Dare we?

Dare we discuss fashion?  How about we  just give the guys a 'bye' today

 and do as we please.

I saw busy leggings like these all over Amsterdam last month, and I wasn't sure about them until I saw this exact pair at Urban Outfitters...  This isn't the way I would wear them, but they could be kinda cool and versatile.

And just because I can't get enough orange in my wardrobe, I probably need this Columbia half-zip jacket.  I love the half-zip, even though it might be a men's style.  I am equal-opportunity when it comes to outer wear.

Of course, I feel the need to add a pair of boots to my collection every year...  not sure if these are the ones, but they sure are cute!

It is so difficult for me to stay away from things like this black and white dress.  

Just can't help it.

These little shoes are just darling, but I would need a non-blister guarantee.  

I seem to have blister-prone feet.

Just some of my fashion faves this week!

Dare we?

My First Football Saturday

Woo hoo!  It's finally here!  The day that I can turn the TV on at 9 AM, watch my favorite food shows, then flip over to college football game after football game all day long.  And I can't wait to do exactly that.  The most pleasurable thing about it is that my first and favorite game is televised on FOX Sports!  Thank you, Lord!  Those evil espn people can't interrupt my game watching today -- at least, not unless I switch over there and want to watch one of those games.  And I can turn down the volume -- 

I've done it before.

Our game is away today, so I had to go back to the archives to find a good representation.

My family makes so much fun of me because I can watch almost ANY game, and I can justify it.  You want to know why I am cheering for that team or against that team?  Ask me.  There is a perfectly reasonable explanation.  I have been a football fan ever since I can remember.  Saturdays were college, and Sundays were pro.  That's all we had.  As I recall, the Cowboys (Dallas) were always televised, and Roger Staubach seemed invincible.  Now, with practically every game televised somewhere on cable or satellite, I prefer to choose my teams based on players and coaches.

Last year, we caught up with the Browns in Dallas.

And that was so much fun, a few weeks later, we went all the way to Cleveland to watch them again.  We took in all the sights and enjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  They wouldn't let us play these guitars, that's why we are playing the air guitar here.

Enjoyed good company from home the night before the game...

This is a warm up team shot, but they came away with a win, and we all celebrated.

We enjoyed seeing them again and meeting new friends after the game...  
Christina introduced us to chocolate cake shots, 
and I didn't think I was a shot girl.  Thanks, doll!

                                                 Good times if you're a football fan.

I love nothing more than a great reverse or double reverse play, or a super long field goal.  Kicking looks extremely hard.  I have such respect for the guys that make it look easy by doing it over and over.  And that kicking game is the same thing that has made me a relatively new soccer fan.  Talk about athletes.  Non-stop running for 90+ minutes.  But that kind of football is a story for another day.

My First Football Saturday

Autumn Is Coming

It's the time of year that is super busy at the farm.  Fall must be getting close.  Mike says it is cooler in the mornings, I just take his word for it -- I see no need to exit the house at 6 AM.  As we prepare for winter, wheat must be planted, and this is always a huge undertaking.  The guys try to put the wheat in the ground at the most opportune time.  When and if we get moisture, the wheat is put in at exactly the right depth to take full advantage of that blessing.  Sometimes that means working 24 hours a day to get it done.  Let me say, usually that means working 24 hours a day to get it done.  Not me.  I am far from a stellar farm wife.  The extent of my farm and ranch duties is kept to a minimum by management.  It's best that way.

This whole week has been one breakdown after another for the guys, and the wheat planting that was supposed to have started last week has yet to actually set a seed in the ground.  In an effort to boost morale and possibly keep the guys working, I took lunch to the field today.  (Between the occasional meal delivery and bookkeeping duties, I wouldn't say I am an integral part of the operation.)  Guess I haven't been out there in a while... the road was newly paved!  No potholes, cracks or washboard areas.

The bluestem grass is green and, with the moisture we've received, is thriving.

The front of this picture is a dry land field ready for wheat to be planted.  Non-irrigated crops are always a crap shoot around here.  

This looks to be an irrigated field, and it also appears to be ready for planting.  Like I said, the ground is ready, the weather is prime -- the guys just keep having delays.  Such a bum deal.

No matter how much does or does not get done, it is not for a lack of trying.  Here, Mike shows how he multi-tasks.  I didn't even ask what was going on...  I suspect he could get in some sort of trouble if the authorities caught him with this set up.

Here is Clare, head of ranch security, high on the perch of the sprayer, just getting some fresh air during a break.  Every day is a good day for her.  I give her credit for keeping morale high whenever she is present.  Everyone loves her.

Autumn Is Coming

Empty Nesters

Some of you are, and some of you are not empty nesters like we are.  It's funny how things went from constant movement, not chaos necessarily, but something was always happening or about to happen or just happened -- to quiet busy-ness.  It's hard in the summer months, but we find ourselves wishing for a bedtime that gets earlier and earlier.  I can go almost a whole normal week at home without doing any laundry before anyone notices.  The worst part is the quiet.  The best part is flying by the seat of our pants.

Most evenings we like to be on the back porch... unless it is hot.

This is an example of unacceptable back porch weather.

But our puppy makes us want to be back there.  In late spring, this was her posing in the backyard.

After weeks of wrestling and growing, this is how she acts with Mike.

And this is how she acts with me.

Hey, sometimes you have to be prepared to share unflattering photos of yourself.  You can't see it, but she just bit my face.  Clearly, I did not take this of myself.

Clare holds her own with her sister (?), Kimber, the Vizsla.  And we are easily entertained.

I posted pictures of her last week, and she has grown quite a bit from these early photos.

Most evenings while she burns off any extra energy left from her hard day at the ranch, I watch and laugh.

Okay, so I have to defend myself as she has grown...

