Reasons I know it’s spring (and not because I have a calendar):

1. Dinner alone.
2. I’m on dish duty again. Major bummer.
3. The sound of the dryer keeping me company.
4. Shiloh’s barking randomly because she misses her dad.
5. Making my own coffee each night.
6. Reading, a lot.
7. Grading papers to pass time.
8. All the TV’s and lights on so no one tries to mess with me.
9. Phone conversations just so we can hear each others voices once a day.
10. Waiting for the sound of a diesel truck so I can finally fall asleep knowing he’s safe at home.

More to come on being a farmer’s girl. Stay tuned. They’re just getting started.

Photo courtesy of JB 🙂

I’ve decided I’m replacing the go to color of pink in my life with turquoise. Everything turquoise.

I have several jewelry pieces, a purse, and a few tops. Now I just need to slowly weed out the every day pink items with things I can find in turquoise.

I plan to get most of my inspiration from one of my favorite bloggers.
http://crystalcattle.blogspot.com/2012/03/turquoise-thursday-j-crew-imitation.html?m=1

Every Thursday she has more wonderful ideas.

Turquoise will consume me. I’m okay with that. Really it makes my eyes pop. And when has that ever been a bad thing?

Today I met someone I admire obviously more than words could ever describe, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.

She’s the reason I started this here blog. I became obsessed with hers years ago when my sister led me to http://www.thepioneerwoman.com

When I found out she was doing a book signing near me I knew I had to take time off work, stand in line for as long as they would allow me, and meet her face to face. I had so many things to tell her and wanted so badly to have her signature in all her books that I own. I would have even let her sign my forehead if she wanted. She’s that cool. Like, I want to be her. Not in a freaky creepy way. In a best friend kind of way.

We were about 60 people deep, in line for close to 3 hours, and I became a speechless fool. I was shaking. I grinned ear to ear probably looking like such a moron.

All I can think about is all the things I wish I had said to her. So, if we meet again Ree….these are the things I plan to discuss with you:

1. First off, thank you for being so warm and fuzzy and sweet and kind.

2. Thank you for inspiring me through your blog to wait for the perfect romance. One that would, and has, transformed my life from meaningless to nothing less than perfect. Because of you I found my own little Marlboro man of the Midwest. Boy am I glad I didn’t settle before and waited for him.

3. So far my favorite recipe to cook is chicken scaloppine. I mean I love everything of yours but it’s by far my go to meal. It was the first meal I cooked for my Marlboro Man. That’s when he fell in love with me, and my cooking.

4. My MM couldn’t be here today but I’m sure he would want me to tell you thank you. He loves your recipes just as much as I do, if not more.

5. The butterflies all throughout your book make me tear with joy. You see my cousin Pam was also a fan of yours. She left this life way too soon to join my own angel mother. At her funeral they released butterflies. Since then I’ve seen them everywhere. They appear in all you do and to me it’s just a little reminder that if Pam and my momma were still on earth today I know they would have been standing in line with us too. I’m so glad I has the chance to meet you today with her beautiful daughter Jordan who makes us proud over and over and over again.

I think that covers it.

Oh, and can I stay at the lodge with you for just a bit over the summer? I’m great with kids, promise. I can ride a horse and help you ranch.

I can even keep Marlboro Man company if you need me to. I mean, you don’t like those early mornings so maybe I could fill in for you?

Think about it and get back to me.

If not, no big deal. Just thought I would throw it out there!

Living, Laughing, & Loving,
Fortunate Gal

Look at him looking at me…..

Either he
a) thinks I’m crazy
b) wants me to quiet down
c) is madly in love and can’t help but stare

I’m going with c.  This was from our adventure to Nashville recently.  We had a blast as you can tell.  We danced and we laughed all weekend long.  It was good for both of us to get away, but especially for M.  He’s been working nonstop without weekends off and every once in a while I just think it’s good for him to escape from home.  I get to see a different side of him when we get away and play.  A side I love and a side of him I know he needs.  Vacations are good for people.  They are healthy for the mind and soul. 

This picture reminded me of all the times I catch him staring at me.  At first it annoyed me.  Kinda freaked me out really.  I would ask, “What?”  He would say, “Nothing.  Can’t I just enjoy how beautiful you are?”  What a charmer this guy.  Cheesy, but a charmer. 

You see I’ve never really had someone want to stare at me before.  Never had someone tell me I look good in everything, even when I probably don’t.  I’ve never had someone want to spend all their free time with me even if it does mean attending my nephew’s basketball game or my best friend’s granny’s funeral.  I’ve just never had a love like this before.  It is pretty awesome!

