We're Going Green!!

It is official...we are going GREEN here at the Huggler hacienda. I know what you are thinking, that we are making good, conscience decisions regarding the environment. Well, that is partially correct.

Chris bought a Chevy S-10 today. Nice truck, drives great, thumping stereo & it's dark green...and as some of you know, my purdy car is also green. Hence, the "GOING GREEN" - well, at least in our driveway!! I laughed so hard when Chris told me that he picked a green vehicle as he HATES that color. He has always told me how ugly my purdy green car is. So, yes..I thought it was comical that he bought a truck of that particular color.

My absolute favorite color is, well you know. My excuse for loving this color so much is because that's also my eye color as well. I guess in a weird sort of way that justifies somehow. Ha...Ha...Ha...

P.S. I do know that going green is a serious subject not to be taken lightly. I have purchased several cloth bags to avoid using plastic or paper ones. We are also making "little" changes around the house that will eventually add up. My hat goes off to those of you that are gun-ho green, someday the Huggler hacienda will get there,in more ways than just our driveway!!

Junior High, Here He Comes

Tonight at 7:00 in the H.S. gym, we went to the Junior High Orientation for Aaron. What a huge step for this 6th grader. Conway doesn't have a "middle School" so he is going directly from the elementary to the Junior High. Leaving the comforts of an assigned classroom with the same teacher. I think he was highly disappointed that there was no longer recess in his future. Once the Principal explained that the classes were in 74 minute intervals, which of course includes P.E., then the smile showed up on his face as that is one of his favorite classes!! Aaron will be loaded down with the basics; English, Science, Social Studies & Math. In addition to those he will be taking Pre-Algebra, Honors Writing Class & the rest is yet to be determined. The look of worry seemed to dominate his facial expressions but he seemed to be enthusiastic about everything, including having his own locker!! This is a milestone in his life as well as his parents. I cannot believe my "baby" is nearly a teenager about to enter Junior High. No more elementary parties, no more family fun nights, no more helping make art projects. It is sad because in a way, it is as if I am leaving school too. Thankfully there is the volunteer program!!

Thank you, Bryon!

A BIG "Thank You" to our friend, Bryon for his hunting expertise!! Bryon unselfishly took all three of the Huggler boyz turkey hunting with him...he even spent precious time "calling" these big birds in.

Chris was feeling kinda bad because all three of them had landed a bird & Bryon's gun had jammed, making him miss his shot. But today was his lucky day...Bryon shot a bearded hen. CONGRATS, BRYON!!! (Chris was beginning to wonder if he'd shot a turkey before...LOL...LOL...)

Thanks again for helping add to the Huggler Hunting Stories....

Austin's first spring turkey

IMG_6485, originally uploaded by trlrover.

This is Austin's first spring turkey. He has shot several during the fall turkey season. This Jake was about 16 pounds & shot outside of Niangua on 4-26-08. Bryon took him hunting this morning. Chris came home about 7am & by 7:20 am the phone rang that Austin had shot one.

Austin & Jake

IMG_6482, originally uploaded by trlrover.

This is the Jake that Austin shot 4-26-08. It weighed approximately 16#. Great Job, Austin!!

Chris and Tom

IMG_6478, originally uploaded by trlrover.

Another picture of Chris and his big spring gobbler. Thanks Bryon for taking a great picture!!

Chris IS The Turkey Slayer!!

Chris called about 9:30 this morning to tell me he shot a turkey. This tom weighed 24 pounds 10 ounces with a 10 3/4" beard along with one inch spurs. A nice size gobbler. Chris said Bryon called this gobbler up, he tried to get him to flip a coin to see who would get to shoot it & Bryon declined. So, he went home hungry!! Ha! Of course being the scrapbooking wife that I am, I made a bee line to where he was with the camera!! Congrats, Chris!!

Chris' Gobbler

This is a close up of Chris' turkey he shot 4-21-08.

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy!!

Austin is now an official licensed driver (stay off the sidewalks!) and therefore is driving whatever is available. Watch out.....

Just Five Minutes, Aaron

Grace wanted so badly for someone to jump on the trampoline with her. I told Aaron go ahead & jump with her as it surely would be "just five minutes". They jumped, ran, bounced & tackled each other. The laughter was contagious but five minutes ended up being about a half hour. What great fun for a Sunny 76 degree Sunday afternoon!!

From A Daughter's Heart

Dear Ol' Dad,

Today, as I sit here I am struggling. Struggling for words adequate enough to write this without sounding crazy to everyone reading it. Struggling to get through this particular day without being an emotional wreck. But I already am. I have cried so much in the last week, I truly thought this would get easier as the years go by.

April 16th....your 60th birthday but today, instead of celebrating your birthday & teasing you about it, I sit here writing this letter to you from your daughter's heart.

I've written this letter to you a million times in my heart. I think of you so often, everyday in fact. I thought that after a while the tears would subside, that the ache in my heart & soul would ease. I didn't think your death would impact me the way it has. I knew I would miss you & no doubt I would continue to love you for the rest of my life but I didn't plan for the emotional roller coaster that the memories trigger.

I remember so many little things. I remember being a little girl & watching you. I remember thinking I have the biggest, strongest dad in the world. You were such a giant in my eyes (or it could've been that you were so tall & I was such a shrimp) either way, I knew I was safe & loved. I remember the time that the glass fell off the shelf & I went running down stairs & it cut my foot so severely that I basically had to learn to walk all over again. You wrapped up my foot & took me to the hospital. I can still see the blood on your shirt. I can still see the pain on your face. I remember.

