I Wish You Enough!

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, "I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom."

They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone."

She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them."

Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory: I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting. I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....

To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH

Hoppin Johns & Cornbread

Readers: Happy New Year! (my apologies for not visiting each of you, the internet is tied up out here and I am having trouble connecting due to "busy" messages - so I offer this generalised wish to you all! - be safe!)

Soak: 8 hrs., Prep: 10 min., Cook: 2 hrs., Stand: 10 min.

1 cup (8 ounces) dried black-eyed peas
10 cups water
3 bacon slices
1 small onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Place peas in a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Add water to cover 2 inches above peas; let soak 8 hours. Drain peas, discarding water.

Bring peas and 7 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat in Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours or until peas are tender.

Cook bacon in a large skillet 5 minutes or until crisp; remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon.

Sauté onion and bell pepper in hot drippings in skillet over medium heat 5 minutes or until tender.

Add vegetable mixture, remaining 3 cups water, rice, and salt to peas.

Cook, covered, over medium heat 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

Remove from heat, and let stand, covered, 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

Serve with cornbread.

Pig Races Held Next to Mosque

KATY , TEXAS

A suburban Houston man, unhappy with an Islamic association's plans to build a mosque and community center on property adjacent to his, staged pig races as a protest during afternoon prayer services Friday.

Craig Baker, 46, lined a track for 25 pigs to race on, sold merchandise and grilled sausages for about 100 people who showed up in heavy rain. People have sent donations ranging from $100 to $1,000 to sponsor the event, Baker said.

He said he is not trying to offend anyone but wants to show that the Katy Islamic Association can't force him to move or relocate.

"I am just defending my rights and my property," Baker said.

Yousef Allam, a spokesman for the association, said the group never meant to give Baker the impression that it wanted him to vacate his land.

"If we somehow communicated that to him, then we apologize," Allam said.

Return of the Black Buck

Remember THIS from Christmas Day?

Well, I saw him a couple of days afterward on nearby property, but today he ran past me as my big dog, B.O.B. (Big Ole Boy) was chasing him.

I was talking to a couple of guys on the outside of my fence. They were tracking him for their breeding program - ya know those kind of folks that want to sell rednecks tickets to hunt their land?

Well, I figured I would rather they "rescue" him than some idiot shoot him for the horns and leave his body on the side of the road. So I let them on my property, after, the little guy ran past me. They had a tranquilizer gun - I made sure of their intentions beforehand.

Unfortunately, he was MIA by the time I let them on my land. Oh well, I just hope he is safe because he is just so beautiful and majestic!

I have an ACTUAL picture of him which I will post soon - the pic is on Hubby's camera which he has who knows where....

Adriano Moraes on Today show

I recently posted about Adriano. Check him out on Wednesday, January 3rd on the Today show. While Matt is a cutie, Adriano will blow him off the map - trust me!!!

Visit Steve

I do not recall how I found Steve.... He has called in hospice and could do with some positive thoughts.

Please visit him

Saddam - RIP

Okay, I do not usually post about politics despite my degrees in said subject BUT my opinion is as follows:

I am glad SH no longer exists but I am still in awe that most people do not know we put him in the position to do what he did. AND that fairly soon we will be enabling some other fanatic to do the same in Iraq. Then we will blame them for doing what our government enabled them to freaking do. Big circle of ignorance.

This is no different from any other ordeal that the US has been involved - We stir the shit and then jump into it after it has fermented.

And, I don't want to hear any more crap about 9/11 etc - WE the people i.e. our gov't let those asses come over here and prepare an attack then decided oops....

BTW - Sadaam was killing his own people and it was wrong; yet, why is no one adamant and up in arms about the criminals and child rapists in our own country that are allowed years upon years of appeals with our tax dollars?! Let us promptly put an end to the many deserving.

Okay - DONE.

PS - Know that do support our troops & government regardless - just offering my opinion.

Mother's Recollection

FROM MOTHER REGARDING MY "COON & ANNIE MAE" STORY :

Not to correct your memory but let me just refresh it.

Coon's mother would hollar, "Arthur, Arthur, fetch Brother Ikewhistle (this was the preacher's name) a drink of water."

The well and water were at the front porch, but Mrs. Massey believed in waiting on the preacher. Coon hated Ikewhistle. He stayed a year with them one time. Coon played all kinds of tricks on him. Get your Daddy to tell you all of them.

