Here, Gramma

"Here, Gramma - this is for you, for your fridge. She's a princess, like you - she is very pretty".
Carley

Priceless.

Let Us Pause For A Moment...

...and look at these photos... especially John Prine, October 31st - with the cowboy hat. It's Rodeo Time!

http://www.billallenphotos.com/

Wowville!

The Falls

What a beautiful picture - The Falls - located about 12 miles up the dirt road from where we reside.

Geez, we have lived here near four years and still have not went to see the falls.

Photo Courtesy Of: Our Seasonal Neighbor and Family.

Happy Birthday, Noisemaker

Noisemaker is having a birthday today, he turns 63. 1946 was a good year - Noisemaker was born and so was John Prine!

I was up early this morning baking lemon pies for Noisemaker, he likes cakes but has preference to lemon pie!

Noisemaker, Noisemaker
You have no complaints
You are what you are and
You ain't what you ain't
So listen up buster and
Listen up good
Stop wishing for bad luck and
Knocking on wood

John Prine - Dear Abby

My Deer Friend

My seasonal neighbors home. They asked me to take some photos of the pine beetle tree that has beem taken down on their property. Accordingly, I did. I rounded the corner and I came face to face with my deer friend. We startled each other but I, in my way, started to yap right away. All these animals know my voice. I told her, you pause for me and I will take your photo.

Happy Birthday, Bill

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm laughing like hell
'Cause I'm younger than you

Have a Happy Birthday with many more to come!

Sammi Smith

One of my favorite female singers of all time, Sammi Smith. She had a voice, that I am certain could do the duet thing with John Prine.

My favorite Sammi Smith song is not Help Me Make It Through The Night - it is

Ten years ago on a cold, black night
Someone was killed near the town...

Long Black Veil.

I also like the song A Toast To 45, I sing that on a regular basis.

She Wayloned, Willied, sad she did not Prine.

The Clock

For some years now, I have been working on making a pine beetle (our gift to the USA) clock for the next time I meet John Prine. It was my intention to make
1 - One Red Rose
3 - For A Quarter
6 - Six O'Clock News
9 - Nine Pound Hammer

I purchased some fishing rods tic tocks - the arms that show the time and I already had a ticker.

You can see from the formation of the wood how this would work. Actually, it was the noisemaker who took the fancy to this piece of wood. I had told John Prine married up to a fine lady from Ireland. Hence, he thought of the clover. A five leaf clover, it is my belief, it the utmost good luck.

He cut the slab, I sanded and varnished it all up - made it look like what you see in the picture. Can you see the formation of 1 to 12 - the hours, I am making reference to?

I understand that John Prine is not accepting anymore gifts, he has enough. That is ok, I just wanted to share.

Share, I will ~ you know, when I get my picture taken with John Prine - 09.10.16

oh yes, the christmas lights you see in the picture - yep - we keep them up all year round.

To Those Who Follow

Seems like much is brought to my attention today. This damn bug bite has near driven me over the side of the mountain, it is better today. After I slit the pocket of puke to relieve the pressure, it is much better. The Johnson and Johnson bandaids do not work for me, seems like I still have an allergy to the glue. I went on to my home remedy and it is working. A bit of cotton batten, some Polysporin, and a tensor wrap. I can actually move all my figures. I can do wood!

When I post a new post here - to the folks that follow - what happens? Do you get a big ding, ding, ding, like you have hit the jack pot in Las Vegas? teehee, maybe I should follow myself and then I would know.

*sings, a very nice song - Steve Goodman - Would You Like To Learn To Dance ......and all you have to do is follow*

A Slip

The other day, a friend of mine made reference to me as being 'a slip of a thing'. It got me thinking of slips, slips of lingere kind. I own a black full, lacey slip and a half slip. I have not worn a slip in years - do they still make slips - why was the slip invented in the first place?



Razzle dazzle on Marilyn in her black full slip.



Personally, the only kind of slip thing I wear is what I call an undershirt to which I purchased through http://jpshrine.org/ .

I slip through the tulips . . . . .

