Walking the Land. (First Time)

    Today, well, just about 30 minutes ago, I decided to walk the entirety of the land that we're buying. It had always been too cold, too wet, or something. I wasn't able to walk it when we were just looking at the property. I was warned there were holes, and the owners and their realtor didn't want me to walk the entire thing. I could look at photos. I just couldn't take any of my own. There are a couple of areas I could drive to if I really wanted to, so I could peek over the fencing from the side of the others who own land on either side, but I trusted the surveys to tell me what the land looked like and where our boundaries are.

    The really funny (I say funny, but it was actually incredibly sad) thing was that the owners who are selling the place to us didn't know they owned 14 acres. They were told it was seven acres when they bought it. Someone was pulling the wool over someone's eyes; that's for sure. We got to the bottom of it. Our realtor put in for a survey, and through the original titles and abstracts, it was determined that we were making our offer on the land around the house, and about 12.8 more acres, not seven. (The area around the house is about 1.35 acres.)

    My daughter Laura took me on a tour. She's been around it a number of times. She's the one paying for any and all fencing. I just bought the place. I'm going to let her pay half starting in February; she's finally able to get work again. This is huge, and we're all very thankful. She's been without a regular job for nearly two years - no fault of her own. It's been unreal. Well, today, she took me on a grand tour; the weather cooperated. We walked the entire 14 acres, and I put in well over 2800 steps in doing so. I figure I can have a big honkin' tractor come in and grade down a path for me that lines the entire place, and I can just walk my own property four times a day! Done!

    We walked it, and we found many, many little deep holes in the ground.  Of course, we were careful not to step in them or around them, not wanting them to cave in and cause one of us (me) to trip.  When I got back to the computer, I looked it up, and we either have a mess of Oklahoma Brown Tarantulas living in our fine pasture, or it is more likely to be moles, voles, or pocket gophers with the occasional Cicada Killer Wasp. (Don't tell me that.) I'm really hoping it's just moles.  When I was a kid, our German Shepherd Lady Wayne put an end to one on Groundhog Day...he didn't have a chance to see his shadow.

    So, walking the land felt good. It took a while, too. We were literally out walking for more than twenty-five minutes, and we were walking at a good pace, one that would allow us to watch our feet and to keep an eye out for anything that may come out of one of those holes. The fence needs repairing, and mostly it needs replacing. That's going to be a big and long, drawn-out project for Laura. I'm going to sip my tea, write books, and pretend to catch fictional killers. I'm not about to pull lines taunt or put gloves on my hands to help her keep the lines straight. Nope, that outside area belongs to the kid. I prefer my office and the kitchen.

     When we lived in Lebanon, Indiana, for all of two or three months in 2011, we had 25 acres of land, but we also had an awful home that would never pass inspection. We had to let it go. We found out later (2021) that it was finally demolished, as was the big barn, and someone is now using the patch of grass to grow rich alfalfa hay. There was a block of four or five acres in the back that grew there when we were living there. All the hopes we had simply didn't pan out. It happens. That's why this time, we're excited to have a good home. We do have a bad barn that will need to be demolished, and that will happen. We also have a lot of hay grass on the property. Maybe Laura can find someone to mow it, and take 1/2 for themselves, leaving 1/2 for us. We'll see.

    One of the best things about this place is the potential it has. In the days, weeks, months, and years to come, it will brighten, shine, and become so pretty. Laura is looking forward to every new act that transforms the place into the horse rescue she has always wanted. This is her dream, and by her getting her wish, I have obtained one of mine.  Moms are like that, aren't they? God is good. God is always good. In so many ways, we thank Him.  Laura has named the place the Double S Equine Ranch. She'll incorporate soon and start the process to become a 501(c)3 non-profit. She's in it for the long haul. 

Photo Credit: Laura Stringfellow 

Writing Again!!

     Here it is, December 21, and I'm about to start writing again. I'm holding off until Christmas to be official.  Laura wanted me to take a break from writing, and she gave me a date when she felt it would be both beneficial and relaxing for me. She told me sometime around mid-October that she wanted me to stop writing until after Christmas. I think writing on Christmas night should work. I think that's fair. I think that's adhering to the general essence of her well-wishing.  I have four days to wait.

    What will I begin writing? Oh, that's an easy one. I'm writing my 6th novel that isn't a Nick Posh book.  I was sitting on the couch earlier, with the dogs, all of the dogs, because they like sitting with me when I write in my journal. I was sitting there, writing in my journal, when I couldn't remember exactly how many books I have actually written. I know I told everyone I had written 20 books, but then I started thinking about it. Was it actually 20, or was I just spitballin'? Well, it's 20. I counted.

    So, my new book "Cumberland" will be my 21st book. It's my 13th novel, and as mentioned, my 6th novel that isn't a Nick Posh book.  "Cumberland", like "Dion", is a little creepy at times. It's darker from the beginning and remains so throughout the entire book. It doesn't have a happy ending. It's a book with hollow and scarred characters. Life isn't always happy, and not everyone experiences the joy that others do. I will try to make it entertaining, of course, but it will also have deeper and often sinister moments, where even the hero has to get a little dirty to do the right thing.

