Ditto…a very important saying in my life but I’ll get to that.

I do have a library in my head of other sayings I use.

All Y’all – that was one I stole from a client who was the LAST person I ever envisioned using All Y’all – I like it – it stuck with me  – I work it in where I can. ie. “Hey All Y’all going to the feed store?”

Ya No Ya – I think alot of us use this  – that is to me – an emphatic YES of course as in “Ya no ya you really need to buy that saddle”.

Pffffttt – not really a saying – more of a sound – Pfffttt (scoff) but not negative. ie. “Your chickens laying? Pffftttt free loading slackers”.

WTF!!! no words needed on this one really – I do try and work it in  -all be in it’s abbreviation so that people don’t think I’m a total red neck/potty mouth – which incidentally I am. Also see “Fack” used instead of it’s counterpart.

Fixin’ to – good Lord   – that was one that was passed to me by a dear Aunt -ie. “Am fixin’ to clean those stalls” – I am going to or I will do.

HA!!! – well – HA!!! – ie. “You got crapped on by a chicken? HA!!!” not scoffingly but HA been there!

Putting  up – ie. “Ya no Ya – we are putting up hay this weekend” (see how I combined?)

Now – I’ll use some of the above before I move on ie. “All Ya’ll going to the horse show this weekend? Ya no ya – trailer is like pfffft ready to go but am fixin’ to load it the night before. HA!! like that will happen. Fack! can’t forget my show sheen! better start putting up the tack”.

I do have many many more but my favourite of all time is “Ditto”.

Ditto to me is a reciprocation of a kind act or a pissed off mood or a shit storm (oh another good one).

Mostly though – it is a gesture that I use frequently to express a feeling.

“Fack I’m tired”  me “Ditto”

“Stressed to the tits” me “Ditto”

“Love you” me :”Ditto” – this one is very important and what made me realize this was yesterday actually.  Kids says love you – I say ditto – they know what I mean.

I sometimes have a hard time expressing my feelings so most people get the “luv ya” or xxoo or just the heart thinger.

But I guarantee you – you say it to me and I say Ditto – well then – that is where that is at there. (huh just created a new one)

All my readers – whoever you may or may not be – sending out a big ol’ DITTO!!!!

All Ya’ll hope your reading or fixin’ to at least.

One of my favourite all time movies is Julie & Julia.

Amy Adams spectacular but HELLO Meryl Streep who truly gives a knock out performance of none other than the incomparable Julia Child.

There is a scene where Julia – NO wait Paul Child proclaims that Julia is the “Butter to My Bread” which prompted me to write this post.

I LOVE BUTTER… I love to eat it and cook with it. Butter is by far the ultimate ingredient.

Sorry….had to adjust keyboard – the words were not flowing…

Yes…butter…and my love there of.

The term “Butter to my bread” to me is quite simple.

It is of that that I love.

My Hubs..the Butter to My Bread…cause quite frankly there ain’t alot of people who will put up with this hot mess that is me!

My crew – we are pounds and friggin’ pounds of butter of complete and utter buttery mess…YAAASSS ladies – you know who you be!

My family the Butter Cream icing for my soul.

My Children – oooooffff  – that melty goodness that you pour over popcorn that take away all the bads of life.

THEN…The Clarified Butter…the perfect concoction of the most highest supreme of the best dairy of life.

Evie June Brady – the true butter to my bread.

Ya Ya Ya every grand parent in existence has heralded the tales of how the grandchild has changed their lives.

But – this one – has changed my life.

Sweet and unbending as butter sometimes is – this wee one has re-educated me in the art of patience (when she is tossing her blueberries everywhere) and how to play again with crayons and stuffies and silly gibberish of the words she is trying to form.

NOTE  – am pretty sure she is cursing me with the full sentences in her head that she is saying but I don’t quite speak her language….yet!

I can have the most shit day and I pick up my phone and scroll through the hundreds of photos of her just doing her daily routine and instantly I feel better.

This post is so NOT farm related – but I just had to get it out of my head.

Evie June Brady  – the Butter to My Bread!!!

We are truly blessed….

