Signs of Spring Brings Joy, Interuptions Aggravate

I love Spring, it is my most favorite season, so many signs of God's wonderful creations- they just make my heart sing and bring joy to my world.

Yesterday, I truly was greeted by new life in so many ways when I arrived home from work. The first thing I see as I am walking up to my door is our newly planted garden, starting to show the fruits of Studmuffin's labor. Okra plants are popping up out of the ground and and all our other favorite vegetables looking green and alive! Hey, we don't exactly have green thumbs around our house, but Lord how we try.

This brings a smile to my face, of course, but not as much as my "tommy toe" tomatoe plant in my whiskey barrel by the door. It has literally grown at least 6 inches overnight and has some tiny green balls on it! Its a good day (only to get better).

So I'm in the kitchen whipping up some awesome chef salads for supper and my daughter runs in with something in her hand. My first thought (and fear) was another green baby snake which my husband found last weekend and thought it necessary to bring to me to see- NOT!! I hate snakes. Nope, not a snake, it is a brand new solid black baby kitten that studmuffin found while cleaning out his shop. I thought that mean heffer of a cat was impregnated. Now I know. We only found one- but there may be more...

I'm a dog, duck, pig, person, not overwhelmingly smitten by cats, but something about baby animals...they are just so darn cute. So I'm sitting in the chair, watching Wheel of Fortune and here she comes again. "Come look!, Come look!" and behind her is Studmuffin who says "I'm through- we have a farm." Of course I go to see what all the commotion is about and under our back deck is the cutest little yellow baby gosling. Dang those things are big for just being hatched. I knew the goose had been sitting on some eggs, but the ducks and geese laid and sat all spring long last year with nothing to show. So we are really surprised and glad to see the little tike.

Studmuffin shows me about 20 more duck and geese eggs that "should be hatching soon". Oh my, what to do with all these critters?? So I am wondering all of this- okay, we have dogs everywhere, 6 ducks and 3 geese, now where are we going to find room for bunches and bunches of little ducklings and goslings? Oh, not to worry, he says, they will have several chickens to keep them company when he builds a chicken coup this weekend for his chickens.... Wasn't he just saying he was through because we were having a farm (in studmuffin talk, this means- he ain't doing nothing else because the animals are taking over- but he loves every dad blasted minute of it!)

So I'm thinkin gof officially changing our business from Dazy's Darlin Doxies to Floyd's Beaks, Claws and Paws. Dats a whidea waint it? (don't ask- it goes back to an old family members saying)

Anyhow, so all of this really puts me in a lovely mood, signs of Spring, nice weather, birds and butterflies in the air. What a life.

Then something has to aggravate it. I really feel guilty even griping about this subject, but dang. It's got to be said. I'm sitting in my recliner about 7:45 watching American Idol, I've stripped my work clothes off and in some jogging shorts that are really short but oh so comfy, my shoes in the middle of the floor, supper dishes in the sink- my house not in order- not nasty or really even dirty but just cluttered from all the kids stuff and mine too. I'm relaxing, want to watch my show in some peace and quiet.

Then IT happens. The kids run in and say "Momma, some people are outside, they want to talk to you and Daddy". Who would this be? If its not J or an occasional person from the Sheriff's office needing Studmuffin's help with a computer, most people don't visit me on the weekdays. So I start to cringe. I have this thing about people being in my house when it isn't presentable. I really have this thing about strangers showing up unannounced, then wanting to enter my home and "sit down and chat." Come to find out, they are from a church down the road. They flocked to Studmuffin while he was outside burning some wood/junk. When I walked out (as I was whispering to the kids, light a candle, pick up, spray air freshener) I could see the look of "please help me" on his face. He is shy and doesn't talk much to strangers and we have never laid eyes on these people. Everything is going well they are just telling us how they'd like to have us there. Then, BAM! Here we go, one of the men pulls his Bible out of his back pocket and he starts preaching to Studmuffin.He has this deer in the headlights look. Oh my. " Please don't push it, I keep thinking, stop now while you are ahead. He was planning on going to church Sunday but no, don't blow it!"

Well, he kept on, he preached and preached and asked questions and prodded. The other two just kind of looked at the guy like, tread lightly, but it was over. He'd done done it. So I spend the rest of the evening telling my honey not to judge a church on one member of the congregation (the "preacher" wasn't the actual preacher).

So, if you are one of these people who go visit members of the community or do outreach, I know it is important and we appreciate the concern, but please call first, please ask when would be a good time and not just pop in- and if you do just pop in unexpected and unannounced... If you see someone very busy in the yard and a woman walking slowly, slightly bent over - kids needing baths, supper needed to be eaten...please take that into consideration. Okay, I'm off my soap box now.

You may go back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Oh, if anyone happens to have a clip of Taylor and Chris' performance last night, please send it my way. I didn't get to finish watching.....visitors.....ugh!