First Day Musings, Challenge Update

Three hats, two pair mittens, and one warm pair of socks. I am making progress! Of course, nothing has been washed yet. I am saving that chore for a sunny day in the spring so they can dry outside.

Looking back over the month, we have done fairly well with our "one small change" challenge. We continue to eat through the pantry, but had the opportunity to purchase 1/8 beef (Don still eats meat) and 20 pounds of home grown sausage. So, our grocery bill for the month was right at $170. That is still remarkable since we fed three people for part of the month.

Our commitment this coming month is to declutter and eliminate 100 items. Fortunately, this coincides with Melissa's, Virtuous Woman (see sidebar), Spring Cleaning 2010. Hopefully, this will give us a leg up on the project. Here at the door of the month, it seems overwhelming. However, like eating an elephant, only one bite at a time will get the job done!

What are your goals this coming month?

Empathetic Cat

Tiggie, the 19-year-old cat, bit through her tongue tonight. I think it was an empathetic, but misplaced, gesture. She actually had to have a stitch and it is still bleeding.

She is the first truly tongue-tied cat I have known.

Say "Ah!"

allposters.com

There is one thing that I fear -- the dentist. This is due, in part, to the fact that I had six teeth extracted as a teenager because my palette was too small (it is the only thing on my body that is). And Dr. Bryzowski nearly stood on my chest to do anything from pulling to filling to even checking my teeth. He always smelled like garlic and old shoes. Needless to say, all other dentists have had to overcome his legacy.

Now, however, I have a great one, mind you, but I still don't like having hands in my mouth. Anyone's hands. It is a violation of my space, thank you. Even when John was a babe I wouldn't let him put his hands near my mouth. Ick.

After sitting in the chair for a while this afternoon, I am home, heating pad on my jaw. Did you know that you can't cry, type, and hold a heating pad at the same time?

No Weeds, Yet

What is there about a seed catalog, Farmer's Alamanc, and a foot of snow that makes anything green seem so possible??

Rub a Dub Dub, A Goat in a Tub

The snow and ice are melting today. Maisey decided she needed a boat. (Shhhh.... don't tell her it has a hole in the side for the heater!)

A Mama's Fear

As soon as I got out of the car, I knew something was wrong. Mia was bleating with a desparation that mommas of every species understands. Something was wrong with the kids.

I slid across the yard, into the house, and changed into my barn clothes in a flash and headed to the barn. Mia was screaming, bleating, calling in the most heartbreaking manner. I couldn't walk fast enough. The snow was slush and I kept sliding one way and the next, all the while calling to her, "I'm coming, Mia!"

Everything bad was flashing through my mind; kids caught in the fence; kids missing (we have coyotes); kids drowned in the trough (they are too big now, but my heart wouldn't accept that fact).

As I crested the slope to the barn, I could see the problem.

Munk, all 20-inches and 5 pounds, and Copper, the yearling Dexter bull, were standing nose-to-nose. Mia let out a scream as Copper licked Munk spilling him head over teacups. Standing on the hay rack trough was Maisey, eager to avoid any bull licking, thank you very much.

I ran to the house for a camera, but when I got back to the barn, the kids were back with their momma and peace filled the yard. Both kids were none the worse for wear, however, Munk was sporting a true cowlick as he nestled his mother's bag for a comforting drink.

Be A Good Sport

Even I am embarrassed and ashamed of Evgeni Plushenko's behavior last night and how it continues today. His demeanor was no less than that of a petulant little boy who is used to getting his way.

The better man won. Not only in the Olympics, but also in what it means to be an Olympic athelete. It is not about technique alone. It is about civility, decency, and sportsmanship. Personally, Plushenko's behavior publicly demonstrates what I feel is wrong with many young people today. Everyone has to "feel good" about themselves. What is wrong with being second place? It should give one determination to work harder, but also be a validation of doing one's best.

Have you ever seen the Special Olympics? While the premise is that this program is for those with some kind of challenge, physical or mental, to me it demonstrates what is special about these competitors. They celebrate everyone's victory, but not against others, against themselves. Isn't that what competition should be? Us taking on ourselves?

Plushenko's actions in the past 24 hours demonstrates that he is nothing special. He is a machine, a technican, someone who can "do it", but is " not it." Shame on you, Evgeni Plushenko! You have forgotten, and worse, denigrated the Olympic creed:

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well."