Got Syzygy

11/23/63 - The Kennedy Assassination

2012-01-12T17:27:00.000-06:00

A friend's Dad was talking bout reading this last Fall while he was visiting us at an Agility Trial. He's an avid reader, like many of my friends, so we share book knowledge often. It wasn't offered at the library as an e-reader edition yet, so he was patiently waiting for that. Harry reads on my IPAD, GIVE IT UP HARRY!!! (Inside joke here!!)

Then another friend was talking about it at the ICDOC Agility Trial in December. It turns out that this is a 'time travel' book, in which Jake (aka George), goes back to try to stop the assassination of JFK.

I like time travel books, but not a huge fan of Stephen King. Generally you need to read the first 100 pages to get to the point, and quite frankly, I'm not that patient! Terry assured me that someone died within the first 5 pages, so I thought that sounded like a good start. I got on the waiting list for the 'book' version! My poor NOOK would need to sit this one out.

It's a pretty thick book, especially if you're used to using a reader. I also 'lucked out' and got the large print edition, so, I buffed up while I read. It's about a thousand pages, and true enough, it started off fast. I really liked it!! About 2/3 through it really got slow, eye poking slow, and a bit predictable. Then, when you finally get to 'the date', 11/22/63, it's like he can't end it fast enough. Maybe that was just me??

It was an enjoyable read. At least I read the whole thing. Some books are so bad, that life is just too short, so I just shut the book and move on. I didn't use to be able to do that.

My favorite time travel books from all time are the Outlander Series by Diana Gabladon. I can read those over and over again. In fact, I'm in the middle of book 5 now.....and better get back to reading as I have a thousand pages to go, and it's going to be 'yanked' from my Nook on Sunday! YIKES!! Oh well, I can always check it out again.

Ideas to Make Life Easier

2011-12-15T06:05:00.000-06:00

A couple of these I might actually try.....not the 'linen closet' however.....that looks like WAY too much work! I guess I don't really care if my sheets match! G

The first one reminds me of Liz when she stopped at the DQ on the way to Wentzville and got a strawberry shake. A strawberry got stuck in the straw.....thus she stated she had two options. "Either suck it up, or blow it out.".....that was the 'theme' for the weekend.

I wonder what the vacuum hose would look like if I tried that? OMG!! The dog hair! Might be worth a laugh!

ENJOY!

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Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll
be uttering those words more than once at these
ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve
everyday problems.

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture
will disguise dings and scrapes. Rubbing a walnut
over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings
and scrapes.

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or
computer screen with WD40.

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box
by securing with a rubber band.

Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets
inside one of their own pillowcases and there will
be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod
in a bowl. The concave shape amplifies the music.

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder
gets sand off your skin easily, who knew?!

Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls
against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the
floor.

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a
stocking over the vacuum hose.

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting
crosses into a box lid.

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and
bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use
magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers
and clippers, behind a vanity door

Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty
soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can
find them in just about every hotel.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets
hold the plastic cups down to make them
tip-resistant.

Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so
much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper
bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet
stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough
over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit
or ice-cream.

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing
sunburn relief.

Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

Use egg cartons to separate and store your
Christmas decorations.

Moving Goldfish

2011-09-18T12:58:00.001-05:00

(Before) - above

After

Today I captured my 4 little goldfish to move

them inside for the winter.

They will have to be happy,

(or will be once out of their bag)

in a 60qt tote on the enclosed porch.

Hopefully they will be fine out there for

a couple more months.

My main concern is that Nettle

will decide to put her front

feet inside the tote, and start

paddling like she does in the

buckets of water outside.

The dogs haven't even noticed

them yet. I'm hoping to keep it that way!

The border collies will NOT

be the problem!

It's that Portuguese Water Dog!

UGH!!!

Shoulda bought another BC!!!

Toads, Mud and Naked Ladies..........

2011-08-21T18:39:00.000-05:00

A very busy weekend!!

Friday began with watering the flowers,

and the garden....AGAIN!!

I can't remember the last time we had rain!

It keeps missing us!

Saturday, the excitement continued.

We've been losing pressure in our hydrant in the barn.

