Another Extended Absence

Oh my… it’s certainly been a while since I’ve posted. Some of you know of Wendy’s computer problems that I spent a week sorting out. We’ve got a very busy month as well with “company” visiting & we just started another major “project” I will not blog about until we get further into it!

Stephanie… if you are out there, every mail I’ve attempted to reply to or send to your addy has bounced back as undeliverable so I don’t know what’s up with that! Hopefully, we’ll be able to get back in touch!

In other news, I think i finally got my “Forum” up and running on ClubNightOwl. I’m still trying to figure it out myself but it’s definitely a place where everyone can go to and post their own topics, pix and files. So check it out!

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Dance Of The Pumpkins

Woodstock Soapstone StoveAfter returning home from the Corn Maze last night we lit our first fire of the season and enjoyed mugs of Hot Cocoa. This morning, we prepared for guests. Wendy had invited a fellow home-schooler & her children from the boys fencing class up for pumpkin carving. I took my second stab at a potato soup recipe then set it to simmer on the wood-stove. Everyone had a wonderful time and the soup wasn’t half bad either! Check out the pix…

Erick carving a pumpkin.

Tim getting ready to draw his pumpkin’s face.

Our guests… Andrea, Alex, Christina (left to right).

The fruits of their labor.

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The Corn Maze

Shepherd's in the Corn Maze
Last night we had an interesting family outing. We did our first ever Corn Maze. It just so happens that the largest Corn Maze in the state of Maryland is 10 minutes down the road in Thurmont. This monstrosity is over 30 acres in size, check out the aerial photo. To make things interesting, it had rained for several days straight prior to our outing so mud was in order. To make things more interesting, it starts at 6p.m and ends at 9p.m so flashlights were necessary.

When we arrived, I couldn’t resist their Pumpkin Cannon so I purchased 6 shots for the boys and I. This thing is so cool, it shoots pumpkins almost 1/2 a mile! The boys didn’t have the strength to operate the trigger so they did the aiming while I pulled the lever. Check out the video!

The rest of the evening was spent attempting to navigate the maze and we failed ever so miserably. The idea was to use your map to find a total of 24 checkpoints within the maze… (We ended up finding four & only by pure luck did we happen to stumble across them.) We had a blast nevertheless and I occupied our time during the walk by scaring the bejeezus out of my “Little Men” with tales of the Head-Less Corn Monster and the nearby cemetery full of zombies!

Here are a few pix…

Wendy lights the way.

Checkpoint found, Erick marking the map (for all the good it did).

Marching along.

Maze done, warming up by the fire back in the Teepee. (Amazing we were able to find our way out)

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Autumn In Full Swing

animatedFall is in full swing on “Shepherd’s Mountain” and we are enjoying it to the max! “Old Man Winter” is slowly creeping up on us and it will not be long before the white stuff starts to fall. Yesterday, we sent the boys out into the woods on a quest… find the largest leaf possible. Here are the photos…

1st place

2nd place

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‘Twas the Night Before Halloween

Wendy sent me this little snippet which I found funny for the humor in it as well as another topic. Working in Retail as I do, I have to endure the constant muttering of customers who feel we are displaying a particular Season too early. It’s mid October and I’m setting Christmas merchandise on the shelves while a constant stream of patrons file by in disbelief. Comments like “Christmas already? It’s not even Halloween yet!” Then, when they think I’m not looking, they sneak a box of chocolate covered cherries & a bag of red and green Hershey’s Kisses into their basket. I chuckle and think to myself… “this is why we put the Christmas stuff out early, because no matter how much you want to deny it, you just can’t resist it!”

Anyhoo, the credit for this goes to Lisa Barker of JellyMom.com (I hope I got that right)

‘Twas The Night Before Halloween
Lisa Barker

‘Twas the night before Halloween and all through the place not a candy was left how could Momma save face?

The kids were all tucked in their beds one through six while Momma was meeting her chocolate fix. The Hersheys were gone, the Snickers were, too, even the eyeballs with caramel goo. Wrappers and boxes and baggies galore littered the kitchen, the table and floor.