    The fact that I haven't written in several weeks won't be a problem for me in terms of getting right back into it. I could have written another book between the last one and this one; I know that. It's just that I wanted to rest, get my head straight on the depth of each new character, and it gave me time to watch videos about the area of the country where this book takes place. I want it to be authentic without being real. It is a fiction piece; not to be considered to be true or even based on any specific true event that took place in the early 1970s in the hills of northwestern North Carolina. 

    I try to write from the perspective of a narrator most of the time, a bystander looking at what's taking place. I don't pretend to be the bringer of good tidings or the bearer of bad news; I just write and let the characters take me where they take me. I do use AI for that, but if AI writes something I don't like or disagree with, I won't keep it in the book. If it writes something I like or agree with, I'll keep it, but rewrite it so I'm not using their words. It's funny because to date, it's not considered plagiarism if you use the words that the AI spits out at you -- even if you use them verbatim. (But I still don't do it, I just can't. It's not in my soul to do it.)

    "Cumberland" will be finished around the end of January or the first of February, and then tweaked and up for publication before March. The next book will be the 8th in the Nick Posh series. It's titled "Shadow" and will be really deep and involved. I have to do a lot more research about a certain group of people before heading off into Neverland with that one. I do want it to reflect many true events, but not give anyone or any one thing credence. It needs to remain a fiction piece without those who could be guilty coming after me. It does take place in 1934, so I should be good.

    OK, so that's about it. I'm prepping to write. I'm watching videos to get ideas. I'm writing notes in the little books I keep. Each new book I write has a little notebook that I scratch ideas into. Most of the books have to share a notebook, but "Shadow" does have its own. I have a lot of small details that must be examined. I needed a full notebook for it. I'll spend two or three days just typing up the notes for that book. I write them first, then type them, and use the typed ones to review and check off as I write the actual book.  After I write the book, I go back over the typed notes to be sure I included what I wanted to include. It's part of the fluffing and stuffing process.

    Good times! I love writing. Just like I know where Laura is if I can't hear or see her in her office or the living room, she knows where I am when I write. Laura, in case you were wondering, can be found out in the pasture with the horse(s). She's a creature of habit for sure, as am I. The desk and office chair in my office know me well enough to know I'm never going to leave them for a horse. It won't happen, I promise. I do get up to grab a bite to eat, but they forgive me for that.

Photo Credit: Me (my home office) 

The Iron Tree

     One of the best places to visit when you go to a little town is their quaint, often very personally decorated, coffee shops. El Reno, Oklahoma, has one; it's called the Iron Tree, and it is so very wonderful. The building was probably one of the first built in the city, between 1889 and 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. It's not known exactly who all of the owners or tenants may have been. It is certainly worth visiting now! If you haven't done so, put El Reno, Oklahoma, on your list of places to visit when taking your next Route 66 exursion. The hot coffee and warm atmosphere of the Iron Tree will win you over!

    Inside the place, there's a little nook where people donate books for others to take home with them. You bring a book, you take a book. It's one of those places.  On several occasions now, I have taken it upon myself to donate 6-12 books at a time that I've personally written. I'll leave them there, and by the time I've walked around the city streets talking to my neighbors, checking out all the really cool values I can find, I can go back into the Iron Tree to get a coffee to go, and all of my books will have found new homes.

    Today, again, just for fun, I took 6 copies of "Of Kilted Pleasure" and one copy of "Amicus Curiae" into the Iron Tree to give away. When I pulled up outside the place, there were several professional-looking bikes lined up against the wall. Inside the place was a half dozen hobbiests who were enjoying a rest from their annual Christmas on 66 bike expedition. I don't think it's just people from Oklahoma City; I think it's pretty well organized. The folks inside today were from Oklahoma City, about 15 miles away. The Iron Tree was their stop off, and when they finished their drinks and had scarfed down some delicious pastries, they set off again to go home. Don't ask me to ride 30 miles a day on a bike! (I was so impressed!) 

    None of the riders could take a book, as they didn't have a place to put them while riding, but a lovely couple was coming into the store just as I was leaving. I coaxed them into looking at the books, and the woman (her name is Claire) was over the top thrilled to take "Amicus Curiae" with her; she's a big murder buff -- or you know, a fan of reading about murder...in books. I don't think Claire actually enjoys murder. Her partner was just as happy to take one of the copies of "Of Kilted Pleasure," and both of them were sweet enough to give me a good hug and a "Merry Christmas" as well. I love this place. 

    Having a place like the Iron Tree to hang out, give away books, talk to friends, and just chill is so amazing. I'll do it more soon. I think I may make it a weekly thing if I can. I don't mind getting the books out there - who knows, it may be the way to get people talking. If the people who come in aren't always from El Reno, the books could go anywhere and everywhere, and if I can get folks to review them -- well, you just never know. I would love, love, love to have readings and talks where we discuss the books, the characters, and the upcoming sequels. It would make me so very happy. 

