Windy, Out of Order Day

Oh dear, what a day! My schedule was simple enough: Dogs at the groomer at 9:00; have coffee and visit with Allan for a bit; library to return and check out; visit with Linda at her studio; drop in and say hello at the art gallery; fill the tank with gas; stop at the grocery store for a few things, eggs, milk, bread; pick up dogs between noon and 1:00; home to blog and relax.

It has been windy for the last few days, and simply getting to the truck left my hair, well, shall we call it "restyled"? I knew it was unlikely that I could escape it, and I didn't care a lot. Several friends have said how tired they are getting of the wind, and I couldn't agree more. It is wearing on the nerves, big time.

So what really happened in my schedule? At 9:00, pulled in the parking lot at the groomer. As I opened the truck door, a strong gust of wind caught the door, pulling me out of the truck. The door was wrenched out of my hand, scraping or burning my palm and fingers, and I came down hard on the ground, sliding under the door which was flapping back and forth with vigor. I fell on my knees in the gravel, but fortunately, no skin was broken. My knees are a little sore, but even that isn't severe.

I turned and lifted Jazi, Sammy and Lola to the ground and started in. The car door shut fine, there was not a crease or dent in the door or fender. Whew! So, I got the kids in and returned to the truck. I got in to drive to Allan's house, glad that it wasn't worse. As I pulled onto the highway, the strong winds were still pounding at the truck (and everything on the face of the earth in this area), and I noticed that the air was coming in around the door, not so that I felt it, but it was making horrible noise. It was whistling and fluttering terribly loud. I thought maybe I didn't get the door completely shut since I couldn't detect a true draft, so I pulled off to the shoulder and shut it again. But no, it was still awful. I drove the mile to Allan's house and called the insurance company. They made out a claim, but when I expressed concern about the possibility of rain, she suggested that I go to a mechanic/body worker right there in Capitan to see if he could adjust it to keep the elements out.

The mechanic checked it out and said that the hinge was sprung. In some vehicles, this means it must be replaced and sometimes the door itself is damaged in the process, but Dodge Rams use a kind of hinge (and stronger metal in general in the body) that is durable and can almost always be adjusted without much problem. So I did my errands, picked up the dogs to take them home. Driving across the gravel road was unbelievable! The wind was still blowing very hard, and I could visibly see the door jiggling! Not a good feeling!

Dropped the pups and the groceries and drove back to town. Linda picked me up at the garage, and I went to the studio to visit and watch her work for a while. She is just starting a new technique, batik on silk, and I was fascinated watching the process. Just amazing stuff! We had a great visit, including a couple other friends who dropped by, and when Henry called from the garage, she took me back.

Bless Henry! For a measly $45, he fixed the hinge so that the door closes very soundly, maybe even tighter than before! Yippee-skippee!! And thank goodness Dodge built my truck with reasonably good materials so little things like that don't run into several hundred dollars for repairs for the same thing in the many less-well built vehicles. I have no need at this time for the insurance claim, so tomorrow I will cancel it. I'm so happy, so very happy to have a solid, tight cab around me in the truck again. Ahhhhhh.

However, I didn't get home till nearly 5:00. I'm tired. But I'm relieved tired.

The dogs are beautiful. Photos tomorrow.

Tuesday Trivia

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It's SPRING!!!


SPRING

Around March 21st, the earth's position in its orbit around the sun places its equator in line with the sun. This time period is called the vernal equinox and is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Vernal means spring and equinox means equal.

The ancient Greeks celebrated Rhea, "Mother of the Gods," with honey-cakes, beverages, and flowers at dawn--the earliest known Mother's Day celebration.

An area along the California and Oregon border produces 95 percent of all bulbs grown in the world for the potted Easter lily market. They produce more than 11 million bulbs annually.

Though baby birds are born with the ability to sing, they must learn the songs of their species. An isolated baby bird will learn simple songs, but not the complex songs of its species. A bird must hear in order to learn.

Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated on the last Monday in April; however, each state can select its own date, depending on weather conditions. The first Arbor Day Celebration was held on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska.

Spring Fever is a real physical condition which commonly occurs when a sudden warm spell follows a long cold period. When the temperature rises, the body has to get rid of heat; thus there's a dilation or expansion of the blood vessels so that blood can be carried to the body surface where heat can be lost quickly. Some people experience an energetic feeling when this change happens due to the body's reaction to the great amount of internal work going on.

And with spring comes.....
FLOWERS!

The bluebonnet became the Texas state flower in 1901. In 1971, the state legislature named all lupine species as the official state flower. The flower resembles a little bonnet, and as it ages, one of the top petals turns purple-red.

The Pink and White Lady Slipper (cypripedium reginae) is the State flower of Minnesota. Illegal to pick in the state, the pink and white lady slipper is one of Minnesota's rarest wildflowers. They can take up to 16 years to produce their first flower, and sometimes live for 50 years.

The creamy-white bloom of the magnolia tree was designated the state flower of Louisiana in 1900 because of the abundance of trees throughout the state. Magnolia is an evergreen and the flower is usually fragrant. After the six to twelve petals of the flower have fallen away the large cone shaped fruit of the magnolia is exposed.

The Peach Blossom became the State flower of Delaware on May 9, 1895. It was prompted by Delaware's reputation as the "Peach State," since her orchards contained more than 800,000 peach trees yielding a crop worth thousands of dollars at that time.

The Titan Arum is not only the world's largest flower it is also the world's smelliest.This native of the central Sumatran rainforests is known affectionately as the Corpse Flower for its heady perfume of rotting flesh.

The number of Begonia hybrids is estimated between 1,000 and 2,000. Within this enormous family there are plants which are tiny enough to grow in an egg shell and others which can cover a greenhouse wall.

