Lisie's Life

Wonderful News!

2010-03-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

I had something happen last week that left me at a loss for words.

On Wednesday, my foster son's birth mother asked me to adopt him.

....Wow. I found myself feeling every emotion possible.

Of course, I said, "Absolutely"....and then I gave her a big hug.

Despite her personal issues and addictions, I have never had it in me to

dislike her. This little boy still loves her and THAT is so important to me.

I was SO touched when she told me that she could see how happy he is with

us, and that she knows that he needs a mommy AND a daddy...and that

she wants him to stay with us. I feel very honored that she trusts me.

Is that silly? Should I be honored that an addict who has lost all of her

children thinks I'm a great mom?

Well, I look at it like this:

She still gave birth to him...and she clearly loves him, as much as she's capable,

and in her own way. I think the "MOM" in me just really hurts for her...and

I'm so grateful for this little boy. I love him...SO dearly.

In other news, I have a fantastic, stunning new mare! Her registered name is

"Leo Pocos Sonny Dee", but I call her "Fancy". I'm working her every day and

she is going to be awesome! The picture above is her, but it doesn't even do her justice!

Lisanne

Long Time Gone...

2010-02-02T23:01:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's been a long time. So much has happened and there is just no way for me to catch you up...but I'll give you the hi-lights.
Things are going wll with A. He has been here for 10 months now...and we adore him. We are on the adoption track with him...and while there's a slight possibility that we could lose him, it looks very good for us. Life with a boy in the house has been...well, interesting. To say the least!
Having had 3 girls, "boy stuff" is so different to me. He giggles uncontrollably at the words "butt" & "fart". He pushes every button his sisters have and delights in it with unabashed glee. He keeps me thoroughly amused and I love him as though I'd him all of his life.

Let's see...I am no longer riding on the drill team, but have recently started Mounted Cowboy Shooting! Well, at least I have "signed up" to start. See, I broke my arm badly in November. Not just a minor break, mind you...and certainly not by any means glamorous. I didn't fall off my horse...or my motorcyle...or anything really cool. Nope....I just tripped. On a concrete floor. I smashed my elbow and broke my ulna and radius all the way through . I had surgery and a large metal plate & screws installed. It's ugly. I broke it on November 13. Friday the 13th, to be exact.
It's now Feb 2nd and I'm STILL healing and still quite sore and swollen. Oh...and did I mention that the hospital gave me a parting gift? Yessiree...since they were charging me thousands and thousands, they gave me pnuemonia to make me feel better! Lucky me.
I rode my horse today for the first time since my fall. It was glorious!

I do have a new buddy! His name is Cash and he is a Lilac Crowned Amazon parrot. I just love him. He adores me and talks to me constantly. He's 8 years old. I have always loved birds:)

Daughter #2 is in military school...long story, but I am happy to report that she is doing very well there. Her grades have changed from straight F's to A's & B's...and she even got her driver's permit today! She thinks she's a pretty big deal right now:)

That's all I can think of for now. I'll try to write more often!

Lisanne

Tubes and Hearing!

2009-05-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

We went to the Ear/Nose/Throat specialist on Wednesday and "A's" hearing was tested by first the doctor, then an Audiologist. They decided that it was bad enough, with his current complaints of ear pressure/pain, that he needed immediate surgery. On Friday morning at 5am, I loaded his little pajama-bottomed butt into the car and took him to the hospital. He was in sugery for about 30 minutes...then in recovery for an hour. On the way home, the change in him was extremely evident. I could talk in a NORMAL voice with him for the first time, without facing him so he could read my lips! I spoke to him quietly and asked if we should grab some ice cream...and he heard every syllable! It's an amazing transformation. I can't believe that in 5 years, nobody else noticed this or did anything about it!
I will miss some things about his lack of hearing though. Last week, when I was feeding the finches on my porch, he said, "I sure like those little birds, but I'm not allowed to say their name." HE thought they were called "bitches"!!! The boy sings like a little angel. He can really carry a tune...but he always sang the wrong words, because he couldn't hear them! No more cheap entertainment for me!!!
He was SUCH a trooper at the hospital. I'm so very proud of him!

I met with "The Teachers" for Savannah. ONE of them is a very good, very caring teacher. The others....well....better to just shut up. It's no wonder that she doesn't do the work. How can you be motivated by a slug??? Seriously, doesn't God GIVE them a personality????

Okay...I'm exhausted and going to bed now. Night!

Answers & Hope

2009-04-24T00:41:00.000-07:00

Over the past month I have noticed that "A" often doesn't seem to hear us. I mentioned this to the caseworker, who okayed taking him to the doctor. Well, today we discovered that he only has 30% hearing in both ears. He is profoundly deaf. I suspected that it was bad...but not this bad! The good news, is that it's caused from fluid build-up and we can cure it with tubes placed in his ears. He will go to an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist on the 29th and we will create a plan of action. I can't wait until he can hear! I'm sure that many of his "behavioral issues" are caused from his lack of hearing.
This week was pretty good, except for Tuesday, when he was supposed to visit his grandmother and she forgot. He was really upset. I had an appointment scheduled and when I called her, she said that she wasn't even dressed. I told her that not coming for him was NOT an option. I dropped him at the DHS office in the playroom and told her to pick him up there! I like her and I know that he loves her dearly, but that is just not fair to him.
His sisters are struggling with all of the separations and new foster homes, but they seem to be thriving and learning to be little kids again. It's so heartbreaking to see them all hurting. When we have visits, his sisters all cling to me, hugging and loving on me, begging for attention and love. Part of me has to wonder why God allows this kind of pain for children. How can they ever understand that any good came from it? *SIGH*

Savannah has been missing way too much school because she was sick, so I have a meeting with all of her teachers on Monday. Wheeee...that oughta' be loads of fun.:(

Cheyenne turns 21 on May 7th. It's so hard to believe that my baby is that old...and "legally" an adult now! It seems like just yesterday when she was toddling around learning how to walk and talk!
I do have to say though, that if we end up with our little guy, I think I'll be done raising kids. I wanted a boy...so if we get to keep him, I'll be happy! If not...then who knows? We just have to wait and see.

Well...it's off to bed for me.
Night!

Long Days With a Small Boy

2009-04-16T23:29:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays really suck. Every time we have a visit, we go through about 2 days of hell afterwards. I wonder what things go on in a child's mind that cause them to act out so much.
I get so upset and frustrated, because "A" has such a burden that he carries. First of all, he believes that he cannot go home because he is bad. This idea is reinforced by his bio family when they tell him that "when he learns to be good", he can come home.
Secondly, he believes that he is the "big brother" and he has to take care of his 4 sisters.
He feels responsible for them and often tells me that he needs to take care of them.