    So you know, just in case you're thinking of coming to El Reno, and you find the Iron Tree on Woodson, keep in mind that if you drive down Bickford to get there, it's a one-way street. Don't be like me...yes, the very first day I lived in El Reno, I drove down the street the wrong way. It's a miracle I wasn't stopped by the cops. It's 2025, I'm more than sure there were cameras, and if there are, they had a good laugh! I did it again on 27th Street by Walmart. I pulled into the left side thinking it was 27th, but it wasn't the right lane to pull into -- I was a dork.

    The Iron Tree has great food. It has great coffee. They serve alcoholic drinks there, too! They have live music, and they don't charge anyone anything to come in and listen. You never know what to expect. Some crazy author can poke her head into the place and pass out books - Willie Nillie! You just don't know what to expect, but you can always expect great service, great drinks, and hot, hot coffee!! (Irish and otherwise) They aren't on Main Street, but they are right across the street from Mid First Bank, so you can find parking at the bank if all the parking spots on the street are taken. I don't know that I've ever seen all the spots taken, but I imagine it happens.

    Google the place.  Find them on Facebook!  They have a 4.8 rating on Yelp, and I'll see if I can go in and make it 4.9 with a review. I had an amazing chai latte today, only because a woman ordered it and then realized she'd left her wallet in her other purse. I offered to buy it, but she wouldn't let me. The barista had already made it - I bought it for myself. It was great. I'm not really a chai-latte kinda gal, but I may get it again soon. It was really good. My favorite is their peppermint mocha coffee; they beat Starbucks hands down. I think it was $4.75, I'm not sure. Worth it.

Photo Credit: Jude Rushing (another Jude!) 

Christmas is Coming!

     We're just five days away from Christmas, and the vibe here in El Reno, Oklahoma, is better than it was in Oklahoma City, in that I am not hurried, and nothing feels as if it is too pressured. If I want to put up a tree, I will, and I did. If I want to go see lights, I might. There's a place to do that. But for me, and for a great number of people, Christmas isn't about presents, and it's not about lights or shiny things. It's about remembering the days that led up to the birth of Christ; something far more important than running around buying gifts and making sure they're wrapped just right with the right colors of paper and the invisible tape so no one can see the seams. (People actually do that.)

    So, here, at the Stringfellow homestead, Laura and I have set up the tree together. I put it up about 10 days before Christmas, to give the cats a few days to acclimate to it. I don't put lights on it, and I don't put the bulbs on it, not until it's been seen, sniffed, and thoroughly examined and finally ignored by every cat in the house. This year, we have three cats to consider: Bilbo, Frodo, and Pippin (are you sensing a theme?). If the cats can't be bothered, we decorate.

    Laura pulled out the long strand of lights, and before she plugged them in, she wrapped the tree with them. When they didn't light up, I saw her face! It was hilarious. Yep, that's why you plug them in first. So, Amazon it was! I ordered them around 6:00 p.m., and just before 7:00 a.m. the next morning, we had lights. There were 200 little multi-colored lights on sale for something like $7, so yeah, that's the way to go. She plugged them in, they worked, she strung them, and I set off with the ribbon, the garland, and all the cute little unbreakable bulbs and hangy-things. Jeannie gave me a couple, too, little Charlie Brown characters! They're up there inside that cheap little wonderful tree.

    I think I bought the tree last year for around $30 in the summer, thinking to myself that buying a tree in August made sense. It did! We put it up, it looked rather sparse to be honest, with lots of "holes" or space that needed to be filled with garland, bulbs, lights, ribbons, and I even put my Christmas cards in the tree -- and a few toys; just for fun. I typically, well sometimes, put candy canes in the tree as well - but I haven't done that this year. There's still time. I could run to Dollar General and pick up a box.

    Because there are a few things that can't go without doing, I ran to Dollar General and to Family Dollar to find the worst chocolate ever made: Queen Anne's cordial cherries. You know you love them, but the chocolate is nothing to be desired. We do it because it's what you do. If anyone actually got around to making cordials that tasted better than Queen Anne's, I wouldn't know it - I should find out. I eat a box every year, but I don't complain that they don't rank among the best-made chocolates. I smile and remember all the times I ate them as a kid.

    I like ribbon candies, hard candies that you can't buy any other time of the year. I like peppermint bark, rainbow candy canes, and anything made by Reeses that is shaped like anything that is supposed to be festive.  I bought a bunch of garland for the tree, and super cheap, cute ornaments that I thought I simply had to have. I have them now. I don't have to do the same thing next year, but I bet I do anyway. I think I will. I think that after a few years, the tree will finally be full and I'll say, "OK, that looks good."

    I thought I'd get around to hanging lights around the windows, but no, I didn't do that. I thought I would search the garage, where all of our stuff was put when we moved, to see if I could find the plaid tree skirt. I didn't find it. I threw a throw blanket around the bottom of it and called it done. It's pretty. The dogs like it. I will have to drive back to one of the stores and get a set of reindeer ears to put on the dogs, maybe an elf hat, or something silly -- that's another tradition you have to keep going if you have dogs. (Cats never really cooperate when I try to force the issue.)

