I’m always looking for a good deal, on anything –really. Folks–lookin’ is the key word there. Remember that. Some days I’m not lookin’ but, I get one anyway.

When I was a kid I wasn’t look-ing for a cheap lesson but found one while playing Dukes of Hazard with my brothers.  It was a hot day in the fall, the wind was blowing out of the south and we decided it was a perfect day to shoot flaming arrows into an old farmstead. Of course, Jay Bo and I (Daisy) were putting out the fires while Luke was firing off fiery gasoline soaked arrows…

(We’ll stop there. My Mom is a good mom. She always promoted the use of our imagination, but didn’t hover over us–which allowed us to make some mistakes and learn from them. So yes she knew where we were. She just didn’t know about the fiery darts. In my now humble opinion that falls nicely under ‘your imagination’ unless your my kid. Okay–onward.)

…Of course we burned that building-rich farmstead, a pile of tires and a cedar wind break to the ground in a hurry. I mean totally slicked it. Then the real nightmare began, we had to tell our parents. Yeah, the fireman chewing my butt was scary, but I knew he couldn’t hold a candle to the wrath of my Dad.

Thankfully, he didn’t come home until late and after hearing the story from Mom… he decided he didn’t need to wake us up, or whip our tails to insure our understanding of our poor choices. I guess he figured laying in bed and waiting was bad enough. He was right. He simply said, “sounds like a cheap lesson to me.” (Pretty sure he wasn’t looking for a cheap lesson that day, either, but he got one anyway.) 

I told you that story to tell you this one.

Ben and I were watching Glenn Beck the other day when the kids asked to shoot off their remaining firecrackers. We said that would be fine, light them and run, be safe, blah blah. Two hours later… I was fixin’ to fry some chicken, W was doing homework and Deputy Barney was talking. (He starts every sentence with and then.) Sponge Bob said this, Patrick did that and there’s the smoke from our firework…

It was then I came back to reality–as they hadn’t been outside for a good 45 minutes. It was then I realized our only great shade tree, an ash, was on fire and smoking out of every hole. What followed was a bunch of drama: hose gettin’, Dad gettin’, much water, some chopping, some what da @#$% were you guys thinking, a couple light bulb moments and two hours later the fire is out.

It’s always funny how kids process things. W couldn’t do his homework for being remorseful of his choices. I tried to to console him by saying, “Look at the bright side, now you have a Dukes of Hazard story for your kids.” He smiled and said, “Yeah, but we didn’t have to call the fire trucks.” See things are looking up.

Barney on the other hand, is a horse of a different color. He puffed up and bragged about how he saved the day. “I can’t believe I saved the day … can you believe I saved the day … I’m a super hero … I saved the day.”

After a few minutes of this, I had to bring him back to reality and explain, he ruined the day before he saved it.

I wasn’t shopping for a great deal on a lesson that day, but found one anyway.

Simply,

Sis

Thanks for your concern. See ya when the leaves turn.

Sis

(Thanks to BlogHer PicApp for this picture of how my son might look at the end of the week.)

Back me up on this…there’s a few hills you don’t want to die on. Right? As parents of these two yeah-whos we find ourselves a few days before a battle and are trying to plan our stratagy accordingly.

The foe? Hair dye. Not just any hair dye, crimson and black. And not just any kid…W. Remember out of the two he is the responsible–good American. He may never have a wild and crazy day in his life if it wasn’t for his brother, Deputy Barney. W wants to play rock and roll instead of bluegrass, which is fine. Really! I wrote more about the rebellion here. Where I promised he could get his first tattoo at 18 and after his first paid gig. He was excited.

Now, since he can play Smoke On The Water and Barracuda he asked (very respectfully I might add) to color his brown hair red and black hair because he band’s name is Ghost Killers. Black for the ghost part and red for the killer-blood part. I say go for it W, with high hopes all of his friends will disown him and/or call him weird until it grows out, then quickly rush back to his side.

Ben is gong along with this (against his better judgement probably) adding…”but I want to go to school with you the first day after you do it, to hear what your friends say.”

So we’ve warned and explained the possible consequences and are now down to the chips falling where they may. He is convinced it’s going to look cool. I’m convinced I’m going to look cool when he gets humiliated and refuses to do anything strange in High School. (Yeah, right. I know, but dang-it, this is my pipe dream…let me tell it.)

So friends, Romans, countrymen…what would you do if your 10 year old wanted red-red and black-black permanent hair dye?  Would you put  your foot down, say no and dye die on that hill? Or say yes, let me help you with that and live to fight another day?

Comment below and tell me what you would do.

