HOOK EM AND GIG EM AND BLOW SAND BLOW

One of my biggest pet peeves of all time is: BANDWAGON FANS. Spearman (and just about every where else) is filled with hundreds of DIE HARD college football fans and I think it's safe to say a good percentage were NOT alumni at the University of Texas or any accredited university for that matter.

I love love this time of year and I especially love a fall fire, a mimosa and a good college football game. I have never, in the past, had a favorite team. I always cheered for Texas teams or whoever I had picked in some random pot or maybe my favorite in a small wager (ahem). When Mattie dunked her ring I was the biggest Aggie fan and bled maroon that day. WHOOP! Truthfully, I don't think it's fair. I think your blood, sweat and tears throughout those four years earns you the RIGHT to cheer for a certain team.

But guess what? Times they are a changin'. Betty and I received some dang cool Longhorn gear in the mail. Orange studded Longhorn necklace? Check. Fringed burnt orange tank? Check. Softest gray UT hoodie? Check. And it donned on me.....all of this goodness came from a Poke. Probably THE biggest UT fan I know is a Poke. So I didn't graduate from UT and I don't REALLY BLEED burnt orange or maroon or fuschia (well maybe fuschia). The point is CHEER and CHEER LOUDLY for whoever the heck you want!!!! Especially and I mean especially if you look real cute while doing it.

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK 'EM HORNS!

IT IS NEVER BROKEN

I typically don't remember my dreams and if I do, they are incredibly vague and seem unimportant but last night I had the most intense dream. I don't usually find other people's dreams interesting or funny or scary so I will spare you the details. Just a very soul bearing, vivid dream that has lingered with me all day and spurred some deep thinking.....

For such a long time I believed there is only one person in this whole earth meant for you. A soul mate. The One. Only one and God would lead you to that person and you would spend the rest of your life happily ever after with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. Then I became jaded and probably didn't really believe in much except that God would still bring the right person into my life. I certainly lost sight of the whole soul mate plan and then one day I turned a corner. Embracing the thoughts and feelings of being tethered to a person with an unbreakable immovable string.

I sent this text to BFF today: Weird question. If you were cremated who would you give your ashes to at this moment? She, of course, answered with family but also responded with the love in her life as a 'romantic choice'. It posed so many questions for me. Let's take family out of the equation and just say if you were cremated (or whatever your choice will be) today who would you leave your ashes with? Would all married people respond with their spouses? All girlfriends with their boyfriends? Lovers with their lovers? Or does such a decision as this surpass those borders?

I know this seems like a bizarre string of thoughts but I have a point. I think we all have that one person, perhaps not a soul mate and maybe not even a spouse, but someone we have loved more than anyone else in this world. I pray that for most people it is someone they are married to or share children with but I also believe you can be so connected to someone you may never see again. That maybe that 'one' person was introduced into your life to be a mirror. To peel back another layer. To allow you to look at yourself and see the true you, the things that were holding you back, and a new polished view of your own soul. Maybe you didn't marry them or divorce them or even know them that long but somehow they rocked your core. Maybe someone that brought you to attention and changed your life and will forever be a part of you. As I type this, so many people come to mind. Of course Betty, first and foremost, but I also bounce back to people I am not biologically connected to. I woke up in the middle of the night and contemplated this blog being sad to some. 'She doesn't even know where she will spread her ashes'. It is not sad in the least to me. I have experienced SO MUCH LOVE in my life in SO MANY different capacities. Through my child, my family, friends, and soul mates. I have been blessed and touched and changed. At 32, I have more love in my heart than I could possibly imagine. And so, maybe that is the answer.

They will all spread my ashes round the yard.


Everything is connected, like a delicate web. Ever growing, ever changing. New silvery strands come together every day, and once the strand is formed, no matter what superficial circumstances may sometimes keep you apart, it is never broken. You will meet again, perhaps in another lifetime. The connection is unbreakable, lying dormant in your subconscious.”
― Chelsie Shakespeare, The Pull

WALK TOWARDS THE ART

What is in store for this weekend? Pure goodness, I tell you. A few months ago, I attended an art show with my mom and a very savvy lady, VL, in Canadian. We all live on the same wonderful tree covered street and decided it was time to pump up the arts. Soooooo this weekend will be the Art Alliance of Hansford County First Annual Art Walk to benefit the art students of Hansford County.

A crisp fall evening such as this one with pinion and laughter wafting through the air. We have some pretty amazing artists coming out including my dear friend Kader. As I looked back through pics of his previous art shows it donned on me that we have been friends for about 10 years now. Me in Spearman. He in Santa Fe, Paris, Africa and wherever else. We don't talk often and quite frankly barely speak the same language. He speaks like 6 in fact but we don't miss a beat when we are together. As always, this community has rallied around this event to make it totally worth my obsessive list making (sorry mom and VL) and I know in my heart we are doing a good thing. Perhaps our first year won't bring thousands of dollars in scholarships but a nice stroll under fall leaves, some amazing art and a robust glass of red wine ain't too shabby, no? Cheers to what is already an amazing success. And thank you to two of the most inspiring, hip, lovely women I know. I am honored to be a part of this event.