All I can do is love this child SO much. I try to love him enough to counteract all of the negative stuff. I tell him what a great kid he is and how much I love him:)

He is currently driving me crazy because he doesn't hear well at all...and we are always repeating or shouting. I am making him an appointment to get his ears checked. It seems weird, but by the end of a day with him, I am SO sick of repeating myslef that I could just scream! It's exhausting.

Tomorrow, I have to go into town and pick up the new piglets so we'll have meat this year! Mmmmmm....home raised pork is SO good. I hate raising the pigs...but I do love the meat!

I'm going to the coast to teach a class on Saturday, then driving up to Newport to visit my mom. I'm excited. I don't get to see her enough.

Lisanne

Rescuing Everything.

2009-04-14T23:49:00.000-07:00

I think that I have spent my whole life rescuing. Even when I was a kid, every stray found it's way to my house.
I brought home baby possums. raccoons, cats, dogs, birds...you name it! My parents always groaned about it,
but they knew that it wouldn't stop me! I don't know why I feel such a responsibility to "save the world", but it's such a part of my make-up that I can't understand how most of society can turn a blind eye to the suffering that I find so often. How does
one walk away, rather than reaching out and helping? I seriously CAN'T. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Lisanne, you can't save the world!", but that doesn't come to mind when I see a cat, dog, horse, child, etc...starving to death, or dying from abuse. I just act. I just DO.
There are times when my heart breaks from it and I feel like I can't ever do it again...and then another poor soul comes along and
there I go again. Just doing.
It is both a part of me that I love, and I hate. There are times that I wish I could walk away and feel no responsibility, no guilt, no shame. But that isn't me. I'm the one who will stop traffic to remove a dying animal from the street. I'm the one who will risk getting bitten to keep a wounded animal from suffering. I'm the one who will allow my heart to break over and over again just to ease their pain and make their lives better, if even for a short time.
If I look back on all of the creatures, both animal and human that I've "rescued", I can honestly say that although it's painful (and exhausting!) at times, those rescues have enriched my life and touched me so very, very much. I really should have been a Vet!
(By the way, did I tell you all about the young "Osprey" that I "rescued" after it flew into my car last Summer? Well, as it turned out, he died...but I took some pictures of him and was very excited to tell my husband about him. You should have head him laugh when he told me that my "Osprey" was a Buzzard!!!)
Yes, I'll rescue ANYTHING!

Failure

2009-04-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I gave up and too the kitty to the local Humane Society today. They promised to take good care of her and keep me posted. I felt terrible, but I've come down with a virus, and her fur was making my asthma act up. I just couldn't work on her anymore and she needed immediate help.
I can't help but feel like I've failed her. I just hope that she's in good enough shape to rehab and adopt. Her heart was beating too fast and she had a snotty nose...so their vet was concerned. I signed a form saying that they have to call me before they decide to euthanize her.

On a good note, "A" has had a couple of really good days. He is SUCH a cutie!

Wow...What a Week.

2009-04-12T00:19:00.000-07:00

Another crazy week down. I'm just exhausted. This week, I have intentionally NOT scheduled any classes. I need some time off.
Today, I rescued a kitty. She (?) is a purebred silver Persian. I have never seen such a terrible case of abuse and neglect. This poor cat has more mats than cat. Her matted fur is at LEAST 4 inches thick all over her body. As I started cutting mats away, I have found sores on her skin. It's going to take me days to clean her up. She is covered in feces and smells so bad I want to puke. This is seriously criminal. I am trying to get my camera to work so I can post pictures of her. ("A" broke it.)
I found this kitty at a vacant house that I showed some clients today. She is one of about 8 cats that have been abandoned. I will call animal control on Monday. I fed them all today and took the Persian, who was by far in the most need of immediate help. I may have to give up and take her to a vet this week to get help with the dematting. She is clearly in a lot of pain and it hurts her. How do these things always find ME????
"A" had an ear infection and a sore throat this week, so he missed his weekly visitation. Consequently, it was a pretty good week! He is SUCH a cute kid. I just love him so much.
Well, I'm going to bed early tonight. (Ha! it's 1:00am!)

Night!

We Had SUN!!!

2009-04-05T23:46:00.001-07:00

It was a beautiful, sunny, WARM day today and I enjoyed it so much. I slept in as long as I was allowed, cleaned house for a few, then went outside to enjoy the sunshine:)
We brought out the fire pit and had a bonfire, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and played catch! (although I pulled the muscle in my shoulder throwing the ball.)
The girls rode horses a lot today and "A" played with the little neighbor girl for a while. (Until he hauled off and whacked her with a stick.) Playing with other children is not his forte'!)
It was a nice day, but I'm still really tired and just need to get some things off of my plate. I talked to my husband today, and I am going to put my real estate license on inactive status for a while. I'll turn my listings over to my company, so I'll still receive a referral fee if they sell.

Tomorrow is drill team night. I can't wait. I absolutely love drill team!
Night:)

Tough Times

2009-04-05T00:50:00.000-07:00

It's been some time since my last post. I'm exhausted...and emotional...and a bit overwhelmed.

For a start, I chose to send Sweet Dan back to his owner, I liked him, but we just weren't "clicking". I found another little horse (pony) that is going to work really well. His name is Skeeter and he's a POA. While this all sounds okay, it's just VERY stressful.
I am teaching at least 2 Oregon classes per week, (sometimes 3) and a Utah/Oregon on the weekends. I also have real estate stuff going on and I'd really like to put it on hold.

My little man is a constant source of both pure joy, and frustration. Life would be better for him if his mother would get her life straight, They say very inappropriate things to him at their weekly visits. I have became very protective of him!

I feel like I can barely keep up. I really need to sleep.
Well...I took an extra large sleeping pill tonight. See you tomorrow!

A New Dog

2009-03-25T01:42:00.000-07:00

Well, we have a new dog today. As soon as I get my new computer (tomorrow) I'll post pictures.
She's cute...but certainly not beautiful. She has a very long nose! Her body looks like a small Lab, but she has the head of...maybe a Dachsund? She has 4 white feet and white on her chest. They told us that she is Lab/Border Collie. Personally, I would MUCH rather have had a Mastiff, but this is NOT my dog. For the record, I was OPPOSED to another dog, but little miss Mackie has her daddy so tightly wrapped around her little finger that she can manipulate him into ANYTHING if she wants it badly enough!
"Sissy" is here on a 3 day trial basis, so we'll see how it goes. The Boxer, (Captain Morgan) fell in love with her and they became instant friends.

"A" did very well today. Tomorrow is a visitation day, so we'll see how that all goes. (sigh)

That's all for tonight. I have a big day tomorrow and need to get some sleep.

