What I Love Wednesday

What I love this WEEK:

1.  Schoooolssss ouuuuuuut for summeeerrrrrrr!

Don't get me wrong.. I love all my little egg-heads but it was time for some Vaycay : )

2. Bleu Edmondson

Headed to Albuquerque tomorrow to have some Bleu time with my Bestie, Friend and Chewy's Mom!

3.  My crazy wonderful family

....need I say more

Goofing around...

When I asked them to be "serious" for 2 seconds!!!



4.  My Fair Lady

Who doesn't love Audrey Hepburn!?!?



Silly kids...

I teach 7-12 grade in Smalltown America and get to work with some of the greatest kids on the planet! Last weeks funny quotes that are just too cute/funny/enlightening to not share! So without further ado here are the quotes! *Everyone has a nickname in my class.

"It smells like Ms. B (me) in here.. fruity and coffee" - Schmalenpine

"You see Ms B,  you taught us that ag is a science based field... so it only makes sense that you guys get married" --Mother Hen   *One of the many reasons (according to the 7th graders)  why I am supposed to marry Mr. Kroeger**


"Hatchet CAN'T marry Mr. Kroeger!! Because then I would be related to him!!" -- Turdus Redheadicus

"Have you had your coffee today?"

Meet Mr. Kroeger, the Hatchet and the Battle Axe

Working in Smalltown America has introduced me to some REALLY great people.  And as a bonus to my job I get to travel around the state(s) meeting new people all the time who share the same drive to work with teenagers and impact their lives in a (hopefully) positive way. 

Today, as part of the wonderful people I have met, I would like to introduce Mr. Kroeger, the Hatchet and the Battle Axe. 

For those of you who don't know (or care) Chad Kroeger is the lead singer of a little ol' group named NICKELBACK.   Who on this planet doesn't at least LIKE at least one Nickelback song???? Well this guy-- "Mr. Kroeger" as we will call him --  HATES  Nickelback with a passion! He hates them SO much that the Hatchet and I get into regular debates with him that we pull innocent bystanders into in order to make our points (we kinda LIKE Nickelback.)  So for this reason he will forever be known as Mr. Kroeger and I'm sure he is going to hate it :D

Moving on to the Battle Axe and the Hatchet...

Mr. Kroeger coaches my Poultry team for FFA (because he's a snob from another Small-ishtown America where they are really good at Poultry.. AND because he is a swell guy and likes to help!) So being the Poultry coach he went on many judging trips with us and we got to know each other a little better.  Upon returning from a week of state competition he tells everyone at the teachers table at lunch that I am a "Battle Axe" --what ever that means.. hehe! As you can imagine it got quiet for a second then everyone erupted into laughter (including me!)  So as the weeks go on and the "battle axe" begins to stick we are again at the lunch table when my lovely new teacher friend becomes dubbed the "Hatchet" because Kroeger is always making comments about us sitting/scheming/laughing together AND because every Axe needs its Hatchet sidekick !

30 Before 30

I used to have a running bucket list, however.. when my computer crashed in December (Geek Squad handed it back and said there was no hope) I lost it .. So here is what I can remember from my old list and  my "new" 30 Before 30 list...

1. Run a 5k
2. Go on an Alaska Cruise with my bestie (and whomever else wants to tag along)
3. Tour England, Ireland, Scotland
4.  Go to New Orleans
5.  Get my masters
6. Take Hunter Jumper lessons
7. Learn to rope (from the back of a horse)
8. Go on a girls only road trip with my besties
9. Go to Washington D.C.
10.  Visit my sister in Tacoma
11. Learn to speak German
12.  Learn ASL
13.  Shoot a turkey
14.  Take an art class
15.  Go camping and sleep in a tent (for at least 1 night)
16.  Learn to swim
17. Pay off my student loans
18. Learn to drive a standard
19.  Learn to ride a dirt bike
20. Get my tier II teaching license
21.  Live in a different state for at least 6 months
22.  Take Emma (my niece) to Disney World
23. Go see an Opera
24. Attend NM - Becoming an Outdoor Woman
25. Visit Micro-Brewerys in at least 10 states outside of NM
26.  Learn a cool trade (like Bit/Spur making or horseshoeing)
27.  Go to a beach ---any beach will do :)
28.  Go to the Smithsonian
29.  Write a book
30.  Learn to trust


Already accomplished one thing from my list .. 29 to go! WOO-HOO!! :)

Annie

Sit Down Sunday #2

I know today is Wednesday, but I finally got online today and here is my "Sunday" post. 

Today at mass (Sunday), Father H was talking about the two disciples who were walking along on the road to Emmaus and came upon Jesus but did not recognize him.  And how it is important for us to look for God every day because we never know in what form he is presenting himself to us.  Later at “big breakfast” with gaga and pop, Pop was telling us about how when he was in the National Guard they would leave Tucumcari around 10 am and drive to Pastura in their guard trucks. From here they would camp for the night then head out the next day to White Sands around 530 am.  “Back then there were around 350 of us”   “it was because of the draft, no one wanted to be drafted so they joined the guard” “now there is only 20-some in our guard.”

You have to remember that this was in the 1950’s and they were going 40 mph. 

This story started me to thinking about how anymore we jump in the car and hit 80 on the interstate and get where we want to go in a flash.  Do we take the time to see God in our lives?  Do we stop to see the beauty he gives us in a sunset, a new born calf or the return of grass after a fire? 

I am as guilty as anyone for not slowing down to smell the proverbial roses.  Like driving through Yesso and not taking 10 minutes to photograph the old mercantile with the clouds built up behind it.. a moment lost. So this week it’s time to remember to slowdown and take the second look or simply take a moment to enjoy what God has given us.

Sit Down Sunday -- Fires

I

Chico Hills ..

Yesterday I was hauling booty over the hill to my house and got “picked up” as Gaga would say by the state police.  Luckily I was given a written warning and continued on my way, at a much more sedate pace.  I rounded the corner and saw that Pop – my dad’s dad—was sitting in his truck under “the tree.” I pulled over hiked through the bar ditch in my flip flops, hopped the irrigation ditch (in my flip flops) and was about to climb through the fence when Bear –50 lb Austrailian Shepard cross—gave me a flat tire.  I went flying sans flip flop and popped him in the chin with my heel in the process.  He promptly parks it on my errant flop while I hop around on my remaining flip trying to get him to move! Well finally get the flop back on and rip my favorite pair of Bermuda shorts while I’m climbing through the fence! And through all of this, Pop is still sound asleep (windows down) in the pickup.  SO at this point I’m no longer mad.. I’m steaming mad! I was mad to start with – hence the speeding so it was time to have an emotional explosion with Pop.. and I did and I felt better.  Then we started talking about some things that Mr. P had told me about the Clovis fire and all the fence his family was having to rebuild and my concern of grass coming back after a fire as hot as the Clovis fire which led to Pop telling me one of his infamous stories. So here is a story of Pop.. back in the days of Abbott, Farley, and Chico Hills..

“I remember one time there was a fire that ran from Abbott to Chico hills, and back then we couldn’t really fight the fires we just had to let them burn so if your house was in the way it just went.  This fire was almost 4 miles wide and it took everything in its path.  But the grass came back.. it always comes back.  “

So ending with that part of Pop’s story (which continued on and ended up about drinking whisky in “Looze-anna” ) I am going take on my week remembering that even though I may feel completely burnt out  . .. the grass always comes back. 

So with that, Have a great week!

Annie

(Pop napping under the tree with the sheep)

(Pop and I -- his favorite :))