Thursday is stopped completely,

so Marvin the Mole (Jeff) told us we'd need to dig it out again.

I missed out on all the fun last time....8-10 years ago?

This time I got to have the fun!

It actually was kind of fun.

Bill and Jeff finished fixing it Sunday...

Thanks GUYS!!

I love my ponies!!

The Naked Ladies are almost done.

They are pretty, but don't last long.

They are also know as.....

the belladonna lily, the amaryllis, or an amarillo.

Finally, no matter the last of rain....

those "Fish-tunias" keep on blooming!!!

Nice Rilda!!

Fun At The Fair!!

2011-07-31T20:14:00.000-05:00

I think I must have asked my sister a dozen times what date the fair was this year. You see, last year I MISSED it as I'd entered an agility trial! UGH!! Kids grow up fast enough without missing the fair!!

They live in Southern Iowa, so, I attended the Des Moines County Fair on Friday. Yes, the Des Moines County Fair is in Burlington, not anywhere close to Des Moines! Des Moines is actually Polk County, sometimes you're better off NOT asking why.

As I arrived a little before 8 am Friday morning, the 'fair smells' hit me.

The smell of funnel cakes?

Um, no.

The smell of sawdust, wet with manure and urine.

Yep, I'm at the right place!!

The cattlemen put on a free lunch.

Of course hamburgers were served!

They were Great!

Here's my niece, Daphne, grooming one of her two steers.

I know Marsha would LOVE to put a bow in his hair!

Crazy thing is, he wouldn't have cared!

Daphne did very well with her steers.

One ended up 6th in the weight of gain class.

This is actually the most important factors for cattle.

How fast can you get them 'market ready'.

Daphne's gained 3.68 pounds per day over 222 days.

The winning of the weight of gain class was an 1800+lb steer.

With an impressive 4.68lb per day weight gain.

The judge asked the young man how he got him so big.

He explained that his steer,

(which was his returning bucket bottle calf from last year),

kept eating his other steers food.

The judge commented that he 'might' have eaten one of

his other steers.

The down side of the fair is auction day.

Most of these kids have had these animals through two summers.

They got them as little bucket bottles, they have feed them,

watered them, groomed them, and taught them to lead.

Tuesday the kids will sell their animals.

I'm glad I'm not there for that!

I guess that's why I took horses to fair!

Pond In A Barrel

2011-07-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to report, my pond in a barrel is a success!!!

I started out with one each of these floating plants.

My have they multiplied.

Okay, so my favorite part is feeding the fish!!

One of the water plants even sprouted a flower this morning!

How cute is that!

Carrie Does Fidley, MN!!

2011-07-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

Saturday Morning Carrie, Nettle and I headed to Coon Rapids, MN for a one day PWD Water Trial on Sunday. Nettle was going to ‘watch’, I was going to ‘judge’ and Carrie, well…..Carrie was taking us there, as usual.

In case you don’t know this already, Carrie is our 2003 Honda Odyssey with about 212,000 miles and counting. She’s a good girl!! Unlike her ‘sister’, our previous van, Christine (yes, she was a Plymouth), who went through 2 transmissions in 196,000 miles. Christine didn’t like me much; Carrie on the other hand has been perfect! Okay, so she blew a tire the beginning of June, but that was NOT her fault!!

I had a book on my Ipod (Jack Reacher Series Book #3), my phone plugged in to charge, a full tank of gas, some coffee in the console, we were ready to go!

The book was good, the puppy was quite and it was an uneventful trip! One of my favorite parts of going through Minneapolis is the underground tunnel. I always think of Princess Diana when I go through it. Not that I was a ‘fan’ of her, but I guess there was so much publicity around it that I can’t help but think if it. The yellow glowing lights, the hollow echo….it’s just FUN!

I was about 15 miles from my destination when I took a wrong exit. It was actually a lucky thing as the dash lights started to flash, then all the door open warning lights came on, as well as the break lamp light. I later learned that that means you don’t have break lights. I pulled into a ‘closed’ Shell Station, but left the van running. Then the odometer started flashing, all the dash lights were blinking and fading. This is NOT good!