Sure I bitch and moan about weather this and hay that and broke always BUT really – we are blessed.

I am blessed with family – each and every misfit and oddball and whacko imaginable.  The Ins and Outs of a large family are exhausting at the best of times but I know  – deep down in the very core of my being that ONE PHONE CALL  – Hell I have an army.

We are blessed with amazing children. Truly and amazingly so very fortunate that for the most part they have found their way in life and if not – they always know that we are here and we will always be here in one shape or form. Their partners in crime at truly top notch people and well – welcome to the clan!!!

We are MOST truly blessed with a grandchild who I am convinced will rule the world someday cause DANG that child is perfect. (OK maybe not perfect but pretty friggin’ close – says this GG).

Blessed with by far the best friends a gal could ask for. Cannot even BEGIN to extole the virtues of this merry band of misfits! JEEBS  – I swear we could take over the collective and not even get our make up out of place. Ladies – you know who you are…wink wink nudge nudge.

My partner in crime – Hubs – he puts up with ALOT of shit cause let’s face it people I am NOT an easy person to live with – ask anyone!!  I am bitchy – I do NOT take criticism well – unbending and obsessive compulsive oh and add slightly (slightly mind you) neurotic – so DUDE deserves his own trophy = hell a whole wall of them!!!

I really do thank my lucky stars everyday that I have everything that I have.

There are so many unfortunate people in our universe that do not and I wish I could help them all!!!

Be kind to each other – be supportive – be there.

It’s not about “things” it’s about being present front and centre and being THAT person that you can be for others.

From our little universe here at Orange Acres to everyone – all my family – all my friends – I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas – Happy Hannukah – Kwanzaa – or however you celebrate this time of year  – all the best – really and truly!!!

And now  – a song HAHAHAHAH NOT!!! but a picture perhaps?

Hello Nyquil my old friend…

I’ve come to count on you again…

With your gel caps and your healing powers…

I smell the flowers…

Coupled with the tissues empty.

Nothing stops the ache of sinus…

FU stupid eye dryness…

And the sickness in my head…

Oh  Lord wish I were dead…

Echoed to sounds of hacking..

And the ache  settled in my bones…

Can’t help but whine and groan…

Hubs is walking around trying to assist…

It’s a miss…

Listen for the  sounds of hacking..

Sleepless nights head pounding…

Tossing turning eyes throbbing…

Add some wine don’t think I should…

Shot of gin  that can’t be good

But the aching in my bones I’m in so much pain…

Oh my brain…coupled with the sounds of wheezing.

Sleepless nights I rant alone…

Tossing, turning another moan…

Yet the earaches that are crippling in the night.

What a plight…

Endless to the sound of nose blowing.

Good morning Dayquil my dear friend…

Time to get this ass moving…

Stalls to clean and horses that need hay…

Another day…

Blasted is the bitch of sickness.

Ok – a few liberties – rhyming is hard – but I think I got my damn point across – I have  a head cold but it still beats the apocolypes that was the gastro flu last week.

Allow me a moment of bitching – I’ll have this under control by tomorrow darlings!!!!

Quick post…

Often times by people who do not know me – I may come across as cold, bitchy, aloof or robotic.

I assure you – I actually am a human being.

My famiy/friends know this. I hope they know this??? I know they do AND they know who they are MUAH!

I have often been accused…no wait too strong a word…hmmmm…no that fits as being a bitch…robotic…aloof …whatever!

I am not offended – not in the least.

I have several personas actually.

My private life – I like to keep pretty frikkin’ private. I have my girls with me (ya’ll know who you are) My family (they truly know me), my children (my heart).

I assure you  – I am human.

Children and family – you are excluded from the below – seriously – all ya’ll know where you stand.

All others – I assure you – I am actually a human being capable of emotions and not just the non smiling- work person – unemotional robot that I portray from 9-5 – Monday to Friday.

Friday – was driving to work and sadly a deer had been struck by a truck and I saw it just floundering and waiting for someone to come put it out of it’s misery – I cried. (Call hubs and ask him – he has my back)

A picture of my darling Evie today on Santa’s lap – tears again at how she has grown so much this year – fack!!!