    This is the first of many Christmases in our new home. It should be special, and it will be. We can't have a fire in the fireplace until we have it checked and certified, but we can decorate the mantle. We'll buy the moving reindeer next year, and maybe hire someone to do the lights outside. Laura may volunteer to do it too; you just never know. I'm not going to crawl up onto a ladder and stretch over things to put them up. I see online they have new types of fast, easy, fun, safe lights you can put up with light adhesive -- that makes me happy. 

    We have hot cocoa! We have the dogs, the cats, the smiles, the hopes, and the promise that this season, and every Christmas season, is possible only because Jesus came down from His throne in Heaven to humble Himself to the point of being born of a woman, in the lowest of places, and because He determined that we were worthy to save - we are saved. Glory to God in the Highest! Merry Christmas to every last soul on the Earth. Our King is alive, and He will return.

    Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

Photo Credit: Me. (I bought 4 bags) 

The Spiders in My Life.

     If you are a spider, and you think you're going to live rent-free in my house, you may have to rethink your last thought. I am not as spider-friendly as some. In fact, there are times when I would just as soon smash one that is crawling around on my floor as quickly as possible. I may end up throwing an article of clothing over it first before doing the wild and crazy necessary dance, but I don't just allow these things full access. I say that, then I remember the three years I lived with a Daddy-Longlegs in my bathroom. To be honest, it wasn't my bathroom, but my parents' bathroom. 

    I can't remember the exact dates, but I was living off and on with my mom and dad for weeks or even months at a time between going back and forth somewhere. I would hesitate to take a bath, knowing that the little creepy dear was watching me. He'd been given a name. You can't just sweep down a menace if he's been given a name. I have no idea to this day whether or not it was a boy spider, but since it was a Daddy-Longlegs and not a Momma-Longlegs, it went without saying that Henry was in fact a boy! He can get back at me later if I was misgendering him or her; someday, when we're all in Heaven, and he finds me again.

    Henry unceremoniously lived in the bathroom because it was quiet, and it was warm and sometimes steamy. He'd hang out on the ceiling, edging his way over to the shower. If I saw him anywhere near the shower head or any of the faucets, I would simply postpone my bath or shower until he decided to move again. It wasn't often that he forced me to change my mind. He was, in that regard, a very likable and amicable roommate. I did learn a bit about the species from talking to others. Every now and again, I'd see a fly or something caught up in a web in the corner, and I knew Daddy-Longlegs aren't actually spiders in the first place. They can't make webs. There must have been something else in the bathroom bringing Henry food.

    I'd exit the bathroom, and my mom would call out, "Say hi to Henry for me!" I'm not sure if she was mocking me, or if she was as sick as I was for not just killing the damn thing.  The spider I saw in my house today is just lucky I didn't have a blow torch handy! I just really don't do spiders. I'm not jumpy when I see them, but I don't want them hanging out where I can see them. I know the old adage that we're only 10 feet away from a spider at any moment of our lives. I get that, but I don't have to see them, do I? I don't have to interact. I can still hate quietly and either walk away, or find something to pick it up and assist it going outdoors where I think they belong.

    Of course, we could try to see if from the multiple-eyes view of the hairy little monsters, and say maybe I'm invading their space. Maybe they were here first, but they're not paying the mortgage, I am. They will either stay out of sight or face the bug-bomb if I see them too often. Then there's Laura. She defends every one of them unless it's a Recluse or Black Widow. She'll go to bat for every Wolf spider on the planet, explaining why they are so needed. Fine, he can feel needed in her room, not mine! He needs to understand that.

    I didn't have anything handy to squish him with before he (again, me assuming the spider's gender) under the baseboard and found safety. I did fumigate his fuzzy little butt with 1/4 a can of spray disinfectant. My room smells good now, and it will be germ-free for weeks. The dog can't go into the space for another hour or so, but the spider, you know, will survive! He will likely scurry his little self over to another place, another space, and just hang out again -- until he attacks me in my sleep or something. He may have to be found.

    I was a little rattled by it, so I did what I thought was a good thing to do. I ate a Hostess Ding Dong, gulped down a 20-oz bottle of water, took in a few deep breaths, and told Laura she needs to try and find him because if I do, he may not survive it. She's still sitting at her computer, laughing at me. If she keeps it up, I'll grab the entire box of Ding Dongs and not share. I am not above that. I know how to punish that woman. I gave birth to her! You'd think she could at least save me from the grips of a harmless insect now and again.

    Photo Credit: Thrive Pest Control (this isn't really Henry, but this is what he looked like) 

Food / Grocery Comparison. (I love this)

     I love food. I'm sure you do too. It's something we all, more or less, have in common. Yes, of course, some eat more of it, and those who eat different types, but we all have to agree, we all love food. Well, I now live in a different city than I have lived in for over 11 years. Before I lived in the bigger city of Oklahoma City, I was in a large city in Indiana, and I never got around to doing much of a food comparison because it didn't interest me. I would buy something at this or that store, and if I found it cheaper somewhere else, I wasn't going to drive around town to pick it up because it would waste time, energy, gas, etc. 

