Dear Bella

Dear Bella,

I fear you have become more neurotic and way too nervous. You make me nervous, you are so nervous.
I wonder if I should put you on Prozac? When you act all cra cray it makes me want to confine you to your little box.
Those fluffy brown and grayish animals are called squirrels. You see them every day. They won't hurt you, I promise. I wish you would so calm down already. Simmer down, simmer down. Or as Auntie Jenny would say in Hungarian Nugi Nugi!
I am beginning to wonder if you have become a bad influence on your younger brother Barley.

Do you think it's time we seek help for you little dog?
I think we might need to find a therapist.



You sure are cute though.
And I still love you,

Your owner

P.S. Do you think, Maybe it's the diet food we have had you on for the last 3 years?

Dear Barley

Dear Barley,

When you sit in "your" chair you do realize that at one point it was "my chair"?

It now smells of you no matter how much frebreeze I spray on my, I mean your beautiful chair.
No one wants to sit in this chair anymore because it smells like Barley, and although we love you Barley we do not love your smell.

I realize you only sit in that chair and stare out the window to make me feel guilty for not taking you out and playing ball with you.
Don't you think I know what you are doing when you do this?

But remember when I just took you out a minute ago? You probably don't remember because a squirrel just ran by and now that's all you can think of.
Well, sigh... ok let's get you off that chair so I can spray it down once again, and you can put a smile back on your cute puppy face.

Yours Truly,
Your Owner

Dieting, Puppies, and Other MoNoSco Updates

A funny thing happens when you go on a diet.
Food just becomes a tool, rather than something you enjoy.
To some extent life changes entirely and I find myself getting kind of depressed.
This of course makes me realize how much food and drink(can't forget the drink) has become somewhat of an idol in my life.
The diet I am on is extreme, and I would tell you the name but... the only reason I am not sharing it with you is because I don't want that to become the topic of our conversation, but needless to say, it is limited what I can and cannot eat... BUT it's working!


Having a puppy in the house after several years of not having a baby of some sort has made me realize how selfish we all are.
Barley( our new Yellow Lab pup) has pushed us all to the brink of exhaustion.
He is so high energy that even our Jack Russell, Bella (supposedly the most hyper dog around) is wiped out and tired of him by the end of the day!
Still, in the end he brings me so much joy, as does Bella and well Joy is a rare commodity these days!
Those 4 legged friends sure are something, can't quite put my finger on what, but they are SOMETHING all right!

We had a communion moment at church last Sunday.
It started out bad and painful, but I hope ended up good and memorable.
We came home and let all 4 of our kids watch Passion of the Christ.
We of course edited quite a bit and actually only showed them bits and pieces.
This movie still makes me bawl like a baby.
Jesus without a doubt is SO AMAZING!
I know it made a lasting impression because they are still asking me questions.

We, Monosco are still having moments,
sometimes whole days ...
where we are wondering what the H E ..double hockey sticks we are doing in Washington??
But today when the sun is shining and we recently got to visit with a good old friend that feels like family I feel happy to be here.

I miss my mom.
Can you at 36 years old still miss your mom?
Is that legal?

Well, even though the sun is out this cabin has turned into an icebox.
I must go start a fire now to cozy things up in here.
Sure wish I was having this conversation face to face with those of you that might read and comment on this.
If we were, I would have already put the coffee pot on and the smell would be divine because...
Raven's Brew is what I am brewing these days. If you haven't had this brand of coffee go out... RIGHT NOW and get some.
It is Divine!



One more final thought and then I really am going to go , okay maybe two
I am reading;
Fiction-Salamander by Thomas Wharton
and
Non- Fiction-Follow Me to Freedom by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins
both great books so that alone makes me happy to have good books waiting for me late at night.

and really here it is my final thought...
New All Time Favorite Tea
Stash brand Licorice Spice, it's like dessert in a cup

An Update In Pictures

Happy Holidays to all who are reading this, from our family to yours. SO thankful for the family and friends that keep up with me through reading this little blog here. To those of you who do mostly read these post for little updates, I know it's going to seem quite crazy, almost totally bonkers to read this post that includes a picture of the newest member of the Scofield family, right after I just posted a complaint about Bella. BUT don't judge me!