Oh, yeah, and ....

MARCH MADNESS

The first men's college basketball game was played on January 18, 1896 between the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago. The final score? 15-12!

The first women's college basketball game was played on April 4, 1896 in San Francisco between Stanford and Cal. Stanford won the game 2-1, which was played with much different rules from modern basketball. There were nine players on each side and players could only play in certain areas of the court. Women weren't allowed to steal the ball from each other because it was considered "unladylike" and they had to wear clothes that covered every part of their body except their hands and face!

The first NCAA college basketball tournament, which is now known as March Madness, was played in 1939.

In 1913, the bottom of the basketball net was left open for the first time. This meant that it was no longer necessary to retrieve the ball from the net once a basket was scored.

In 1920, the backboards were moved two feet from the wall of the court. Before this rule change, players would "climb" the padded wall to sink baskets.

In 1967, the slam dunk was made illegal, but the much-loved dunk was made legal again in 1976. In 1986, the three-point field goal was introduced with the three-point line set at 19 feet, 9 inches from the center of the basket.

(Facts courtesy of the NCAA)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Spring!

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Random Chuckle

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This has nothing to do with anything except that it made me chuckle and think, "Is there a family that hasn't had this kind of dynamic?"

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Monday Movies

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A few thing about technology. This first one is one of the most amazing machines I've ever seen. Watch closely. Lumberjacks are sweating!




Then there is the amazing computer.




And finally, next time you get frustrated with your computer, think twice before you really blow up, OK?




Some had the nerve to tell me that that computer was a Mac. Not possible. Macs are user-friendly!!! BWA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Have a delightful Monday!!

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My Noisy Household

Late Sunday afternoon, and I'm watching a movie, "My Dog Skip." If you haven't seen it, it is about a boy growing up in Mississippi in the 1940s. He gets a Jack Russell Terrier who helps him overcome his shyness. So far, an hour into it, I'm really enjoying it. I'm enjoying the movie itself, but I'm also enjoying the "sideshow" in my living room.

A lot of the movie takes place outside, where you would find kids most of the time in the "old days." And since the dog is a main focus of the movie, and there are other dogs around the little town, there is barking, of course. Well, my dogs are going crazy looking for the barking dogs, so there is a parade of furry critters going in and out the dog doors. At first, all this was accompanied by my kids barking back, trying to find the other dogs, and surely their barking will scare the other dogs away, right? Now, they have figured out that it is coming from the TV, and they often stop and stare at it when the dogs bark. The still run out from time to time as if thinking maybe they overlooked something outside.

Being an outside setting in the movie, there are birds singing. So in addition to the ruckus from my dogs, my finches are getting a workout as they are calling to the birds in the soundtrack. Constantly. I love hearing them sing, and they are doing so with great vigor today. But it is adding to the clamor, and I'm wondering if it is going to be quiet any time soon.

I'm thinking it's a good thing I don't have other people here to add to the noise.

Yep, my house is a-twitter and a-yip! Don't you wish you lived where I do? LOL!

Sunday Funnies

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It is spring. Isn't it? I think so, but, this weather is leaving me , and probably most of you uncertain. I found a few frames that expressed my wonderment. It's a short list for today, but here it is, nonetheless.








Who knows what will happen next? But here is one way to deal with it......


Yeah, that makes it easier, doesn't it?

Have a good week ahead, y'all!!!

Audio Experience of the Funniest Kind!!

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The video quality of this is poor because the light is dim, however, if I had turned on another light I would have distracted Lola and Sam and play would have stopped. The important thing is the audio, anyway. When she plays, Lolita often make these sounds, sounds that are similar to what she was doing last night when I was "restraining" her from taking the chew bone away from Joey! OMG, this cracks me up!!




Ohhhhh, lawdy! Y'all have a good evening!

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Tween 'Tude

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Is there a parent out there who has survived parenthood to the stage of having a "tween" who doesn't get this?

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Lazy Saturday

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I'm curled up on the couch, wrapped up in a big fluffy comforter, watching a movie. It isn't cold in here, and I have to unwrap every now and then because, I frankly get hot! I just like being in the comfort of the soft fabric. And doing nothing.

The dogs like it, too. Lolita loves to crawl under it, curl up on the floor at my feet and sleep, till, like me, she gets too hot. Then she goes outside to cool off, then crawls up beside me on the couch.


Like all toddlers, she is so sweet when she is asleep.









Joey is on the other side of me, cutting Z's. He was a sickie poo this morning. He threw up twice, and I had to give him a little PeptoBismol. Poor baby.






Max is on the floor, curled up on the comforter.









And Sammy is on the floor to my left.









The only one who wasn't sleeping when I was taking pix was Jazzi. She was tripping in and out of the door, stretching out on the deck. when I tried to open the door and take the picture, she wouldn't stand still. Here she had come back in and was sorta still, but almost couldn't help bouncing around! She had energy for all the others.



Everyone followed me to the deck, ran around for a couple minutes, chasing each other, bouncing like furry rubber balls. Where do they get the energy? I figured I could have the couch to myself for a while, but when I came back inside, they tagged along. They do not like for me to be out of their sight!


A few minutes later we were back on the couch, and Lola was zonked again. I swear she looks so innocent! She actually is, but her moments of rawhide obsession or furniture eating make me wonder.






Max, also, was just curled up and snoozing away.







It doesn't take us long to be back to lazy after a short trip to .... well, anywhere!

I have to go now. I have to be lazy again.

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Hissy Fit

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Do you know what a hissy-fit is? When is the last hissy-fit you've seen? I had a hissy-fit going on in my living room tonight. It's over now, but it lasted for a good 30 minutes. Let me tell you about it.

It started this way ....