I am a feeling, crying, bitching and moaning – F U – driven – working – playing – dammit human.

And I love the colour pink and orange and purple.

And I love stupid commercials that make you get all stupid and emotional.

And I love kittens and puppies and horses and chickens and ducks – oh and bats – I love bats.

No I am not having a nervous or emotional breakdown. (children/family and my crew  I’m fine)

I just wanted those who do NOT know me – that I actually am human.

Wow – not so short a post after all.

Carry on.

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

And the fire is NOT delightful (we are out of wood),

But I surely have a place to go (to the barn)

F U SNOW F U SNOW F U SNOW.

It ain’t showin’ signs of stoppin (no shit)

And that corn is NOT for poppin (thats your dinner I’m busy defrosting hoses)

The lights are turned way down low (because the battery powering the lights in the barn friggin died AGAIN  – stupid solar panel)

F U SNOW F U SNOW F U SNOW.

When we finally kiss good night (keep dreaming buddy),

How I hate going out on the storm (really…thru 3 feet of thigh burning lungs aching walking – my dream),

But if you only hold me tight (refer to the above ain’t happnin!)

All the way I will NOT be warm – my hands are friggin’ freezing!!!

And the fire is slowly dying (did you not see WE ARE OUT OF WOOD)

And my dear we’re still good-by-ing – (is that EVEN a word)

But as long as you love me so…

I just can’t anymore – ok – CUT!!!!

Winter blows…Winter blows…Winter blows!!!

ps. I actually like winter – I like being outside when it’s -40 and crisp but thought this might be cute pffff whatever!!!!

HA!!!!

Hubs said to me after a grueling day of chores, winterizing and well – more chores – we are halfway there!!!

We moved here – when?? – 2013 – and yet -we are still just “half way there?”

What precisely  is “halfway there?”

Is it an empty bank account from buying hay or a full heart from watching and listening to the equines that are happily munching on that hay?

Is it disgusting dirty clothes, shoes and boots – covered in the muck of a paddock that will NEVER be dry or is it the sweet smell of grass and wild flowers?

Is it the impending doom of snowfalls or the joy of those same snowfalls watching chickens and ducks flip and flop about in that first snowfall of the year?

OR….

Is it the back breaking, feet aching, frozen pizza eating, dry hands, wet feet, frozen buckets, uneven/muddy ground, stupid bugs, frozen ears life we have chosen?

Yep – there ya go.

We will ALWAYS be half way there!

I actually don’t think I EVER want to be all the way there.

For starters I’d have nothing to bitch about PLUS I’d be out of things to write about.

Maybe someday we will be all the way there – for now – I’m happy with half way there.

I have become a very lazy blogger – how sad…

It’s the inspiration that escapes me – life on the farm has been somewhat hum drum.

Time change stupidity now sees us doing chores in the darkness – the weather has just sucked and snow and cold is upon us.

After the deluge of water to a muck soaked ankle deep paddock of shit -sitting in the barn while it was pouring rain looking at the mess of our yard – I just wanted to cry.

Then I asked myself why the hell are we doing this?

Weekend comes and we scrape it all out down as deep as we can to some semblance of dry – Hubs building a shelter for our old girl and I turned to him and asked him…

“Why are we doing this?” – well he responds -“We are are cleaning the mud out to make it easier to move around”  – clearly he did not get the meaning but thats ok.

I said to him- no “why are we doing this? this farming thing? why do we put ourselves through this every year in the mud and rain and cold  – why?”

I think I caught him slightly off guard. He paused and said – “because it was our dream right? We said that our 5 year plan after the kids left home we would get a farm and we did.”

I just said – “is it worth it?” and he replied “does it make you happy?” and for once I honestly did not have an answer.

Does it make me happy? I asked him if it made him happy and of course he said – “if you are happy then I am happy”

So I guess I better do  find my damn happy!!!

I’ll start searching this weekend  – I know it’s there – I just need to find it again.

Stay tuned….

Hello my fellow Canadians – it’s Thanksgiving!!!

Gobble Gobble!!

What are you thankful for today.

Well – below is my top….list of things I am thankful for.

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!!