When what to Mom’s wandering eyes should appear but the floating Great Pumpkin with a glowering sneer.
Shrieking in fright to her bed she did fly begging forgiveness for each pumpkin pie.

But the scene was a farce and not really real – the result of a sugar high and not the real deal. Still, the kids, now awake, cried out in shock when they discovered the candy bowl empty of stock.

“Hey, Mother, what gives? Where’s the candy galore?
To the store you must go and get us some more!”

But none of the shops carried such folly. Instead they were decked with red bows and green holly.

“Christmas already? But it’s still October!”

“We’re sorry ma’am, trick-or-treating is over.”

“Oh, you can’t mean that!” mom cried, and looked hurt.as she throttled the clerk by the front of his shirt. “My kids are at home and they’re counting on me! Surely you must have some spooky candy!”

“Sorry again, ma’am, it really is true. In just a few weeks it’ll be Easter anew.”

Sometimes it happens, that a mom goes berserk. It could be at home or at church or at work. The pressures of life begin to take toll and Mom will assume an insane kind of role.

It happened that night, folks say in hushed whispers, when Momma took hostages while still in her slippers.
“I want candy for goblins and I want it now! Bring me lollies and taffy and bags of brown cows!”

Even the cops couldn’t reason with Mum and they had to call Papa who came on the run. “Mother, dear Mother, please try to calm down. There’s plenty of candy all over town. Why, just as we speak the neighbors prepare to hand out some treats or a hearty good scare!”

“That’s right!” said dear Mom, “How could I have forgotten? There’ll be plenty of candy to make their teeth rotten. I just can’t explain it; can’t understand why. I’d completely forgotten the night that draws nigh.”

“Maybe you need to lay off the sweets. Let the kids get dressed up and do tricks or treats.”

Mom nodded dumbly and said with a frown, “I guess I’ve been foolish all over town. I just needed chocolate to help me keep calm, so hopefully we’ll forget this by the time it turns dawn.”

The town folks all said that they definitely did.
They couldn’t recall that mom just flipped her lid.
Well, who could blame her, who’d even dare? Look at the kids that are in her good care. Sometimes they’re sweet and a joy to behold, but sometimes don’t do what they’ve simply been told.

It’s not easy on Mom, it’s not easy on Dad, to not go berserk with the blessings they’ve had. So maybe we all should-one night in October-allow moms and dads to hand sanity over. Let them go nuts; let them go wild.
Remember it’s all for the sake of a child.

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Renaissance Festival

The Boys at the Festival The Shepherd’s love anything medieval. Hence, for the last few years, we’ve made our annual pilgrimage to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival. It’s funny, I’ve tried my boys in Baseball & Soccer but they found their true love in Fencing. Swordfighting is where it’s at for them!

The first time we went to a “RennFest” we were quite impressed. A theme park if you will set in a 17th Century style. All the shopkeepers & attendants are in the “dress of the time”, even a lot of the attendees chose to dress for the occasion. Oh, and everyone speaks the lingo to create the atmosphere. For example, one would hear “M’Lord” or “M’Lady” when being addressed. “Tis” & “Thee” are quite often on the menu as well.

There are shops galore selling novelties and trinkets of the time. Artisans splattered everwhere performing their craft. We saw people making hand-blown glass, operating an old fashioned printing press, a Fletcher making bows & arrows, a fella linking chain mail, actors performing Shakespeare & dozens of musicians playing instruments of the time.

I didn’t get as many pictures as I would have liked but here are a few that I will share…

We stopped to see a couple of Jesters (Fools) do a show. This is too funny, check out the expression on Erick’s face as this gal gets cozy with him!!

Cool costume!

These two were so funny! Wendy was literally in tears.

After the show got going, I think Erick decided she wasn’t all that bad!

Markie decided he was going to check out a hat of the time.

Glass blower at work.

Tim & Mark posing with a fearsome warrior!

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Acorns

Acorns
My boys have been brainstorming in an effort to help me in my squirrel hunting endeavor. Here is their latest idea. A yummy plate of acorns placed on a stump at close range to the front door.