I recently bought some new, giant rawhide chew bones for The Kids. These are the things that keep all of them, but especially The Baby, Lolita, from chewing on things I don't want them to, like my furniture. Silly me. Now, I bought four of them, so there would be enough to keep everyone busy. Yes, I know there is one less bone than I have dogs, but I figured that it is unlikely that all of them would want to chew at the same time. It has been no problem, because they do not all chew at one time. No problem. Yeah, right.

The problem is that they all want to chew the same one. Always! That is because after someone chews on it for a while, there is a soft place, all gooey and slick, that everyone wants to have their turn at. So when one baby leaves it for a moment, another slips right in and takes that prize to be his/her own. Often there is a little bit of a growl match when the first pup returns, but that's about the end of it. Once in a while while two of them are busy growling, a third removes it. When that happens, you should see the look on their faces when the two who are arguing realize it is missing! I try to trade it out from time to time, letting the soft icky one dry for a couple days.

Lola is the one who loves the chewys more than all the others put together. It makes sense because she is still sporting baby teeth and needs a teething toy. She drags it in and out, from room to room with her. She tries to bring them to bed, but I draw the line at that.

Well, tonight Lola had been on that chewy most of the evening. You'd think she would wear out, but nope. Chew, chew, chew, chew. Without my realizing it, she carried it onto the couch. By the time I noticed, I decided it was no problem for a while. When she was distracted with something or other, she got down from the couch, and while she was gone, Joey, who is nearly always beside me on the couch, began to gnaw on it.

Lola returned and was seriously upset that Joey had the chewy. I gave her another, but she wanted THE chewy. She got up and laid beside him, chin on the chouch, tip of her nose next to the chewy, emitting a low, mournful growl and watching him with soulful eyes. Every now and then a yip would escape, almost as if it just couldn't be kept in. Usually when that happened, she would half roll over and look from him to me and back again, with such pain in her eyes, then return to her original position, emitting that pained, moaning growl until another yip would tear its way up her throat.

She tried to bully him out of him, but the Elder Ststesman explained to her in a couple short, sharp tones that it was not going to happen. She would back off, flop down on her tummy and look up out of the top of her eyes with such misery, moaning and groaning and rolling around! For 30 minutes, she continued the obsessive pursuit of the prized chewy with no success.

I tried to pick her up and cuddle her, but she rolled and wriggled in my arms as if she were is pain, the little mournful growl never stopping. She rolled her head and her eyes in an attempt to watch Joey, and when I moved her head to the side away from him, the yip escaped. When I put her on the opposite side of me, to give Joey a bit of peace, she stuck her nose behind me and nudged and nudged until she managed to shove herself between the small of my back and the couch cushion, almost all the way behind me to the chewy! Oh, and moaning the whole way.

I kid you not, for more than half an hour, she was in constant motion, almost convulsing, moaning and yipping. Finally, she seemed to have worn herself out. She collapsed on the floor, fell into a motionless sleep, and was been there for over an hour. Joey quit chewing a while ago, so I put the chewy up to dry. When she woke, the girl checked the couch thoroughly before sliding into a puddle behind me where she is still sleeping, another hour later. It's gotta be hot between me and the cushion, but she doesn't seem to notice. At least she isn't doing the moaning growl any more.

Hissy-fit. I'm telling you. I'd forgotten how well a toddler can do one. My toddler has reminded me!

She do love her chew bone! She loves it a hissy-fit worth!

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New Snow

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There it is! My morning surprise!

And the groomer called to say everyone but me canceled, so would I mind rescheduling for Tuesday? Therefore, the babies won't be a complete set till then. The above pictures have to hold you till next week, OK? Well, unless I find something else to shoot in the meantime. And I likely will!

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Another Step Forward!

I'm so excited! I can't believe how good this is!!

I made appointments for the dogs to be groomed. Two went this morning and the other three are going tomorrow. I chose Joey and Max to take today. This morning I drove to town very slowly with Maxey on my lap so he could look out the window. If you remember, he gets sick and up-chucks, either from motion sickness or, more likely, from nervous stress. He didn't on the day I brought him home, a three hour plus drive, but since then, the farthest he has been able to make it without barfing is a 5-6 mile round trip.

I was prepared for the worst. I just knew he was going to lose it on the way in because it is about 11-12 miles. When I put him in my lap, looking out the window and give him fresh air, he does pretty well, so that was my choice for the trip, the above positioning and driving very slowly. It is fortunately mostly over a dirt road with little traffic.

We made it to the groomers place with no .... NOT ONE .... problem!!! Awwwwwwright!! I left the boys with the groomer, came home for a couple hours and went back to pick up my gorgeous, good smelling babies. Oh, they look marvelous! Then we stopped to leave some things for Linda that I brought to her from Trader Joe's, visited a few minutes and headed home. Max decided to sit in the seat beside me and got all the way home without incident! A round trip of about 22-24 miles, four times what he has done in the past!

NASA, the eagle has landed!

I'll do pictures of all the kids tomorrow. Stay tuned!

I forgot .....

.... to mention that I stopped at Trader Joe's as I left Santa Fe. Here is one thing I got.


Click on it to read. Do it!!


















Oooooouuuuuu. Doesn't that look good?????















Yuuuuuummmmmmmmmm!












OK, I gotta go. It IS good!! Can't talk now!!

Here I Am!

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Hi! I'm back.

By this time you may have lost interest, or you may have forgotten who I am.

I know.

It's OK. I knew I was taking a risk by vacationing without the computer, but it seemed like the thing to do for myself, and I don't regret it. I had sooooooo much fun! It was wonderful to spend every day sightseeing, museum perusing (when they were open), shopping, eating, meeting Enid's friends, talking into the night and sleeping as if there would be no tomorrow.