March 23rd, 2009

2009-03-24T00:22:00.000-07:00

I sure love this child. He still has his moments, but all in all, he's just a neat little boy who has suffered greatly and needlessly at the hands of adults who should have never had children.
We went shopping on Saturday and Tosh bought him some Carharts. He told him that when you have your Carharts on, you aren't allowed to cry! He's SO cute in them and he just loves to wear them. He told me that he wanted to wear the pants that he couldn't cry in! ;) When he fell and started to cry, I reminded him that he had his Carharts on and it was an immediate fix!
He adores "his" horse and wants some boots and a hat...and he reminds me every day.

I think that our biggest problem has actually been in getting our own daughters to embrace him. They were all on board and excited about having him until he got here and they found out how difficult it was. McKenna is quite jealous and has made it no secret. We are trying to give her time to adjust and make sure that we pay attention to her as well, but it's a big change for her and it wont come easily. Savannah has taken on a more responsible role and she is actually (usually) very good with him. One positive thing that I've noticed is that the girls aren't fighting NEAR as much with each other now! This is good. I think that they really just need time to get used to things. I remember how hard it was for me at 10 when my sister came to stay with us for the Summer. I loved her, but I was very jealous and hurt that my parents paid so much attention to her, when I got so little. I want to make sure that my kids don't get hurt, but I also want them to learn to share...and appreciate what they have. This isn't going to be easy.

My computer is toast. It's funny, because I have been complaining so much about it not charging that my husband finally gave me the "go ahead" to buy a new laptop. I ordered it last night.
Today, his dumb Boxer dog stomped on my computer and ruined the screen. I'll have to use an external monitor to get my stuff off of it, but I'm SO thankful that my new one will be here Wednesday! It's a Compaq Presario. I hope its a good one. It had rave reviews.

Hmmm..let's see. McKenna talked her dad into a new dog. We're going to look at a "nice little dog" tomorrow, but I'm not thrilled. We do NOT NEED five dogs!
Well, that's it for now. I wish I could just report that we will get to keep "A", but I know better than to get my hopes up.

Lis

My Little Cowboy!

2009-03-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

The days just continue to get better. "A" is finding his way and starting to understand how things work around here. He earned all of his stickers today and an extra one because he was SO good! He loves his new school and gets along quite well. He's a very smart little guy.:)
Today, when I went to meet his bus, I found two of my horses in my neighbor's pasture. They had apparently decided to go for a walk...so the neighbor caught them for me. "A" has been wanting to ride "his horse", so as I walked the horse home, I put A on his back. It was his first horse ride ever and he LOVED it! He told me, "Now I'm a REAL cowboy and I need some boots and a hat."!!! What a cutie.
I'm trying really hard not to get too attached...but this is never going to be easy. I'm beginning to discover that many of his behaviors are just "boy things" and I'm not used to that.
We've had him one week today...and I adore him. I'm already praying that we never have to give him back.
I met his entire family yesterday when he went for a visit. I don't think I was really supposed to, but we all got there at the same time and it just kind of happened. It was mildly uncomfortable, but I held my own and I was friendly and respectful in order to put them all at ease and not make things any harder on our little man. They have a real history of negative manipulation with him and the other kids in care, so I want them to feel as good about me as possible in order to protect him. All in all, it's going pretty well.

In other news, McKenna talked her daddy into a new dog, so we are looking for the right dog to join our farm. (JUST what we need!) It's a good thing we HAVE a farm!
Did I tell you that Roxie came up lame and I had to get a new drill horse? Well, if I didn't...now you know. The new horse's name is Dan. He's white...and "A" has claimed him. I don't mind. Right now, he's on lease for the Summer and we'll see how it goes. He's not in great shape yet...hadn't been ridden in a year, so drill is really hard on him. Drill night is exhausting for me because I feel like I'm "beating a dead horse"!!! I REALLY miss Roxie.:( She will get better, but has to have several months off to heal.

I got my Utah Instructor's license and will now start teaching the Utah CHL class. I'm excited because it means a significant amount of money coming in! We need it right now. (sigh)

Thanks for the prayers...they're working!

Uggghhhh....

2009-03-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

It was another long, tough day. Several tantrums, several time-outs, only one sticker...and thank God he was tired and went to bed early!!! I think my daughters are the most stressed out over it.

A Good Day.

2009-03-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Our little man woke up today with a new attitude...for now!
He got up and went to work with Dad, which seems to have been a wonderful thing.
He really NEEDS a good man's influence. He came home greasy and happy and announced that he was going to get ALL of his stickers today! (He has a sticker chart.)
He giggled and played all day, and he helped to make cookies, (and eat them!) and was super happy when he got EXTRA stickers tonight.
I think that there are going to be good days...and bad days. I'm glad that today was a good one. After yesterday, I think we all really needed it. McKenna ran away to a friend's house this afternoon...Lol! Poor kid.
It's impossible to look at this little boy and not just love him. How can people hurt a child like him so badly? How/why does this happen? I see his little face and hear his infectious, happy giggles and I cannot help but wrap my arms around him in a genuine, loving hug.
I think God knows a sucker when he sees one!

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

2009-03-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

Oh. My. God.
WHAT was I thinking??? I am SO tired today.
This little boy has more energy than 10 girls. He also has a long way to go in learning
to mind...learning NOT to have tantrums in the store, and learning not to use the word "hate" in every other sentence. It was a LONNNNNG day!
It's okay, and I'm really, truly not regretting doing this....but I think the first couple of weeks are going to be pretty rough. It going to take some time for all of us to get used to things.
One big issue is that he doesn't deal with pain well AT ALL. Even the slightest "ouchie" and he goes into a MAJOR screaming fit. It was rather embarrassing at the park today!
He's still pretty darned cute though and it's impossible to be mad at him:)
He got up before all of us and used the phone to call his grandmother, so tonight we are removing the phones. His caseworker has said that there will be no more calls this week. It's going to be hard for him. This is so challenging..and heartbreaking.
I have to share what he JUST did! He is lying on the couch so he can fall asleep and he wanted Savannah to sit with him. She snuggled all down and he let out a big 'ol fart!!! She yelled and he started giggling so hard that he almost fell off the couch! What IS it with boys and farts????

Good "Mom news" tonight! She had her ultrasound this morning and the doctor was WRONG.
There was NO aortic aneurysm. Thank you God. I'm so relieved.

Amazing Day!!!

2009-03-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

Wow! It was a crazy and absolutely emotional, amazing day.
At 3:30 today, I drove to town and met my new son! Because we have to maintain
his anonymity at this time, I will Simply refer to him as "A".
He is an incredibly cute, smart little boy. We already adore him, but we do see that
he's going to keep us very busy! He was pretty confused and a little scared today, but settled
in fairly well considering. He has been living with his grandmother for the past year, but
I believe this placement was mandated by DHS. His paperwork stated that there is a plan
for reunification with his birth mother, with adoption as a secondary option.
His caseworker is super sweet. She followed us home today and brought all of his things to help
him get settled in. I really like her. She is very "genuine", which is refreshing.
She did give me the impression that she doesn't expect his birth mother to shape up. I guess that Grandma is okay, and A wanted to call her tonight, so we did. She thanked me over and over. It was a little tough when A first got here and he told me that his grandma had told him that he wasn't allowed to call me "Mom". That hurt a little...but I can understand it.
He did call me Mom towards the end of the night, but I could tell that he was really worried about it. I'll have to talk with the caseworker and see what she thinks.
He was pretty nervous at bedtime, so we allowed him to come out and lie on the couch...and he promptly fell asleep. He was SOOOO cute!
We're all very excited...and exhausted!

