I love Columbia!

Over the past couple of weeks I've been digging for winter coats, gloves, and hats.  It's that time of year again in the heartland. Besides the tough Carhartt coat that is needed for the daily chore routine here on the farm I've chosen to invest in the Columbia coat for my cowpoke as school coats (life off the farm coats) because of their warmth and durability. I've justified spending a little more moo-lah on the quality item because with 3 cowpoke I can often pass them on down the line getting the goody out of the sweet investment.
Last year Dexter's not so old Columbia(1.5 years) coat blew the zipper.  He was beginning to out grow the coat and it was the dead of winter.  A new Columbia coat was purchased for him and the broken one was thrown into storage.  When I came across the broken zippered parka this year I considered pitching it, or attempting to put a new zipper in....the coat was in perfect condition otherwise.  The job appeared to be above my sewing abilities so before tossing it I decided to send Columbia an email. 

• On a Friday night I sent Columbia an email.
• Columbia responded Monday.
• I mailed the coat and all parts(detachable hood) off for inspection....no receipt.
• Sat back to wait...could possibly take four weeks.
• They had the coat back to me within 2 weeks-new zipper in place!  It's like a brand new coat!

I LOVE COLUMBIA!

I love Columbia because they stand behind their products.
I love Columbia because they are made in Portland, Oregon-USA!

5 Question Friday

1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood?

I have a few... I LOVE Francessca Battistelli I'm Letting Go or Toby Mac Get Back Up or Brandon Heath Give Me Your Eyes or the all time favorite.....Bryan Adams Summer of 69.

2. Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one?

I'm ALL about a fake one.  Only because that is all I know. Honestly, I do not remember ever having a real tree? But I do buy a real Christmas wreath.  Does that count?      

3. What are you thankful for?

Everyday. Faith. Family. Friends. Health. Shelter. Freedom.  This list could go forever......

4. Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today?

I used to LOVE my banana clips....such an effortless hairdo.
   

5. Do you wait until the "low fuel" light comes on before you fill up the gas tank?

Everytime!  It TOTALLY frustrates me hubby.  So sorry.  But I like to make the trip worth it. Do you buy a half a bottle of pop?  Exactly! 

I did scare myself the other day, however.  I didn't even realize the "low fuel light" was on. It's SO the "NORM" for me. When I DID happen to NOTICE the little orange light my little screen read: DTE 9 miles.  Luckily I was less than 3 miles from the gas station.  I've driven many miles watching that thing count down....so far I've always made it to the station before the dreaded DTE O miles! Whew.....CrAzY I Know!  

On my nitestand

Last week as I wandered through the Christian bookstore this novel jumped into my hands. Although my intentions were shopping for others I KNEW I could not put this book back on the shelf. 

Now, I sit here at my computer and attempt to share the novel with you in my own words. I'm struggling and can not come close to describing the plot the way the author does.  So, I have decided to cheat....is this legal?

Perhaps you will feel as compelled to read the book as I did? You SHOULD put it on your 2011 Christmas wishlist, don't you think?

Nobody’s Child by Austin Boyd        

Unprecedented choices never intended by heaven . . . unintended consequences never before seen on earth
Brace yourself for this gripping introduction to The Pandora Files—a new series of biotech suspense novels by award-winning techno-thriller author Austin Boyd.
Experience the trials of Laura Ann McGehee—Determined to honor her father’s dying request, the young West Virginia woman will do whatever it takes to save the family farm, including using the one remaining financial resource she has—her body.
Meet Sophia McQuistion—Thanks to the unusual sacrifice of a woman she has never met, she carries the child she could never conceive. Walk in the shoes of Ian Stewart—In Laura Ann’s time of need, he’s more than just a close friend. He is a source of grace, a man who loves Laura Ann through her many trials.
When unusual circumstances place Sophia’s baby in Laura Ann’s care, Laura Ann is now the virgin mother of her own biological son. The media call him “Nobody’s Child.” But somebody wants him badly enough to steal the baby. What price will a mother pay to save her only son?
Weaving together bioethics and faith, Nobody’s Child dramatizes a future that is already upon us with consequences we can no longer avoid.

BO

Dexter's new friend.

 BO, a mini Australian Shepard.

Kid Comedian

Have you ever seen one of these? 

Yes, it's a fart noise maker! A push of a button will grant you the fart sound you desire. For example: Power fart, Juicy fart, Ripper etc. In a house full of boys you can only imagine the belly laughs these small toys, along with there special sounds, can produce. 

The other morning DW walked through the house dressed for school, he stopped, squatted, and produced an "Up Tight" fart.

Then he dropped onto the floor in hysterics!  Between his Wrangler jeans and Hanes underwear he had placed the Flarp Noise Maker.  The squatting had pulled his jeans tight over his hind-end and activated the flarp fart noise maker.

Whose boys is this?  

The kids a comedian!  He loves to make people laugh. 

This morning, as I type,  I'm thankful he did not think to take the toy to school and try the stunt....atleast not yet.

blogging

I hate it that I haven't been blogging routinely.  I love to blog...and read blogs.  As any mother might imagine it isn't that I haven't had anything to blog about either....quite the opposite.

• Homework and kid comedian are keeping us entertained in the evenings.
• Our new farm friend BO is demanding our time, too.
• Last minute yard work and bee winterizing have been a priority on the warm days.
• Ideas for Christmas gifting have been hot on my mind.
• As well as the planning of the first Davis Herd Colorado Ski Adventure this January.

Tune back in for the specifics.