I came home with no pictures, unfortunately. Every time we left the house, I forgot it. Finally, I decided that it was my way of slapping myself in the waker-upper to remind myself to just simply have fun. Nothing else, just take a vacation from everything in my regular life. So that's what I did. I promise pictures the next time I go there.

I had not been to Santa Fe in about 35 years. It has changed beyond my imagination. I loved in the area which is so saturated with arts and culture, but it is too much "city" for me (says the lady who left KC just over three years ago with plans to settle in or near a city in NM because she was a city girl!). However, it was wonderful to catch up with a long-time friend, to visit some businesses and cultural places of a type that are not available in my home area. I do miss those things, but not enough to give up my beloved rural home.

Enid's home is a wonderful getaway. It is far enough to the edge of the bustling city and on sufficient property to be quiet and peaceful. It is a large, lovely home, designed and built by Enid and her late husband. The house itself has many wonderful features that were designed and implemented by them, not just the builder. All but a few pieces of furniture were made by the couple. Roy was a wonderful woodworker who designed and built amazing pieces from enormous, elegant armoires and chests and tables to whimsical dining room chairs with fun characters carved the backs and painted with happy, enchanting colors by Enid. The decorations are many graceful modern sculptures created by Enid. She has sculpted these acrylic pieces for many years, and has a national reputation. Many of them are highlighted with neon lighting, her husband's work. Part of the engraving was his work, as well. You can see of these works at http://enidtidwell.com/. She is no longer doing these. Following Roy's death, she was faced with learning the neon and mastering the engraving, and it was emotionally so challenging to be doing his part of their collaborative that she has chosen to learn a whole new medium. She is now working with glass, however, she is new enough that this is not yet featured at the website. However, the ones I saw in progress will have the same flowing lines, etc. I'm eager to see some of them finished and exhibited.

Adding to the amazing, fascinating furnishing of the home are works by others that would knock your socks off. Many artifacts are treasures brought home from their travels or the period of time, some thirty years ago, when they lived in Saudi Arabia for a year or so with Roy's job. There are African works, Asian, Middle Eastern and South American pieces that blend together and contrast beautifully. The house is like a beautiful, sunny, airy museum/gallery. Every time I walked through a room or a hallway, I saw something new.

I had wonderful food while in Santa Fe. Surprisingly, none of it was Mexican, other than some chilies in some foods! One night we feasted on Hawaiian cuisine that was excellent. Enid is a concierge at one of the beautiful hotels, and from time to time the restaurants "comp" a meal to concierges so they may have first hand knowledge to be able to make first hand recommendations to the hotel guests. She is allowed to take a guest, and since she has no husband to share it with, I got to go! We had Greek food for lunch in a "hole in the wall" and it was close to the best I've had. One night was dinner with a few of Enid's friends who get together to celebrate their birthdays. The food was excellent although fairly simple, combinations of salads, soups and sandwiches that were not the run of the mill. Another lunch was at a place called Sleeping Dog Tavern where I enjoyed a huge cut of lobster bisque and a plate of an excellent chicken liver paté with toast and cracker bread. I complimented the paté, and the manager gladly gave me the recipe! Now I've eaten at the Sleeping Dog Tavern and Red Bone Alley.... is there a theme beginning to emerge here?

We walked our legs off (and drove some rubber off the tires) seeing as many things as possible. I bought some fun little additions to my own meager collection in a shop that sold African art, all fair-trade. Lucky for me I found some things that were on sale or very affordable to add to the color and broaden my own collection.


These colorful baskets are woven from the colored wires inside telephone cable. Do you see the little frog between them? See the next pic.










He is made of banana fibers!

(Don't forget you can click to enlarge the photos, if you wish)







I liked this little ceramic plate for it's color. I thought it would add some liveliness to the house, and to my surprise ....








.... it came with this rack, the English style toast rack! Enid quipped, "Yeah, you can put your toast there and let it cool so the butter won't melt!"








This figure of a girl jumping rope is also of banana fiber ....















.... as is this boy carrying a stick. Just cute novelties to hand around the house.








The sitter had called me to ask if she could go ahead and leave before I got here. I told her yes, as it is her spring break so she was off to have some fun. When I got home this afternoon, The Kids were on the front porch. But they didn't bark like crazed animals as they usually do. They looked at me and the truck almost as if they weren't sure it was really me! Until I walked to the porch, they seemed to not believe I was home. I looked around and discovered I was short by four legs! Sam was not out to greet me! I came in the house, and he was inside and acting strange, keeping distance from me. He was afraid of me!!!!!!

I sat down on the floor and let them all swarm me. Sam would ease toward me, then back off. I left my hand out where he could reach it. He see-sawed in and out, didn't bark at me but really looked scared. After a couple minutes, he came close enough to sniff my hand, and after a few more attempts to get close, he finally stayed near, and I was able to pet him, eventually pulling him onto my lap. Over the next 15 minutes, I had to keep reassuring him. Finally he seemed to decide that it was me and I was staying. For the ensuing hour, he wouldn't leave my side, and when I sat down, he laid on the floor with his head on my foot, snoring!

The sitter said they did fine after the first few minutes she was here. I'm guessing Sammy thought he had a new mommy after a day or two. Poor little guy. He is obviously still pretty shell-shocked, having confidence just when I am here with him, no one else. Poor baby. We still have work to do.

That's it. I'm done. Long-winded, but done! Welcome back, those of you who came back. :)

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Friday

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Today
I cleaned the house.
I cleaned the bird cage.
I did laundry.
I watered the plants.
I paid the bills.
I went to town for dog food.
I cleaned the tile floors.
I did not have time to shampoo the carpet, but I spot cleaned it.
I ran service on the well system.
I updated the pet care manual for the sitter.
I cleaned out the refrigerator.
I bathed the dogs.
The audio books are in the car.
The GPS is set and ready.
The mapquest pages are printed and in the car, just in case the GPS gets silly.
I am partially packed.

