The Silly Goose!

I was thinking today how many times I have gotten myself in the most ridiculous predicaments one could imagine. Yes, I have and still do ...even though by now you would think a woman of my accumulated wisdom and maturity would not get into such situations- not so....

Take one summer when we lived in Indiana. It was a warm spring day. My then about 6 year old daughter came running in and saying a goose was chasing her. Huh? In a suburban neighborhood with no pond nearby? I go outside, and sure enough, there was a goose sitting by the fence of our home. What in the world it was doing there, I have no idea, but I suppose it could have had a nest or something nearby and was just guarding things.

I said, "Well stay away from it and maybe it will go away.." Next thing I know that goose takes off and chases my little girl and "bites' her on the leg. Ok, now that made me mad! I go, get a broom, and tried shooing it without hitting it. That goose didn't budge.

I thought about getting our new dog out and letting him chase the goose out of our yard, until I remembered our dog was just a pup, and would probably do nothing to scare the goose off. So, I go in and call animal welfare. Basically I was told I could do nothing to it, even though it was biting and chasing anyone who even so much as walked by. I didn't want to hurt it, I told them, I just wanted someone to get rid of it out of my yard. No help there, so I decided I would do things myself.

I brilliantly figured I could start up our push mower and chase it off the property by the noise and such. So... I started it up , started "chasing " the goose, and ended up mowing my entire front lawn and the goose went right back to his spot and sat down as if he were mocking me.... By this time, I was embarrassed and exasperated because the neighbors were actually coming out to watch the show.

It was then I remembered that my neighbor had two big old Bassett Hounds, (which never went for walks mind you!) and so I went to her door, knocked , and said, "Could I borrow your leash and use one of your dogs to chase this goose out of our yard? She gave me the leash attached to the dog and before I knew it, the dog took off like greased lightening. I actually lost my footing and fell, but I hung on like no tomorrow because that dog was chasing that goose and I didn't dare let go and lose the dog...my neighbor would have never forgiven me!

You know, that dog ran and ran and ran and I ended up going so far up into the neighborhood that it took me a while to walk back. I had to dig my heels in and almost sit to keep the Bassett Hound from taking me into the next town...

My face sure was red when I got back, from heat, frustration, from embarrassment at being the neighborhood clown, and the truth be known...from laughing at myself for being a cheap source of entertainment for the neighbors . The good news was that goose left and never came back, there was no nest to be found, and I made everyone around me laugh, so I was glad to be of some assistance, even at my own expense!

Things I Have Learned in Life

Every once in a while I ponder some things I have learned by trial and error, and also by simply oberving what happens to others when I see them doing something. Actually, I like the second better because I can feel less embarrassed because I didn't have to learn the hard way!

So, for now, I will post off and on some things I have personally learned while living on this earth...

1. Never call your mother- in- law "Mom", or she will think she is...(Of course, if you really need another mother, you can ignore this....)

2. Never stand next to a lit candle after hairspraying your hair .

3. Do not eat beans and cornbread with apple cider the night before you go on a long trip...you will never get there on time.

4. Don't wear a colored shirt when you are putting bleach into the wash water...or you will end up with a polka dot shirt-or two!

5. Pay attention to which cart is yours in a store..While in line at the store I once started sort of stepping up and down on the bottom bar to pass the time- and the lady in front of me gave me a dirty look and took her cart away from me...(oops, thought it was mine!)

6. People who think they know everything are annoying to us who do.

7. All the bad drivers seem to be out when I go somewhere ...

8. The only one who wants to attend my pity party is me, and that's no fun.

9. Money slips through my fingers like sand.

10. God REALLY does have a sense of humor.... just go to the zoo and see...or the shopping mall.... even church, sometimes!

11. Don't trust someone who says, "I can keep a secret".....

12. You can't buy what really matters in life

13. Remove the bones when making chicken and dumplings

14. When you don't know what to do, dont't do anything until you do know what to do. Do you know what I mean?

15. Be careful what you wish for....you may just get it and then you realize it wasn't what you thought...

16. Think long and hard before you say it ...words can never be retrieved, and people never forget. (I am working on that one!)