Roy Harris, at the funeral yesterday, started telling your Daddy old Coon and Henry ( Roy's Dad) stories.

Ikewhistle is also the one that had the mustache that always had food in it and that gave Coon "Cold Chill Bumps" to look at it while they were eating. If Ikewhistle drank buttermilk, he would take one finger to the mustache and wipe and make a noise like chirping or something. I can make the noise, but I can't spell it!!!
love, mom

Thanks Mother - I seemingly recall the buttermilk ordeal. Now if we could only get Daddy to use the internet and write some of those tales....

Awesome Blog Design

Guess today I am just whining.... BUT, check out Melli's blog . In addition to her interesting posts, it is beautifully designed. I want that, how do I do that, gimme that kinda style, help! My blog is ugly - I want a purty blog....

Seriously, folks, I have seen various sites that allow one to download templates and BLOGSKINS (love these) but none of them are awesome like Melli's. Plus I do not have a clue on utilizing these. Does anyone know how I can make mine fancy without losing everything?

Bestest Blog Carnival #3

The Bestest Blog of All Time is taking submissions for "Your Funniest Post of 2006." Many of my regular reads are hilarious and should provide a post for this!

Bestest Blog Carnival Boo Hoo

I submitted my Thanksgiving post to the Bestest Blog Carnival #2. There were many entries and I read practically all of them and commented on each one I read; however, I did not receive even one NEW comment on my story from any of those folks! (Of course, Hammer had previously been kind enough to comment - thank you). Boo hoo, guess no one likes me....

On another note (I hope this doesn't sound crass because I really do not mean it to be): I read quite a few blogs daily and even have some of these linked. Always, I try to leave a comment, even if it is to say "hello." About half of these folks have only left me a comment since I began blogging in October. Actually it really doesn't much matter if they do not comment because I like to read their posts. Just seems as if one should at least wipe their feet before entering your house. Or in this case, say goodbye when they leave. So I wonder: Should I remove them from my link? What do y'all think?

Happy Birthday Hubby

Today is Hubby's birthday. He's younger than me by a year and 3 months, and for those 3 months he's 2 years younger. The age difference doesn't bother me except now that we are past 40, I'm jealous - I want to be 2 years younger too.

But, ya know what I do? I tell people that I'm 10 years older than I actually am. They always think I look great for my age! he he

Birth Order

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty. At work and school, you do best when you're researching. When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often. In friendship, you are considerate and compromising. Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking. You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

The Birth Order Predictor

Right On, I am indeed the first born with 2 younger brothers. What is YOUR birth order and do you have siblings?

Why I Named My Blog "Snake In My Shoe"

After buying the farm, if anything could have gone wrong, it did. The land had never been cleared, had no electricity, well, or anything.

First, I tripped on a rock and fell butt first into a huge fire, with SHORTS ON, and couldn't get out of it. Luckily someone saw me and pulled me out. I had second and third degree burns on my thighs and butt that required home nursing care for two weeks.

Second, I had various major ankle sprains due to holes on the property. Third, fell off a ladder from 10 feet up, traumatizing my inner thigh. Don't know how many orthopaedic physicians and emergency room trips I had during the first 9 months.

Many other things, but these were the worst. I was beginning to think doom was looming over my head.

I mentioned my ordeals to an old lady from around here and she indicated that the Indian spirits on the land were disturbed!

"What?" I asked, "Hubby is the one clearing the land with the tractor; I am planting flowers and tending animals!" "Why would karma or whatever be trying to kill me?"

The old woman indicated that I was a special soul that "They" could reach. Okay, whatever. Sometimes I do have dreams about things that have yet to occur and "know" things before they ever happen.

She told me to sprinkle special salt around the property and tell the spirits that I was not there to harm them or the land, until she could come out and "bless" the property.

Alright, sounds loony, but I had nothing to lose at this point. So, I did as she told me.

Guess what? The injuries stopped, but THEN

My first birthday here was to be uneventful. I planned on lying in the hammock under the stars drinking wine with Hubby. What the hell could happen?

A few glasses of wine later, I had to go potty. Slipped on my sneakers and BAM - snake in my damn shoe! Trust me, you will know immediately what it is!

Now I've never been scared of snakes, as long as I see them first, but I squealed and got that shoe off faster than a ho on crack. Hubby killed the snake. Then I began to fret that I had been sent some kind of bad omen and that killing the snake meant the worst.

