesDJffft2EQ0f3jSMGyK65R9xo4be7aBHuWIGe_qdSwV__aveRNP6aW46ezRGgeQqe6WgoC5Ipv49dJMxzPVd4oIND3KnVUAdI_w_D4d1H1WCbLpzUD8/s320/sunrise.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">(this picture does NOT do it justice)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I still very much find myself homesick for my small Missouri town.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I grew up in the small town of El Dorado Springs, Missouri.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's actually the basis for my novel </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">'The Hillbilly Debutante Cafe'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But more about that later - remember I'm still tryin' to get you all caught up on my shenanigans the past few years.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, while in Texas, for the first time ever I experienced age discrimination, decided to NOT take that lying down and became an influencer for women over 50 -</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(more about that LATER, as well).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not gonna lie, folks - THAT WAS THE MOST FUN JOB EVER!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whew!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That should do it, but feel free to ask questions. I am sure I've left things out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8818307011333905849.post-91161191951285956602021-08-12T19:46:00.003-07:002021-08-12T19:58:49.896-07:00Where in tarnation did the name 'Hillbilly Debutante' come from?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ThO1XgOptOQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="ThO1XgOptOQ"></iframe></div><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, y'all...for starters, this is a resurrection of a very old blog.</span></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">I originally started 'Hillbilly Debutante: Musings of a Country Girl Stuck in the City' in the spring of 2008 when I lived near Washington, DC.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My husband worked in politics (still does) and I felt like a fish outta water in that den of iniquity some call the Nations Capital.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I used this blog as a way to kind of make fun of myself as I adapted to a very fast-paced, formal, uptight way of life. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One day, after my last little chick left the nest, and Hubby and I were tucked in for the night, I announced:</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I love you, but I hate this place more. I'm headed to Texas."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next day I loaded up my cowboy boots, clothes, Merle Haggard Cd's and a black lab named Sally and headed cross country to the small city of Rowlett, Texas.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Those 7 years of Texas were some of my happiest.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, one day.....Hubby says "We love Puerto Rico. Why don't we move there?"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And that's how I found myself living on the ocean in Humacao, Puerto Rico.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've followed the old blog, and you've followed me on Facebook and Instagram you KNOW there is a LOT more to this story....</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">but, alas...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THAT's for another time.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></blockquote><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5