My Cowboy's Wife: 2014

One Down, Five to Go....

Monty Python is not dead yet!

This morning, I heard on the news that Monty Python is having a last reunion for a live show. When the tickets became available, it sold out in 44 seconds! They had planned on doing only one show, but because the demand was so high, they are doing nine additional shows, with the last one (July 20) being simulcast in about 2,000 theaters.

My brother was a huge Monty Python fan and it was a tradition for our kids to watch The Holy Grail with him several times on each of their frequent visits out West. I’m pretty sure that they can all quote the whole movie verbatim and that possibly their first words hailed from scenes of the movie! I am not a theater-goer, but I think I should make an exception and find one simulcasting to share this last experience with the kids in honor of their beloved uncle. The date of the final show is also Chad’s birthday. I think there’s some type of cosmic significance to that fact.

One of the original cast died many years ago. The show, in typical Monty Python humor, is titled, “One down, five to go.”

My brother would have loved that.

May 05 - Cinco de Mayo

For much of the world, May 5th signifies victory and independence. To others, it’s a great excuse to break out the margaritas and party. To some, it’s just another day in a long list of days. To me, it’s the day my oldest brother, Vern, was born (05/05/55), and the day our lives were forever changed when my Cowboy broke his neck and back (05/05/05).

On this particular May 5^th (2014), I vacillate between incredible sadness that I will never get to celebrate my brother’s birthdate with him again and great joy that my Cowboy can still swagger. Through the sadness and joy, I am reminded that God is good and God is in control.

My big brother was fun, irritating, brilliant in many ways, stupid in a few, talented, loyal and generous. While the age difference between us didn’t foster closeness during the early years, he was protective and kind. When my mom and best friend passed away almost 10 years ago, he graciously allowed me to cling to him as a surrogate and our relationship blossomed. Mind you, he did complain about it, but it was his nature to grumble and tease unmercifully and the more he grumbled, the more cherished you felt.

Our family has an irreverent sense of humor and an irrational fear of expressing our feelings. I worried about Vern living alone after Mom was gone, so our code for “all is well on the home front ”, “I love you” and “I miss you” was verbalized with the infamous Monty Python quote, “I am not dead yet.” This phrase was such a huge part of our lives for 10 years. It covered a lot of emotions – it was kind of like the “aloha” of the Blanchard family. In fact, the musical version of that statement from “Spamalot” was his ring tone when he called.

Last May 5^th, we celebrated his overcoming all odds. After over four months in the hospital, he was home and things were going to be okay. We never anticipated or considered that we would say goodbye to him so soon afterwards. I still struggle with letting him go. He remains one of my ‘favorites’ in my phone contacts and I can’t bring myself to delete it, even though his number no longer works.

Someday, I will tell you about my Cowboy and the significance of this date for him. For today, I just need to remember my brother, to relive memories in the past and contemplate the preciousness of each moment that God grants us.

Over the last year, I have often wished I could talk to him just one more time. And I know exactly what I would tell him. “I am not dead yet.”

Fun Finds Friday - Knit One, Purl Two

One of my fondest memories is set in the yarn shop my mom owned when I was in the third grade. It was in a cozy little house in our small country town. My girlfriends and I would walk there after school and she would make us hot chocolate, feed us snacks and teach us how to knit and crochet while we sat in comfy chairs around the warm Franklin stove. If I had the money and didn't have to work full time, I would recreate that same little atmosphere and open my own little shop like my mom's, but I would have to include paper crafts classes, which is my main passion.

When I stumbled upon this week's Fun Finds, it not only thrilled the thrifter in me, but it took me back to a very happy time in my life.

I love it when I go to a garage sale and the lady of the house is a compulsive craft shopper! I feel an instant kinship with someone who has triplicates of the same thing!

Check it out:

I actually gave away some of the items I was able to purchase from this lady before I took this picture, but you can see I hit the mother lode of knitting and crocheting!

Here are some closer looks at what I was to steal!

This set appears to be new. I checked it out at Joann's and it was $69.99 there!

These are lighted crochet hooks. They are new. The little tabs that need to be removed to engage the battery are still intact. In addition, there were several packages of replacement batteries. They still have the price tags on them from Hobby Lobby and each package was $2.49.

This is a complete set of crochet hooks. In all, I think there are probably four full sets or more between all the different styles.

Want to venture a guess on what I paid for all of this?

I would love to have more followers via Google Friend Connect or BlogLovin'. I don't want followers because I want to have this huge following and to monetize my blog. I honestly don't have time to make a lot of blog posts, which you can tell by looking at the history of this blog. It's just that it is more fun to create posts when I know I am sharing my fun finds, crafts and Cowgirl Chronicles with other people who may enjoy them. Can you help me make it to 100 followers?

In May, I am going to do a drawing with my new followers and will send a package that will contain some of the goodies above. Comment on this post to be entered.

Hugs,

Randee

Linking to:

Junkin' Joes@thecottagemarket

AKA Design

WhateverGoesWednesday@somedaycrafts