1. Family – we may not always see eye to eye or get along or speak – but I am thankful for growing up in a house full of misfits and odd balls – NOTE – mess with one of us and I am sure a wrath will fall on you.
2. My friends – oh lord – my friends – my loud, wine drinking, inappropriate never say die friends – ladies – hats off.
3. My job – I love my job- somedays more than others – but it does afford me my lifestyle of hay burning 4 legged pain the ass horses – my death from above ball cap crapping chicken freak out chickens and the not quite doesn’t sound like a duck – ducks.
4. My cats – Molly, Squeek, Jude, Jake, Mali, O2, and Lila Belle. My very own clowder  – go forth my pretties and seek vengeance (oh wait that should really be another post)
5. My hubs – good Lord that man has the patience of a saint I swear – this whole thing that is me is a whole different level of crazy and he puts up with it EVERYDAY!!!
6. My Son in Law – see above!!! – you think I’m crazy??? just sayin’….
7. My children – oh my children – in this whole world I have never done anything that is more important than my children – both of them are the bread to my butter (and I do LOVE butter) – my social concience – my sense of humour – my preparation for the zombie apocolyps – my sense of fashion – my all time greatest accomplishment.
8. My Grand Daughter – Evie June – I almost feel just a wee tiny bit sorry for my daughter. This one will get on every last nerve of hers for the rest of her life – and me – oh I will sit back and smile all the while nodding – Karma is a bitch gurl!!!
9. Last but certainly not leaset – me – I love my me – she is a bitch, stubborn, and opinionated. I’d like to think that I am a good person most of the time. I do not need validation in that. I know who I am faults and all.

Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends – both near and far – to those I have never met but feel I have known my whole life.

Gobble Gobble!!!!

We are all watching the news of the world – and it’s bad- we hear and see it all in this electronic age that we live in.

It is hard to comprehend because for the most part – we all really do want to do good but life beats us down sometimes and we get cold and hard and get that fuck you attitude sometimes.

BUT…

There really is good in the world – and I can attest to it.

This week my faith in humanity was restored to a certain degree and I plan on holding on to that feeling for as long as I can.

I got a text from Hubs starting with “Everything is ok”…which immediately made me sit up ALOT straighter in my chair and read on.

“The horses got out while I was feeding but they are in now and it’s ok”.

MY.HEART.STOPPED!!!

We live on an incredibly busy road that is traveled but a HUGE amount of heavy trucks and cars and traffic and this all happened at the peak of commute time.

Not sure exactly what transpired but when he opened the  paddock gate a crack to get the wheel barrow in to transport hay to our clearly starving herd – Big Horse and Girl Horse bullied their way through and decided to go on “walkabout” or in this case “runabout”

FREE FREE FREE!!!  idiots…immediately headed for greener pastures to get some grass.

Hubs – bless him – did not panic and casually made his way to barn to for halters (as I do not keep mine haltered in case of getting snagged) and lead lines.

BUT when he got back to where they were munching they had moved on to another unfamiliar spot and that is when madness ensued.

Big Horse – not understanding why Yellow was not right there started to get all widgey and then Girl Horse started as they feed off each others stupid and then Yellow started running the fence line in like “Hey – What’s going on? Why are you out there? Why am I not out there?”.

Side note – Yellow could have cleared that fence with room to spare if the notion hit him – thankfully it did not!

By this time – neighbor across the road saw that Big Horse was ever nearing the busy highway and walked over calmly to block the driveway.

Girl Horse dancing around like a moron.

THANKFULLY!!! A savior in a white pick up truck (or white steed) and his daughter stopped and positioned themselves to block any further highway mayhem!

Well needless to say after I talked to Hubs – I promptly threw up  – no seriously – barfed in trash can – thinking about good Lord how the horses could have been hit OR someone could have been seriously injured!!!

Now to track down the good samaritan’s who assisted.

Post here – post there – post post everywhere!!!

Not only do I have a name I also have an address – tomorrow – I am going to buy a nice gift card for both them and of course my neighbor across the road for saving our collective asses!!!

Every equine owners nightmare!!

Poor Hubs – what a trooper!!!