Later I was telling a good friend of mine about the ordeal. She happens to have studied ancient goddesses and such. She relayed to me that this was a wonderful omen. The Snake Goddess is believed to be a guardian angel over households.

I don't know if I believe in all that rigamarole, but while I have had alot of tragedy in my life as of late, I have not hurt myself. And I like to think that I am Momma - guardian of my babies and home!

So there you have it!

Bestest Blog Carnival #2

The posts are in for Carnival #2. Check out some of the great stories!

Hamburger Anyone?

Tired of holiday leftovers? How about a hamburger?

Texas Tuesday: Coon & Annie Mae

When my family moved from Houston one of the first people we met was Miss Annie at our local Church of Christ.

My daddy never attended church (he worked 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and pretty much still does), but my mother took us kids every time the doors were open. Until I was about 16 years old, church and religion was a big deal to me. Now I curse anything that has to do with religion and am very resentful - not sure why....

Miss Annie was a little round woman with a heart of gold. Her husband, Coon, was a very tall man with an immense presence. He didn't attend church and cursed preachers. These two were extra grandparents to me; I knew them for over 30 years.

On of the stories Coon often told was of visiting preachers during his childhood. A preacher passing through town and, knowing his mother was hospitable, would stop at his house and stay for what Coon said was 2 weeks or more.

Coon would be told to go fetch a cow. Being his honery self, his momma would have to whip him to make him run barefoot through the woods to find a cow to slaughter in order to rightly feed the preacher. He'd sprinkle the story with tales of bleeding feet, scratched up face and plenty of cursing thrown in for good measure. "Dem sumbitch preachers ain't good for nutin but a free meal and a place to stay."

Miss Annie would be appalled and embarrassed when he would begin to tell these sorts of stories. "Arthur Massey," she'd say - for that was his real name.

Everyone called him "Coon" since he was a boy nicknamed that by his daddy. Reason being cause his daddy said he whistled like a coon (black person). (Don't hold this against me - I didn't name him and I ain't makin this up).

Each week the Masseys would come to our home to play dominos with my parents. Many tales were told and much ado would ensue. Coon would always be the center of attention. Edged on by my dad, he would commence to telling another story to rile Miss Annie and my mother.

One thing I will never forget: every single time he ever laid down a two, he would say. "T-U, two." Spelling out the T and U.

He loved to hunt and had a catfish pond with huge catfish that us kids would feed. He was know to kill a dog that wouldn't hunt or was gun-shy. Funny ole Texas boy thataway. They had a little dog, whose name has since escaped me, that would climb trees to fetch a squirrel.

Miss Annie could cook - man, talk about a feast! She'd cook all day long - bake 3 or 4 cakes and pies and fry up chicken, squirrel, rabbit, catfish. Add to this at least 10 side dishes. I would always try the wild game stuff but have never liked it - BUT you couldn't tell Miss Annie "no." One would leave their house full as a tick - it's a wonder I was able to keep my girlish figure!

They lived in a house that Coon built himself, before he asked Miss Annie to marry him. It was a great little white farmhouse house with wooden walls and floors but no insulation. She drove some beat up old car and he had an old truck that smoked like a chimney. They had an old box spring leaned against the side of the house that served as a TV antenna!

Now you'd think these folks were just poor ole Texans but NO! Coon was the first oil millionaire in the county. Every kid and grandkid they had was given land and a house - and that was alot of kids and grandkids! But, Coon would not spend a dime on anything else but the kids - "weren't no need."

We lost Coon back in 1993 and Miss Annie followed him this Christmas Eve. There will NEVER be another set of wonderful people like this and I'm sorry for those of you who did not get to enjoy them. Ole Texans are hard to come by! (me: crying as I write this)

Christmas Morning Delight

While sipping coffee and staring aimlessly out the window Christmas morning, THIS was grazing in a grove of trees. I'm unsure where he may have came from as there are no game preserves that I know of in the area, but a delightful sight and wonderful gift nonetheless.

How Did Your Blog Get It's Name?

Skittles asked her readers "how did your blog get it's name?" I find that interesting, so dear readers, I ask you the same!

Bestest Blog Carnival 1.2

The Bestest Blog of All Time is now taking submissions for the Bestest Blog Carnival: Edition 1.2. Entries must be received by December 24th and the topic is family. Ya know you’ve got some funny tales!