Besserina: I milked a cow yesterday.

This weekend the girls and I went along with Danny to West Virginia. While driving, we're always on pins and needles waiting to see who will puke first. You never now who it will be, or what mile out. Could be 50 miles, could be 249. Could be the baby, could be Maddie, could be a chain reaction, usually ending with Mama. This time it was Daisy, at around 175 miles, 10:30 p.m. Silly me, I forgot to bring garbage bags, usually #1 in our traveling with kids kit. Garbage bags, paper towels, wipes, bucket, clorox spray, lysol, water.... So we had to leave her clothes on the side of the road.

But we made it, Danny went caving & we stayed with family. I love it down there so much, everyone is so layed back, relaxed and calm. People talk to eachother and respect eachother. They say "Mornin Darlin" ~ and I love to be called Darlin' ~ or "Howr you?" with a smile and a wave even if they've never seen you before. The mountains surround you, everything smells fresh and clean...you can see every star in the sky. They really do say "Ya'll come back" and you kow what? They mean it. We were welcomed with open arms at 1:00 a.m. with kisses, hugs, and warm beds.

I milked the cow. They milk the cow every morning and evening...milk to drink, to make ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, sour cream...you name it.

Pretty much everyone around there can cook, but our cousin Lucy is known for miles around for her mouthwatering meals. She cooks for weddings, anniversarys, birthdays, churches, reunions, bakes and decorates beautiful cakes...and saves her best finger licking secret recipes for her family. And Oh. My. Do I mean, fall on the floor and die with a smile on your face cooking.

The amazing thing is, everyone is healthy - no one is overweight and they live long happy lives. They work hard, and everything is in moderation - you have meat, vegetables & fruit, and save the carbs for a piece of dessert. Hot Fudge pudding with real whipped cream, Cherries in a Cloud, Cobblers, Homemade ice cream, German Chocolate Cream Pie, Honey Bun Cake, must I go on? Are you getting the picture here?

So, Saturday, she and her sister were preparing a meal for an anniversary dinner. Dinner meaning your version of Lunch. Just so you know, it's Breakfast, Dinner, Supper. LUNCH is carried in a bag. We cooked in a big kitchen in an old school that was saved from destruction by the community historical society. We made chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, iced tea - real iced tea. Boiled water in big stock pots with teabags, cooled, poured over ice and lots and lots of sugar.

And cake.

I was worried about the cake, Daisy (The Animal) was eyeing it all morning and I knew she wanted to just take her little fist and grab a handfull and shove it into her mouth.

I was right. Luckily she only used two fingers though, and we were able to cover it up.

Then I sent the kids to play in here.

Imagine having an entire gym to your self to tear up.

Not only the gym, but the stage! They sang, danced, had a spelling bee..

And look, Jesus...in their public school.

While I did the dishes in here ~ I had so much fun! If I had one of these in my house, I would do all my dishes, then put each of the kids in a tub, and hose 'em down daily.