Tomorrow I will
Change the sheets.
Finish packing.
Say goodbye to the babies (with tears in my eyes).
Drive to Santa Fe.

I'm in good shape.

Yesterday I wasn't so sure about anything. My head was so out of it with the congestion I couldn't get a thing done. I repeatedly started to do something and forgot what I was going to do before I could do it. I tried to pay bills, but I would look at an amount and forget it before I could write it on the check, so after several aborted attempts to write checks, I quit. I was not feeling bad, except for the difficulty breathing and the soreness of my poor nose, but I just couldn't get anything done. I finally curled up on the couch with several cups of hot tea and just vegged.

Today is so much better! I'm still blowing like crazy, but I can at least put sentences together and remember numbers long enough to write them down. Now that all that is done, I'm ready to go and excited about it. I will miss the babies, but I will have a wonderful visit with Enid.

I'll talk with all of you by Wednesday. Y'all stay safe and hold the fort down, OK?

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Flying

I don't know what your preferred airline is, but I enjoy SouthWest Air. Their casual approach to many things bugs some people, I know, but I like it. I feel less uptight because of their easy going ways, and in the atmosphere in the air these days, I'll take every bit of comfort I can. So, if you appreciate their light-heartedness, you'll enjoy this video! Thanks, Daisy!!


http://www.break.com/index/the-rapping-flight-attendant.html

Another PSA. A real one this time.

Lawdy, I woke this morning with unbelievable congestion. Clearly the trees that I am allergic to have come to life. I feel fine except I can't breath, and my nose feels like it is swollen to a tennis ball size! I looked in the mirror and it isn't, but I had to convince myself.

I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be somewhat MIA for a little while. Today and tomorrow I have a ton of things to accomplish, then on Saturday I'm going out of town till Tuesday or Wednesday. For the first time since I got it, I'm not taking my laptop. I've just decided that I need a break. I don't know if my friend has wireless in her home, and I'm not asking. She has some fun things planned for us, and I want to enjoy fully. She is an artist who lives in Santa Fe, and I don't know all that is in store, but I know art galleries, spas and the opera have been spoken. I'm looking forward to it will glee.

I will be posting till I leave, but probably with less frequency and length. I figure it is OK, because you guys need a break from me, too! I'll get the Thought for Thursday posted in a bit, then I'll check in later today.

See ya!

PSA

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I went shopping today. I've been home just a little while and I have to get settled in and have a bite to eat, then I'll be back to read and respond to all of your comments. But I have an important newsflash for you, and I didn't think it should wait. It's pretty simple.






When you go shopping on an 80° day, do not, DO NOT buy chocolate covered marshmallow eggs and leave them in the car while you do more shopping. Do not. Just don't.



Psssst. It's actually OK, though. They are still edible AND I have an excuse to eat more than one at a time, 'cause they're stuck together! Yay!!

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One More Thing

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Technically, it is still St. Patrick's Day, so I'm legal! I got this in an email and it is too cute. It is short and won't take long to watch it. I hope you enjoy!

And Patti, be sure to show it to Madison at home. She will love it!

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As I said ..............

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.... It is never boring.

Lola just came trotting in the front door, hopped up on the couch beside me, and here is what she had in her mouth....

I keep these in the basket with grooming tools. After a brushing or a trim, they get a little treat. I left the basket on the deck on the bench I put them on for these tasks. Never gave it a second thought, because there has not been a problem.

Till now.

They can get on the bench, but have not bothered anything.

Till now.



But you can see she doesn't know how to get the treats out of the box! There are five left, the number that were there after I brushed them and gave them treats yesterday!!







My house .... Cirque de les mutts!

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Dog news. Surprise!!

Yeah, I know. But you're gonna get it, none-the-less!

For starters, I found little Miss Lolita gnawing on a table leg. She had obviously been chewing on it for some time, because there was a serious dent in it! This is a little coffee table that used to belong to Caroline's grandmother, and I bought it at her garage sale. I'm planning to refinish it, and now I'm wondering what to do about the leg.


So, to stop her from doing further damage, I got out the hot sauce and slathered it on the "wound."

There. That ought to take care of it. Isn't that lovely? It looks like the table is bleeding. Oh, well. It will deter the pup from her quest, right?

No.

Within an hour, first Joey, then Max, then .... Lola(!!) were licking at the leg!! They like Louisana Hot Sauce??? So I put more hot sauce on it, wondering why the little mutts were liking the hot stuff! They came back and sniffed, but I scolded them, and apparently they know now. They've left it alone for several days now.

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the leg. I may put a wood filler on it, because I'm going to paint it and it won't show. We'll see. That little goober. I've got to buy some new rawhide chew bones. I'm going to Petco in Roswell tomorrow with Linda, and hopefully that will also deter further destruction. gah.

Just a few minutes ago I saw something SO funny. Max was trying to get a small ball away from the GIANT exercise ball that is still sitting in the corner. DO NOT ASK WHY IT IS STILL SITTING THERE. DO...NOT. Anyway, the little ball had been pushed close to and under the big one.


Well, Max was intimidated by the humongous blue one, but couldn't resist the lure, so he kept trying to reach it with his paw while stretching his body as long as he could. Of course, when he touched the little one, it jarred the big one, and Max would inch back 4-6 inches. After a minute, when the big blue jiggly things would quit moving, Max would ease forward again, touch the little ball, and the whole cycle would start over.




I managed to get the camera without distracting him. He repeated this around 5-6 times, and then ....










.... he almost got the little ball, but the big one moved a bunch! Max skittered backward, and the little ball was caught again under a different part of the large one. He just stood and stared at it for a bit, then made several attempts to get close to it again .... one step forward, one step back!