    Now that I'm older, living in a smaller town and able to do so, I have been checking the prices of food at the local United Supermarket, whose name brand is Best Choice. I think Best Choice is mainly associated with a group called "Associated Wholesale Grocers".  Homeland stores carry the brand as well. We have one about 1.5 miles from my house. I pulled into the parking lot today around 9:30 a.m. (Saturday) And I counted the cars. There were 12.   Twelve cars, and that did include the workers as well.  

    I walked around the brightly lit store, and I was virtually alone.  I had a list, a prepared list of things we needed, but also things I hadn't recently purchased anywhere. I wanted to get my long receipt and compare the prices with both Walmart and Kroger to see which store(s) were cheapest and most reliable. The result of my little experiment may or may not shock you. I was able to get everything on my list, and then I picked up something else that was NOT on the list, but I absolutely could not have refused it -- they were not only on sale, but they were also practically giving them away.

    Frito brand chips were 3/$5.00, and they are the 9.25 oz size bags! You bet I did that. I bought the honey BBQ twists, the chili cheese, and a bag of original chips so I can make Frito pies. I never buy corn chips, but did today! Laura was quite happy when she saw them.  At $1.66 a bag, I'm not saying no. Someone I know says, "You can't leave them on the shelf at that price", and I agree wholeheartedly.  They came home with me, along with beef franks, Polish sausage, olives, pickles, frozen veggies, milk, sour cream, butter, and a few other things that you can get at all three of the stores I was using for the comparison.

    Once finished, my bill was $119.35 after tax. Oklahoma doesn't charge a food tax, but there is still a city and county tax to pay. I'm happy it was only 4.5%. It makes a difference when you shop online at Kroger, and they charge more. Walmart had literally everything United had, no exceptions, but their Frito products were upward of $3.79. Where that's not a bad price, we just never buy corn chips. Now, I suppose if I'm driving around and get a hankering for corn chips, I'll pull into United before I pull into Walmart. They are also located closer to the front of the store. 

    OK, so here's the final tally -- and like I said, it may or may not surprise you.  United is 3% cheaper than Walmart (generally speaking) on the items that I purchased, but there were several times that Walmart was cheaper. It's just that what I ended up buying today favored United. If I shopped mostly at Walmart for staples like flour, sugar, meats, and produce, Walmart would win every time. Kroger, sadly, even though I wanted it to be different, failed. They are upwards of 27% higher than United and 22% - 25% higher than Walmart. Then, when you tack on the tax and tip -- well, they lose.

    We recently bought a week's worth of groceries at Kroger, just to get things started at the new home. I paid $102.00, and it lasted 6 or 7 days. I just spent $119 at United, but I didn't buy the meats or produce, so I can't say for sure how long it will last.  I'm positive, however, that if I were to buy my meats and produce at United, it would be at least 10% higher than Walmart. I do have the added benefit of going to a store that is virtually empty, and I can get in and out without any issue. That is a big factor, and it will make a difference depending on when I'm out and about doing my weekly shopping.

    Walmart, unlike Kroger or United, has many more things in the store to pick up if I'm already there. I could never, and I mean never, do that in Oklahoma City proper, for fear of being followed, stalked, or even accosted.  Any store that has to have metal detectors and people scanning your receipts to see if you stole from them is not a place I want to shop at or give my money to. I want peace. I want tranquility. I like good, friendly, genuine customer service, and I get it at both the El Reno Walmart and United Supermarket. (I get it at Kroger too, but that's because it's online shopping.)

    There you have it. United for the win if I'm running in to pick up this or that. Walmart is my main shopping spot, and I don't think I'll hit up Kroger again. Sadly, they are probably out the door. They do, however, have orange DreamCycle ice cream, and I can't get that at United or Walmart. It's a sad thing, but true. I have Braum's! I don't know if they have that flavor, but I can write to them and ask them to start making it. When I tell you it's great, you have to know, it is SO VERY wonderful. 

Photo Credit: Me

That Didn't Take Long!

     If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, the best thing about horse people is their dogs. It's so true. It doesn't matter who the people are, and I'm including myself in this mix, but no one tells the complete truth when it comes to the horse they are trying to sell or trade. It just doesn't happen. Well, it does happen when we sell or trade. It's like online dating; when I was stupid and did that for a while back in the late 90s, I always told the truth about my age, height, weight, etc., but I was the only one who did. 

    So, here we are, just one day into having the horses on our land, when it became very apparent that the people we got the Paint mare from didn't exactly tell the whole truth about her. Sure, they said she was likely pregnant, and she is, but they also said they believed she had been ridden in the past and that she had been out in the pasture the last year or so.  They said she was around 15 to 16 years old, and she's not. The good news is she's younger than they said, but the bad news is she's not really even halter-broke. She is, but she's only had one on her face a few times. She didn't know how to lead.