UNANSWERED PRAYERS

I cannot tell you how close we were to moving. I know I emailed at least 10 resumes to places such as Austin, Dallas, Amarillo. Crickets. Rejection after rejection and finally TIME RAN OUT! It was time for Betty to start school and that meant Gus Birdwell Elementary. In the midst of this, I continued to tell my mother God's plan will present itself. To which she responded, what if it already has? What if you are living his plan?

Last Saturday mom and I crept to the edge of town for a Lynx's homecoming. Badly burned in a bon fire, Cameron Wolf was coming home from the burn center in Lubbock. We sat and waited and shared a smidge of wine. Firetrucks, ambulance, and Spearman citizens lined the highway with signs showing support and love for a fighter and a survivor. And then he was home, surrounded by the entire community who rallied for him like I've never seen before. Tonight we will all gather wearing his #11 Wolf t-shirt before the game to once again show our town's support.

Wednesday Poppy walked Betty to the church for her weekly after school program and there was a small mix up. No after school program. However, Poppy sure of her safe arrival walked home. A few minutes later the doorbell rang and there stood Betty. "No one was there so I just walked home." The incident left Poppy and I a bit uneasy. What if? What if she got lost? What if she was nabbed? Except this is Spearman and those what-ifs are almost impossible.....certainly unlikely. She walked three blocks home alone as safe as can be. Truthfully, she might have stopped at someone's house for cookies and milk. We didn't ask her.

I was so very close to giving this up. To making a selfish choice. What is better for ME? There are no restaurants for ME to enjoy with friends on the weekends. There are no friends on the weekends. Where can I go for a glass of wine on a Friday night? I. I. I. ME. ME. ME.

And the truth is. The cold hard truth is I am a country mouse. I am exactly where I need to be and more importantly, it does not get any better than this for a 5 year old socialite. I realize things change and life can throw you curve balls but for now I am going to bask in the happiness and security population 3,300 can bring you if you just open it's doors.

LET'S BE RURAL!

People, it is quite possible I have found my dream job (I know, I say this about every job) FOR REAL. Let me sum it up in a few little lines. I am now an employee of a COOPERATIVE aka a CO-OP (not to be confused with a chicken COOP). 

What does this mean you ask? 

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organized in a democratic manner.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter to agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5th Principle: Education, Training and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

6th Principle: Cooperation among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7th Principle: Concern for Community

Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

UM, HELLO. DOES IT GET ANY MORE HIPPY THAN THAT??? Because hippies love to cooperate. Oh yes it does. It gets this hippy.......

A small taste of CO-OPS in the USA:

Ace Hardware

Black Star Co-op (a brewpub located in Austin, TX)

Blue Diamond Growers (almonds)

Land O'Lakes (I actually buy this butter from The Lowes)

Welch's

Piggly Wiggly

The New Deal Cafe (coffee house in Greenbelt, Maryland) 

Just to name a few.........

Goodness gracious. It begins.

SHE'S STILL HERE

THE BARNYARD BEGINS

I don't even know where to begin or how I can possibly capture perhaps one of the most hilarious evenings of my life.

Remember me? The girl wanting fresh eggs and chickens and all that noise? Well, guess what? Be careful what you wish for. It might come true.

At approximately 7:00 p.m. last night, our doorbell rings. I assumed it was someone selling cookie dough or candles or raffle tickets (it's that time of year) but oh no. Who stands at my door? A darling boy and his mom with, lo and behold, three chickens. HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

A white hen who is now named Hatch. A red hen who is no named Chili and an unknown grey who is still IT.  Prolific egg layers I tell you.

As I type this blog I see two neighbor cats about to pounce in the backyard. I just this second sprinted faster than I have since high school and almost kicked a cat. GET OUT OF HERE I SHOUTED. Goodness gracious. Chickens? Yes. I have found a place in my heart for some gosh dang chickens.

Mostly because they came from a dear friend who spent A LOT of time....sheesh I'm out of breath.....researching and finding the perfect chickens for the Calvert girls. There is also a coop being commissioned as we speak from said darling boy and all of this was made possible by dear friend.
I would like to add, however, that he was very set on me getting a dawn announcing rooster which did not happen. Whew.

Yeah, I'm not even close to conveying how funny all of this was but I will tell you Chili Chicken went missing today and I almost called the police. I also patrolled the streets and asked both mail carriers if they had seen 'a red chicken'. When I returned home Hatch had escaped and I had to shoo her in through the house and she somehow managed to jump on the bed. Watch a white chicken cackle and fluff her feathers on your bed. Trust me. You'll laugh your ask off.

All I know is this: at this rate the chances of them being settled enough to lay the COVETED FRESHEST EGGS EVER is pretty much slim to none.

A shout out to Tyler Stedje!!! The best chicken farmer this side of the Mississippi AND to someone who appreciates the Damn Dirty Hippy side of this girl! Possibly my all time favorite gift. Fresh eggs for life as long as I can run fast enough to catch the cats.

HEYHOOOOOOOOO