1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog
2. Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my 7 things:

1. I am double jointed, and have passed my strange abilities onto most of my children.  I can bend some of my fingers back completely and touch the back of my hand.  I can take my shoulders out of socket at will {and put them back in...that's a helpful skill!).  When I was young and flexible, I could put my legs behind my head and walk on my knees. 

I was a CHAMPION at Mercy in grade school!

2. I love to collect books.  I have many antique books including a book in Latin from 1743, centuries old Bibles (one with a lock of hair from a baby that had passed away), old school books, like a McGuffey's Speller from 1846, a Noah Webster spelling book from 1857 and former Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield's school books, with a letter from the Senate confirming they are his.  One of the books I have is actually now reprinted as a Lamplighter book!  It's "Amy and Her Brothers" from 1864.

3. My husband built me an entire room for my library.  The antique books don't fit in there.  It's filled with children's books.

4. I have had many kinds of unusual pets.  As a child I had red-legged tarantulas.  I brought them to school and made a presentation in each grade level.  I was in third grade and was very intimidated to be in the sixth grade classrooms.  Everyone gasped when I held one of the spiders. 

In addition to cats, dogs,and fish, I've also had snakes, turtles, bearded dragons, mice, ferrets, anoles, rabbits, a pygmy goat and ducks.  We currently have a hermit crab (3 others have passed), and three chinchillas.  We are expecting kits in the next week or so, we think!

5. When I met my husband, I was 15 and he had just turned 16.  When we later spoke of having children, I told him that I wanted 22.  We compromised at ten.  We have ten now, eight here with us and two waiting in Heaven.  I wish I had stuck it out for 22, or at least 12.

6. I enjoy shooting and asked for a Glock 27 for Christmas.  I got it with the tax-return!  I'm going to use it for the first time tomorrow!

7. I love lush flower gardens and beautiful yards, but have one of the blackest thumbs ever.  I always seem to begin gardening projects and fail miserably.   I am working on my backyard again right now.  It's looking as pretty as it has for a couple of years.

I have done the backyard twice now, and we have added to the house twice and destroyed it. I foresee no new construction this time.  When I am done, I'll post pictures.

I believe that all good things come to an end, so I am not tagging 7 more people.  Only motherofblessings will receive this tag from me.