17. I need a bib whenever I eat out... I have the stained shirts to prove it.

18. Check your nostrils before a speaking engagement...

19. There will always be someone in your life who annoys you no matter where you are.

20. If something smells no matter where you go, check the bottom of your shoe.

That's it for now, stay tuned for more in the future!

Just a Few of my latest...

I have been trying to restock my shop, and I have been buying tons of supplies this month so I can go on a making binge...my goal is to post at least one new item per day, sometimes more!

Here are a few of my latest....

Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes

William Shakespeare

Madame Pompadour

I have a small army of naked clothespins all wired and ready to be designed on , now if I can just get myself away from the computer and get to work!

All that Glitters is not Gold

I have always found it very interesting how we look at people that are famous, glamorous, seem to have it all going on for them and yet if we only knew...

A lot of the time when I make my characters, I have to do research to find out more about this famous icon. I am always surprised by what I find in most cases.

Take Clara Bow for instance...



She was a very famous starlet in the flapper era, and looking at her pictures you see a young woman who from all appearances is young, beautiful. very rich, and apparently having fun. But after I read about her very tragic life, it made me realize how often people mislead themselves into thinking that what someone else's life has is better than theirs.


I haven't delved into the biographies of any well known person without thinking by the end of the book that I was glad I wasn't them! If one is rich, they seem to have to worry about how to get richer...or keep it all. If one is poor, they have to struggle with survival in paying bills and eating and everything else. Even being beautiful has it's difficulties... (not that I have THAT problem! :) You get critiqued for every zit, cellulite bump, sagging flesh or wrinkle that shows. Then you feel you have to shell out all kinds of dough to fix your perceived flaws to pretend to the world that you aren't aging or human in your flaws.

If someone is famous or rich, they are still not exempt from tragedies and illnesses, (as in the example of John Travolta or Patrick Swayze). The idolized are not all very happy, no matter what face they may show to the world . Every job or title that makes us think that a person has it made is simply not so. There are situations in every single life that are not to be envied.

Which is why I am content to have the life I have. It may seem typical, may be even humdrum to some, but I wouldn't trade it for anyone else. Do I have problems? Sure do! Do I wish for other things? Sometimes, but if I take a reality check, I realize that I really am fortunate in what I have and have no real reason to complain-(But admittedly I still do complain sometimes!)

As I look back over my life, I can see that things were being worked out during the not so good times and I didn't even know it - or think so at the time. And, while some things still don't make sense, I also know I don't know everything so I probably wouldn't understand the why of every situation even if it was explained to me. Turning to God in difficult times is my biggest source of peace... it really is!

A Chuckle a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

You know? It is pretty hard to feel too sick when you are laughing at something. Of course, when you aren't feeling so hot, laughing is much harder to do!





I am a person who must have humor in my life- yes, I know I have shocked you all by saying that, but it's true. There is a time to laugh, and there is a time to be serious- but to be honest, I will take the laughing times over the serious as being the most fun.


So, in order to perhaps bring a chuckle or two into your day, I have decided to sporadically post some funny things I have found from time to time, and hopefully, they will make you smile or snicker, or if that is too taxing, perhaps at least bring a weak and watery smile to your face.

(It's better than nothing!)


Things to ponder......

-People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who really do.

-A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you are in deep water...

-You know you are dieting when postage stamps taste good!

-Would a fly without wings be called a "walk" ?

-What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

-Why does your nose run, and your feet smell?

-Why is it we call people liars, but we never call people truthers?

-For as long as I can remember, I've had amnesia....



Stay tuned in the days ahead for more little bits of humor to be posted !

Why Do We Do It?

My older sister and I have had a lot of conversations about this...we both have to have some kind of creative outlet....




For her , it has been crocheting, ( you should see the beautiful mufflers and scarves that she does ), piano playing , ( she plays wonderfully ), running a used book booth , and her latest...learning to quilt. I received a quilt from her this past Christmas, and when she showed me another one she had made for a gift exchange, I talked her into selling it to me. ( I didn't want anyone else in the family to get it , you see.....)