Finally, he dived in, grabbed it in his teeth, spun around and high-tailed it out the front door!!


Here you see him just before he bounded to the left and disappeared!











Few dull moments in my house!


Happy St. Patrick's Day from me and the ornery, shaggy leprechauns at my house!!

Bonus Trivia for St. Paddy's Day!

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I just got some more trivia in an email:

St. Patrick was a fifth-century English (or perhaps Scottish) missionary to Ireland. The feast day of St. Patrick has been observed in Ireland on March 17 for hundreds of years. The date falls during the fasting season of Lent, but on St. Patrick's Day the prohibitions against eating meat were lifted, and the Irish would celebrate their patron saint with dancing, drinking, and feasting on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

One of the most widespread of today's St. Patrick's Day celebrations, the St. Patrick's Day parade, began not inIreland but in America. It consisted of Irish soldiers serving in the English army and took place in New York City on March 17, 1762. The parade helped the soldiers connect with their Irish roots and their fellow Irishmen.

The Chicago River is dyed green every year on St. Patrick's Day. This tradition began in 1962, when Chicago pollution-control workers used green dye to trace illegal sewage discharges in the river. The workers thought it might be a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, so they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river – enough to keep it green for a week.

In ancient Ireland, the Celtic people revered the shamrock as a sacred plant because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the 17 th century, when the English began to seize Irish land and suppress Irish language and religion, the shamrock became a symbol of Irish nationalism.

The diminutive creatures we know as leprechauns were known in ancient Irish as "lobaircin," meaning "small-bodied fellow." Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny creatures who could use their magical powers for good or evil. In Celtic folklore, the lobaircin were cranky fairies who mended the shoes of the other fairies.

Cabbage has long been a staple of the Irish diet, but it was traditionally served with Irish bacon, not corned beef. The corned beef was substituted for bacon by Irish immigrants to the Americas around the turn of the century who could not afford the real thing.

And a nice quote, too:

"There is no language like the Irish for soothing
and quieting."

John Millington Synge, (1871-1909), Irish playwright, poet, prose writer,
and collector of folklore.

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Tuesday [Irrrrrrrish] Trivia

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On this day, my eyes are greener, because me Irrrrrrrrish bloooood turns green! How 'bout you? I know, I know .... we're all Irish on St. Paddy's Day.

Here is my favorite version of "May the Road Rise Up To Meet You" sung by Dolan Ellis, the Official Balladeer for the State of Arizona. If you can multi-task, listen to it while you read the trivia.



Here is a bunch of trivia I scraped up about the Emerald Isle and the Jewels who live or have bloodlines back there. Have fun!

IRISH TRIVIA

Did you know that ...

The Harp is the official Emblem of Ireland, not the Shamrock. The handheld Harp was played by our Celtic Forefathers.

It was Saint Patrick who made the Shamrock so popular.

The potato - Potato is not native to Ireland. It was originally brought to Ireland from the American Continent.

Ireland is not the only place Gaelic is spoken. It is also spoken on the Isle of Man, and in Scotland.

The Book of Kells, an ancient illustration of the Bible, is over 1000 years old. Beside it at Trinity College, Dublin The Book of Durrow. It was created by Irish Monks.

Over 40% of the United States Presidents had Irish ancestors.

Eamon De Valera was the first President of the Irish Republic. He was born in Manhattan, New York City.

Hibernia (Latin) and Éire (Gaelic) mean "Ireland". [i.e. Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH)]

Irish & Irish-Americans laid the ground work for America's Bridges, Tunnels, and Subways. Many lost their lives as Sandhogs.

Mike Quill (b.1905, d.1966) born in County Kerry, Ireland was the founding president of the Transport Workers Union of America. During his tenure the U.S. labor movement made great strides.

Irish Triads are the arrangement of ideas in groups of three. Many of these triads are witty, with an amusing climax - or anticlimax - in the third item.

Ceide Fields is the most extensive Stone Age Monument in the world. It is in, North Mayo, a farming community that is fifty centuries old.

70 Million people, worldwide, can claim Irish ancestry.

St. Brendan, an Irish Monk, was a 5th century sailor. It is alleged that he discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

St. Patrick's Day, the way we celebrate it, is more American than Irish. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday-shops and businesses are closed to give everyone a day off to be spent with family and friends.

Catholics begin their day by attending Mass. Families gather for celebratory meals and spend the day at popular sporting events-Gaelic games, championship rugby matches or a steeplechase. There are big parades in Dublin and Belfast to celebrate national pride.

It is said there are more Americans of Irish descent in America than there are Irishmen in Ireland. Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day with such fun and wild abandon that many people in Ireland tune in their televisions to watch celebrations and parades in the U.S..

The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in America was in 1737 hosted by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston. The second was established in 1780 by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in Philadelphia.

It is not known if March 17 is celebrated because it is the date of St. Patrick's birth or his death. Some claim it is both, others say neither. As to St. Patrick's birthplace, the only definite statement is that he most certainly was not born in Ireland. He founded 165 churches and started a school with each one. St. Patrick is widely acknowledged as the patron saint of Ireland.

There are no snakes in all of Ireland thanks to St. Patrick. Of all the legends surrounding this popular figure, the most long-lived is the story of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland. As the population of Ireland looked on, St. Patrick pounded a drum and banished the snakes.

The shamrock is seen everywhere on St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick used the shamrock when he preached the doctrine of the Trinity as a symbol of its great mystery. Today, it is widely worn in Ireland and America to celebrate Irish heritage. In fact, several million shamrock plants are grown in County Cork, Ireland, and shipped all over the world for St. Patrick's Day.

"Erin Go Bragh" means "Ireland for ever"

In Ireland the Wren is said to be "the King of Birds"

The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog in the world.