My Mom

It will be ten years ago tomorrow since my Mom departed. She was a good Mom, she treasured me and loved the spunk I have. Two days prior to her departure she called me up and said to me, ok - I am ready to go, I am just getting the last of my ducks in order and here is what you have to do. Tell them folk no charity giving here, I want flowers and lots of them. The boys will not know where to look for the dress I want to be buried in so call them up and give them the instructions for all. Naturally, I did and the brothers got it all right, with the exception of one thing. Lipstick. My Mom always wore lipstick. When we went as a family to see her - noisemaker and I were the first to enter. I looked down at my peaceful Mom and thought oh god, the undertaker did not put her lipstick on. I said, oh my - noisemaker - go out to the van get my lipstick, I'll get the undertaker. I told the undertaker, she needs her lipstick -may I? He said, sure and asked me was I ok to do that? I replied you come with me - we will do it together and that I did not want my Dad and brothers to see her without her lipstick. We got the lipstick on, it was a pretty pink shade, it matched the pink in her dress. I knew she was pleased. The service was beautiful with laughs and tears.

I miss and love you everyday. Thank you for being my Mom.

Happy Birthday Charlene ~ Happy Anniversary

A weekend of celebrations for Charlene.

Happy Birthday, Charlene.

Happy Birthday to her husband, Bill and ~

Happy Anniversary Bill and Charlene!

Bugs Win

Geez, throughout the day in a competion which I know I cannot win; bugs win! I cannot fight with those heathens anymore than I can fight with cows, my fine neighbor, nor the noisemaker. I have simply had enough.

Noisemaker and the fine neighbor have had curse words, it threw noisemaker right into a spell, elevated his blood pressure. He calmed himself - the best he could do and stated he was going to the store. I asked a very simple question with a please...could you bring back to the abode a package of cigarettes.

He did not. Granted, folks - I have been trying and trying to not smoke. I have got myself down to six cigarettes a day. I cannot break the habit.

Long story, at my height (short) - Noisemaker went back to the store and bought me one package of cigarettes.

And, folks yet have some wonderment why I have flingers?

The Bugs Just Keep On Biting

Yikers, I took, yet again, another major bite - right on my nose and on my cheek. Lordy, I do not know what is biting me but it is sucking the blood near right out of me. My fine neighbor paid a visit; I thought to myself I do not have much blood left in me and what is left is being elevated by your visit. I came into the house with thoughts of making some sort of screen device to which I could place over my entire body so as then, I do not have to have anymore bug bites.

Oh the side of bright - 93 days to Prine! Y

Thanks

I am having quite the time with my scanning device and learning how to do it. The more I tend to it, the better off I'll be.

I would like to give a big Thank You to some very thoughtful folks, Charlene Stevenson, SkunkeyeJan, and my brother. These folks on a regular basis, think of me. They send me such great parcels, oh lordy - I just sit down and cry. I am on the side of emotional.

This week, I received from my brother, a copy of 'Uncut' (a magazine from the UK), that hunk of a Bruce Springsteen was on the cover and lord knows, brother knows - how much I like Bruce!

My next parcel was from Charlene Stevenson. Smucksville, she sends - tickle me pink - parcels. There is everything in there, a RedRocks t-shirt (you know she and Skunkeye went to see John Prine there), there is bug repellent, chocolate, M&M's, pendants, jello, postcards. A true delight!
With her parcels, well, I do not share - right away. I have to go through everything, put it all back in the box and do that 4/5 - then I can share with the Noisemaker.

Today in the mail - an envelope - SkunkeyeJan. Yep, new crossword puzzle book - this thing has everything! She sent articles on Neil Young from her local newspaper, and below is the fridge magnet she happened to find - by Anne Taintor - Another Day In Paradise..

I thank you all so much for thinking of me. I appreciate it. You are gems and treasures.

Countdown To Prine - Vancouver

I cannot find an appropriate countdown calendar for getting off the mountain side to travel to Vancouver to see John Prine. I could not wait any longer because, we are now only 98 days away. I am posting this and later on will, well - I think it is called bumping - I will bump it up, perhaps, I do not know - hahaha, I only bumped doing disco dancing!

We - meaning Charlene Stevenson and I. I think I mentioned previously, she will be flying into Vancouver and I'll be somehow getting off the mountain and there we will Prine on October 16th, 2009 at the Centre for the Performing Arts.

*she giggles, cannot believe her good fortune, and does the paradise wave* Y

The Saga Of The Toilet

I never know what is going to happen to me on any given day; each day brings a new adventure of some sort. Today it is the issue of the toilet. We need to purchase a new toilet - not that our toilet does not work, it works just fine. However, it is missing its' toilet tank lid. Noisemaker lifted up the toilet seat and kabooooom the toilet tank lid broke. Naturally, it near droved me over the edge looking at a toilet which does not have a toilet tank lid. I fashioned up a new lid, the best I could using an old blue carpet, looks like a lid is there and covered with a toilet tank lid cover.

