Happy Birthday Barbie!

March, it has got to be my least favorite month of the year. Except for one day early in the month. But as a whole, by the time March rolls around we are tired of the cold and snow. There is no football, there is no hunting to speak of. Ice fishing is not as good as earlier in the season. It is generally too cold to work outside. So yes, March is my least favorite month of the year.

Except for that one day, when some 60 something years ago, changed my life forever. The day Barbie was born. Was it fate?  Was it predetermined destiny? Did the good Lord plan on us meeting 26 years later from that date and start this world-wind life the two of us have? Afterall, it would be years before I was born. Was my destiny already in motion before I was even born?  What would my life be like if not for this one day in March? This is the earliest picture I could find of her a few months after she was born. 

Over the years I have shared various pictures of her growing up. From her roller-skating era to her barrel racing days, but this series of pictures display her hair fashion sense and some gymnastic skills I never knew she even had!

Can you guess which one is her?
Update: One reader noticed a case of vodka in the closet to the right of the teacher!

Sometimes I sit and wonder, what have I ever done, to deserve even one, of the pleasures I've known. What did I ever do that was worth loving you or the kindness you've shown. While those famous lyrics from Kris Kristopherson's song Why Me were aptly asked to The Lord, I cannot help but ask those same questions of my wife of 37 years. In no world did I see myself deserving such a wonderful woman. 

A fresh blanket of snow welcomed Barb on her special day. As did a breakfast of banana waffles and bacon. She nervously sat on the couch awaiting what could be her worst breakfast of the year. Anyone who knows us knows that me cooking breakfast is a scary proposition.  But I did it! The waffles were a perfect golden brown and the bacon was thin and crispy. No floppy bacon in this household!

I could never give her the birthday she deserves; I can only hope she knows what she means to me and how without March 3rd, my life would be totally different. Sadly, the presents I got her did not arrive in time for her birthday but the dehydrator she ordered did arrive. I tried to pass it off as a birthday gift but apparently it does not count if the recipient orders it themselves. 

She did get several messages and phone calls from her children and friends. Two of which I wanted to share here. First there is this one from Jim and Brenda. Our former neighbors and partners in getting rid of thousands of prairie dogs, they know all too well that these little rodents are Barb's nemesis. 

Then there was this one from Dino. Be warned you cannot unsee this! That is me on the left and Dino on the right.

Cheryl gave her this picture of the cattle that we owned together very briefly. We may have a love/hate relationship with Highlanders, but we love this picture!

We spent supper alone where I out did myself again with a couple of ribeye steaks, onions rings and potatoes. She insisted on making her own potato as apparently, the potato can make or break the entire meal. All in all, it was not the day she deserves but it was a good one, nonetheless. 

Backing up several days...... after being gone for 6 weeks we were excited to get into our home and get back into the swing of things. We were excited, but not as excited as the dogs. Both of them were obviously over the top with joy to be home. 

The first thing that Dakota did was plop down on her favorite bed and just smiled and wagged her tail. After 6 weeks of sitting under the dinette in the camper, you could just see the joy in her eyes. 

Zoey went straight for the toy box. She went through the entire toy box, took each and every one of them out and scattered them across the living room. Once she made sure they were all present and accounted for she started zooming around jumping from couch to couch then off the couch to a bed, then the other bed where Dakota was laying then back onto the couch. She ran this circuit about 5 times before stopping and just staring at us. Ah, there is no place like home. Now that she is home she is freezing. She is either laying by the fireplace or any sunlight she can find on the floor. 

That night, we brought some of the essentials in from the camper and then just relaxed and enjoyed the evening which was finished off with a soak in the hot tub. Did I mention it was nice to be home?!?!?

A few of the essentials we bought on our journey.

The next day we finished emptying the camper, backed the truck into the garage and took off the camper. I could have sworn I even heard the truck sigh a sigh of relief when that weight was finally lifted off of it!

The neighborhood critters came by to say hello. They were very happy to have us home as well!

Our social lives have been busy as well with a burger night with Dan, Bonnie, Kevin and Cheryl. A couple days later we got together with Jim and Carmen. A night that got a little carried away resulting in me taking a sabbatical from me drinking alcohol for several days. Barb took this picture of me during the festivities over at Jim and Carmen's.

Instead, we concentrated our work in the garage getting the board and batten on the walls around the workshop. It turned out great if I do have to say so myself!

Barb sanded and stained the border boards for the top, bottom and around the doors. 

All done!

With this done I was finally able to get some keepsakes up on the wall. I call this my Memory Wall; it warms my heart every time I look at it. It has been years since this Russian Boar has adorned one of our walls. For some reason, Barb says we don't have room for it in the house, so it now has a home in the garage.  I still have a few more things to get up but, each and every one of the items on the wall bring back a special memory.

 I have plenty of work to do outside, soffit, facia, ceiling on the porch, steel corners and of course the stonework, but as of right now it is too cold, snowy or windy to motivate me to get out there. Instead, I find reasons to work inside and putz on stuff.  I did manage to get out to burn a pile while the snow was still deep enough.

So, with that, another birthday has come and gone. I wonder if all those years ago she had any idea what her destiny would be. I tend to think not, as sometimes late at night when she thinks I am asleep, I hear her uttering those same words; Why me Lord?, but probably for totally different reasons.