WHAT???

Desktop was only showing a white screen. Apple peeps refer to it as the "white screen of death". Hubs and I made an appointment at the Genius Bar to see what the trouble was.

Conversation with Apple Genius:

AG- Your hard drive has died.

Me- What does that mean?

AG- You are going to need a new hard drive.

Hubs- Did we just lose everything on that hard drive?

AG- Yes.

Hubs- All the pictures of my kids for the past three years?

AG- Did you back them up with the Time Machine?

Hubs- I have a different one, not Time Machine.

AG- Hopefully it was doing it's job.

Me- Is this normal.....the hard drive only lasts for three years?

(Dude beside us says he is on his second one. Not helping dude.)

AG- Yes, pretty much. Do you want a new one?

(This question was like asking a kid of they want some candy.)

We left our baby for surgery. 5 to 7 days without my desktop. I am lonely. He could of at least played taps or something as we left the Apple store.

Not Awesome

If your dearly beloved family members know you are terrified of the legless creatures, this is NOT cool. Not only were they on iPhoto, but set as the desktop background.
Snake count is up to seven and it is only May. Not looking good.

Signs of Spring

I was so excited a few weeks ago, when the first daffodils started coming up.

Even more excited to see these daffodils blooming. They are my special ones.
Aunt Patsy gave all of us girls bulbs, from Grandaddy's home place, last year before she died. I planted them separate from all of my other ones, around a tree, that I can see from every window in front of the house. Every time I see them, I think about her and how thoughtful this gift was.
The others are along the side of the yard where the fence used to be. They were planted by Landon's grandmother and have spread quite well.
I love it when they bloom, because they signify a new season. The only color in a sea of leafless trees.
And the most favorite part? Having them inside. Heavenly.

Tuesday

Tuesday, was the memorial service for my aunt. My mom read my blog about Patsy, then her words, and then (the hardest of all) Patsy's words. The service was beautiful, just what Patsy wanted. Old hymns were sung, memories shared, and then the best of all, my brother played the guitar while Mattie sang "I Will Rise". I am still not sure how she got through the entire song, but she did, and it was powerful. Afterwards, the casket was placed on a horse drawn carriage and we all walked behind it to the cemetery. I felt like we were in an old movie. It was such an image. Seeing it going slowly up the hill, and hearing the horses hooves clopping along and people crying. Many of us walked in pairs, holding hands, side by side. The last thing Patsy wanted done, was for everyone to sing Dixie. I am sure she was laughing about how badly we did it. I mean, come on, we all know the tune, but the words are a little fuzzy. It sounded something like "I wish I was in Dixie, hooray, hooray, hmm humm humm hmm, huumm hum hum hum, hum hum hum, hum-Dixie." Thanks to everyone who came to the service. It was great to see all the lives Patsy has touched, such a diverse group gathered in her honor. And, last but not least, a HUGE thanks to Jeff and Cindy for coming to the house when my boys got off of the bus.

P.S. Many of you know there are allot of family birthdays this week and anniversaries. I will post about those later.

Patsy's Pearls

We all have purple bracelets to remind us to pray for my Aunt Patsy. She is my mothers little sister and the best aunt in the whole wide world. Why do we have the purple bracelet that says simply "Patsy's Pearls"? My aunt is dying of cancer. For a while I resisted wearing the bracelet, because it was like an admission that her body was failing her. My brother told me he never takes it off and when he looks at it he thinks about her. I replied that I can't stop thinking about it, with or without the bracelet. This woman who has been such a strong person in my life growing up. Nothing could bring her down. As my aunt, she got to be the cool one. She told me stories about my mom as a child that other people didn't know. She even told me that my mom was "cool" once upon a time. Aunt Patsy was my kindred spirit, in that we are both left handed. When I couldn't master tying my own shoes at the age of 6, she stepped right in and showed me how it was done. It only took one time. She explained to me that the "right handed" people do it backwards from "us". She taught me that women are strong individuals, and we can do anything that we set our minds to. Be it driving huge equipment or raising our children. Her body is slowly letting her down. It is so hard because, inside she is still in there fighting with all shes got. It has been long fight, and she is tired. She still has beautiful hair, and gorgeous eyes and hilarious stories for everyone. Anyone who has eaten lunch at my grandmothers table, can tell you about how Aunt Patsy can get some great conversation going, and maybe even a good argument or two. Lord knows the Fisher's have never backed away from a great discussion at lunch. Someone told me recently that thinking about death was morbid. I disagree. It reminds us to cherish each and every moment, we never know when our last breath will be. Not to take our time here on Earth for granted, but to store up treasures in heaven. Will Aunt Patsy be missed? Greatly. Will she be forgotten? Never. I picture her, with her beautiful smile, and arms outstretched waiting for us. Aunt Patsy, we love you.

Shadow, The Wonder Dog

Shadow's favorite chair.  If you sit here, expect some company.
His favorite place in the whole world....right beside of a kid with a snack.
Guard duty.  He sits here when we are inside.  Or if he is tired of us, lol.
Supervisor of all farm projects.  He is under the truck, you can't see him.
This post is for Shadow.  Our dog, confidant, and furry friend.  He used to be so darn hyper, but has turned into a really great, little dog.  He is the first small dog we had ever had.  He will sit beside of me outside while the buddies play and I read the paper, okay, while I do the Sudoku.  When he gets up and stares into the shed or the pasture, I know someone has wondered a little too far away from the play area for his comfort. A Gator ride isn't the same if Shadow isn't riding in the back, tongue hanging out, and head in the wind.  He just showed up here four years ago, after our last dog died.  L saw him outside of the kitchen doors and exclaimed, "I prayed and asked Jesus for a puppy and LOOK, ONE CAME!"  You know you have to keep him after your kid says something like that.

Circle of Life

Yesterday, we found a calf that was not doing well.  She is a few days old, and too weak to stand up and nurse from her mother.  Of course, everyone rushed to get her safe and warm in the barn.  A bed was made of fresh straw, and she was snuggled down into it to retain body heat.  A bottle was made of powered colostrum, but she could drink very little of it.  All of the adults knew it would be a miracle if she made it through the night, but no one voiced it out-loud.  The older boys know all about this type of thing, but it was the buddies first experience with petting a calf and holding the bottle for it to drink.  I haven't been outside yet, but L checked on her this morning, before he ate his breakfast, and said she was dead.  Later, after the husband makes sure it is, we will take the buddies down to see her and try to explain everything as best we can.  The buddies know, as do the older boys, that the cows are not our pets, but it doesn't make it any easier to see one so young, fragile, and frail.  Life on the farm is very real somedays.