Common Core On Shaky Ground

Good.  Common Core is nothing but the indoctrination of children.  More governors need to step up to the plate.

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Shots On The Farm

The girls went out with their cameras' and took a few shots around the homestead.  I thought I'd share them with y'all.  The ducks are a recent addition and quite fun to have around.

The IRS Got Caught

All I can say on this one is that it has been a LONG time coming.

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Seattle OK's Minimum Wage Hike To $15

Some people have no idea what they are doing.  They never stop to think about consequences nor do they seem to care.  Friends, this is NOT a good idea.  It will destroy small business, raise the cost of living even higher and force larger companies to stop hiring-period.  Let's think this through people!

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Obama Caves To The Demands Of Islamic Terrorists

My, how times have changed.  The late, great U.S.A. is now negotiating with terrorists-something that we have never done.  I am not one who supports the "war on terror" and believe the whole action completely illegal, however, this is just another example of Mr. (for I refuse to call him president) Obama ignoring the rule of law.  You might say, maybe he didn't know a thirty day notice was to be given to congress before the exchange of prisoners.  Well, Mr. Obama claimed to be a constitutional law professor, didn't he?  So he should know the law, right?

Read the full article here.

Memorial Day

A Country Life

I love being outside on a sunny day.   I love the look of split firewood nicely stacked.  I love seeing my wife out working the garden.  I love cooking on the grill.  I love sitting outside with my knife and a piece of wood in my hands.  I love watching the chickens scratch in the yard.  I love seeing the cows lying in the field chewing their cud.  I love the smell of fresh cut grass.  I love fresh strawberries from our garden.  I love not being able to see my neighbor's house.  I love living down a long dirt road.  I love a long walk to the mailbox.  I love working hard all day and sitting back in the evening to view the completed work.  I love the feel of the shower after that long hard day.

I'm just reflecting here.  You can't have all of this in a city, not to mention being under the watchful eye of big brother.  What does living in the country do for you?

Why Do We Need High Capacity Magazines?

I had an interesting conversation today with a young coworker of mine.  I am blessed that way.  I have the freedom to converse in my line of work and sometimes these discussions can be quite lengthy and, even heated.  Today was no different.

Let me open with the question that he posed to me.  I do this to illustrate a point and the point is that the media have formed the minds of young people in large proportions.  None seem to have the ability of critical thinking nor free thought-it's whatever they're told to think.  So, the question was, why do people need semi automatic weapons and high capacity magazines?

His thought was that homes can be defended with a revolver, or a baseball bat.  I cannot deny that, homes can be defended in that way.  Many people keep a revolver nearby, just in case.  You see, he says that he is not against guns, just doesn't understand the need of semi auto weapons and high cap magazines-two MAJOR buzz words flying across your TV screens nightly.

My response was that I not only want to defend my home and family from knuckleheads trying to steal from us, but I want to defend my home and family from knuckle-headed government.  Tyranny is to be opposed, thankfully it was-once, beginning in 1776.

His thought was that a six shooter could do the same thing.  Not if they come with semi auto weapons themselves, I told him.  A little pistol will do nothing against 5 armed men 40 yards away.  All  I ask for is a fighting chance.  He never did get it.  We went round and round for quite a while, resulting in him getting quite perturbed at me, so I left it.

But here is the thing that strikes me the most.  He thinks just exactly the way "they" want him to think.  Yes he attends a government funded college, and watches all the mainstream garbage on TV.  He said nothing that I haven't heard for the past few weeks in the news, notably Joe Bidden who suggests women just buy a shotgun and just pointing it at an intruder will scare them off.  The message is that "we won't take away you right to own a gun" by making suggestions like that to soften the blow.

Don't fall for it people.  The fact is "they" think we are all like the youth I was talking to, simple minded, line toers who will "fall in" once things happen.  They count on us being like my friend.  They hate free thinkers-those of us that don't watch TV .  Don't fall for it.

A Piece Of Peace

This past Saturday, while out cutting firewood, I came to a point where I had to shut off the noisy chainsaw. I had to move some wood out of my way to get to another part of the tree.

I took off my hard hat and ear muffs and started to move the wood, stacking it in a nice pile for later pick up. As I did so, I took notice of the peace that surrounded me. Without the noise of the saw, it was quite a serene scene.

I was on a section of the land that was above the tree line and, with the autumn leaves gone, I could see through the trees to what lay beyond. It was a wonderful view of the Ozark mountains with a slight foggy haze.

The cow was just under the line of view and I could see her eating, contentedly, the fresh, green grass that I had allotted for her. The two calves were behind me, in their pen. They had come over to inspect the saw dust and small branches left in the wake of my saw.

There was not a sound. Just me, working. The air was so quiet, in fact, that I could hear the calves chewing their cud-crunch, crunch. There was a chicken, or two, in the area. They made just the slightest cluck as they displayed their chickeness, scratching the ground for tasty morsels and bugs.

Then, Lucy, our cow, layed down to chew her lunch. She was the picture of contentment. It is a good thing to see a cow lying down, chewing the cud. It just seems as if all is right in the world.