    Not to worry. I will sell the mare immediately, and then, instead of getting myself another horse, I'm just going to let Laura keep all the horses. I'll feed them, groom them, watch them, love them, and video, but I don't need to ride. I thought I wanted to, but I really don't. I don't think my hips can take it. This cold air is really doing a number on me, so if I did manage to get up on top of the animal, I may not have the control I need, and that could turn out disastrous for me. If I got up there and couldn't get down, I can't guarantee any of the firemen in our area wouldn't laugh and post about it later. 

    Nope, I thought I wanted a horse. I really did. When they arrived last evening, and it was just over 30 degrees outside, and my mare decided to stay where she was in the big trailer she'd spent a few hours in, I stood outside shaking and freezing myself to the bone, hoping to get some sort of video. Laura had to put a little training into the situation, and when we got the mare into the paddock, she almost immediately began testing the fenceline. Nope...she's outta here! I asked Laura to post her on Facebook, and within a few minutes, we had several people interested. She's gorgeous! She's also pregnant, and a lot of people really like baby horses.

    Am I sad? No. Actually, I'm not. I'm happy, really, because it means Laura gets another horse for herself, and I don't have to pay for feed, vet bills, tack, or anything. I'll continue to buy the carrots and treats, though. I will forever be the treat-lady. That's me. I can do that. I can brush them when it's warmer, and I'll hang out with them, but no, I don't need to ride. I'll have hundreds of millions of years to ride when we get to Heaven, and I won't worry about breaking something. I can just see myself falling off, being bucked off, or just not being able to get down from it - and needing to roll off. No, thank you.

    Laura's little Arab-cross mare (Lady Sif) is an amazing girl. She's pretty, pristine, and polite. The paint is gorgeous for sure, but she's nosy, bossy, marish, and pushy. I don't need that. She'll make someone a good ride when they get her trained. We don't have the patience or time for that. With her being pregnant, she won't be able to be trained until after the baby is born and weaned. It will be June or July before the training can begin - I don't want to keep paying for feed and bills on something I can't use. If Laura wants to do something that, or if someone else wants to, that's FINE, but not for me. I only keep horses that are both useful and rideable. Anything else is wasteful. (for me)

    At least I can always find Laura now when I don't see her inside at her desk. She's been non-stop hovering over the two horses since they were delivered. She's checked on them at least a dozen times to my once, and she's so giddy and happy...you'd think she had won the lottery -- she may need to. Horses are expensive. The other thing I always say is, "If you have horses, you need money because you won't have any if you keep them."

Photo Credit: Me (Jace) 

My Obsession with TSC.

     Some people have a hard time going into a bar and spending more than they should. It isn't uncommon for a few people I know to go into a bar, drop a $100 bill for a few drinks, and maybe a little something to eat. They'll stay two hours or so, and meet people, dance, and talk. They think it's worth it. They enjoyed themselves, and I would never tell them they shouldn't have fun.  Likewise, there are those who find going to the casinos more fun than going to a bar. They'll spend so much money trying to win so much more. I'm not into it, but hey, if they are, that's their gig.

    My obsession now, and I suppose it's an older one, is Tractor Supply.  I am that person who walks into the store thinking I'm picking up a bag of dog food, only to realize my horse may or may not need something. Usually, the horses don't need anything, but there I am looking up and down those aisles...you know, just in case.  I mosey past the car and truck stuff, not even thinking about what Stephen (my car) may want. I find myself in the clothing; I find myself thinking about boots. I could always use another pair of mucking boots, right? 😏

    I won't exit the building (usually) without dropping over $100 for feed, food, fleece, or footwear. Today, I was on a mission because the horses we rescued are coming tomorrow. They were going to come on Wednesday, just two more days away, but with the winter vortex hitting just north of the Oklahoma border, the hauler (a woman in Kansas) decided tomorrow would be better. It's OK, it saves me $60! I love saving money, but we weren't ready for them, and I needed to make a trip to my happy place.

    Since Laura won't let me lift anything, I engaged the help of a young worker named Bryan. He was truly a sweet, very cute kid, around 19 or 20. He told me he's not from our city, but goes to school and needed a job. He's driving farther to work than I would, but I think the Tractor Supply in his area was fully staffed, so he took a shift way out this way. He's like me; he can't break away from the words "on sale" or "clearance".  He told me Black Friday and Cyber Monday are his two favorite days of the year.

    I'm going to save up for next year's Black Friday special if it's anything like this year's special on ATVs. I could use a $3000 savings on a Gator! I think honestly, though, if I had to guess, I'd end up buying something used and keeping it on the farm rather than dumping a whole lot of money on a new vehicle. I can't see myself spending $6000 when $2000 will do the trick. It is fun to look though. I'll stick to my several bags of feed, dog food, cat food, litter, and that long-sleeved Carhartt T-shirt that I didn't need. You know I won't forget the pecan rolls, Charleston Chews, or Cow Tales. Nope, those are a staple.