I spoke with my step-dad today and he doesn't seem to be worried about my mom. I think I'll reserve my non-worrying until I hear what the doctors say.

March 11th, 2009

2009-03-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

Quite an eneventful day, for the most part.
I did clean out my car...which I must say, I think I deserve a reward and my children deserve a beating for! Gack...what a mess!
I wonder if ALL kids spill and dump stuff in their mother's cars and then hide it? The only way I discover it is when my car starts smelling like something died in it. WHY am I wanting another child again???
My new horse is settling in quite nicely. He's a real cutie! Oh...maybe I haven't mentioned him yet. Well, you see, Roxie came up lame during drill practice a few times, so I took her in for x-rays and an ultrasound. She has a bone spur in her hock that causes her flexor tendon to become inflamed. We can treat it easily, but she has to have a few months off to heal. Since I ride on a drill team and have a committment to my team, I HAD to have a horse that I can ride!
I found a great home for Big Jay, the rescue that I have been rehabbing, and made room for a new horse. Enter Dan. He's white, bombproof, a finished roping and drill horse and a major love-bug! He is just a little lazy, but I think he'll get better with regular riding.

We are bringing our new little foster son home tomorrow! I'm super excited...and a bit nervous too. Tosh and I went out and bought all kinds of trucks and army men and boy toys. We haven't ever had a boy, so this will be interesting!

No news about my mom yet. I'll post and let you all know as soon as I have any information.
We were very lucky to have found this thing early so we can get it taken care of. I'm just so grateful.

March 10th, 2009

2009-03-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

Well, things have been a whirlwind! We finally came to the realization that we were not going to be allowed to have Robbie, no matter what we do. We are having to come to terms with that. The DHS workers have blackballed us and there is no way that they will allow us to have him.
Thanks God that's in Washington!

Meanwhile, Tosh and I had decided that we weren't going to work with OSLC anymore, because we ultimately want to adopt a child, and OSLC is more about rehabbing & returning. We had decided to change to DHS where we would have to take more classes, but we would have a good chance at finding the pefect kid(s) for us. THEN...last week they called me about Alex. He's
five years old and has been through hellish abuse and neglect. After a short discussion, we decided that we really want him! There is a slight chance that we can adopt him too, but we'll take it one thing at a time! I pick Alex up on Thursday. I'm excited, but nervous.

In other news, my mother let me know that she has been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm. She is going to have it looked at this week. I'm scared. Those are nasty.:(

Lisanne

January 6th, 2009

2009-01-06T01:24:00.000-08:00

I'm tired.
I had drill team tonight and it didn't go as well as usual. Roxie came up lame about 3/4 of the way through. I thought something was bothering her...and then someone told me that she was limping. I took her out immediately. Also, as I was standing next to her watching the others complete drill, I found lice nits on her neck. Damn. The big gelding that I brought home was covered with them last week and I have treated both him and Ace, but I thought the mares were okay. Now I have to treat them too. I'm so bummed.
To add insult to injury, my diverticulitis has flared up again tonight and I'm in pain. This is a terrible disease. I have 3 classes to teach this week, so I can't let this get me! I'm so frustrated.

We are hoping to review some more kid's profiles this week for fostering. The one that we got wasn't a child who would fit into our family, so we have to wait until one comes along. Meanwhile, the adoption proceedings for my little cousin are continuing. It's going to be an eventful year.
The girls went back to school today...yay! I love them, but I also love having quiet days to myself occasionally!
Okay, I'm off to bed.
Night!

Januauary 3rd, 2009

2009-01-03T20:05:00.000-08:00

We got up early today and went into T's shop to work on my horse trailer. We packed the bearings, cleaned everything up, washed and waxed it....and then Tosh installed the new power jack, a fire extinguisher and a nice first aid kit:) He fixed all of the lights on my trailer too. It looks wonderful!
While we were out, we bombed the entire house for fleas. It's freezing outside, and yet our stupid dogs still have fleas! We could only deduce that they are still living in the house...so we blasted the heck outa' the little buggers! Tomorrow I'm going to spend a little time cleaning stalls, finishing a couple of things on my trailer, and then I'm going over to Linda's house and play with Freisian horses! She has 5 of them living there now and 3 of them are rideable! I can't WAIT. I have always wanted to ride one.
Well, it's time to feed horses and get to bed so I'm ready for my big day tomorrow!

January 1st, 2009

2009-01-01T23:54:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

Well, here it is, a new year already. It seems like 2008 went by so quickly.
We have finished our certification process for becoming foster parents and are just awaiting
our first child. Meanwhile, we have applied to adopt my 4 year old cousin as well...and just yesterday, we received a call asking if we might be interested in fostering a cousin's baby who is just under a year old. Good grief! Just when we thought we were done raising kids....
I think this was God's plan for me all along though. I feel MUCH more capable of being a great mom now than I did when I had my own kids! I know I was always a good mom, but I'm more confident in my abilities now:)
I'm excited for the opportunity to make a difference in some children's lives. Tosh and I have done very well with our daughters. We have a lot to give children. A great home, a lot of love, stability, a good life.

On another note, I'm going to Utah next month to take the Utah Instructor's course to teach the Utah CHL. I'll be able to make a lot more money once I get that. I feel like real estate is beginning to get a "little" bit better too, which is good. I have a couple of new clients to work with:) I have missed the business while the economy has been bad. I absolutely LOVE working in real estate! Meanwhile, I have my firearms classes to keep us afloat.

Well, it's time to head for bed.
G'night!

Christmas Day, 2008

2008-12-26T01:21:00.000-08:00

Wow! We had such a nice day. It was just the girls and Tosh and I, but there were many gifts and everyone really enjoyed each other. It was fun seeing the girls playing games and having a good time together. I got a Mossberg .410 Shotgun with a home defense package, a box of clay pigeons and some ammo! I'm thrilled with it and can't wait to play with it:) I could never shoot anything living unless it was for defense, but I'm really looking forward to killing some skeet!
McKenna got her first .22 rifle and Tosh got a nice little derringer. (Well, okay, he got a barrel and a holster because the derringer is actually on backorder!) The girls got new comforters for their beds and new MP3 players, so they were pretty happy.
I thought a lot about my extended family today too. My mom just recently had knee sugery, so her Christmas wasn't much fun...and my dad was alone this year. I wish I could make their lives easier:( I feel a little guilty having such a great day wth my own family when they're suffering.
I guess that's normal and to be expected. My mom did have a nice lunch today with her mother and brother and his family, and of course my wonderful step-dad, so it wasn't a total loss!
Well, it's after 1:30am and I'm just beat, so I'm going to say goodnight for now.
I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people that I love so dearly.

