The Thinkin' Chair!

I do some of my best thinkin' in the bathroom. I don't just mean upon the john. I mean generally, as in the room named after the luxury of sitting in a luke-warm mini-pond of your own filth.

I've heard others say the same thing - that they do their best thinkin' and prayin' in that particular room. Now why do you think that is?

Some may say, "Well you are often in various stages of undress there, and this lends itself to self-examination and transparency with God."

Too symbolic.

Others agree that, "We spend time in this room eliminating waste and relieving ourselves of "encumbrances" so we are freer to think there."

Gross.

Ya' know what I think?

I think it's the only room where you get left alone. Most of the time.

My father-in-law, Paw-Paw, as he is called by most, claims he never spent an alone moment in the "restroom", as it is also called, (but why?) during his child rearing years, and my husband confirms this claim. Paw-Paw said the kids would sit and visit with their Dear Ole Dad, he upon the pot, and the children on the side of the tub. He would often have a newspaper with him, but I suspect that was only a ploy to make the younguns think he was otherwise occupied (since just being in there didn't do the trick). I hear it never worked. The way he tells it, I think he sorta misses the company.

I too have experienced the interrupted time in the bathroom. In fact, with an 18mo old in tow, I find no "business" is too serious that she will not intrude with talking, (read: jabbering), digging in off-limit drawers/cabinets containing toxic cleaners/toilet paper, and continually coming in and out of the saloon-style swinging half-doors that a bartender must have installed to lend "privacy" to those on the potty.

With 2 bathrooms and 8 people, I also must share these quarters with others during bath time/shower time in the evening, so really, nothing seems to be sacred to these short people.

However, I truly don't prefer being alone, so children really have solved that small problem. It's good to have these little friends around me, all the time, even when I'm "thinking".

Sweat is good!

Yes friends, it is I, your friendly friend who is living out in the aforementioned country. (the closest reasonably large town is 15 minutes away).

We have had baby #6, who isn't called that anymore. We call her Emmy Belle.

Currently....

We tend 17 chickens, who make breakfast for us - can your pet do that?
We tend 9 guinea fowl who eat ticks and 'squitos for us.
We tend 3 ducks, who look purty on our pond.
We tend 7 cats (anyone need a good mouser?) including 4 kittens who clean up rodents on the place.
We tend a nice size garden that is givin' out squash, zucchinis, and purple-hull peas...we'll see if the other veggies and fruits come in. Some say "don't count your chickens before they hatch", I say "don't count your cantaloupe 'til they're ripe".

Then there's the swimmin' pool to play in and clean, the flower beds to water, and children (my personal favorite thing to maintain around here) to raise.

So my comment to the Tim man last night was, "anything that needs maintenance will require work". This was my pithy reply to his observation that "You sure are sweaty". He seemed to be concerned that I was having to expend alot of energy on the baby guineas in the evenings. I explained that the keets continue to try to roost on the roof of the chicken house at night, and I am afeared that they will unwittingly become a tasty treat for our sneakiest cat, Bilbo. So nightly, I chase the ungrateful little birds around to put them back in their pen for the night.

He questioned if they were worth it. With a shocked expression, (the impertinence!) I said the same could be asked of his riding lawnmower - since we got it a year ago, Tim has replaced the blades 3-4 times and about 2 or 3 other smaller parts. True, he runs over unseen stumps and fallen tree limbs on his joyrides, (don't drive the thing in the dark, I don't care if it has headlights!) so it's not the mowers fault. Still. Lots of maintenance.

Anyways, my point is, don't be afraid of a little sweat. Anything worth having will need maintenance, and that will mean work, and for most of us, at least those of us in Texas in July, that will equal sweat. The fruits of your labor will be worth it (grown guineas that keep the insects at bay, or a beautifully maintained piece of land...) and you can take a shower when you're done.