I started to unroll the windows, WAIT!! It’s supposed to rain, if I roll them down, I won’t be able to get them back up! It’s amazing how thoughts can race through your head, and the speed in which you can answer back. Open doors? Um….NO! So, Carrie ‘flat lined’, right there in the Shell station in Fidley, MN, just 15 miles from my judging assignment.

Not much to do but to “Phone Home”. I turned on my trusty tracfone only to find out that instead of charging the phone, it was draining it! I was down to one bar and that was flashing red. Pretty sure that was NOT a good thing! Luckily Bill was in the house, he called Linda in St. Paul…she called Stacy who was closest ….and the Calvary horns were sounded! Help was on its way!!

Stacy arrived first, with Dave, her husband close behind. Diagnosis, alternator. CRAP! What are the chances of finding a tow, a shop and getting my van back in working order at 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon? NOT GOOD!

While Dave was performing ‘open heart surgery’ on the battery (which wasn’t holding a charge), Bill was back home calling around for shops that might take a late afternoon emergency patient.

Luckily, Dave carries a spare ‘supercharged’ battery for Weather Chasing! So, he Macgyver’d that bad boy into place with a couple copper welding thingies (technical term) and it started! He tested the charge at 13 volts, it dropped to 12.75 after it started. We then turned it off to conserve the charge until we could determine our destination. Hopefully a repair shop within 5-10 miles, as Dave thought that might be a reasonable distance in which the battery would last.

Meanwhile……someone reports ‘3 suspicious white adults appear to be stealing batteries from cars in a parking lot’. Hum…….turns out, “It was Only Dave”. We were ‘Off the Hook.”

Bill found Bernie!! He was about 1.5 miles away and would be willing to wait for us and get Carrie fixed up that night! AMAZING!! It was now about 4:15 and not getting any earlier! We needed to get there before 5. Shouldn’t be a problem, we’re only 1.5 miles away…right? Dave had his handy dandy IPAD with it’s GPS showing us the way. We had 2-way radios for communication, Stacy would lead…I’d be the Sandwich and Dave would bring up the rear! Off we went………….

We find a strip mall, no Bernie’s. UGH!! I keep counting the miles as I follow Stacy, and Dave heads the opposite direction. After a bit of frantic driving in circles, we discover we were at the correct place to begin with and it’s ‘behind’ the strip mall. Of course we didn't notice this 'tiny little sign' until it was time to pick Carrie up!

Bernie was AWESOME!! He got the part and is waiting for us. He takes Stacy’s phone number and tells her he’ll call when it’s done. It’s 4:45 and he thinks it’ll take about 2 hours. WHAT A GUY!!

We picked up the kids, there’s NOT MINE. Took them and Nettle out to supper at some Noodle Joint. Nettle stayed in Stacy’s car. She was PERFECT the whole time! Who would have thought??

Bernie called, the van was done! New alternator, new battery…good to go. It was 6:45 when we picked it up! Need your car worked on in Findley, MN? Go to BERNIE!!

Polar Plunge 2011

2011-03-26T16:47:00.002-05:00

It's OVER!!

It wasn't too bad!

At least I didn't think so......

Air Temp - 32

Water Temp - 40

Everyone had their own style of

entering the water.

We decided that if your

hair didn't get wet,

it wasn't a plunge!

You were suppose to go around

the backside of the rescue person

standing out in the water.

Estimated earnings - $19946

29 teams and 117 people

That's awesome!!

Top Fund Raiser was

Kathy Davidson!

Great Job Kathy!

Marsha took some AWESOME pictures!!!
Check out her gallery at ......

http://www.inflightphotog.com/Miscellaneous-Photos/March-2011-Polar-Plunge/16352926_wWZjV#1229372896_vbcx6

Polar Plunge Saturday - Temp 26/41

2011-03-21T07:52:00.002-05:00

Polar Plunge is SATURDAY!!!

(Me and my Sister, Dawn)

I know, running and diving,

into the water in March, seems like a Cheater's Plunge!

But....check out the forecast!

Low of 26 degrees Friday night.

High of 41 on Saturday.

The plunge is at noon.

(at least I think it's noon....hopefully they send us a schedule)

Our team consists of myself, my sister -
Dawn, and my niece - Valerie.

Below is Dawn.......