L

The Past Year

2008-12-20T19:33:00.000-08:00

So, over the past year there have been some changes around here, but nothing too major.
We have added a couple of horses and placed a couple into new homes.
We now have Belle, who is McKenna's big Mustang mare that is a wonderful trail horse.
Sweet Rocco has a new home and is loved and spoiled. We miss him very much, but this was the right place for him. Right now, we have a big rescued gelding named Jay here too. He was thin and sickly when I brought him home, but is now starting to look like a real horse! He's wonderful, sweet and needs a great home. He's super well-trained and would be good for anyone!
We have 4 horses in all, 4 dogs, (Bosco the Newf, Captain the Boxer, Fozzie the Border Collie & Shooter the Toy Aussie). We also have 2 cats, 2 stupid roosters and one Peahen.

The girls are all doing pretty well. Cheyenne is currently not working due to layoffs, but she's plugging along and seems happy. She has adopted a puppy and a kitten. We adore the puppy and he has spent a bit of time with us while Cheyenne traveled. His name is Harlen and he's Husky/Malamute mix.
Savannah is a typical, brooding teenager. We are constantly looking for ways to wake her up so she becomes a human again! Middle School really sucks.
McKenna is delightful and fun to be around. I'm so glad that I had her...she's truly a blessing!
I don't think there's a day that she doesn't make me laugh.
Tosh is just working every day and puttering in his shop. He's putting Christmas gifts together for the girls, and as always, working on vehicles for everyone!
We will soon be adding another child to our home. Tosh and I have taken foster-parenting classes and are now ready and certified to have our first child. We will be looking at our first profile on Monday to decide whether this kid will fit into our home. He's an 8 year old boy
This should be VERY interesting!
I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

A Very Cool Moment!

2008-12-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, so at 11pm, I decided to go down to the pasture and check on the horses and give them some extra hay for the evening for warmth. I bundled up and grabbed my flashlight and headed for the barn. As I was heading down, this huge black head came at me from around the corner! Somehow, Roxie had pushed the gate open and escaped and had found me. Now, this is a horse who just one year ago when Linda and I first found her, wouldn't walk up on her own to ANY human and wasn't about to let anyone catch her without a LOT of exercise! Tonight, she nickered and nuzzled me and actually FOLLOWED me back into her pasture! It was a moment of bliss where I realized just how far she and I have come together in a short time. This horse really TRUSTS me now...and that is the coolest feeling ever!

I wonder if others have "heart horses"? I know that I had my "heart dog", who will never be replaced in my heart and I still miss more than I can describe. I'm really feeling that sort of closeness with Roxie now too. Am I just crazy???
(Okay, for those of you who really know me, don't answer that!)

Lisanne

Life Update!

2008-12-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

Well, it's December of 2008 now and snowing again!
While I still hate the snow, I have tried to make it a little better this time!
The kids and I built a snowman today that was VERY cute!
We are becoming foster parents and will be getting our first child in the next couple of weeks:)
We have plenty of room now, we're financially okay and our relationship is great, so this is perfect for us!I'll keep you posted as it all unfolds!

My Niece Got Into HARVARD!!!

2008-02-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

WoooHoooo!!!

My sister just gave us the news today that her daughter got into Harvard! She interviewed a couple of weeks ago....and the acceptance letter came today. How exciting! I'm such a proud, proud aunt! (I haven't seen my niece since she was little...but I'm hoping to see her soon when I go to visit my sister in Texas.) This is wonderful news for them...as it's been a really rough couple of months.

I spent the day today running around making real estate contacts. I'm hoping that with Spring coming on, business will pick up. I NEED for business to pick up.

This has been a long, hard Winter and I'm ready for things to warm up and get better.

I really want to bring my mare home...but I wont until the mud is gone. I went and rode her last Saturday....(Here's some pictures!)

Isn't she pretty? She's SUCH a special, gentle, sensible horse. Nothing scares her:)

Well, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Oh goodie. I have learned never to expect anything on Valentine's day..and occasionally I'm pleasantly surprised. A couple of years ago, my husband bought me the most gorgeous ruby ring...but then for the next two years...nothing. I guess he thought that would last me a while! ;) All I really want is some help with my hay...getting what is still salvageable into the barn! (It all got wet when the hay shed collapsed under the snow.)

I'll do the usual scavenger hunt for the girls....like my mom always did with me. They LOVE that little ritual. The gift can be so small...nothing expensive, but it's better than Christmas for them:)

That's it for now.

Lis

Old Enough?

2008-02-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

I had an "Aha!" moment the other day and I wanted to share it. Somebody I know made the comment that ##### was "old enough to know better".
It occurred to me that in reality, age has absolutely nothing to do with it and that is a really stupid thing that we say. We have to learn by experience...and if we never make mistakes, or get told the harsh truth about our behavior being wrong, then we never "know better". I remember being younger and how crushed I was when someone pointed out to me that what I was doing was inappropriate. When you are ignorant or naive, no matter what age you are...it's painful to learn the truth. However...that is what makes us grow, learn and become better people who "know better".
It's hard to be the "bad guy" and tell folks that they need to stop certain behaviors...and perhaps it isn't even your job to do it, but if you don't...who will? As good parents, we have no problem telling our kids what is right or wrong:) Maybe the problem is that some people don't HAVE good parents. I guess that's where we come in.
What do you think?

Better Mood...I Promise.

2008-01-29T22:01:00.000-08:00

It was a better day today, in spite of still being stuck in the snow. I made plans to get out of here tomorrow...which is good. The kids are going back to school too. They should have gone today, but the news said this morning that school was closed...and we didn't find out until much later that school was open...arrghhh! Oh well. The girls made Tosh and I a nice dinner and set up cute little tables in the living room, with candles and wine:) It was very cute and sweet. Good thing, because after listening to them argue all day, I was ready to throttle them!

I talked with my sister today. God I wish I could make her feel better. I hear so much pain in her voice when we talk...and I feel so helpless. I'm not going to plan on going to Africa in April, but I'll go in November instead. My sister is going to go in November too...so it will be a wonderful trip. I wish I could go on the April trip, but I don't trust that I can save that kind of money and get everything done in time to go. It's a huge committment.

I put on my boots this evening and trudged down through the snow to knock the ice off of the satellite dish. The goats were sleeping so quietly in the hay barn that I got worried when I couldn't find them! They're usually right under my feet.
I have to keep knocking the snow and ice off of the satellites, (both internet and T.V.) or I get really bored!
Gosh I hate snow. I can't wait for it to be gone and a little sunshine to be here.