They spend the best part of their mornings monitoring this feast through the windows and when they spot the critter, pandemonium ensues. I’ll play it up very nicely, get the pellet gun, and stealthily open the front door to take a poorly aimed shot. The remainder of the morning is spent lamenting how I just missed by an “inch”.

Your days are numbered Bullwinkle!
Or is it Rocky? I can’t honestly recall!

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The “Poser”

The PoserQUESTION…

What do you get when you take a six year old boy and combine him with a hand-me-down suit you come across in a closet? Instant “Strike A Pose” of course!

I’m sitting here recalling all the times I’ve tried to get a good photo, attempting every trick at my disposal in an effort to bring some character out… If I had only known it was as easy as a cheap old mothball suit!

(Sigh)

The PoserThe Poser
The PoserThe Poser

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From The Mouth Of Babes…

    Why We Love Children

1. A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he’d found a cat, but it was dead. “How do you know that the cat was dead?” she asked her pupil. “Because I pissed in its ear and it didn’t move,” answered the child innocently. “You did WHAT?” the teacher exclaimed in surprise. “You know,”explained the boy, “I leaned over and went ‘Pssst!’ and it didn’t move.”

2. A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later ….”Da-ad….” “What?” “I’m thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?” “No, You had your chance. Lights out.” Five minutes later: “Da-aaaad…..” “WHAT?” “I’m THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??” “I told you NO! If you ask again, I’ll have to spank you!!” Five minutes later……”Daaaa-aaaad…..” “WHAT!” “When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?”

3. An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, “How do you expect to get into Heaven?” The boy thought it over and said, “Well, I’ll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, ‘For Heaven’s sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'”

4. One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?” The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t dear,” she said. “I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.” A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: “The big sissy.”

5. It was that time, during the Sunday morning service, for the children’s sermon. All the children were invited to come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as she sat down, the pastor leaned over and said, “That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter Dress?” The little girl replied directly into the pastor’s clip-on microphone, “Yes, and my Mom says it’s a bi@tch to iron.”

6. When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came into the room when I was just getting ready to get into the shower. She said, “Mommy, you are getting fat!” I replied, “Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy.” “I know,” she replied, but what’s growing in your butt?”

7. A little boy was doing his math homework. He said to himself, “Two plus five, that son of a bi@tch is seven. Three plus six, that son of a bi@tch is nine….” His mother heard what he was saying and gasped, “What are you doing?” The little boy answered, “I’m doing my math homework, Mom.” “And this is how your teacher taught you to do it?” the mother asked. “Yes,” he answered. Infuriated, the mother asked the teacher the next day, “What are you teaching my son in math?” The teacher replied, “Right now, we are learning addition.” The mother asked, “And are you teaching them to say two plus two, that son of a bi@tch is four?” After the teacher stopped laughing, she answered, “What I taught them was, two plus two, THE SUM OF WHICH, is four.”

8. One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part of the story where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer. She read, “…. and so Chicken Little went up to the farmer and said, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” The teacher paused then asked the class, “And what do you think that farmer said?” One little girl raised her hand and said, “I think he said: ‘Holy Shi@t! A talking chicken!'” The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.

9. A certain little girl, when asked her name, would reply, “I’m Mr. Sugarbrown’s daughter.” Her mother told her this was wrong, she must say, “I’m Jane Sugarbrown.” The Vicar spoke to her in Sunday School, and said, “Aren’t you Mr. Sugarbrown’s daughter?” She replied, “I thought I was, but mother says I’m not.”

10 A little girl asked her mother, “Can I go outside and play with the boys?” Her mother replied, “No, you can’t play with the boys, they’re too rough.” The little girl thought about it for a few moments and asked, “If I can find a smooth one, can I play with him?”

11. A little girl goes to the barber shop with her father. She stands next to the barber chair, while her dad gets his hair cut, eating a snack cake. The barber says to her, “Sweetheart, you’re gonna get hair on your Twinkie.” She says, “Yes, I know, and I’m gonna get boobs too.

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Big Box Mart

Phyllis sent me the link to Jib-Jab’s latest masterpiece. A spoof on what the “Big Box” discounters are doing to our country. Very funny, yet sort of sad in the same breath.

Click Here

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