It seems the time is just flying by and I can hardly catch up to the rate at which time is traveling now.Can't believe Uncle Jeremy graduates this coming year, and that my daughter Emmers will be an official teenager soon. Jeremy if you are reading this, I am beyond words proud of you and can't wait to hoot, holler, and go crazy nutts on your graduation day.



This Thanksgiving we had the absolute pleasure of hosting 13 people at our dinner table. And what a table it was. When discussing with The Giant how we were going to fit all of these loved ones around our little IKEA table that we bought when we first moved into this tiny cabin he said, "Why don't I just build us a new bigger table?" This he said to me the day before turkey day and the same day that some of our company was arriving that night. I know better to question him on these things, my only concern was the timing.... because we all know timing on Thanksgiving day is everything. Well once again My Giant came to save the day. The New Table that Moses built the day before Thanksgiving is amazing. Still can't believe the skills that boy has.



And Finally the moment you have all been waiting for, Newest Member of the family; Barley Bambino Boo Scofield.

Bad Dog Bella!!

WARNING- venting ahead... ARRGHHH!!

Dear Bella,

If you continue to make HUGE messes for me by getting into the trash as punishment for us all leaving you in the morning, I will be forced to leave you outside, IN THE RAIN!!

Not really.

Sincerely,
CEO Scofield Home

Sidenote- I know that my dog doesn't actually read my blog but ... it just feels good to vent to someone, so thanks for being someone.

Venting

* So I am pretty sure when your dog attacks another persons dog causing $500 worth of damages the proper response would be to apologize profusely and offer to pay for any damages.
Apparently my dog attackers owners didn't get that memo. They just cussed me out for the second time just because I asked if they removed the dog yet. If my children were not there within ear shot... I would have had some choice words for them as well.

* Also don't you think if a dog has only been living in a neighborhood for a month and there have already been two attacks that should be enough for Animal Control to step in and stop this vicious animal. Again, apparently Animal Control didn't get that memo either.

* One more final thought on the matter. Do you think the solution to this monster of a dog is to place it in a home with little children running all over and then just hope and pray for the best? Well.... that would be what these women think is the solution to this scenario.
What is the saying; "The elevator doesn't go all the way to the top on that one" yep, that would be appropriate in regards to these idiots who are placing there whole family in danger for the sake of a four legged monster of a dog!!

The icing on the cake to this scenario is that I get to see these lovely women/dog owners every school day until I move because our children go to the same school.
Needless to say, this is now one reason I am happy I am moving!!

Why ?

My dogs attacked a blue feather duster today, and on days gone by; a hot tub cover, blankets in every room, shoes, toys(which I don't mind so much cause one less thing to pick up)couches, furniture, pacifiers, bottles, baskets, rugs, cups, bowls, countless dog toys, boxes, lunch boxes, bags, garbages, trash in every area, and I know there is more I just can't think of it right now.

So why do I still have these 2 terrible beasts of burden? Why after I said no more and meant no more? Why after being knocked down and bruised up and beaten by these mangy mutts?

**I don't have an answer for that other than I AM CERTIFIABLEY CRAZY!!! I used to work at the psych and detox hospital in Carson City and I am begining to think I should give my friends a call.

My Handy Dandy Dishwasher

Recently I have noticed that my dishes are coming out quite clean these days. What is different you ask? New Detergent, New High tech machine, Better Scrubbers??? None of the above. The reason that my dishes have been coming out so clean lately is because I have a new friend who helps me with these dishes. Her name is Bella and she loves to lick even what lil bit of food might be left on the dishes as I place them in the dishwasher. Time and time again I have told her no to this nasty habit but tonight I realized , ya know I don't really mind the company as I accomplish this 3times a day chore(sometimes more). I have now become a wierdo pet person who allows her dog to lick her dishes. Now, I still think they are coming out sanitary after going through the dishwasher cycle, but just to be sure if this bothers you, next time you come over for dinner you might want to bring paper plates because this bad habit isn't going anywhere. And neither is this sweet pup.