Sheeeeeeeeeeez....

2008-01-27T16:12:00.000-08:00

I just read my past few days' posts and I have been VERY negative lately. I'm sorry...I will not post again until I have a more positive attitude and something good to say!
I'm just not a very good "Winter Person". I neeeeeed sunshine.

BAH!!!! No MORE SNOW! :(

2008-01-27T16:03:00.000-08:00

I am SOOOO sick of this nasty, wet, white, freezing cold stuff. I'm tired of carrying warm water to the animals, I'm tired of having to chainsaw trees off of the driveway, I'm tired of not being able to go places that I want to, I'm tired of losing power and having to brush the snow and ice off of my satellites....and I'm tired of being stuck int he house with fighting kids and a whiney husband!

I woke up this morning to yet another 6 inches of it.

Bleccchhhhh.

Headaches Suck.

2008-01-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have a massively splitting headache and it truly does suck.
Tomorrow I'm going on a rescue mission for three horses who were abandoned and left in the woods. The property owner has asked us to remove the horses, who are starving. Apparently, they were left by a neighbor who moved away after he was repeatedly turned into the authorities for animal abuse. Each time the Animal Control would contact him, he would go out and shoot all of the animals that were sick or thin. There are still as many as eight carcasses by the river on his previous property.:(These three horses had escaped at some point and ended up in the woods on the neighbor's property. They contacted him and he never came to get them...then he moved away. SO...since everyone locally knows that I do rescue, I was called in to help. I have assembled a team and tomorrow, we go get them. I'm excited..as always at the thought that I'll be rescuing animals who are in desperate need.
Hopefully my head will be better by then!
Okay...now for my news.
I MIGHT be going to Africa in April!!!!! I have the chance of a lifetime to go with my sister to Kenya. I'm sooo soooo excited! I have always wanted to go there. I'll keep you posted as I know more.
We still have water today. Yay!
Peace out. ;)

Winter Sucks.

2008-01-24T23:14:00.000-08:00

I'm so tired. It has been SO stinking cold here this week. Our pump froze up last night and we had no water today. I couldn't take a shower, so I stayed home and worked from here. I spent a good part of the day getting water from the creek, heating it on the stove and hauling it to the barn for the horses and goats, as well as trying to get the water running again.
After Tosh got home tonight, we bundled up and trudged down through the snow to see if we could figure it out. It was dark and cold, but we discovered that there wasn't any insulation on the pipe right at the well. We used a torch and a space heater and somehow managed to thaw it enough to get it running.
We have a bleach injection system on our tank to kill the sulphur in our well water. It had been running when the pump wasn't, so when Tosh jumped in the shower afterwards, he got an immediate and full shot of bleach in his face. It burned his eyes and skin badly and we had to pour bottled water over him. It was awful. The poor guy is working two jobs...and he has to come home to that. I'm so sick of the mud...and the snow...and the trees falling down...and this damnable COLD.

...and life goes on.

2008-01-18T21:50:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh...the holidays are finally over. The little terrorist went to his new home, the pork is all back from the butcher (Mmmm...the chops are wonderful!) and the 10 inches of snow that we got over New Years is finally almost melted away. We have a new addition or two...but I haven't actually seen them yet. Apparently, there is a family of beavers living in our pond! The pesky little brats are chewing all of the trees down and I'm going to have to find a way to discourage them.
The lady who took Pepper just loves him. I'm so glad. He needed a good, tolerant home! My hay shed collapsed under the weight of the snow. It sucks because my valuable hay is getting all wet and molding:( It's so frustrating to me...knowing that hay is going to be so scarce this year.
I'm hoping to sell some houses and make enough money to buy more...and maybe even build a barn to put it in:)
The goats have decided that they are dogs...and they have kicked the dogs out of their house and taken it over. Personally, I suspect that threats and coercion were used. The dogs kind of liked the Dogmahal and aren't too thrilled with the way it now smells. Fozzie has moved down to the barn in the warm hay...and Bosco, while he has his own gigantic house, prefers to lay in the rain anyway.
We're missing a kitty. The old tomcat attacked him one night just before the snow...and I heard them yelling and ran out, but the kitten had run off. He never came back and I have no idea what happened to him. I feel terrible:(

I'm going riding tomorrow with my friend Linda. I can't wait! I really need a little break.

Fear Isn't Just Human

2008-01-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

My accident happened around the first of November. It's good to be back to normal now! (Well, as normal as I have ever been...*grin*)

We have Rocco who I would love to take to a trainer this year, and we have a rescued yearling who was abandoned in a field and confiscated by the state..then I adopted him. He's missing one eye, but is the most wonderful, gentle little Paint gelding I've ever seen. I think he was born dead-broke! Then I have Roxie, my new Paint mare that I rescued at the auction. She's about 12 years old...and when I found her, there were three little girls riding her...and all were sitting backwards on her! (facing her tail!) I just love her. It was very, very scary to ride again, but I'm so glad that I did. It felt like a huge weight was lifted and my heart was whole again. (I know that sounds silly, but I can't even begin to describe how it felt to me to be "afraid of horses". ) I have been in love with horses since I was old enough to neigh. It made me think about the horses that I have rescued who have clearly been so fearful of humans....and how relieved they must be when they finally discover that they are loved and are safe. Wow. We so often forget that it is humans who teach the bad behavior in some animals..and it is up to US to repair the trust.
Roxie is restoring my faith in horses...and I will do my damndest to restore her faith in humans.
We both deserve to know that love and trust.

Snowed In!

2008-01-08T20:24:00.001-08:00

This is my pasture and Hubby's truck yesterday. We got about 8 inches of snow overnight...lost all satellites and power several times. There were several snowmen built along the road this morning when I finally made it out of my driveway to go to work!

I've been dealing with multiple offers on one of my listings. One buyer has also asked me to represent him, which is nice because I can make money on both ends of the deal. HOWEVER...he's a complete jerk and wants me to kick him back part of my commission. I have told him that I wont do it...and he is refusing to come up on his offer...but wants to try and intimidate me. Lol..he obviously doesn't know me! Oh well...the other offer looks good too, so I'm sure that something will work out.

We're waiting on our pork to come back from the butcher...can't wait to have smoked ham!

I wish I had something terribly humorous to share with you all, but it seems that I'm having a run of pure boring-ness. Sorry. I'm even boring myself! Blecchhhh.

Lis

Rub-a-Dub Hub!

2008-01-05T20:27:00.000-08:00

I bought Hubby a certificate for a massage for Christmas. He was really funny about going...didn't want to go alone! So, today I took him to see Takayo, the lady I see for massage therapy. I had to stay in the room and sit on the couch and read while he got his massage. What a baby! He was a little sore afterwards, but I think he'll feel better in the long-run.