I remember the smell of you...gasoline & grease!!! You never stayed in the house, you were always in the garage, always had your hands busy under the hood of a vehicle. How many times did we have to wait on you to come to the table & eat because you had to get the "timing" just right? We'd gladly wait again, if we had the chance.

I remember so many things like the calls in the middle of the night from the crew caller telling you the train was leaving. I hated those calls but I knew you were like any other dad & made sacrifices to feed your family. Thank you.

I remember that beautiful day in 1989 when we didn't have a care in the world. Then you and Mom came home with THE news. The pain in your back was in fact a cancerous tumor. Total shock. Fear. I am grateful though. Grateful that you were able to leave the railroad and move to the Ozarks to be among the trees you cherished so much. Grateful that you were able to meet each of your grandchildren. Grateful that you were able to spend so much time with us, teaching us the importance of life lessons, unselfishly sharing your wisdom.

I remember that hot day in August 2000 when we said our final goodbye and you went peacefully home to Heaven, never faltering in your faith.

Dad, you are still my HERO. You taught me the importance of love, life and faith. I miss you and perhaps I miss you so deeply because you loved me so well. Had you not loved me so well, my heart may not ache for just one more day.

I'll love you forever,
Tammy

Aaron's turkey 2008

Aarons turkey 007, originally uploaded by trlrover.

The bearded hen that Aaron shot while hunting with Bryon 4-12-08. The hen was approximately 15 pounds with a 7 1/2 inch beard. The tail feathers, beard & the shotgun shell are being mounted together. Shot with Aaron's 20 gauge shotgun, Mossberg 500.

WAY TO GO AARON

Aarons turkey 001, originally uploaded by trlrover.

Aaron holding the bearded hen that he shot 4-12-08. Bryon fired up the grill & this turkey made a delicious dinner along side the potatoes & corn later that same evening!!

Aaron, Bryon & his trophy

Aarons turkey 005, originally uploaded by trlrover.

Aaron & Bryon posing with Aaron's first turkey, a bearded hen.

Aaron's first turkey 4-12-08

Aarons turkey 009, originally uploaded by trlrover.

Aaron's first turkey was a bearded hen with a seven and a half inch beard. Bryon Medley took him hunting for about an hour & the 2nd place they went, they were only there for 20 minutes before he shot the hen. Shot outside of Niangua, Missouri weighing about 15 pounds.

Car Repair

Just an update...our car is out of the body shop but it is not what we expected. The State Farm Insurance adjuster came to my place of employment last Friday to re-evaluate the situation. They denied everything. So the two headlights don't match anymore. The paint job on the hood looks awful. I won't go into details but we just aren't happy campers.

I was on my way home from Lebanon on Monday (yesterday) and the entire back of the headliner comes loose & flaps in the breeze. Literally! The little cover that goes over the fuse box in the ceiling absolutely won't stay in...it fell on the floor board. Needless to say, I headed to Marshfield to the body shop. They informed me that it was the dentless paint repair guy's doing. The owner came out & he tried to fix it & couldn't get it to fit right. We started talking & I told him how unhappy I was with this repair job. He agreed, he said the hood is two different colors. On May 19th my car will once again go back in so the headliner can be glued & properly installed. PLUS....the hood will be stripped & totally repainted.

In the defense of the body shop....Chris had a really bad wreck in 2003 destroying one side of his truck& this particular shop fixed all damage perfectly!! No complaints at all & that is why we hand picked them for the job of repairing our car. Hands down, they know what they are doing. The owner of the shop was very apologetic yesterday & offered to fix this problem free of charge. I am truly grateful.

Finally!!!

I have finally achieved it! Scroll down to the bottom of this page & check out the picture that I posted without anyone's help. Hooray for me!! It truly is the little things in life that make me smile.....

Earthquake in Missouri?!

Monday brought with it another violent day of weather. Severe thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes, flooding and an earthquake!

The national weather service had warned us days in advance that Sunday & Monday could be bad. Well, it was good on it's prediction. The tornado sirens sounded here in Conway about 11:30 a.m. on Monday. My friend, Becky & I were watching the movie "August Rush" when our neighbor called & told us to come to the basement. We did. Fortunately, all we received here in Conway was lots of rain, moderate winds & some pea size hail in some parts of town. But the town of Buffalo was hit very hard. They estimate 43 houses/13 businesses were either damaged or destroyed by a tornado. That's not very far from here.

When I hopped in the car to pick the boys up from school, the rain was just pouring down. A monsoon, I'm sure!!!! Then more warnings came on the radio. Four different schools were holding the buses as the straight line winds were too strong to take a chance on getting the kids home safely. In Lebanon (about 15 minutes from here), where my Mom's boyfriend is a teacher & administrator....they had a bus on it's way to the school (empty) & was hit by straight line winds. The pictures on the t.v. showed the bus laying on it's side. There were also two semi's overturned. Incredible power in these gusts of wind.

As far as the earthquake....we are on a fault line right here. It rumbled a town called Poplar Bluff, down in the boot hill of Missouri. Residents in Springfield felt the trimmers. It was only a 2.8 but how crazy!!

It is supposed to storm again on Wednesday.