I went to research purchasing a toilet. For the love of god - there is low flush, high flush, dual flush. There is different heights. Yes, I want to sit on a toilet and dangle my legs. There are toilets that you push a button on the lid to flush. There are toilets with the lever to flush on the side, on the front. Hell, there are even toilets that give you a gentle spray. Have mercy!

Generally when purchasing any item - take for instance a John Prine t-shirt. You pick it up, eye it and buy it. What do you do for a toilet - go to the plumbing shop/hardware store and sit on one? I hope when we go to purchase a new toilet, I do not spot one of those high level toilets, I am afraid if I try to sit on it, yep, I could well fall off my perch!

Happy Birthday, Chad

Best Wishes, Chad. I hope your day is as special as you are

May your eyes always have a gleam
May your mind and heart always love, and
May the gate of our friendship never grow rusty.

Happy 30th Birthday!

Ouch, I Fell Off My Perch

As with any other morning, I awoke early today and went outside to sit, have my coffee, watch the wildlife. I always put on my hi tops (rubber boots - protect my feet from all the bugs). After I finished my coffee and cigarette I went to walk down the steps, there are only five. My rubber boot heal got caught on the previous step and I went off my perch. Okay, that is fine - I regained and took one step, hit a rock and tumbled again. I cursed. I came back up the steps, into the house, made another cup of coffee and went outside. I sat there thinking what shall I do today and decided - ah - the poplar trees, I shall take a few down. Gathering up the equipment I need, I went on my merry way.

I picked a fine group of poplars, all that I thought would agree with me. They were not on the side of cooperating with me and my bow saw. I decided well, I'll hang on to them and break them. Mistake, that lil bit of an endeavor cause me to sway and I got flung from the tree and landed in the dirt on my back. I cursed again.

I took my tools back to the shed, placed them where I know I will find them again - sat down to calm myself. Then Noisemaker awakes. He comes out to see what the lil wife is doing, I said to him - oh my, I have fallen off my perch, several times and the morning is still young. I explained to him my dealings of the morning and commented perhaps I should vacuum today. His reply was could you wait until I have had my coffee...you seem to be on a dangerous roll of events today.

I heeded the call, rested, and then tackled the vacuum cleaner. Noisemaker went outside to continue on the logging. All went very well. I had not one incident with the vacuum cleaner. Then - my fine neighbor, Chris showed his face - he is in fine form. Good lord, it is not even 11 a.m. First of all he does not take off his shoes which made my blood pressure elevate because I had just flung that sucking the dirt thing all over the carpet. He needs to use the telephone - I permitted him. After his conversation on the telephone, I said - it is best you leave now because otherwise I will have to get my flingers out and toss one on your head.

He heeded. I went and had a cigarette - thought to myself, I must check my calendar. I did, it is 102 more days until I see John Prine. Suddenly the aurora of Prine flew around me, yep I could feel it. Then, there was Paradise.

John Prine - Vancouver

Oh my word, I became quite alarmed in the middle of the night, when I realize my friend from Madison, Wisconsin may need a passport to travel to Canada and to get back to her home. I inquireeee, everywhere I could and them that Prine Pendant Gal emails me and tells 'she was jerkin' my chain'. She has a passport, all is in order.

We're Prinein'.

Further more, if the miserable old fart that I am married to, cannot take me off the side of the mountain, I'm hitch hikin'. I am Prine-in, it is my last Prine chance.

I am an old woman, named after Brenda Lee
My brains will never be on a sidewalk,
I am 53
Come on baby, Prine with me.

Happy 4th Of July

Happy 4th of July to my south of the border friends.

Photo couresty of Bob, my seasonal neighbor taken last weekend, out by the creek.

Paradise ~ John Prine

The two pictures are of John Prine (fellow musicians) singing Paradise at Red Rocks. While John Prine is singing Paradise, SkunkeyeJan is doing her Paradise wave (geez, almost brings a tear to my eye). The far right photo is Charlene and Mr. Skunkeye.

Photos courtesy of: Brett and Janis Ferguson

Happy Canada Day

It is Bingo Night here on the side of the mountain. I bake for the bingo. Today, I made rainbow confetti cupcakes with white icing and red decorative sugars which my friend, Charlene in Wisconsin sent for me. I have some Canadian paper flags, sticks, tatoo stickers, and bookmarks for the kids - they'll love them! Happy Canada Day to All.