It's snowing like crazy here today. I trudged down to feed the horses and knock the snow off of the satellite...and the horses and goats were thrilled to see me:) They always nuzzle me for treats...and I usually have them in my pockets. It's VERY difficult to move around when one has a goat's head in one's pocket! Rocco is a very piggy pony and will eat anything. (and I DO mean ANYthing!!!!) When I got him, he was on his way to be slaughtered...to be shipped to Japan and be someone's dinner. It is amazing to me that anyone could throw away such a wonderful, funny, loving little horse. There is something very special about Rocco and I'm really attached to him. He's daughter #3's pony, but he loves me best;) Rocco has a soft spot on the side of his muzzle...and it's the best place to kiss ever! When I've had a bad day...I just kiss Rocco's nose and it all melts away! This little horse, who was thrown away like yesterday's garbage...has made a very big impact on my heart:)

There is nothing cuter than a pony in the snow!

Life On The Funny Farm!

2008-01-05T00:14:00.001-08:00

Create your own visitor map!

Working, Working, Working...It's All Good.

2008-01-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

Last year I found myself in the position of having to "re-invent" myself. It was a sobering, but necessary change in my life..and I decided to make the most of it. After considerable thought, I chose to go into Real Estate. Now, it might not have been the best time to become a Real Estate Agent, but I have made it work. It's the greatest job I've ever had...and I LOVE it!

I work my own hours, am my own boss, choose my own clients...and I actually make good money doing it!

It's a LOT of work...some days I'm running for 12+ hours, but the thing is, I'm HAPPY when I'm working and I ENJOY doing it! (even when I have the clients from Hell!) Today I wrote an offer from a buyer on one of my own listings...then I wrote a seller's counter-offer...then I wrote a buyer's counter-offer...all running back and forth between Seller, Buyer and the office to get it all done. Tomorrow, I am showing the same listing to even another buyer..and on Sunday, I will be having an Open House...so as you can see, the Real Estate business is not as bad as we are all hearing. Actually, Real Estate in Eugene, Oregon and the surrounding areas is GREAT...and I'm so glad to be a part of it!

Pork..The Other Muddy Meat!

2008-01-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

Tonight we impounded the pigs and they had their last meal.
I have to tell you, if I felt badly about taking them to the butcher before,
after trying to round them up and put them into a trailer...I do NOT feel bad at all!
They are vile, dirty, pushy creatures who squeal so loudly that it hurts my ears.
While we were trying to catch them and trailer them tonight...Tosh fell FLAT on his stomach in about 3 inches of mud! Needless to say, he's also MORE than ready for them to go.

The kids FINALLY go back to school tomorrow. I want to know who the sadistic person is who mandates that Christmas vacation be more than 2 weeks long. Isn't it enough that I have to listen to them fight all Summer? My two youngest have a need to torture each other on a consistant basis...which results in my wanting to torture them. If anyone knows the guy (It HAD to be a man!) that makes school vacation policy, please tell him that I wish to torture him too.

Pepper the Terrorist did not leave today afterall. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be better!
He's SUCH a cute little guy...but he's just SO mean to the other critters. (and I think that Ace is getting tired of his misguided amorous attempts at being manly!) He does love to be scritched and scratched on his tiny little neck though, so you can't help but love him.

Daughter #1 is getting back on track. While she prefers the "Ostrich" approach to bills, she has come to realize that it might not be condusive to her lifestyle. It can put a damper on things if you have to ride the city bus. I think she's working hard to get it all straightened out...so that's a good thing:) She has SO much going for her...brains, beauty, personality, boobs...but she admits that she seems to be short in the "motivation" department. Boobs can only get one SO far...trust me! It's okay...I'm going to keep "abreast" of the situation, so she'll be fine!

Well...everyone is finally in bed, (except me, of course) and it's quiet. Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!
I'm going to take out a new book...and read. Hmmm...I don't do that often enough these days.

Sending Animals Down The Road!

2008-01-01T18:51:00.000-08:00

Yay! The pigs are leaving, the pigs are leaving!

Thursday morning will be the last time that I have to feed pigs when I feed all of the other animals. Part of me will miss their silly grunts and inquisitive nature, but they have gotten big and pushy and I'm sick of getting muddy every time I have to feed them. And besides, I LOVE ham!

Last night, I realized that nobody had fed the horses all evening. It was 1:30am, but I put on my jeans and rubber shoes and headed to the barn with a flashlight. I had to laugh when I got there, because all three horses were ON the haystack...munching and sleeping! Okay...well, it's not real funny that they are ruining my hay, but at least they're resourceful! They were free-feeding themselves and had found a really warm bed:)

We currently have three horses here at home. Rocco, who is a small horse and belongs to Mckenna, is a rescue that I saved from a slaughter lot. He's shy about his ears, but is otherwise patient and loving and he absolutely LOVES to be brushed and coddled. He gives the best kisses ever...but please don't tell my husband!

Ace, is Savannah's yearling rescue. He was found, abandoned in a field with three other yearlings, missing an eye and half starved. He is one of those horses that was born broke!

He's a gentle, loving little "pocket pony" who wants nothing more than to be loved and scratched. He's a beautiful bay paint and I can't wait to see how he turns out.

Pepper is the little mini black stallion that I brought home, thinking that I would use him in my real estate business as a marketing tool. What I didn't realize, was that he's a spoiled little man who needs to be taught some manners and needs to be gelded. He's a 34" terrorist! He bites the pigs and goats, chases the dogs and cats and does NOT get along with Rocco.
I still like the idea of using a mini for marketing, but I think I'll borrow one!

We also have two goats. They don't actually KNOW that they are goats, however:)

I bought them at the auction...when they were only 2-3 days old. They were SO cute! I had to keep them in the house for the first month and bottle feed them. The girls named them Chomper and Pancake. They have grown into the biggest pests that ever roamed the farm, but we adore them anyway and I can't imagine life without them! Well, maybe I can...but it sure would be boring!) They think that they should live in the house with us...so I'm currently trying to convince them otherwise. Trust me, it's NOT easy!

So we're catching up...aren't you thrilled?

Happy New Year 2008!!!

2007-12-31T21:02:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, it's New Year's eve and we had a very long day. My stomach was in knots all day and

I have decided that raising children is probably the dumbest thing I ever did.

Daughter #1 moved into her own place this year. She's always had a regular job, but we were afraid that when she moved out, it would cause problems with her going to school. After some tough issues and a change of jobs, she has not continued with her education.

I knew that she has been having some financial difficulties, but I had no idea how bad it was. This morning, I got a call that her car was reposessed. If course, we had to bail the car out, but the tough part is yet to come as we are going to have to practice some tough love. My heart hurts and I'm sick to my stomach...but I know that we all have to grow up and learn from our mistakes:(

Daughter #2 went skating for New Year's. She asked me to do her makeup today....and when I got done, it scared me! She's absolutely beautiful and I'm in trouble!