I'm hoping she will be wearing something similar this weekend!

Here's Val!

She's a bit older now!

(Aren't we all!!!)

Finally...here's me!

Yep, the Snow storm of April '73

I'm sure we'll have fun!

As long as no one thinks they have to

"out do" the others by 'staying in the longest'!!

Who would do that??????

Stones and Water in the Garden

2011-02-14T16:33:00.004-06:00

In the Spring, some people hunt Morel Mushrooms.

Me - I hunt ROCKS!

I attended a ‘FREE’ presentation by Jamie Beyer

on Sunday afternoon sponsored by - http://projectgreen.org - the topic

“Stones and water in the garden”. I do enjoy rocks, and have many field stones.

My objective in attending was to get some new ideas on

displaying these stones within my flowers and plants.

The presentation was in two parts; the first on stones, the second on water.

During the stone discussion we learned that there are 3 types of stones.

Sedimentary – Limestone and Sandstone are a couple examples of sedimentary stone.

They crack flat and are often used for paths and walkways.

Metamorphic – These are existing rock types that are changed due to heat and pressure.

Igneous – Are formed as a result of cooling and solidifying of Lava.

Most of the stones I have are Igneous, they were transported into this area by Glaciers.

How amazing is that!

Jamie added Two more types of stones to our list.

Hypertufa – which is a ‘man made’ rock that weighs a fraction of real stone. It’s generally made up of cement/peat moss and perlite.

Leaver-right Rocks – these are the stones that are so big, you should “Leave it right there” (I’ve spotted a couple of these – someday I might get brave enough to ask a neighbor to retrieve one for me)

A few of the reasons Jamie likes rocks – they:

Never Rot

Don’t blow away

Don’t Die

He also discussed the need for a variety of rock shapes,

(as well as plant shapes) in your garden.

He used the “E” principal to explain.

There are 3 shapes of rocks to watch for.

Round – E

Point – E

Flat – E

I really need to look for more Point-E and Flat-E rocks.

I’m full up on Round-Es!!

He discussed how it was important to make it look like your stones were placed my ‘Nature’.

Mine sure don’t, so that’s a spring project for me for sure!!!

He also discussed moving rock.

I was pretty interested in this as I move almost all my own stones.

I’d like to be able to move some larger ones!

One of the items he uses is a Hog carcass moving cart.

Hum….Valentine’s Day present idea??

Probably not, since its $268 new,

I’m thinking I’ll have to just use the good ole wheel barrow.

But a girl can dream!!

The second presentation was on Water in the Garden. I was debating on staying as I know I would never have a pond. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE them!! I think they are beautiful! I just know I’d never have one. I felt they were too labor intensive, too expensive and I have DUCKS! Can you even imagine! LOL! My pretty little pond would be surrounded by chicken wire to keep the ducks out. One year the ducks even crossed the gravel road to ‘drool’ over the neighbors above ground pool!!

I was wrong! They do NOT have to be labor intensive! They do NOT have to be big! They do NOT have to have a pump! They do NOT have to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Did I mention I was wrong?

Sure if you’re going to have a water fall, you’ll need to pump.

Yep, some of them are huge!!

Yes, some of them are probably a lot of work…..but…..listen up!

You can have a water garden in something that holds a cup of water!

WHAT!! Yep!

There are some very cute little ‘floatie’ plants out there that

will do well in just a little water container.

Mosquitoes will breed in standing water, but if you add a little

mosquito dunk and it kills the larva.

These are environmentally safe, so no worries there!

Want something a little bigger?

I know now I DO!!!

Find a large plastic barrel.

Looking for some assistance here!!

Anyone know where I can find one?

Color doesn’t matter, but it would probably be best if it held a food item.

Cut the top part of the barrel off, you’ll want to leave enough of the bottom so it can hold 30” of water. This way when you put your water plants (in pots) inside the container, the tops of the pots will never show. You can also put two gold fish in this container!! I’ll be honest, that’s probably what really sold me! I can get TWO FISH!! Their job will be to eat the mosquito larva. If you don’t want the fish, I can’t imagine not wanting a couple fish, you can use a mosquito dunk.

