This is what happens...

when you attempt to leave your Halloween pumpkin out as decor up until Thanksgiving. It's a good thing I looked out my front door this morning and saw this or I might have my own set of maggot stories to tell.

It is a beautiful Monday here in Arkansas today. The sun is shining and it is a pleasant 71 degrees outside. I lit my spice candle and opened my french door to enjoy what might be one last glimpse of fall.

The kids are at school, but Pete and I are home. A friend of ours is coming over to join Pete in the man cave to load some bullets. Did I ever tell you how much into guns and ammo Pete is? That is why I chose Pistol Pete as his blog name. It was ever so fitting. I have to watch my step around him, ha...

I thought I might make another Mayonaise cake because Matt has commented on how much he loves it. The first glitch was that all I had in the fridge was real mayo...and the recipe calls for Miracle Whip. It's pretty much the same, isn't it? So I went ahead and used it. Then I discovered all I had in the pantry was 1 cup of flour instead of 2, so after I jetted up to our little store and discovered all they had was self-rising instead of all purpose, I decided it wasn't meant to be.

HOWEVER, Matt brought me some flour when he got here, so I am off to finish the cake.

I hope everyone has a great week.

Out of my Element

Apologies to any readers who are animal rights activists..

But...

You know here in South Arkansas yesterday was the opening day of deer season (gun). I have only been hunting 2 other times in my entire life. One time probably about 10 years ago because Pete begged me to, and one other time when both kids were begging to go, but they were both too young to sit in a stand alone. Pete and Little Ann got in a stand and Big Dan and I got in another. Big Dan and I didn't see anything because we made too much noise. He was quite the fidgety one AND my stomach kept growling which would result in hysterical laughter even though it wasn't all that funny. It was the fact that we were supposed to be quiet that made it so hard. I must say, it made for a fun family experience though.

I've been born and bred around deer hunting. My grandfather, my dad, and my brother all hunted religiously as I grew up. Some of my best memories were made down at my grandfather's old home place in a little shack that became camp. My aunts and uncles that lived out of town would bring campers down, we would huddle around the fire and watch as the guys drove in and out of the woods...some with the big one on the back of their four-wheelers and others with disappointment on their faces. Although I highly enjoyed being around my family and the fun times we experienced, I never once had the desire to dress out and head out to the old deer stand. It just didn't seem worth the trouble of getting up as early as required or freezing my buns off. Pete knew going into our marriage that I wasn't the outdoorsy type and after 15 years, he's pretty much accepted it.

But my heart went out to him this year. It seems that he's lost both hunting partners. Big Dan is so preoccupied with his 18 year old life nothing else seems to matter...and Little Ann....well, let's just say she's become pro-life. She refused to "kill another one of God's creatures". lol.

So, yesterday as afternoon hunting time came nigh, I realized we were the only ones home. Then it hit me...the words from a book that I had read bits and pieces of. It's called "His Needs, Her Needs".........engage in recreational activities that both you and your spouse can enjoy together....the couple that plays together, stays together.

I thought Pete was going to fall out when I told him I wanted to go with him. He was so excited. He began scurrying around helping me get my things together.

We sat on the stand engaging in very quiet conversation for 40 minutes or so. It was nice. Not too cold, and it was so peaceful just sitting.... pondering... watching the cardinals fly around us and squirrels scampering below us. I actually enjoyed it.

Yes, we saw a deer. It was a nice one. Pete spotted it first and counted 5 points. I got my gun in position, set my sights right in the perfect place to shoot, but just as I pulled the trigger he ran. And so, I guess you could say I missed. We looked for signs that I had hit him, but there were none.

I haven't totally disregarded the idea of going again. Pete says a girl with a gun really turns him on.

On a Lighter Note

Tonight after mid week church services, we invited our pastor and his family over for dinner. As our visit drew close to an end and we were getting ready to get our kids in bed for school tomorrow, Pete drug out the big guns. You think I'm kidding. No, I'm not. I mean...the. big. guns. Which is why I call him Pistol Pete. I hate guns, but he is a gun fanatic and it drives me crazy.

This, my friends, is my preacher's wife shooting Pete's Bushmaster AR 15 (whatever that is).

Look at the smile on her face. She is enjoying that waaaayyy too much.

This is your next top model for the "Blue Press" (In case you're not a regular reader, that is a magazine that uses attractive women in cute little attire to attract men to their ammunition and arsenal products.) .

Something kind of strange about seeing your preacher's wife holding an AK47.

I'll be sure and not make her mad!