Daughter #3 is staying home with Mom & Dad tonight, much to her dismay. She couldn't find any of her friends who were available tonight. She settled for pizza, wings, sparkling cider and the movie "Ratatouille" instead!
What was God thinking when he gave me THREE girls??? Being a mom is painful...but I wouldn't trade my kids for anything in the world. Aren't they beautiful???!!!

Ahhhh...The Life of a Potter!

2007-12-30T22:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Hubby found me a pottery wheel for sale on Craigslist. I took a class about 10 years ago and have always wanted a wheel. This one had a broken switch, but Tosh was able to fix it easily. Last night he found an ad for a free kiln as well...so I called about it and was told to come and pick it up today. Holy Cow! I drove to Cottage Grove to get it...pulled up in this guys driveway and there was a blue Prius with a bumper sticker reading "Impeach Bush and Cheney". He wa a very scary hippy-lookin' dude. He had me back up to his shop. I thought I was getting this little kiln...24 inches tall!
Ummm...nope. It's 24 inches across on the INSIDE...about 4 feet tall and about 3 feet wide! I have NO idea where I'm going to put it...or even how to use it. I'll need to do some research and figure it it. Either way, you can all rest assured that you will have lovely candy dishes for all of your birthdays and holidays!

By The Way...

2007-12-30T00:43:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to mention that my heart is with my sister tonight as she battles the hurt and anger of losing her dear husband. My husband, through all of his shortcomings, is MY best friend and my soul-mate...and I can only imagine how terrible it would be to lose him. My sister is amazing...and I have always wished that we could have been together more while we were growing up. I love her very much...and my heart just aches for her right now. I wish I could take some of her pain.

Lisanne

The Aftermath Of Christmas.

2007-12-29T23:00:00.000-08:00

Good grief! How does a simple thing like Christmas mess a house up SO badly?

We spent the day today picking up, putting away all of the decorations, taking the tree down...and ultimately cleaning out the storage room so it would all fit back into it!

I was pretty exhausted by the time I fell into my chair to watch the UFC fights this evening.

I admit it...I'm a completely obsessed fan of the Ultimate Fighting Chamionships. We don't get into football like the rest of the world...we like to watch two guys, highly skilled in mixed martial arts, beating the heck out of each other. I'm the one jumping up and down...screaming at the television as if they can hear me:) I suppose that someone capable of psycho-analysis would find it pretty interesting that I enjoy this type of thing...and maybe I'm weird...but I think that one of the reasons that we have so much deadly violence in the world these days is because men aren't allowed to beat the heck out of each other anymore. Yes, there has always been deadly violence...but in our not-so-distant past, men kept each other in line. Now, they aren't allowed to. If they do, they go to jail or get shot. I think that I just love the UFC because of the primitive nature of it, along with the modern moves and twists that make it an extremely exciting sport.

Okay...I hear it pouring outside again. Dang. I'm ready for Spring and we're not even close.

I want to be out riding horses...but it's just pure MUD everywhere right now.

Speaking of horses...

I mentioned in my last post that I was thrown on my head a few weeks back. See...I bought this new horse. He was advertised as "kid-safe" & "husband -safe" but apparently he wasn't "Lisanne-safe". I'd driven all the way to Washington to get him...he was absolutely gorgeous...my dream horse. At least I THOUGHT he was my dream horse! I'd ridden him a few times, down the road and off on logging roads. he was fairly well-behaved and although he obviously wasn't "kid-safe", I thought I could handle him. A bunch of friends were trailering to Salem for a day's ride and I thought I'd go along. I should have stayed home when he didn't want to get into the trailer, (which was odd behavior for him as he'd climbed right in when I brought him home.) but I REALLY wanted to go. I talked him into the trailer and off we went.

Once we got to the park in Salem, I put my helmet on, saddled him up and began to climb on. He EXPLODED, bucking like a crazy, spooked, mad bronc.

Now I...having one foot in a stirrup and one foot partially over his back...apparently (and without knowledge) took a (short) flying lesson. All I remember was waking up in an ambulance with an I.V. in my arm...and then again in the emergency room, where I was diagnosed with a pretty severe concussion. My head had hit the pavement...and my helmet had saved my life. Thank God that I had decided this past Summer to start wearing a helmet!

That horse left almost immediately...and although it has been a battle with his "owner" (who came and got him) I was never SO glad to see a horse go!

My friend Linda and I found a beautiful little black & white mare at the auction a few weeks later. She lives at Linda's house right now, but will eventually come home to live with me. She truly IS kid-safe and husband-safe...and I just love her. Her name is Roxie. I just need a little time to heal...and get Hubby used to the idea that I'm riding again before I bring her home. I think Spring...after the mud, would be good!

Well, I guess that's enough blogging for now. You're probably bored anyhow. I wasn't very witty tonight, but at least I'm getting you all caught up!

Hang in there...I promise to be less mundane in time.:)

Lisanne

Day One...Getting Started!

2007-12-28T22:23:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd start blogging so that family and friends can keep up with our crazy life here on the farm. It seems like there's never a dull moment. Some good, some bad...but always interesting.
We all had a wonderful Christmas. Hubby's parents were here and we all managed to get along and have a lot of fun doing it! We even put our heads together and did an excruciating 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. It was nice having everyone together.
This was particularly important to me this year, as a family tragedy has reminded me of just how important and dear family really is. A few days before Christmas, my sister Janine lost her best friend, her husband of 25 years and father of their 6 children to a sudden and severe heart complication. Jim was only 47 years old and a wonderful husband, father and man.
My heart hurts so badly for my sister and her kids.
I have hugged my husband a million times this past week, even when I want to strangle him for various reasons! (I think I have him very confused!)The kids are off of school this week, so it's crazy at home. I actually escape to work for a few hours each day:) We have so many animals now...and it's been SNOWING here for a couple of days...so everything is muddy and wet. The pigs are ready to go to the butcher (Okay, well...I'M ready for the pigs to go to the butcher!), the goats think they are house-guests, the horses want to stand on the porch and look in the window, the cats perch on the roof over the door and wait for someone to open it so they can make their great leap...hoping to get in before the door slams and they look like Persians...and all four dogs think it's necessary to blast through the door, leaving huge muddy paw prints all the way through my kitchen, then, of course..."wiping" their feet on my dining room carpet! I tell ya', it's a good thing I have an industrial carpet cleaner! Being the incredible wife that I am *grin*, I bought Hubby an AK-47 for Christmas. He has subsequently killed several of the trees behind our house and will now need to chain-saw them down before they fall over! Remind me to tell you about my recent fall..(okay, it wasn't really a "fall"...I was thrown on my head.) where I woke up in an ambulance. It's a good thing I have a hard head!
I will save that post for later.
Bear with me as I get started. Eventually, it will all catch up and be current!