    I like Tractor Supply a lot, but if my city had an Atwoods, I might switch loyalties. Not gonna say it loud or anything, but I could see that happening.  One of the great things about living on land and needing to fix something every week is that Tractor Supply is only 1/2 mile from me. If they don't have it and I'm forced to go to Atwoods, I only have 10.6 miles to go.  I can see myself doing it just to be doing it, if you want the truth. I could sneak over there, maybe pick up a sandwich at Earl's BBQ (Yukon), and make a day of it. I could swing by Ollie's too while I'm living large in the moment.

    People in El Reno like to say that folks who live in Yukon are rich and uppity. It isn't true; not for the most part, but it is fun to listen to the people talk about their neighbors the way they do. We came from Oklahoma City, another two cities west of Yukon, and I can tell you, not one of us ever thought those living in Yukon held a candle to what we had in the Big City. Still, it's fun to see the small-town rivalry extend beyond the football field into the streets and byways. I'm an El Reno Indian now. I've even got the T-shirt to prove it. I will take Jeannie to the game next fall too; she'll like that.

    Recently, my Tractor Supply addiction has forced me to pick up fencing supplies for both the horse and dog fences. I've got a co-worker helping Laura put up the two fences, and he's loving the freezing weather so much more than I would. You should have seen the restraint I had while walking through the store today, picking up the new 40-gallon rubber trough, feed, a few treats, medical aids for the horses, and an 80-foot garden hose. I did stop by the dog food, picked up a sack, and I did happen to get Laura her fix (the pecan rolls and Cow Tales), but I did not, did not, did not, purchase anything else -- I was so good!

Photo Credit: TractorSupply.com 

Differences and Challenges.

     Obviously, when you move to a new place, no matter where it is, or what the differences are regarding the type of housing, you're going to find that there are both good and bad differences, and even some that don't really fall into either of those two categories, but they are in fact differences. There will be challenges, good or bad. There is simply no way a person can move from one place to another without realizing that things will no longer be one way and that things are definitely another way, now that the move has taken place. We're in the middle of all that now.

    I'll start off slow and give you all the things that come to mind right off the top of my head; they may or may not mean much to you. This is my blog, and I'm writing it for my family and friends. If you're reading it and we're not related, you probably should go ahead and count yourself among my online friends. If I don't remember your birthday, I apologize.

    To start, the biggest difference is that I now live in a city of about 17,500 people, as opposed to 500,000. My old zip code had twice as many people as we do now.  You see it, and you feel it. You notice immediately that there aren't as many people driving around, roaming, or just in parking lots, stores, or on the streets. This means I can (and do) drive around without the noise, the loud booming music, the crazy drivers, etc. I love that.

    I pull into my drive and drive about a 1/4 of a city block before reaching my house. I literally lived on the street in the last house. There was the street, which was busy all the time, and then there was a curb, a three-foot sidewalk, and another four or five feet before you reached the edge of my porch. That is not the case now. My mailbox is about a football field length from my house. The one in the city was on the house.  I pull into a garage now, not a carport, and no one is inside my garage when I do. There have been times when the homeless and just passersby would be standing in my carport, which is upsetting at best. 

    The dogs aren't barking as much because they're still cooped up inside the house at this point, but when they do go outside (when the fence is up), they'll be able to bark to their hearts' desire. They can bark and bark, and then, if they want to, they can keep on barking. We were tattled on at the old place and received a warning from the city. We bought shock collars, and we monitored how long the dogs could stay outside. If they barked through the high-pitched sirens on the collars, we brought them in immediately. We can't afford $170 fines! That will not happen where we live now.

    We have carpet in the bedrooms. I'm OK with it, but I will have to watch the dogs as they tend to think it's a softer place to squat when they haven't been walked enough. We need to get that fence up as quickly as possible. It's going up this week.  We love the color of the new carpet; it's between silver and grey. The hardwood flooring is nice throughout the rest of the house, and with the living space being so much bigger than it was in the last house, we see a lot of it. The living room is literally twice as large as it was before.

    Laura is using the dining space as her office. She really couldn't do that in the other house. It wasn't set up correctly and had both an opening to the living area and a side or front door, depending on which side of the house you considered the front or side. She's able to set up her little space the way she wants, and in time we'll wall it off to give her even more privacy. This is such a good thing. She's already opening up and enjoying herself like she hasn't in several years.  I like seeing her this happy.

    We have a real working fireplace. It's gas, which isn't my favorite, but as soon as it is serviced this week, we can use it. We haven't had one. We had a fireplace in the apartment for 9 years, but were unable to use it because the complex never had it serviced. This is a great addition to our happier mental selves, as we plan to use it often. You know Laura will make me watch a few YouTube videos first, but we'll get it done. What in the world did we do before YouTube? I guess we just figured things out on our own. God forbid! 😆

    Our kitchen is larger here. It has a Maytag dishwasher that works. It has a little more storage space, but the big news is that my dad made the cabinets many years ago, and just knowing that makes this place all the more dear to my soul and helps me to cope with just about anything that is out there to bother me. He made mostly great decisions, so I lean into those memories when I'm in the kitchen, the bathroom, and even the hallway because there are vanities and a gun cabinet that he made as well. The other house was nice, but nothing can compare to what your dad makes.

