Look-ey Look-ey, a Two Post Kind of Day

I made some more pumpkin muffins this morning. Mainly for me because I was starving. I cannot, in fact, live on coffee alone. I know, it's a sad revelation.

yes, those are Buzz Lightyear paper cup things

After I made those muffins I baked some fish sticks. Because fish sticks gross me out and I still eat them anyhow. It's one of those things you do as a mom. After I choked them down I went out and fed the flock of chickens. Saw all cows, calves and horses. Even took a picture.

Filled up water for all the wonderful farm creatures and then went up to the barn. Apparently Beard-O saw a black kitten in there um... two weeks ago and I wanted to investigate.

Of course my loyal companion, Lorie, tagged along as well. She found a spot where something has dug out a little hole to get under the barn. I didn't see anything. Not even a cat. I really wanted to see that cat. Instead I just took a picture of a tractor.

And another picture of Lorie looking at me and wondering exactly what it was that I was doing.

Oh, yes, yesterday another fire broke out in Bastrop county... went from 2 acres to 1000 in three/four hours. Thankfully, the winds have not been strong and it's at 50% containment now. Scary seeing smoke from our deck. I really wish it would rain.

(**updated to add: officials are now saying it is only 315 acres***)

this is actually the view from our hay field

And an update on the children I'm raising. (because ending this on 'another fire' would just be wrong)

The kids have been coloring and drawing Halloween pictures. D can now write his name... some of the letters are upside down and occasionally it's written backwards, but it's pretty cool. (also, that's normal.) The boys are really excited about their costumes (which have not been purchased and I'm not crafty/skilled enough to make one) and keep changing their minds on what they will be. As long as I don't wait until the day before Halloween to get their costumes we'll be fine. (yes, last year was a mess and I did wait until the day before. Never. Again.) We are always learning valuable lessons around here.

Have splendid Wednesday! I'm going to eat some more muffins and pretend I don't see that mess over there.

I blame anyone but myself for this nonsense

I'm sure you're just dying to know how my day was yesterday. Well, the potty training was...ok. There was some crying involved (maybe me/maybe the child) but no accidents. Daddy came home and suddenly Mr. I-hate-the-potty was sitting happily upon the Elmo seat doing his business. Smiling. No tears, no hyperventilating, no flailing of limbs.... so the parenting hours to success rate is Mama 10-0 and Daddy 1-1.

The teething/fussy baby-toddler took a nap and was in much happier spirits for the rest of the day. And for that baby-toddler stuff... I'm sort of hesitant to call her a toddler, although she is, but she's our baby and you know... that just what she is. Meaning youngest and last child. If I start calling her a toddler then I'm admitting she's growing up and not a baby anymore and then I'll start thinking about how I don't have a baby anymore and then,  dearsweetbabyJesus, I might have a longing and start reminiscing about holding tiny babies and how they smell so good. And I'll totally have some amnesia about what labor feels like... it really isn't bad. (ohdearit'salreadyhappening)  So.. I insist on calling her my baby. The end.

Moving right along, like the above never happened... I have been sleeping in until 7am for the past week and it feels amazing! Although the reason why I get to sleep in is not amazing at all and I'm hoping to wake at the 6am hour asap. The wildfire may have affected someones job... and hopefully he can get to work like yesterday but even tomorrow would be nice. Until then I'm going to enjoy sleeping in and CLB will enjoy someone helping him build fences. I will also convince myself beans, rice and  ramen noodles sans flavor packet create a delicious meal. (ok, we aren't that desperate yet but I can be prepared)

I will also drown my troubles in this ice cream... until it's gone anyhow.

which will most likely be today.

But those children will keep me entertained with their new movie they are creating about Spider Man. He steals someones Little Pony...

and rides off into the sunset... oh I don't really know. I do know Captain America is supposed to appear at some point, though. I think he's hiding under his bed right now feeling quite embarrassed for the Little Pony. 

Have a wonderful day!
Mama

I'm destined for a sunshine-y day

Well hello there! I skipped out Friday, I know, I probably disappointed thousands, hundreds, alright, like maybe two people. Honestly, Friday I was pretty down in the dumps due to that wildfire. I just didn't feel like writing. The town is moving ahead. School resumed today for the district and I know it's a long way from being back to normal but it's a start.

Over the weekend we watched some football and mainly hung around the house together. Saturday D woke up not feeling well. Coughing, fever and lounging around. He's feeling a little better today but still coughing. Sunday I made a big breakfast of sausage, biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs. So good. I had to run to the grocery store and get some milk and Gatorade. (oh boring details!) I got a call from my sister and brother-in-law while there and they wanted me to meet someone so I was in a hurry to get back home. Of course the car decided to not start in the 100 degree heat with my ice cream melting in the back seat. Turns out a bolt was loose. A very nice stranger tightened it up for me and I was on my way home. Thank goodness it was nothing major! I got home, grabbed Rose and headed to my sister's house. I had a great time over there. I know I'm going to leave out lots of details about my visit but I don't feel like I can say too much about it just yet. In fact I'm not going to say anything else.

And this morning I have a grouchy/teething child on my hands right now and we're going full force potty training with a certain three year old who thinks he is above using the potty or something. I'm in for a really fun day. I'm pretty sure I can trick myself into thinking it's fun, right? Yep, it will be an exciting, pleasant, happy day. There will be unicorns and rainbows and I will notloosemymind and I will have the child potty trained in oneday! justlikethat! (I can hear your laughter, it's not helping.) I can totally do this.

