Operation Graduates Part Three: The "Bad" Day

Today has been a hard day in a million ways. Day 3 of Operation Graduates. I won't lie and tell you I was the most cheerful person all day. Well, up till I ran into technical glitches, I was doing pretty well. Then a video that has a deadline and NEEDS TO BE POSTED failed to upload 5 times. 5 times. Then I give up and decide to load this post full of pictures while I do billing for Dad (at 6:00) and I come back to find they failed. Pile that on top of a great many smaller stresses or issues (none of which are serious, all of which Pounced me in a bad way), and it makes for a Cross Rachel. This Cross Rachel, however, is going to attempt to restore her good humor and to make you all laugh by writing up Day 3 of Operation Graduates.

*Composes herself and tries not to begin singing "Bad Day"*

9:30

It began with needing to gather pine branches and other greenery for decorating the interior of our house. I love traipsing through the woods, and because I didn't care if it rained or not (you know I love walking on duck-days) I took Benjamin, Abby, and Grace with me.

We thought it best to wear Hunter's Orange so we didn't become Venison.

This is us preparing to sally forth in the rain. I left the camera at home because I didn't want it to get wet. But see the NRA hat? It's my treasure from the SAT's. 

10:00

I call the Walkers to ask if they have any clippers I can borrow since all of ours were taken in Dad's truck to work. We tramp over there. They have no clippers. A knife?

Oooooh....

A survival knife. Complete with matches and a compass. Oh yeah.

I felt so red-neck today.

So redneck.

As you will see.

When you're hacking with a survival knife at thin little pine branches that are just a bit too green and springy to snap, you feel over-dramatic.

Still.... it was fun.

Like a boss. ;)

11:00

By the time we'd gathered a Rubbermaid container of cypress and pine, it was raining rather hard. Grace was misbehaving. 

She got time-out on the forest floor...

Hence the wet bum.

But that corrected the dear little thing's attitude, so we were good.

11:15

We're home! I take "After" pictures of us cold and drenched. :)

Yep. Purty wet. See how red-neck I'm looking? 

Oh yeah.

It gets better.

11:30

We are inside and I don't bother to change clothes. They'll dry. Still, my wet, cold flare-jeans flapping against my ankles is a tad surprising...

11:35

Because it's a well-known fact that Some People say walking in the rain gives you a cold or a chill, we dose ourselves liberally with Snickerdoodles.

I also partake of a cheerful mug of P.G. Tips--the last tea-bag. *sniff*

I use milk and natural sugar--the best combo for this tea!

12:00

I start to making dozens of snowflakes out of royal icing. They'll be used to decorate the graduation cake once they harden. So much fun to make, but time consuming!

1:00

This is your personal red-neck with a crippled hand after the first hour.... one sheet done.

Witness the un-doing of the hair throughout the photos...

1:15

Sarah takes a picture of me making snowflakes in an NRA hat and texts it to Abigail. The following text conversation makes me laugh:

Abigail: Rachel wearing a cap? I think I need a good half-day to think about this.

Me: Oh yeah. I can get rough when I want to.

Abigail: You do look so hilariously red-neck!

2:00

Still going strong with the snowflakes. 

And your personal red-neck after Hour Two and a bit.

Notice the hair? Yep.

Also, I am pretty sure I'll have arthritis after this. ;)

Aunt Christy and Mama spent the rest of the afternoon and evening preparing a Something Sarah doesn't know about. Or at least pretends she doesn't know about.

I attempt to upload an important video for a friend and that's where my day turned sour.

But you know what? 

God got me by the scruff of my neck and reminded me to remember Him. All His gifts during this day. And even as I write this post I am reminded...

I got a rainy walk. 

I got to smell wet pine branches...

and hold a dripping kitten.

The snow-flakes turned out perfectly...

...and I played Redneck.

It was a good day after all. :)