Arkansas – Page 3 – Married in Arkansas

From Auctions to Love: The Magic of My Song ‘Mesmerized’

How a Furby and a Lava Lamp Got Me Mesmerized and Hypnotized: The Story Behind My Song. Watch and listen to the video below.

Listen to this blog here.

When I entered that auction house, my only goal was to find a butter dish. But love? It was destined to hit me harder than a yard sale clearance bin, honey.

With a generous helping of snark, this song, “Mesmerized,” is a little slice of my life. It revolves around the instant I laid eyes on the Ringman. A neon lava lamp in one hand, an irresistible smile, a farmer’s hat, and an eerie Furby in the other. And then, suddenly, my heart was beating 90 miles a minute.

Verse 1: That Furby, the one who “wakes up cussin’ at half past three,” it’s true. That toy is still in a package that says, “DO NOT OPEN AFTER DARK.” And for that handsome cowboy, he was charismatic. He had swagger. It’s that wink-and-grin chemistry that makes your knees go mushy.

Verse 2: I swear that lava lamp had a magic to it. My heart was racing at a million miles a minute, and I could have fallen apart at any minute. I was mesmerized by the sight of the handsome cowboy. When he said the lava lamp was “guaranteed to light up your life,” I realized it would be more than my heart that got ignited. Baby, sparks flew everywhere!

And the chorus? This is where the Crazy Ringman Dance comes in. He had motions that had me “mes-mer-ized,” and grooves that left me “hip-no-tized” (yes, that spelling is intentional because AI cannot pronounce “hypnotized” to save its digital life).

This song is funky, confident, and full of country-fair flirtation. It’s for every woman who’s ever gone out looking for something ordinary and stumbled into something unforgettable.

Whether you’ve met your match at an auction, a yard sale, or a Walmart parking lot—this one’s for you. 💕

Stay sassy,
– The Yard Sale Queen

Breaking Free from Judgment: A Heartfelt Perspective

Daily writing prompt

What does freedom mean to you?

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I don’t think anyone likes to be judged, especially by someone who doesn’t know you. Everybody is different. Even twins are different. Everyone is special, and I don’t believe we should judge another person based on anything.

I find that I have to catch myself being judgmental of others, and I put myself in place. The good LORD up above didn’t put us on Earth to judge each other. Only HE can judge us and I feel with all my heart that – that is what HE will do. It will be fair and personal for each person.

I love to share my songs on this platform and one song I wrote that most resonates with me is a song called “Fear In Me”. I hope you will listen to the lyrics and tell me if you can relate. It now has 104 views on my YouTube channel, so it must resonate with people. Won’t you please listen? I will put the lyrics below if you would rather read it.

I build dreams from paper and ink
Then tear them down before I blink
Set my heart on something new
But second-guess what I should do

I chase stars just to lose my way
Speak my truth, then hide away
Climb the hills, then doubt the view
Lock the door and lose the key too

Clip my wings before I soar
Knock on hope, then close the door
Chase a dream, then pull away
Fighting battles I create

I'm the thief who hides my light
Hold myself back from taking flight
I'm the ghost of what could be
Caught inside the fear in me

I turn silver into dust
Question those I want to trust
Paint my world in shades of gray
Then wonder why the colors fade

I'm the thief who hides my light
Hold myself back from taking flight
I'm the ghost of what could be
Caught inside the fear in me

I stand at the edge, but don’t take the leap
Sing myself to sleep in secrets I keep
But maybe one day, I’ll break the chain
And step outside into the rain

I stand at the edge, but don’t take the leap
Sing myself to sleep in secrets I keep
But maybe one day, I’ll break the chain
And step outside into the rain

What I’ll Do When I Retire: A Personal Journey

Well, I am not retired YET, but in 3 years I can retire from my 9 to 5. So I wanted to share how I plan on spending my days when I don’t have that daily grind.

For 25 years now I have been working, planning, and dreaming of retirement. And when it finally begins—and I’m determined to enjoy every minute of it. No more early meetings, no more rushed lunches, no more weekends lost to work stress. Every day will be mine to shape, and I carved out a routine that will balance movement, creativity, and a little hustle. Here’s how I plan on spending that new chapter of life.

Mornings on the Southwest Trail

Each day will start with something that clears my head and gets my body moving: a ride down the Southwest Trail. If you haven’t seen my review videos of it and what the trail is all about then see the video below. It will the perfect way to begin—quiet, scenic, and just challenging enough to remind me I’m alive and still kicking. The fresh air, the rhythm of the wheels on the pavement, and the peace of an early morning ride will be my favorite kind of meditation. It will set the tone for the rest of the day: focused, steady, and open to whatever comes. As time allows, I will make more videos where I show you the trail.