Yeah, we just watched the pull ups potty training DVD... I am pretty sure the narrator lady is on her way to or from the looney bin. I have never seen anyone smile that big while talking about how easy potty training is. They are from some potty training utopia planet I've not been to or heard of. I'd like to know what kind of happy pills they are taking.

Anyhow, I better get busy around here. It is Monday after all.

My heart is heavy

Here I am sitting at my dining room table with a hot cup of coffee checking my Facebook, Twitter, email and catching up on blogs. My kids are watching Dinosaur Train and had breakfast, they are sitting in their favorite spots in the living room. I took a hot shower last night. I bathed my children and tucked them into their beds under their favorite blankets surrounded by their toys. I didn't wonder where we would eat today or how we would obtain food and clothing. I opened my closet and pulled on my favorite pants. I dressed the kids and they picked out which shirts they wanted. I am thankful. I certainly counted many blessings this morning.

This morning 1,386 homes were confirmed to be destroyed by the devastating wildfire in Bastop. (This is only one of the fires that started Sunday in our area.) Entire neighborhoods are gone. Over 1300 families lost everything. They are forced to start over. Will they rebuild or move away? How many of them are wondering where will we eat today? Where are we going to sleep tonight?  How can we move on?

I met with one of the families that lost their home yesterday.  

God, what do I say? I can't even begin to imagine what they are feeling.  

I told them I was sorry for their loss. Because what exactly can say? I felt like my words were inadequate. I think they understood my lack of articulation. I'm not very eloquent to begin with. They didn't have many words either. They were on their way to see what was left of their home. They are a strong family, they have incredible faith and trust in God. I know they are taking comfort from that. I know that is greater than anything I could say. 

If you'd like to know how you can help please see yesterday's post and scroll to the bottom. 

Please continue sending your thoughts and prayers to Texas.

How You Can Help (Fire Update)

stole from facebook if you tell me who took it I'll update it and give them credit

photo courtesy of my dad

photo courtesy of deannaroy.com

the above picture is the skyline of downtown Austin with the smoke from the Bastrop fires in the background

Here's what it looks like from space

Courtesy Mike Follum  via Twitter

Courtesy NASA

If you are interesting in helping the victims of the wildfire please click here for full list.

Bastrop Christian Ministerial Alliance,
PO Box 876, Bastrop, TX, 78602.
is taking monetary donations that will go directly to the evacuees and local shelters. FB page

Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and click the Donate to Help Wildfire Victims button at bottom of page

Red Cross of Central Texas

 This morning the update on the devastation was: via KXAN.com

• 38,089 acres burned
• 576 homes destroyed
• 30% contained as of 7:40am Wednesday

Please continue praying for those who have been evacuated and those who have lost their homes.           
Monday     Tuesday

Pictures from the Fire

Today is Day 3 of the fire. Click here to read  yesterday's post on the fire.

Here is an excerpt from the Austin American Statesman:

The massive wildfire in Bastrop County has now burned around 30,000 acres, destroyed nearly 500 homes and forced 20 neighborhoods to evacuate, officials said at a press conference this morning. The largest fire remains zero percent contained, officials said.

Beard-O grabbed my camera yesterday and took the following pictures while out fighting the fire...

CLB working to keep the fire away from this house.

Not clouds. Smoke.

Beard-O

My brother heading to make a fire break

CLB. It's gonna be a long night.

My brother, dad, Beard-O, CLB and several others fought the fires threatening homes and land. The last picture is of the fire when it jumped a road. CLB and Beard-O came in last night, took showers and ate supper and then my brother called again. They were out the door and Beard-O didn't get back until 7am this morning. He left before 8am when we heard there were hot spots popping up.
My parents, brother and his family and my Opa, uncle and aunt all live within a mile or so from the fire. Their electricity has been out since yesterday afternoon. My sister-in-law and niece spent the night with us.

I know several families whose homes were lost to the fire. I haven't personally seen any of the damage but the pictures I've seen are startling. We need rain badly. That fire is still burning, as are several others in Texas. Hopefully it will be a bit easier to contain as the winds have calmed down.

If you are interested in reading more go to ABC news. Please keep all the victims of the fire in your prayers.

Fire

Hi, everyone. We are dealing with some extreme wildfires here in Texas. The town of Bastrop (small town near us) had a wildfire start yesterday afternoon. Winds are gusting up to 30+ miles per hour and we have very low humidity today. And with the drought these are terrible conditions. The fire has burned over 16,000 acres and is 0% contained. I know several families who have lost their homes. Evacuations are ongoing. Our family is safe. I have a few pictures I can share but my camera is with Beard-O right now.

This is from yesterday (Beard-O, my brother and CLB saved some donkeys)

Driving towards town and my parents house

From my parents backyard

I am back home. Our home has not been threatened or in danger.

Beard-O, our friend and my brother are doing what they can to keep it from getting close to my family's land. It hasn't been threatened yet but the fire is crossing some roads that potentially could cause concern. (all depends on the wind) They tried very hard to keep it from burning someone's house. Unfortunately the firefighters can't do much with the winds gusting.

If this seems a little jumbled I apologize. I'll post a new update tomorrow. You can follow me on twitter @mamascountry where I may post some updates. I've never seen anything like this...