During the past few months we have had a friend of my eldest up here on weekends fixing different problems with the dome.  Well he is almost done now.  This weekend he and my eldest are coming up to install a fan and light over the dining room table (no biggie you think).  But it will be installed to hang from approximately 20 feet up and the base will need to be constructed to allow for the curve of the ceiling.  It was the one thing I really wanted done to improve air flow and light up the dining area.  In the summer those card games get a little uncomfortable heat-wise.  So Saturday is the day and to celebrate it’s brauts in beer and potato salad afterward.  One of these days I’ll have the Evil One post some pictures of the place on the board!!!

I don’t know where I get to when the weekend comes.  I sure don’t get drunk as in THE LOST WEEKEND!!  I don’t run off with the milkman for a hot fudge sundae in bed!! I don’t show up in MOMMA’S Corner either!!  Maybe it is a senior moment but my clothes aren’t wrinkled,  no bruises, or broken bones or nails.  So I have no excuse for going AWOL.  Bear with me I might wander back in one of these days.

Twenty-nine years ago today a man agreed to take a whole family to love, take care of and put up with.  Not unusual you say?  Ah but think again— The family consisted of a 12 year old, a 6 year old, a 2 year old and a very well worn 39 year old.  Still not unusual you say??  Today the 6 year old is the Stupid Evil Bastard, the 2 year old became Cindy of Cindyisms. the well worn 39 year old is now known as Momma.

The 12 year old came along for the ride turning gray hair to grayer, (he was the artist not a writer).  So how do we sum this transition up?  We have ups & downs as all people do but basically it’s been a happy, successful union.  So Happy Anniversary to you my “significant other” and a great big thanks to the whole crew for helping us get through this mission.

The pile of brush is shredded.  The lawn mower (tractor) is repaired and back home.  The dress (jumper) is knitted and on its way to Stormie’s house.  The garage and mud room are now in an organized state.  We still have to get the bottom out of the burning barrel so we can burn the tree branches.  The home improvements are almost complete so we will have a few weekends alone now.  I went looking for the latest Harry Potter novel at Sam’s and nothing… Oh well, we’ll find it at a little higher price soon.  I’m on game #15880 in free cell with approx. 8 not mastered.  I know—get a life!!!!!! Some day I will, but until then I’ll spend time with you!!!

After two trips to Birch Run to visit John Deere and two 80 mile round trips by the Sweet Thing’s Hubby to help me out on trying to get the 2.7 acres mowed before the cows invaded my lawn thinking it is a pasture I am without the tractor again.  It went in to the shop and will not roll home for a week to 10 days.  So today I got out the old walk behind to pick up where “the Hubby” left off when the tractor started to smoke.  Then I moved down to the shed and rolled out the shedder to work on the brush pile I created last week with the lopper and the saw.  ( the lawn will go on a continued schedule until my energy level is high& the grass level is low).  My brush pile after 2.5 hours of shedding is finally down from over my head to about waist high. Yeah man,  retire to the country and take it easy!! What the fuck am I doing here!!!!

To you it may not be a big deal
But being the Momma imagine how I feel.
You dig in your heels hoping time won’t pass.
You look at your youngest and know it’s going fast.

But today is not about me even though I was there, 31 years ago at 7:27am.
My redhead was born, not a son but a constant reminder of the female I am.
She keeps me in line telling me how moms should act
But I, like her, do my own thing and that’s a fact! 
HAPPY “BRITHDAY” SWEET THING AND HAVE MANY MORE—The spelling is a family joke!!!

Moving away from family and friends means you sometimes are alone on the holidays.  Today was warm, somewhat uncomfortable if you aren’t at the beach or a pool.  So I took the time to think back to former Fourths.  The parades we had marched in when the legs were stronger and the heart more eager. In full makeup and red, white, and blue costumes the heat seemed only a minor discomfort. That thought lead to when my brothers were in Scouts and my Dad cut each boy’s hair in a Mohawk and they proudly marched in the parade on a Fourth many years ago.  I remember the standards that fastened to the hood ornaments on the cars back then.  They held three or more small flags that rippled as the cars came up the street. Back then the Governor walked in the small town parades starting early and visiting several towns on this day.  But things and people change and time moves on.  I hope your Fourth was safe and happy.