And then there were 2

My dogs, Baxter and Bella are so funny, truly they make me smile. They sit upon the chair in front of our living room window and I firmly believe they think they rule the world from this chair. It gives them special doggie powers. They look down the end of our the road and bark at everything,(something that we are trying to change with a squirt bottle, not alot of success so far) and I do mean everything. A leaf falling from the tree, a cat strolling by, kids, adults, cars, birds, butterflies, etc...... There is one bark, accompanied with growling and whole lot of jumping straight up and down, that is a sure sign to us all that the true bully of the neighborhood is on our front lawn. The bully- is a lil itty bitty Chihuahua(think taco bell dog all the way) which I do believe is truly a dog bully. He runs around the neighborhood, roaming freely, with no collar and when stopped by other dogs on leashes he kicks up his back legs like a bull ready to charge at you and then runs away. Normally, he comes and pees on my lawn and then does his little bull dance, gets my doggies in a fully hysterical state and then prances away. ONE of these days I might just let them loose and then we shall see what happens to the bully. In the meantime I love to see my dogs , sitting upon their chair ruling the world.

Killer Cat Hunter seizes his opportunity

As proposed a day and half later the killer cat Hunter had poor little Pickles in his jaws. We were saying goodbye to the girls friends who had spent the night when one of the girls shrieked...."The cats got the bird!" WHAT!!!!!!
I don't think I have yelled like that since the Boys 2 Men concert a few months ago. (That was for you Brent) My cat apparently is
deaf and didn't care that I was popping blood vessels trying to get his attention. He had a tasty treat that he wasn't letting go for a thousand blood curdling screams. He ran out of the living room where all children were present to see the bird in his mouth and back to my bedroom. I ran to get some water and closed the door
behind me so that my children wouldn't be traumatized. A bath,in a jug of water later,
and a good yank on his tail did the trick. He dropped
the bird out of the jaws of peril and left him panting for dear life.
After we all settled down I called Moses to come get the bird OUT OF THE HOUSE. The bird who is now at the church is doing fine and still looking for a home.

Bird Found, Free to good home

Today, while sitting outside Starbucks a parakeet landed on my roof rack. I knew this was not a native Nevada bird and before I could think twice about what to do the bird flew right next to the table where Sarah and I were sitting.
With the help of Sarah, and a nice lady who threw her sweater over it we caught the bird and stuck it in my car, BUT.....as much as I know my husband who loves birds would love to keep this bird, alas, we have a cat, named HUNTER no less and it just doesn't seem like a bright idea.
SO, if any of you blogreaders are looking for and free pet here she is.
Looks almost identical to the picture on the left.
Let me know if you are interested. My gentle Giant has already set her up in a nice comfy cozy hotel of a cage and so that will be included along with a bag of food, mirror, toys,etc. etc. He went a lil nuts caring for this lil critter so pretty much she is literally "good to go"

He's a killer after all

Well, I am proud to announce that Hunter has killed his first mouse. It was quite the event. While cleaning out my daughters room yesterday I nearly had a heart attack as the stupid rodent scared me half to death. Thankfully, Hunter came to save the day we all jumped up on the girls beds and watched the Gladiator type event unfold. About a half an hour later the mouse was pronounced dead .
Hunter was quite impressive and we all were glad when it was over. He really just played with him so much that eventually the lil nasty critter just couldn't keep up anymore , so when he didn't move it was no longer fun to Hunter. He handed him over and off to the trash it went.
I will say that the event was great to watch through the eyes of my kids. They all had different reactions of course. Em, was sympathetic for the critter until it came runnin her way and then she shrieked in all force, Chloe just kept closing her eyes as did her mom, Solomon ....well let's just say I wish I had a video camera for his facial expressions and Isaiah napped through the whole thing.
The difference between them Em," Mom can't we just keep the lil guy" Chloe " Gross Em I don't want to keep it" Solomon " Oh yeah, that suckers almost dead"
Hooray, Hunter!!! You have earned your keep.

Hunter

So the Scofields expanded thier family last week. We picked up an orange tabby kitten from the pound in hopes that he might solve our mouse problem. It's not like we needed another mouth to feed or more poop to pick up but mice are not welcome in this house and the only thing that seems to work the best for mouse patrol is a mightymouse killer.
Well, so far he seems a bit more concerned about sleeping and eating his grocery store food than eating up the mice. It has provided for some pretty good entertainment though because when he knows there is something lurking behind the corner his hair stands up and he tucks his tail between his legs and off he goes. SO much for the mightymouse killer we thought MR. HUNTER would be.
In fairness to Hunter he is only a baby still and so he has a few more months to pull his weight around here and do his job. If by the new year he's not patrolling this house with all his might, he will be "fired" !! (Donald Trump style) Not sure how that will change things being the suckers that we are we would never return him, but ya know it added some dramatic effect to my story.