We enjoy a lot of these.  I don't mean to brag, but it's hard to beat the big sky sunsets that we have here in the middle of the country.

Empty Nesters

I'm Blank...

After weeks of travel and excitement, I am drawing a blank.  Don't get me wrong, there is plenty to be done.  Work surrounds me, laundry continues to pile up, I don't think I have ever completely unpacked from any of my trips -- not whining, just coming down off of a few months high of excitement all around me.  I cannot think of a single subject that I could write about that would interest anyone.

What I most want to accomplish seems overwhelming.  I would love nothing more than to get my closet, bedroom, and bathroom all whipped into shape.  Every drawer, shelf, corner -- is a disaster.  I know the problem.  It's just too much stuff.  Stuff I may not need... but I might.  How do you know?  Yesterday a friend was telling me about how you are supposed to pick a date, like January 1st, and turn all your hangers in your closet around backwards.  Then as you wear items and launder them, you place them back in the closet the correct way.  After a period of time, a year, or 18 months, you look at what you haven't worn, and you get rid of it.  Okay, so that's just one little portion of the mess I have.  I suppose you have to start somewhere.

We have the same breakdowns and repair issues as does everyone else who owns a house.  It is ongoing and never ending.  The ice maker, a separate plumbing problem, an unfinished basement -- when the lists get long, my motivation wanes.  Is this a season?  Am I old?  What the heck?  And when the list is long, my creativity sure doesn't flourish.

Here's what I do.  I put on my headphones, and I piddle.  Sometimes I accomplish things, sometimes I don't.  I excel when it comes to excuses.  Really good at that.  Tangents are my specialty.  Need help justifying something, call me.  

I'm the answer girl.  

Fix my hair?  Why?  I am just going to sweat my brains out at exercise class 

-- nah, I'll do it later.

Cook dinner?  Nah, we ate a late lunch.  

Besides, I'm not very hungry after sweating my brains out.

Sit my lazy behind down on the back porch in the evening and play with darling Clare?  Heck, yeah!  Requires little effort, and she loves me no matter what.  

Plus, you know what is in my hand.

How ridiculous is this?  I am looking forward to beauty week -- where with a minimum purchase, you get a bag full of free samples, etc.  All the cosmetic brands have special deals of their own, and usually free shipping...  I am weak, so weak, in this area.  

Sept. 11th online, later in stores.  Email me if you don't know what I am talking about and need to know.  :)

I'm Blank...

Personal Information

Okay, not that personal, but here are a few tidbits you may or may not know 
about me....

My favorite color is ORANGE.  These aren't the only reasons, but two programs I follow wear orange.

I have a strong loyalty to Apple products.  My iPod is always in my purse.  I can zone in or out anytime I wish.  Word on the street is that a new iPhone is coming September 10th in Apple's big announcement scheduled for that day.  They also have new mobile and desktop operating systems developed for release soon.  Best Buy has had some unbelievably great deals when you trade in your old iPod, iPad or iPhone on the purchase of a new one.  It's worth looking into...

I wish I had more time to read.  By the time I can get a book open, I am drifting off to sleep.  But I could spend hours in a place like this.

Lip balm?  Yes, please.  Need one in every room, in every bag, in every vehicle, at every desk or place that I sit.  I am completely vulnerable if I get somewhere and don't have something for my parched lips. I usually prefer fragrance-free, but am open to trying new ones, and of course, anything will do in a pinch.

Handbags and purses are my biggest shopping weakness.  

Actually, bags and totes of any kind.  

There is no such thing as too many, is there?  They serve different purposes...

Not even going to post pics here.  

Oh, and I always forget to put on perfume.  Why can I never remember that?  

You know that an onion has many layers.

Personal Information

What Not To Wear

This weekend we attended a lovely wedding.  I have always enjoyed weddings.  In fact, you may or may not know that I have helped with lots of them over the years in a "wedding planner" capacity.  Living in a small town, this is not a viable way to make a living -- so it's something I have done because I delight in it.  At last count, this hobby has been with me for almost 33 years.  Yep, you could say I have almost seen it all.

The wedding this weekend was as much anticipated as the celebratory atmosphere surrounding it.  My kids were in it, as my son and my D.I.L. were members of the party standing up with the couple.  My D.I.L. looked beautiful, and my son cleaned up pretty well, too.  My hands were full, and I didn't get one picture of the two of them.  Am I a great parent, or what?

Okay.  I had this pale pink suede sleeveless dress that I had been saving for just the right occasion.  Here we were at Labor Day, and I hadn't worn it yet.  Even though it was 100+ degrees outside, I thought I could get by with it.  We were in an air conditioned church, it was partly cloudy, and I had even seen some lightning on the horizon.  So I decided to bust it out, and I left the spanx at home.  I knew that would just be too much for a hot-natured person like me.

Yeah.  I'm pretty good for the first hour, but then regret sets in.  For me, once I am hot and actually break a sweat, it's like the point of no return.  I was a mess for the rest of the evening.  But that didn't stop me from having a good time!

Today, I decided to go on an internet fantasy non-shopping spree to see what might have been a better choice considering the temperature yesterday....

I found this cute little number, but my legs don't quite look like those...  

would that matter?

Sometimes when it's hot outside, I just don't want anything touching me. 

I feel like this looks like every dress I own.  I'm kind of boring that way.

And then just about the time I decide I am boring, I think, oh yes, I must have that dress with metal studs all over it.  I kinda want to be a biker chick, 

but I don't really care to ride the bike.

Okay, this is how you know it's time to stop.  Shopping A.D.D., if you will.  This would not be wedding appropriate, unless it was a summer wedding on a mountain in Colorado, and the guys were wearing jeans and boots.

Good grief, is it really September?  Oh my.

What Not To Wear