Saint Brendan, an Irish monk and sailor from the 5th century, is said to have discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

If you kiss the Blarney Stone, it is believed you will be given the "Gift of the Gab"

The Shannon River is the longest river in Ireland and in Britain together.

The Purple Mountains of Kerry in Killarney National Park, are purple from the abundant heather growing there.

Where did Dublin get it's name? From 'Dubh linn' meaning "dark pool"

The Irish Potato Famine took place during 1845 - 49. The Society of Friends, also called the Quakers, was at the forefront of relief during the Irish Potato Famine.

The character James Bond, from radio, literary, film and comic strip has been played by an Englishman, Scotsman, Australian, and Irishman.

The circle in the centre of the celtic cross represents The Sun.

May the road rise up to meet you, my friends.

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Hey!

Hey! I just realized something. I moved into my house two years ago this month! Duh! Happy anniversary to me, my house and my blue truck!!

Monday Movies

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Oh, goodness. I slacked off again, and didn't get the movies up and running. So, fire me. OK, I'm done.

Since I'm so unprepared and haven't given this any thought, I'm presenting pure silliness. No messages here today. Just laugh and have fun, OK? This first one is Thank God I'm a Country Boy. (Thank God, I'm not!)




And then there's this rendition of "She's Got You." [eye roll]




And finally, follow this link to hear singer Ray Stevens and "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival." I laughed all the way through this one.

http://travisab1.multiply.com:80/video/item/73/The_Mississippi_Squirrel_Revival.flv

Alright then! When you're finished chuckling, get back to work! But keep smiling!!

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38 Life Lessons

****See update at end of post.****

I got this in an email from Daisy, and I thought it was worth passing along.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio:

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 38 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here goes.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. Love your parents because they will be gone before you know it.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others' lives. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
15. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
16. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
17. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
18. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
19. The most important sex organ is the brain.
20. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
21. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
22. Always choose life.
23. Forgive everyone everything.
24. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
26. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
27. Believe in miracles.
28. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
29. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
30. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
31. Your children get only one childhood.
32. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
33. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
34. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
35. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. Yield.
38. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
    

If you had to pick just one of these to live your life by, which one would you choose? And why, if you want to share? I'll tell you mine later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OK, here's my bit about my choice.

These were all very good. Not a one of them could I say wasn't worth the remembering. I struggled with narrowing it down past these:

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
18. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
20. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
21. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
28. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
29. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
34. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

But in the end, I picked #29, "Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now." I picked it because if you follow this, most of the others will fall into place. I think if you follow this and throw in the "five years" advice, you can't go wrong. Does that mean I picked 2? Did I cheat on my own instruction? I don't think so. I'd still pick 29.

The Snow

For a couple days, this is all I saw of the sun. It was snowing a good part of that time. for once the dreariness didn't get to me. I'm not sure why, but I won't argue. I enjoyed watching the snow fall.












This is how the snow looked yesterday morning at about 8:30. I had around four inches on flat surfaces, and it was a very wet, heavy snow.








The trees were wonderfully draped. It was a gorgeous sight.








At 5:30 yesterday afternoon, the trees had no sign of snow. This was all that was left on my steps.









My pickup was completely covered at 8:30, there was no sign of blue showing, and by 5:30, this was all that was left around it. This was the last bit of snow that had fallen off the hood.

There is still a little bit more than this in the back yard where it is more sheltered, but not enough to be concerned with.




Now you know why I like snow in New Mexico. Even at 7000 feet, I don't have to worry about it becoming dirty and ugly.

Jus' sayin'!

SNOW!!!!

IT IS SNOWING!!! BIG TIME!!!!

Snow and Dreams

The sky over me and in every direction is completely white with clouds that look very heavy, as if they are just loaded with snow. If they begin to dump, I suspect we will get a lot. I can't see the mountains in any direction, so those clouds are very low. I'm OK with having another snow. I'm ready for spring, but we need the moisture, and since I know a snow won't last long on the ground, bring it on! It's only mid-March, after all! We'll see what happens.

I got a text message from Caroline a few minutes ago. It said, "Caroline has left the city!" YAY!! I'll probably talk with her later, and I'll put an update here on my blog for those of you who read her blog, too.

I rarely remember my dreams. I know I dream, because we all do. Once in a while I wake during the night or in the AM and I remember a dream or at least a snippet of it, but that isn't often. However, for the last few nights, I have been dreaming, dreaming, dreaming. I honestly don't remember most of them now. I just remember waking and knowing I had been dreaming. One night I woke several times after having a series of rather startling or scary dreams. Not scary as in horror, but scary as in heart-racing moments. The last one is the only one I remember. In that one I was in a car and rounding a corner to find another car stopped in the street. I woke the instant before the two cars collided.

Last night I had a dream with some odd components. I recently found a high school classmate on facebook, and we've had fun reconnecting. I've seen him at several class reunions, but those are always hectic, allowing insufficient time to really talk, so this has been nice. Well, he was in my dream. We were walking into a building that had swinging doors like an old west saloon. Right at the doorway was a gooshy muddy puddle that we had to walk through or jump over, but the significant thing is that this area was swarming with mosquitoes. I turned around and saw another man from my past, a coworker who was very dear, very devoted to me as I was to him. I asked him if he could do something about the mosquitoes, and he said he would, but he just sat there. I asked if he had some spray or something, and he said, "Oh, yeah. I'll go get it." When he worked for me, I never, ever had to ask that man twice for anything. He was so on top of everything. I have no idea what this dream meant, or any of the others, for that matter. It's interesting that I'm so aware of my dreams recently, whatever they mean.

