Finally, after several months, our kitchen
is ready for some serious cooking and eating.
Can’t wait to get over there and make a big ole country breakfast.
Even bought an apron…
(Who am I and what am I becoming?)
Iron Man
You might say Barkley Wike is an iron man. We first met over 10 years ago when I was getting back into horses. He was our farrier. Donna, my first trainer, used to say that Barkley was not only a great farrier but also an artist. After a long career shoeing horses, Barkley finally gave up getting banged up and kicked around by these large animals and started creating original ironworks for friends. Then he turned it into a business and launched B.W. Iron Design. Custom gates, stall doors, chandeliers, furniture, fire screens, pot racks, wine racks, shelves–you name it, he can probably design and build it with iron. If you like, trot on over to www.bwirondesigns.com see what all the fuss is about.
(Hey Barkley, for this nice plug, will you make us some halter hooks for the barn? Need about seven. 😉
Soul Stirring Music
Tomorrow night Mike and I are going to see George Winston in concert at Agnes Scott College. When I first heard “Colors/Dance” years and years ago, it stopped me in my tracks, the music was so beautiful. Hope you enjoy listening. Crank it up.
Dirty Jobs
Mike Rowe is one of the funniest guys on TV–and the “dirtiest.” But he’s also really smart. Read about his campaign to promote skilled labor in America at http://www.mikeroweworks.com/.
Here are a few funny “Rowe-isms” worth sharing…
“I could be wrong. I’ve misunderstood a great deal so far.”
“This is how it ends, lying under a house, wrapped in mold. At least I’m insulated.”
“What a stupid way to end a perfectly average career.”
“Sometimes one ball is enough to do the job.”
“I have mud in places no man should.”
“Gloves are for girls.”
“I’m not quitting. I’m just leaving and never coming back.”
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And, of course, I’d be remiss by not highlighting a few Rowe-isms from his encounters with farm animals…
And, of course, I’d be remiss by not highlighting a few Rowe-isms from his encounters with farm animals…
- “Bambi just got Thumpered.”
- “Why does a chicken coop only have two doors? Because if it had four doors it would be a chicken sedan.”
- “I’m off to get the most beautiful cow I can find.”
- “The pig has your back.”
- “Any time a placenta hits you on the head, you’re in a dirty place.”
- “You know, why is it that it’s either my finger or a piece of steel being inserted into the rectum of some unsuspecting animal?”
- “Now that is one clean vulva!”
- “Geoducks…the other white meat.”
- “We’re just a couple of guys squeezing the poo out of chickens.”
- “Study after study has shown that cows find me fascinating.”
- “That is one jacked-up goat.”
More Dog Tales
Now, for more on the animals…
Ellie came into our lives two years ago when Arielle was a high school senior. Our daughter convinced us (well, convinced me) that she would not live through her senior year without a Yorkie. So, being the protective mom that I am, we found a small litter in the paper on a rainy Sunday morning. Arielle and I jumped in the car and drove to Austell, stopping by the ATM along the way to clean out our checking accounts. And all the while Mike kept yelling things like, “Absolutely not!” “We are NOT getting another dog.” “How much does that dog cost?” “I don’t want an indoor dog.” “You better not get that dog!” Fast forward about two hours and Arielle and I pulled up the driveway with our new pup “Ellie,” weighing all of about a half a pound. We’re all jumping up and down in the kitchen giddy with excitement and Mike’s locked himself in the study with his computer and won’t come out. In fact, Dad didn’t speak to us all day and all night. The next day the kids headed to school, I went to the office, and there’s Mike and Ellie alone–all day. I don’t know what happened, but when we got home she was still alive. Mike didn’t acknowledge her that evening and for about two days more, but somewhere along the line that little pup wormed her way into his heart and now they are BFF. Oh and by the way, Arielle survived her senior year at Grady. She went on to UGA and left Ellie behind to live with us. And now none of us can imagine life without her.
P.S. Lil’ Miss Ellie gets on just fine with the Danes. But when we’re at the farm she mostly stays indoors. We’ve already seen a few coyotes and, well, surely you heard about Jessica Simpson’s poor little Daisy…