Now the only thing I might be able to crochet is a string...and that is good for only a few things...dental floss perhaps, a string bikini, ( which would look really bad on me )... or as a reminder bracelet to help remind me not to crochet. As far as the piano goes, I attempted to learn twice in my life- and I realized I was never going to really get it. It simply wasn't where my talent was. Quilting scares me, so I haven't tried it yet, but I would be willing to bet it is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together..and I have never had the patience for jigsaw puzzles!


That being said, I do have my own areas of creativity. I have always enjoyed drawing pictures, painting, cooking , ( although my last two dinners have for some reason been what I deemed flops ), and of course, character creating.







I have found the older I get, the more my drive to find something to keep my mind focused on doing that which uses the fun side of my imagination.... and is in no way related to raising four teenagers, housework, and other assorted, annoying life circumstances. I think that is why most of us do artwork or crafts of some kind.



Even my husband nodded his head in agreement when we were talking about this very subject the other night. He knew what I meant. I laughingly said, " I have to do this to keep from going insane." I think that is why Hubby has been doing a lot of remodeling in our basement. With the job market being shaky for a lot, with the pressures of daily life, and all the other assorted surprises life throws, a creative outlet is a nice thing to take your mind off of things



When I go into the craft and fabric stores, they are almost always crowded . I think nearly every person has a need to create or design , even if it is related to building , art, working on a new idea to improve, writing, or just doing anything that is bringing an idea into tangible fruitation.



No matter who you are, I bet you have a special God given talent for making or doing something that sets you apart. We all do, and to me that is what is fun about trying new things. You never know what hidden ability lurks beneath and what will happen when you start doing it. Look at Grandma Moses, she was really old before she started painting, and look where it led her!



Your creative side may seem dormant, but if you dig deep enough, you may be surprised at the creativity that comes out if you give it a try!

50th Anniversaries..

I sure do admire it when I hear about couples who have managed to make it through all kinds of marital weather and hit the 5o years mark. I have watched them and wondered who put up with who in order to do so!

Now, I am not sure why or where this comes from, but for some reason it seems that when parents are going to celebrate their 5o years of marriage, their grown kids are supposed to come up with a big idea on how they should celebrate. That seems like it would be a big problem to me...

You mean the 3 or 5 or whatever number of siblings that grew up together, fought and rivaled, and then went separate ways are supposed to come together and agree on a way that their parents should celebrate the big 50? Who came up with that nutty idea ??

When my parents 5oth came up not so long ago, they kept saying they were going to do something special just for themselves...like a trip or something. My sister and I figured that was good, since my brother wasn't' really involved with any family gatherings any way, (another story! ) and so that was something that would work out without us having to plan something we didn't really want to plan. A week before their anniverary, Dad decided they WERE going to have a big celebration with catered food, gospel singing, and a list of other things. Yipes! No amount of pleading would change his mind to at least postpone things so it could be better planned, so my sister and I had the rather embarrassing task of calling people up at the very last minute and asking if they could come help celebrate.

To make a long story short, it did turn out all right, even though I have to say that if my sister and I had planned it ourselves, it would have never been done that way...but if they were happy, I guess that was good. But I still don't understand why the kids are supposed to plan it...

Now, at my husband's side, we are facing another 5oth dilemma. His mom wants to plan her own celebration and her husband told her it wasn't the parent's job to do so..(What????) so she gets irritated and basically said forget it...Hubby's four other siblings have decided they are going to plan it all, (Hubby is not happy about this!) and have planned this big party that will cost an arm and a leg and is basically being planned without his mom's wishes being recognized. (In fact, one of the sons told her to basically stay out of it because they had it taken care of!-(Can you believe the nerve?)

I told Hubby that knowing his mom as I do, a beautiful trip to England would be what her dream 50th celebration would be. She's gone there at least 3 times, with a friend, because my father- in -law refuses to go anywhere like that. He hates traveling. You would think though, that for such a momentous occasion as a 50th that he would swallow his dislike and go on this one trip of a lifetime with her for her sake... but evidently it's not meant to be, though.

Hubby and I have talked about all this mess over and over. We told our teens on the way home from visiting his side just this past holiday that for our 50th ,we want them to stay out of it, let us celebrate it the way we want... which is most likely going to be a private, fun trip with just the two of us...no crowds or kids hovering over us. And in my way of thinking, that is the way it should be. Because that is how it all began, just the two of us!