I spied a flock of little nuthatches, swooping overhead. They lighted in the trees in order to procure a good vantage point to begin their concert. The chickadees will be here soon, bringing with them their cute little songs-chickadee-dee-dee-dee.

The morning clouds gave way to bright sunshine, and spilled its warmth upon the earth. I was able to shed the thick sweatshirt and soak in the rays. I took a seat on Polly, the power wagon, and ingested the day.

Taking a deep breath, I felt good. For just a brief moment in time, all was good. The stresses of the work week were behind me. The noise of the farm was calming. The rest of the day was ahead.

It is nice to have these moments when I can just forget the rest of the world, even for a little while. I could never find such serenity in the city. I don't know how people can do it, live in the city, that is. I will take this small piece of land over a city lot, anytime. It gives you the chance to stop and smell the roses.

VACATION-Got To Get Away......

Whenever I think of the word "vacation", I think of that really stupid song by the Go-Go's from the eighties. But, that is what we are going to do, take a vacation. We're heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma-where the wind comes rushing down the plain-another silly song from the musical by that name that I can't get out of my head.

We are heading out for a week, we'll see some sights, swim in the lake at the camp ground, visit some friends that live in OKC, and a whole lotta loafin'. Consequently, I will not be near my computer to post for a week. I know, I know, stop crying, I will return, Lord willing.

Thank you to all of you who frequent this humble blog. Those of you that are really interested in our boring, little world, I tip my hat to you in gratitude. Please be patient as we are away and I will post some good pictures of our trip after our return on the 25, I promise.

The girls, Abigail and Elisabeth, are the most excited I think I have seen them, so this will truly be a memorable experience for them and all of us. Pray for us, if you would, for a safe journey and decent weather. Pray for health and a fun time for all of us.

Again, thank you for reading my ramblings, I hope this blog makes a difference. I will see (or, write) you upon our return. Until then, God bless you all.

(Now, if I could only get those songs out of my head!)

Eating Fresh Is Where It's At

I have discovered a really neat blog that I think those that frequent this blog, will enjoy. It is called Surviving the middle class crash.

Start by reading the article entitled "Fresh: How We're Supposed To Eat". A very nice piece written by Rady Ananda. (I have no idea who that is, but, it is a very good article.)

It is a short article but it does express some common thoughts we have as far as local farming and eating local food. I would like for us to get to a point that none of our food comes on a truck. You know, that means that we may have to revert (OH MY!) back to seasonal foods. Eating seasonal, I believe is heathier for us anyway, IMO.

So, use the link and check out this great blog. Enjoy.

Indolence In America?

Indolence is defined as, literally, freedom from pain, according to the Noah Webster dictionary of 1828. It is also defined this way, in the same dictionary, as habitual idleness; indisposition to labor; laziness, etc...

Machiavelli understood that indolence is the greatest enemy of a republic.

In most of the world the state has gradually assumed all the responsibilities of adulthood, such as, health care, child care, care of the elderly-thus, effectively severing it's citizens from humanities created duties.

Now take a look at Europe. Europeans have legislated more free time for its people. They work less hours than Americans, they don't have to pay for their own health care, and they are post Christian so they no longer attend church. They don't get married, they have fewer kids so they don't have to cart them all over to different events. On the surface, they have it pretty good.

Now think on this, "Give people plenty and security and they will fall into spiritual torpor. When life becomes an extended picnic, with nothing of importance to do, ideas of greatness become an irritant. Such is the nature of the European syndrome." (Charles Murray, author of In Our Hands.)

Now ask yourself this, is this what is becoming of America? I can see the writing on the wall, can you?

We have come to the point that we do not like to suffer, we don't like pain. We have to bail everyone out so that we can keep on trucking. We do not want a repeat of the 1930's. We are comfortable, complacent and willing to let the nanny government take care of us. What happened to the hard working man that exploited his talents and became wealthy? What happened to the small farm and the people who worked the soil with blood, sweat and tears, who stood on their principles? What happened to the men that believed in the freedom to own that land and do with it as he pleased as the rightful owner? What happened to the notion of being responsible for oneself?

God didn't destroy Sodom for sodomy. He destroyed it for Pride, fullness of bread and an abundance of idleness. (Ez 16:48,49). When Lot's wife turned back and was turned to stone, it was not because she was gay but because she missed that cushy lifestyle she was leaving behind. She liked being free from pain. The pain of hunger, hard work, sleeping on the cold, hard ground, all things she would, undoubtedly, have to face in their flight. She was indolent.

America is on this speeding train and she needs to wake up before the train reaches full speed and jumping off would hurt much worse.

Is the answer really in the nanny choosing whom shall be fed and healed? I think not. Look at the rest of the world, and be honest with yourself, do they really have it better with nationalized everything? Europe is going broke because of upside down family trees, four grandparents with two children and one grandchild doesn't bring in enough revenue to float their economy. Yet, European government continues to fund their cradle to grave entitlements, all the while, the powers that be don't suffer one bit nor partake in these entitlements. Is this what we want for America? It is happening right under our noses because we are too comfy.