And I love him just as much back.  Even though he’s sitting next to me snoring so loudly that I can barely concentrate and type this.  God love him. 

There’s something precious and sweet about seeing new lambs in the barn. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told the stories of my great grandpa calling “Lambie Lambie Lambie” while feeding the little ones with a Pepsi bottle with a nipple attached.

There’s this feeling that I get when I enter the barn. Like he’s there.

A man I don’t recall memories of but have enough to fill my someday children’s ears with. A man who meant so much to so many. A man who taught so many life lessons to family members who made me who I am today. A man who loved and nurtured my grandfather who then did the same to my mother.

A man I wish I could sit down with for just a bit and get to know. I have so many questions I’m sure he would have the perfect answer for.

But, until we meet again, I’ll keep visiting the lambies and pretend I can hear his voice exactly how he would say it. I’m sure I can if I listen hard enough.

Waking up to a sweet love note is quite possibly the best way to a start day.

Example A:

Just as I grab my morning mug for some coffee I am awakened and fresh with such a warm feeling and smile spreading across my face.

It’s really the little things.  The things that take no time at all.  The things that don’t cost money.  The things that remind one another of the feeling like that first night you met. 

I’m definitely blessed with a man who understands the little things. 

Take a minute this week and write your loved one a note and leave it in a random spot.  I promise you they will appreciate it….and I bet you will find one for yourself later on. 

Remember the little things.

I can remember, vaguely, the day she was born. I may not remember exactly the details but I can recall getting her older sister primped and ready for the hospital. I can remember being thrilled to have another cousin, especially a girl to doll up and play with. We use to watch Saturday morning cartoons together. We use to do the Barbie workout together. I can remember playing with her as if she were just a doll in our little game. She seemed to love it. Who really knows. I’m glad I have these memories. Cousins are important people. They’re more than just friends and family. It’s a difficult relationship to describe.

Times have certainly changed. That same little girl is now a beautiful young woman. She’s sweet as can be, charming, hilarious, and stunning at whatever she does.

She and her sister amaze me constantly. Just like their momma. Those three chics I most certainly could not live without.

I was so excited when her name was called last night for homecoming queen. MV couldn’t have chosen someone more deserving to represent their school.

If there’s anything I love more than my family and M it’s probably seeing my dad smiling.

We all went to karaoke Wednesday and I had the chance to see my dad just glow and shine. He has such an amazing voice and really loves to sing. He sang old gospels. He sang some patriotic numbers. He and I sang Ike and Tina’s version of “Proud Mary'”.

That was my favorite moment. During one of the instrumental breaks we looked at each other and grinned. I don’t know what he was thinking but I will tell you what I was thinking.

I am so lucky to have my Dad. He is always looking out for me. He uses his big ole heart to help others all the time. He loves his kids and family. He comes to my rescue whenever I need him. He just always wants to help. Not just me, but anyone.

You see there are constant reminders that life is short. Our family had another moment recently in which we were sympathetic to an unfortunate and familiar situation. These types of situations make me do two things.

1) always instantly miss my mom and grieve a little bit while thinking of that person realizing they now understand that very same hurt

2) thank God that I still have my Dad, sister, brother, M, aunts and uncles, and friends who are family.

I like to think of these as God’s little wake up calls to be thankful, gracious, and appreciative.

I’ve always loved cupcakes with great passion. So when M’s mom asked what I wanted for Christmas I gave her some ideas involving cupcakes.

I’ve spent a lot of time over my break baking but the last two days has been filled with cupcakes

First, the batter.
The next day was the fun with icing.

It took LOTS of practice. In fact, two and a half hours to ice 24 cupcakes.

I threw about 6 away because they looked disastrous.

Needless to say, I am not ready to open a shop anytime soon like I would love to do. It took way too long to prepare 24 cupcakes.

I guess I will have to stick to baking them for fun!

My New Years resolution is to start blogging at least once a week. Ideally I would love to blog twice a week but I’m realistic so I will start small with my goals.

Oh and some other things I resolve just about every year but rarely accomplish…in no particular order:

1. Blog weekly
2. Lose 20 pounds
3. Attend church more often.
4. Visit my mom more often and not just on special days but even those days I just need to cry or talk. I should no longer see it as a scary place.
5. Work on genealogy and make info books for everyone.
6. Visit my grandma no less than once a month.
7. Set my sewing machine up and use it.
8. Be a cupcake extraordinaire.
9. Finish several of my crosstitch projects.
10. Never bring papers home to grade. Ya right!

I think the list could probably go on to at least 20 but I’ve worn myself out just thinking about how busy I will be in 2012.

Here’s to 2012!