Did you ever get a song stuck in your head? Right now, my head is filled with:
Froggie went a courtin’ and he did ride, a —– —– —- by his side, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
Maybe I started thinking of frogs because of Lin or maybe because in only 4 months, we’ll be hearing froggies in our creek but I really think it’s because this song is trying to tell me something.
It started on the day we added to the family a whippet puppy, Lucy the Moosie a/k/a Luc the Moose and a 29″ mini mare who just happens to be pregnant, Crystal N Velvet.
I decide to go with this tune in my head and as I try to get Crystal to relax into her new environment, I lie on the ground and croon “Froggie went a courtin and he did ride, a tiny mini horse by his side, Uh, huh, Uh, huh, Un huh.
See that expression in her eyes? I bet no one she knows in Louisiana lies on the ground and sings dumb old frog songs to horses. But it worked and soon she was munching hay. Got to keep our mom to be healthy.
Time to move on to other chores and as I did, I started to sing, “Froggie went a courtin and he did ride a bunch of crazy hens in the same nest box by his side. Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.” ” And I swear I heard Crystal say “KNOCK OFF THAT FROG STUFF!”
Easier said then done but I give it a try and think about foal layettes. Did you know foals wear jammies? I had no idea but since I found out, I’ve had the best time shopping and as I sat at the computer and ordered adorable tiny foal clothes, I sang “Froggie went a courtin and he did ride, with a baby foal in cute jammies by his side, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.”
While all this is going on, I still have to make sure my canine gang gets attention. I cradle tiny Luc the Moose in my arms, sing so softly “Froggie went a courtin and he did ride, a tiny, sleepy whippet by his side, uh, huh, uh huh, uh huh and I tuck her in for her afternoon nap with KT-Whippet.
At last, I have some me time. I head out for a stroll and find the Sebastopols deep in conversation around our truck. I start to hum “Froggie went a courtin and he did ride some very opinionated geese by his side, uh huh, uh huh, un huh.
Well, at least the dogs are still napping. I decide to walk a little while longer, I turn the corner and I see
So of course, I burst into song: “Froggie went a courtin and he did ride two speedy whippets by his side, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
Time to get back to chores, I round another corner and there is Mountain Man with the boards he’s made for my new barn. I think about all the women who turned Mountain Man away because they thought he wasn’t well groomed enough (like he’s a poodle or something) and because he can be gruff at times (underneath that exterior lies a heart of gold).
And I realized just why that froggie song has been going though my mind; because it’s Valentine’s Day and you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince.
Happy Valentine’s Day to one and all. So I will leave you with this thought…..
And I hope your day is froggie free. Thanks for visiting Red Pine Mountain!
First, I’d like to thank everyone so much for your comments. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate them. They make my day!
Do you ever feel as though winter will never end? Right about now, I find myself wishing for green grass and no snow. Maybe because I’m so busy thinking about warmer days, I can’t think of anything to write. Or maybe it’s because so much is going on that I don’t know where to begin. Oh, well.
Here’s a sampling:
Last month when the temperatures started dipping below zero, I knew we needed a lift. Something to raise lagging spirits, ease aching old bones. I searched local websites until I found the perfect pick me up; a place called “Healing Hands Massage” which specializes in sports massages. Now if you don’t know about sports massage, it’s a wonderful art which helps improve muscle tone, aches and pains and best of all improves mood. Just what we were looking for.
Beth, the owner, was fantastic. She has a kind and gentle manner, a wonderful touch. It didn’t take long before her magic started to work. Ah, relaxation, easing muscle tension. Moods improving. Yes, it was amazing.
Oh, if only she worked on people!
There’s been a lot going on. Maybe so much I get distracted by it all so instead of trying to write, I decided to put it into a short video for you. Without further ado:
Thanks for visiting us on Red Pine Mountain. I’ll be back when my brain freeze defrosts.
Back to basics, farming, chickens, nature. Don’t you love it? Seems as though there is a resurgence of returning to our farm roots and that’s a wonderful thing BUT
Along with this trend is a plethora of new magazines devoted to helping women remain glamorous and chic while knee deep in manure. As a former reader of Vogue and Elle in my city days, I admit I’ve been mesmerized by these magazines; gorgeous pictures of beautiful women, with perfect hair and makeup in white outfits without a speck of dirt collecting pristine eggs from cobweb free coops and then returning to homes full of dust free knickknacks where they prepare gorgeous 4 course meals from scratch. Whew, I got tired just typing that but then again maybe I could do it? I’m promised untold rewards (happier animals, amorous husbands, better self esteem) if I indulge in glam farming.
I start the next morning. I scrape the dust from the mirror and peer at my reflection. What’s that? Fuzz on my lip? EEEK. That won’t do. I search discarded jars until I find some hardened old hair remover wax. I put it on while I head to the end of my closet, the part that hasn’t been touched in years. Blowing dust as I make my way into the closet depths and hoping I don’t run into a mouse, I search for suitable glam garb. Now it is winter and 15 below. I decide on ski bunny wear; skin tight white lycra pants and a puffy pink jacket with even more awesome fake pink fur. Glam thy name is Mountain Woman. That should do it.