Writing My Novel

After my ride, it’ll be time to chase a different kind of dream. I will finally have time to write the novel that’s been living in my head for years. No more saying “someday.” I will brew some coffee, sit down at my desk, and dive into the world I’m creating. Some days I know the words will flow easily; other days they won’t. But I’m going to show up anyway. There’s something deeply satisfying about building a story one page at a time. It’s work—but it’ll be the kind I love. Here is a video I did in April 2024 that has only gotten 18 views on Youtube.

A Quick Scroll Through Social Media and playing Catch-Up

Mid-morning, I’ll take a break and catch up on the world. I check my social media—not obsessively, but just enough to stay connected. It’ll fun to see what friends are up to, write a blogpost her on my wordpress site for a quick update, and maybe post a photo from the trail or a snapshot of my writing nook. I’ll try not to let it take over my day, but it’ll be a nice way to stay plugged in.

Treasure Hunting for My Flea Market Booth

One of my more expected retirement joys will be hunting for things to resell at a flea market booth. I don’t know where that will be yet, whether it will be an actual location or online, but I will hit thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales with a sharp eye and a bit of intuition. It’s part scavenger hunt, part business. I love the thrill of finding something unique and giving it new life. Plus, it keeps a little money flowing—and gives me a reason to dig through old boxes and bargain with strangers or make new friends.

Cooking, Cleaning, and Enjoying the Simple Stuff

The evenings will be more relaxed. I plan on spending time in the kitchen, trying out recipes I never had time for before. Some days it might just be a sandwich and soup; other days, I go all out. I will also make time to clean up, keep the house in shape, and appreciate the slower pace. It will feel good to take care of my space and myself without rushing.

Retirement doesn’t mean doing nothing. For me, it will mean doing more of what I love—on my own terms (without a boss).

GMC

Daily writing prompt

What are your favorite brands and why?

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Step into the bed of a battered ‘84 GMC and ride along with Mr. Crazy Rummagesale Man as he sings the story of Old Blue—his legendary yard sale truck with more heart than horsepower. Bought from the local bank in 1994, Old Blue survived 150,000 miles, two transmissions, and countless roadside repairs. She never had air conditioning, but she had spirit—and now she rests with a tree growing in her bed and all four tires flat, guarding the legacy of a thousand hauls.

🎶 This gritty Americana rock anthem blends dusty slide guitar, storytelling vocals, and true-life nostalgia. If you’ve ever loved a beat-up truck that kept you moving, this one’s for you.

👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more songs from the Yard Sale Chronicles!

#OldBluesFinalHaul #AmericanaMusic #TruckSongs #YardSaleChronicles #MrCrazyRummagesaleMan

And she is also for sale. I have more pictures if anyone is interested in buying her.

Sharing a Small Yardsale Haul

Over 100 views

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

Thanks to my husband, Mr. Crazy Rummage sale Man, this song has hit over 100 plays on my YouTube channel.

It’s Rummagesale Hunting Season Time!

Daily writing prompt

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

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Power outages in Arkansas

I am sitting in my car charging my cell phone. Saturday morning some storms came through that did a lot of damage.

Below I am posting some pictures and a link to my YouTube page where I took some videos from Saturday after the storms.

We are on Entergy and there are lots of outages. We live in rural Saline County so it may be awhile. They are saying tomorrow night at 10pm but I guess we will see.

Our neighbors have gas generators that kick on because they are hooked up to the natural gas lines. They are expensive so we can’t afford it right now. My husband did buy one but he t needs work so we can’t use it.

This isn’t the first time that storms came through like this. I’m just glad it didn’t happen with the ice and snow. It is 49 degrees right now and tomorrow it is supposed to get up into the 60s. So if I don’t go to work then it won’t be to bad to stay home.

You’re the Best Deal of My Life

How do I love you? Let me say,
Through every find, through every day.
From flea markets to Sunday drives,
With you, my love, my heart still thrives.

I loved you when the world seemed wide,
Through trailer hauls and deals to find.
Through laughter loud and moments small,
You've been my greatest prize of all.

I will love you still through every year,
Through every joy, through every tear.
Side by side, through thick and thin,
I'd choose you over and over again.

I loved you in our younger days,
Through all the dreams, through all the maze.
From "Look what I found!" to "Just one more,"
You made my life worth searching for.

I loved you in the quiet nights,
The stories shared, the wrongs made right.
Through winding roads and steps we've climbed,
My love grows stronger every time.

I will love you still through every year,
Through every joy, through every tear.
Side by side, through thick and thin,
I'd choose you over and over again.

We’ve built a life, a love so true,
Through ups and downs, we made it through.
With every joke, with every sigh,
You're still the twinkle in my eye.

No map, no plan, just you and me,
A love as wild as it can be.
Through every sale and every find,
You're still the best deal of my life.

I will love you still through every year,
Through every joy, through every tear.
Side by side, through thick and thin,
I'd choose you over and over again.

Through every storm, through every mile,
Your hand in mine makes it all worthwhile.
After all these years, through thick and thin,
I'm still right here, just like I've always been