Simply,

Sis

Pitiful, ain’t it? It made me laugh outloud. It’s of W and Barney after an afternoon in our mud hole out back. (Swimming pool is what they called it.) When Ben saw it he said started filling in the thought bubbles. I tag-teamed…and it went something like this…

Skeeter (in the welding hat aka Barney): “Yeah, I can fix yer truck fer ya. Pull it round back there, I’ll have a look-see! That’s my brother, Ed. Good ole boy–strong as an ox. He can jest pick yer ole truck up and set it down on them blocks over there ch-yonder… You want a grape Nehi? I have one them yernins fer one…I’ll go fetch us a couple…”

*sphnicker sphnicker*

Here in Mayberry we don’t have much to do, but make fun of our offspring. Once it thaws we can head back down to the creek and git back to frog giggin’. Till then we”ll just pick banjos, pick our teeth and pick on the kids.

I really need to get out more. What are you doing till the ground thaws out enough to garden?

Simply,

Sis

Whoop-Whoop!

Thanks so much for reading everyone. Hope your Valentines Day is fill with lots of love and respect!

Simply,

Sis

It is the relationship book to end all relationship books. It explains the differences between men and women. When I read it a few years ago I was amazed at what I didn’t know. In fact, I have spoken with people who have been married for 35 plus years and they didn’t even know some of the simple facts in this book. Their consensus was the same…I wish I would have read this book years ago.

It teaches women to respect their husbands. Heck, I thought I was. Turns out I didn’t even know what respect really is. On the other hand it teaches guys to speak love to their wives. Typically they understand respect, but not love so much.

This book has allowed us to trade a good marriage for a great one. The kind happily ever after is made of. In the process it has helped me as a mom to understand all guys better. Since we’re raising a couple I think it’s helped me speak to our boys better and feed them the respect they need too.

I’m giving away one of these books for Valentines day. To enter please leave a comment about your plans for the day of love. Entries will end Feburary 13th at 9 pm. Enter now and trade your marriage on the rocks drink for sex on the beach.

Good Luck.

Sis

(Thanks to BlogHer Pic App for another niffty photo!)

I can’t believe it’s been a year since this strange blog about simple living opened it’s doors. What I really can’t believe is how many people read it. I also can’t believe the people who read it are pretty darn cool and aren’t nearly as nerdy as me. They live anywhere from across the creek to across the big pond and are wonderful each in their own way. I’ve never had so much fun expressing myself or meeting so many. So, thank you for reading!!!

It’s always interesting to compare my favorite posts to yours. What I think is just bang your head awesome and what you think is are certainly two different things. I have a lot to learn about blogging, but then…it will be a while before I’m potty trained by the looks of the lone candle on the cake.

This was the most read post ever “One Money Saving Must“. It’s about the different uses for vinegar. It was supposed to be a fill-in post, but has been read by thousands. If all my post were read this much, Ben could quit his job and play his banjo full time. But, alas…that won’t happen this year.

This was the hardest post I wrote last year and the one of the most read. It is about the night we lost one of my brothers. I’m glad it has brought hope to so many.

Some of my favorite posts are…

The Naked Tomato

Sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty.

and as much as i hate her…anything by SINthia.

One of the most popular phrases used when finding this blog is g-string. I’m sure my mama is proud.  Of course it’s not my fault, it’s my damn-it evil twin, SINthia, who says what I’m thinking aloud. Grrrrr. Her posts are always well read and cause me grief when I leave the house.

Other popular phrases are pickled peppers (a great recipe, by the way), Yates banjos (our newest child) and braiding onions (something fun I tried this year).

So here we are over a million hits later, still living simply and a debt free life. Thanks for coming with me on my journey and sharing yours with me along the way.

Simply,

Sandhill Sis

and

SINthia

Every year about this time I’m resolute in my resolutions… this year is gonna be different. This year I’m going to get into the best shape of my life. *cough cough* After parts, pieces and promises of butt busting equipment I wonder.. Are we there yet? If I took every promise I’ve bought (and sold) and halved them, stacked them on top of each other would I be there? Heck I’d probably only weigh five pounds, if that happened. But, exercise doesn’t work that way, does it? As I was sipping some whine wine and watching my latest how to safely do this exercise without killing yourself, but making you way too skinny and beautiful, your boobs bigger and life better in seven days video my mind started to wonder; how many pieces of excercise equipment and or dvds etc… have I owned?

Jeeesh! This may be a little like trying to name old boyfriends…awfully telling and/or embarassing. But I’ll try, as every one needs a New Years giggle.

2000–Blowflex (the original)

I used it faithfully for two weeks and bought a treadmill. Ben used it 2-3 times a week for years. We bought it for $1200 and sold it for $300 in 2006.

2000–Treadmill –a cheap one from Walmart.