I start pulling on the pants. Oh, no. They don’t budge over my hips. Hips come in handy when you’re a farmer. You can perch hay on them, carry water buckets on them, tote saddles on them. I can tell you 101 uses for hips. I love my hips but my ski bunny pants don’t. Hmm, I think I have some of that slimming underwear in here from the days when I cared that my body didn’t jiggle. There they are. I pull them on and wow, it’s uncomfortable. But I’m determined to be chic. I want to be part of this new trend.
The pants might be on but I’m having trouble walking. I adopt a shorter stride so the rear won’t split. I head to the mirror, take off the old wax and my lip hair is gone but then so is my skin and I’m left with a burning red patch where my downy fuzz used to live. I think I have an old bottle of concealer somewhere. Next, foundation, eye shadow, mascara. I just hope I don’t get a skin infection from putting all this old stuff on my face. Oh, well. Beauty has a price.
What to do about the hair? Not having long, flowing tresses, I decide to put mousse into my grey, short hair. Now I have puffy hair and I kind of match my puffy pink jacket. Wow, I think I’m ready for the cover shot of Glam Farm Gals Gazette.
But wait, what will happen when Mountain Man sees me? What if my new look makes him amorous? How long will it take before I can get out to take care of the animals? Hmm, I can see there’s more to this chic farm chick stuff than I ever imagined. Maybe there’s an article on how to cope with the farm men in your life? Oh, well, here goes.
I open the door, walk out into the bedroom where Mountain Man says,
“WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU DONE TO YOURSELF?” Not in a good way either ladies. He burst out laughing.
“I’m just trying to look more attractive while I do my chores. It’s the glam girl farmer look. Don’t you love it?” He shakes his head in that way he does when he can’t believe how he manages to live with such a crazy person and heads out the door.
The dogs come over, take a sniff and leave quickly, except for Toby, our newfie, who promptly covers my sparkling white pants with newfie slobber. EEEW!
I head out daintily. Brr, it’s cold and all I want to do is get to the warmth of the barn but I can’t walk any faster in these pants. Who am I kidding? I can’t even breathe. I reach the barn after what seems like an eternity. There’s the hay pile. Time to gather some bales. I bend over. RIIIPPPPP. My white pants exist no more. No matter for I am farm chic and a little thing like having my underwear showing won’t phase me for I am glamorous.
I start to gather eggs. Why don’t they look as clean as they do in the pictures? There’s always little specks on them no matter how often I clean the nest boxes. “Hens,” I say, “Get with the program. We are glamorous and we don’t lay eggs with specks.” I swear I hear the chickens cackle.
Brrr, I’m getting cold from having my derriere exposed. I head back to the house. Oh, no. Glam farm chicks don’t wear ice cleats so I didn’t wear mine. Thud, I go down on the ice and now I hear my spandex underwear rip. Ouch. My bare butt is stuck to the ice. I have to get out of here before Mountain Man sees this. The geese toddle over and start honking at me. I swear they are laughing too.
I manage to crawl back to the house. It’s only 9:00 a.m.
Will Mountain Woman get the hang of this glam farming? Or has popular culture found another way to torture hardworking farm women who love their overalls and big hips?
15 below this morning. If I didn’t live on a farm, I’d stick my head back under the covers and wait until daylight. But chores are waiting. I start dragging on layer after layer of clothing. No time to look in the mirror. If I didn’t live on a farm, I’d find a fabulous outfit [...]
Do you love looking at old photos of other people or do you run screeching from the room when people say “let me show you these photos?” Just fair warning. Here’s your chance to escape so do it now if old photos are not your thing. My brother stumbled upon a basket full of slides [...]
I’ve been in a blogging slump during the last part of 2011. Our upcoming move to the Ozarks has been weighing on my mind. But we’ve reached a compromise. We’re going to try living in the Ozarks for a few months in the warmer weather to see if I can survive the bugs; namely the [...]
Thanks everyone for entering the calendar giveaway. The winners (chosen by the random number generator at random.org) are: Kathy Miller Susan Sonstegard Maureen Karen Zemek Please send me an email at redpinemountainatgmail.com. Thanks for entering!
I’m under the weather at the moment and don’t feel much like writing so here it is, short and sweet. My Esme is Miss January in the Tennessee Donkey Association 2012 calendar. I have 4 calendars to give away so if you are interested, just leave a note in the comments section. If more than [...]
Wishing all of you a joyous Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. Red Pine Mountain; A Pictorial Your kindness and support have made this an incredibly special year. Mountain Woman, Mountain Man and The Red Pine Mountain Zoo
There comes a time in most roosters’ lives when their thoughts turn to. . . attacking unsuspecting women who have lovingly raised them from chicks. And unfortunately, my Polish rooster has decided I must go. Now this would be a problem any time but unfortunately its been unseasonably warm and wet here and we have [...]
” And I swear I heard Crystal say “KNOCK OFF THAT FROG STUFF!”