    Last thing for now, we have horses. We haven't had them at our own place since October 2012. We owned a 25-acre place with a really bad house for about three months until we couldn't close because it was just so bad. It didn't and would never have passed inspection. We kept the horses, but had to board. We have always boarded, and it's always been damned expensive. It's still expensive; don't get me wrong. We're paying more for this place than we have ever paid before, but when you consider that I'm paying a normal price for the house and what I would have to pay for board, we're good.

    We have 14 acres, of which we can use 9.2.  We can have 6 or 7 horses if we want, but we'll just have our two and Laura will quarantine four more for the county, and earn a little money to help offset the costs.  We could never have done that before. We can walk out the back door and see our horses soon. They arrive on Wednesday.  She's always loved horses, as I have, but she has a deeper and more spiritual connection with them. Having them outside will not only help her mentally but also boost her spirit and give her many more reasons to work out physically. This is her time to shine. We have only God to thank, and we do.

    There you have it. There are tons more things to discuss and so many observations to go over. We have a few nut and fruit trees in the yard. We'll have to find someone to cut the hay-grass in the spring, but we're just so blessed and happy to be where we are. We're genuinely hoping to be here until Jesus returns. If that happened today, we would not complain. If He waits, we will not complain...too much.

Photo Credit: Me. (Jace, my Paint mare)

Black Friday and Me.

     I have so many memories of not shopping on Black Friday, just because when we were growing up, my mother didn't want us to be hurt by all the "crazy mothers" out there who push through the throngs of people to pick up whatever doorbuster was on sale. It would have been Sears, Montgomery Wards, or maybe even TG&Y, but even back in the day, my mom was concerned about all the would-be dangers that could happen to any one of us four kids. She was also not going to place herself at risk. I remember that. It stuck in my brain, so when I grew up and could make decisions for myself, I was leery of going to any store that advertised 'too-amazing-to-be-true' sales on Black Friday.

    One Black Friday in particular, which I do remember, happened about ten years ago. Jeannie and I went to Target after all the early bird specials. We weren't going into the store to get presents for ourselves or anyone. We were going to get her hair gel, and I think I wanted cat litter or something. What we were purchasing isn't the reason I remember the event. About an hour after we had shopped, I was notified by my bank that someone had tried to use my credit card. Because it was after 5:00 p.m., the bank was closed, and this was long before banks could print another card. I lost the use of my only means of paying for anything - and  I lost it for a week!

    I had to drive to the bank to withdraw money, and I was only allowed to withdraw $300 a day. I had bills to pay, but no checks. The bank gave me desk checks, and I had to write my name, address, and phone number on each one. One was rejected, and it was just such a hassle! Times have changed, and I'm so grateful for that. Recently, after a fraud notice, my bank "captured" my card, but I was able to drive to the branch and get another card with a different number immediately. It was still a hassle, but nowhere near as inconvenient as it was that Black Friday weekend.

    I think I may have purchased one big-ticket item on Black Friday while in a store on that day, and my memory wants to say it was a television. I just don't go into department stores on that day. It would have been in the late 1990s. I'm not pulling the complete memory out of my head at the moment, but I will say that since the invention of the internet, I have faithfully watched the uploaded "crazy mother" videos that show way too much open hostility. It's calmed down a lot since the invention of online shopping, but it's still a treat to watch the funny crazies out there pulling each other's hair out to get the last big whatever is reduced to a ridiculous price.

    This year, because I could and really wanted one, I bought a countertop air fryer-toaster oven that also bakes. It's a Hamilton Beach model, and it has all the bells and whistles I need. I think Laura and I will use it more than we will our conventional oven. I bought it online (Amazon). Their Black Friday specials started this past Monday. It's easier to use, uses less energy, and is compact, fitting perfectly in our new kitchen. I did get it on a Black Friday special, but it's still Thanksgiving, so I'm not sure if that counts as cheating.  I don't think it is. I waited for it to go on sale rather than buying it before we moved. I saved about $27 by waiting.

    Walmart does have them, but only 2 are in stock, and their Black Friday price was higher than Amazon's. I'm not driving to the store, waiting in line before dawn to get the thing. Nope. I ordered it, and I'll wait for it to be delivered on Monday. I'm OK waiting for it. We have our menus planned out for the weekend. I will say this: shopping in-store on Black Friday is still not going to happen. Jeannie is coming over tomorrow, and we'll go to Walmart if she wants to, but I'm not using my card. I know it's not the same, and I know that fraud or security measures are so much better now, but I don't care. If we don't need to go, we don't need to go. 

    I don't think we'll get a discount at our favorite Mexican restaurant, but you just never know. They may have a special. It's worth checking it out, and unlike the lines in Oklahoma City today for an open restaurant, all of our food places in this city are generally uncrowded and just waiting for you to walk through their doors! I love this place. 

Photo Credit: Walmart.com