I used it faithfully for two weeks, until it made this sound… huummm cla-chunk huuummm cla-chunk. When I called and talked to John in India the first thing he asked was how much do you weigh? *click* (See cat doctors aren’t the only ones I hang up on). I took it back to Walmart.

2003–Some kind of elliptical–$75  on clearance from Walmart.

I used it for a month. I used it seven times in a month, at most. It broke. I took it to the dump.

2004–The gazelle.

I bought this swing thing on the Internet for $125. It made the bottom of my feet burn. So I called customer service, AGAIN. And hung up on them, again, when they asked if I had athlete’s foot. “Uh, no! Like that’s any of your business.”  *click* I sold it to a church lady (who said, ”I can really see myself using this…”) at our garage sale for $75. Sphnicker sphnicker.

2006–Billy Blanks Bootcamp three dvd set with bands for$45.

I did them faithfully for 2.5 years, lost 35 pounds and sold them for $3 at a garage sale (without bands). The fairly hefty lady who finally bought them said, “Do they work?” What kind of question is that? It all works if you do it. What a stupid question I thought, but reality is I’ve asked the same one every time I’ve gotten a piece of equipment. ”Sure,” I answered. “They are butt-kickers and you’ll want to follow the lady that doesn’t squat as far as everyone else. But yes, they work.” SOLD!

2007–Billy made my hips hurt, so I switched to The Firm videos use free with a friend. 

These are great videos that firm and lift as promised (as long as you promise to do them and push yourself away from the table when you have your share of calories.) Daaang-get! I hate that disclaimer!

2008–Running Shoes $45 (didn’t use them until 2009).

We ditched the gym and ran for, oh, three months–four tops. It got cold and school started and we quit. I don’t care what they say about running being addicting. It’s not. Exercise that you enjoy can be addicting, but I don’t know that running is for me. Maybe if I lose another 30 pounds. Or not. Probably not. I’m still wearing the shoes in hopes people will perceive me as a runner, since I have one of them short rounded running bodies — complete with the muffin top and other unmentionables everyone wants. *hurl*

So here we are in 2010, the new year is here and resolutions are rolling. I’ve spent days reading reviews and having firm talks with myself  involving large promises of a sunny beaches and fruity drinks if I make my goal…Days later this appeared on the treat truck…

The Wave by The Firm.

Are you kidding me?  That brings the total to eight in ten years. How many pieces of equipment do I need?

The answer: exactly enough to keep me interested.

Sounds expensive.

Real expensive.

Dave Ramsey isn’t gonna like this.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Simply,

Sis

 What was Santa thinking, was all I could manage to mutter as visons of bloody stumps and a burning farm house pierced my imagination. Why didn’t he dull that thing before delivering it? And why why why do we let him watch Survivor Man all the live long day?

 I mean come on, I have enough guilt. I’m the mother who I let her baby kill snakes in her defense, talk about wenises at the table, and tell true whoppers at the dentist office. Now, thanks to Santa, I may have to brave a trip to the emergency room because of an accident with a hatchet. Or regretfully field scoffs and mean looks from firemen while they hand me a small flint stick… the most likely cause of the blaze… while my house lays smoldering.

 I shudder at the thought, but realize it’s not that far from the reality. I grew up with two brothers  who loved to play Dukes of Hazard. Oh yes my friends, complete with flaming arrows. Once on a windy day we totally burned down an old farmstead. It was one of them ‘please don’t tell Dad‘ moments. (Like he wouldn’t notice or read the paper.) No wonder my mom prays so much.

 So here I am, with W is asking for a butterfly knife for his birthday. Ben doesn’t seem to have a problem with this. But then, his way of thinking is sometimes predictably a half bubble off of plumb.

 Welcome to my world.
 

Sis

PS ~ W wanted me to tell you…pocket knives work better on the fire stick than the thing it came with to strike it! Just in case you needed some useful information. You’re welcome.

This past Thanksgiving we were talking about W trading Legos with a good friend. I think it’s really cool and a great way to learn to ‘weigh and measure’ the possible conciquences of a chosen deal. She agreed and recited a poem. A poem from a magazine long ago (the author’s name long since forgotten) about boys coming of age. 

A boy should search through alleys now and then,
to cultivate a careful eye for treasure.
And be on terms with junkyard men,
To learn which things to weigh and which to measure.

A boy should learn to bargain on his own.
Without a weary parent intervening.
Dealing and dickering all alone,
To win or lose but learn a dollars meaning.

Though high-walled neighbors find his methods crude,
and maiden aunts declare it ‘not quite nice’,
for one of tender age to be so shrewd.
In twenty years, will ask for his advice.

I love it and pray I can stay my mother bear instinct long enough to get out of the way once in a while. To just watch mistakes being made and  observe triumphs as my boys grow, hopefully being there to congratulate or help pick up the pieces.

Simply,

Sis