As I said yesterday, I bought my necessary food, stopped at the library, and brought home mail which included movies. So I in for the duration, snow or not. I have four audio books, two movies (as well as several that I own and have not watched), and lotsa good food. Oh, yeah, and five cuddly furballs! So I'm nestled in and prepared for whatever happens in the next 48 hours. Bring it on!

That's all I have for the moment, but you know how I am. I may be back later with some amazing, fantastical, wondrous news. Or I might just bore you with a bit of nothing that amuses me! HA! And I might not be back at all! Double HA! Either way .... have a fine Friday!

Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb

Does any one remember that silly song? Back when I was just a young'un, late '50s and early '60s, and yes, I rode a dinosaur to school, there was a TV show called " 77 Sunset Strip." It was a detective show, and I think that was the address of the agency, and one of the detectives was Edd Byrnes. His name on the show was Kookie, and he was always combing his hair. He had quite a following of goo-goo eyed girls for a while, but other than a few B movies, you didn't hear much from him after the shows demise.



Today I drove to the grocery store, and of course, I had the radio on. I most often listen to the oldies station on Sirius. Today was no exception. And driving across the mesa, that song played, the first time I'd heard it is .... well, forever, and I found myself chuckling and singing along.

OK, not sure why it was important to share that.

Before I completely leave that topic, however, let me just say Sirius radio rocks. When I bought my truck, I would never have asked for that as part of the package, but I was glad when I learned it was there. In there mountains, it is often difficult to get good reception on a broadcast radio station. Also, traveling across the country, I used to run into a lot of areas where I could get nothing but country music (and I like it, but not a steady diet) or farm reports (and no, I don't like those). I carry CDs and my iPod, but even so ....

So once I heard it and experienced the variety of stations, I was in love with satellite radio. Even when my free 1 year subscription ran out and I had to pay the fee, I still love, love, love it! Is there anyone out there who has satellite radio and doesn't like it? I would doubt it.

I listen to different music all the time. When I drove to Florida I know I listened to oldies, country, classical, jazz, blues, big band, '60s and '70s rock. Oh, and some NPR. Love it!

I stopped at the post office to mail some things, and I chatted with the post mistress (are they still called that, or are they post masters, regardless of gender?) and we talked about the enormous project of remaining streets and remembering houses that has been going on here since before I moved here. I figured it was to simplify, and I was basically right. However, I learned today that it is one of the many, many changes resulting from 9/11!! No shilosky! It has to do with taking away as many duplications of street names (for instance, there were several Lincoln streets in this, Lincoln, county), as well as renumbering consistently. It's all so we can be located more easily for emergencies, and probably in case one of us becomes a t*rror*st. Yeah, they want to find us. How interesting! My house number AND street name was changed shortly before I moved in, and it caused a lot of confusion in my closing because no one knew where I really lived!

OK, that's all I've got today. Resume your activities. HEY! WAKE UP!!! Alright, now get back to work. Later y'all!

A Fairy Tale for March 11

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Once upon a time, 39 years ago, to be exact, a Princess was born. Why was she called a princess? Because her momma was the Queen of Everything. The Princess was a beautiful little baby, treasured by her parents, the Queen and the Royal Consort. (He can't be King, because no one can rank with this Queen, trust me!) She was adored by her brother, the Prince.

The Princess was beautiful from the beginning, but by a year old, she knocked 'em dead!
The Princess, and her brother, the Prince, were adored by their mother, the Queen, and they loved her in return.
And she was loved by her father, the Royal consort, and the Royal Grandfather.


When she grew up a little, the Princess was adored by her stepsister, too, because she did cool things like help her catch a fish. she needed help, because naturally, a princess doesn't touch fish!
The Little Princess was well rounded. Well, actually she was a skinny little thing, but well-rounded because she did lots of things as she grew up. She played the violin, played the piano a little, did gymnastics, and played basketball on a YMCA team. If they had three-pointers in those days, she would have been the leader in sinking those suckers! And she was a cutie while doing it!


She believed in Santa for a loooooong time, because she heard his jingle bells and his jolly ho-ho-ho laugh one Christmas.As she grew up, she became a beautiful young lady. She had a first dance with her stepdad before leaving for her first dress-up dance with (gasp) a young man aspiring to become the Prince.


But that wannabe-prince didn't last. The Princess moved on to bigger and better things. She became a cheerleader in the land of the Cougars. The Queen yelled at her that her grades musn't suffer or her head become too big for the crown, and the Princess listened and obeyed.
Later she got to laugh at the Queen when she was offered a scholarship for cheerleading .... at a University in Hawaii! But the Princess turned it down (oh, yes, she did!), because she didn't want to be that far away from the Queen for so long. She went to a university just 50 miles from the Queen's castle so she could visit the Queen on frequent weekend visits.

And the young Princess graduated from High School at the same time the Queen graduated from college.
The Princess went on to earn a degree in teaching, specializzing in Early Childhood Special Education.

The Princess had grown into a beautiful woman. She enjoyed her job, and looked forward to having children of her own.

And then she got married. (And she's gonna kill for putting this picture in here [inside joke], but I'm the Queen and can do anything I want!!! HA HA HA!!) She was a lovely bride.

The grown-up Princess was adored by her family. She enjoys time with the Prince and the ex-royal consort.

And the Princess parties hearty with and the Queen pose for a mother/daughter picture.

The Princess is happy now with her Prince Charming. At least, she's happy when he is charming! LOL! No, he's a keeper, and treats the Queen with due loyalty and respect. At least to her face. Sorta.


And they have two Princesses and a little Prince, and live in the faraway land of Florida.
And the Princess lives happily every after with the Royal Family and all her subjects.

And although she is to be honored on this day, wished many happy returns and all that stuff, she doesn't get to be queen just yet. Back off, little girl.

I love you, Princess, for sure. Happy, happy birthday!!!!

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