One of the biggest problems is going to be picking out which plants to use. Who would have thought there were so many to pick from? One plant Jamie said is a MUST have, the Helvola. It’s a small flower, so perfect for a container. There are a LOT of little floatie plants that are cute! Right now I’m thinking of getting some Frog bit and Water lettuce. Toss in some Parrot feather, for fun. The last plant to go into my container will be a Canna. I’m not sure what color yet, but probably red or orange.

Helvola

Frog Bit

Parrot Feather

Water Lettuce

Canna in water? YES!!

Jamie said that as long as you plant the tuber in dirt first and let it get 5-6” tall,

you can then put it into the water container and it will go crazy!!!!

As far as wintering, you can take the lily and parrot feather,

put them in a black plastic bag and put them in your basement.

Keep them moist and you can use them again the next year!!

That’s AWESOME!!

I hate wasting money on plants I can’t reuse!!

I’m so excited about this!

Is it Spring yet!!!!!

Polar Plunge Registration - HELP!!!!

2011-02-03T17:25:00.000-06:00

It's official!! I'm registered!!

Please sponsor our TEAM!!!

Orange-ya Cold

(Ctrl Click) on the link below

http://www.firstgiving.com/soiowa/Event/cedarrapidspolarplunge2011

Donate

Ever own a Rusty Chevrolet?

2011-01-09T09:06:00.000-06:00

I've owned a few!! G

Here's a holiday song for YOU!

I heard it the Leo Greco show this morning doing chores.

It must be genetic?

2010-12-21T19:14:00.000-06:00

Last week my mom fell and broke her wrist. Yep, the old distal radial fracture strikes again! It was her left wrist, which is her dominate hand. I won't go into all the things she'll need to learn to do! Been there, done that! Right Barb!!

I told her prior to the accident, you do not need to be putting Santa and the reindeer up on the roof of the house this year! Honestly, the neighbors will understand! You're 70 years old! Do you think she'd listen to me? Oh no! So looks what happens! Kids these days, they just don't listen!

Off to the radiologist and surgeon's office today. For whatever reason, she go lucky, only needed a cast. Of course that will be followed up with another visit in 4 weeks, then physical therapy! Hopefully all goes well.

While I was in the waiting area, I came across an article on the Neanderthals. This got me to thinking about the whole 'evolution' business. With all the wrist fractures going on these days, was it such a good idea for us to be walking on 2 legs? Maybe someone needs to take another look at this! We might be much safer on all 4s! I suppose it could make pushing those grocery carts a bit more challenging.

By the way, if you've gotten this far, mom really fell on a patch of ice while putting her recycle bin away. I just thought my story sounded more exciting!

Be careful out there!!

Where are my SNOW BOOTS!!!

2010-12-05T09:24:00.000-06:00

Oh, that's right, I tossed them last spring!

I wonder why?

I could use them now...it's cold out!

(so they leaked a bit in the spring)

They got me through last winter just fine.

(this picture was taken January 2010)

The coveralls need a new zipper, 3rd one!

(Where's my seam ripper?)

I've had these coveralls since 1987.

I guess I can't be accused of not getting

the most out of things.

I'll have to see what Gander Mountain has today.

Anyone have any boot suggestions?

Brands?

I like the pull on type best.

In Missouri They Sell Deer Food.......

2010-12-03T16:23:00.001-06:00

In Iowa, Deer ARE FOOD!!!

In Lake St. Louis, MO last weekend,

we had a bit of a laugh at this sign.

Who in their right mind would FEED THE DEER?
I'm sure their gardening neighbors are happy!

Deer Chow anyone?

Ron, if you read this!

Good luck hunting this weekend!

Dogs are hungry!

BE SAFE!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

2010-11-25T09:27:00.000-06:00

Norbert says, "EAT MORE BEEF!!"

Old Mother Hubbard???

2010-11-24T06:01:00.000-06:00

We must be related!!

Check our our very SAD refrigerator!

The top left is chicken hindquarters for the dogs.

Next is a couple slices of the Pioneer Women's meat loaf

Some lunch meat.

The yogurt is expired!

A slab of cheese.

One lonely bottle of Diet Pepsi.

The good news!

That's a NEW container of COFFEE!!!!

Finally, some grapes in the bin below.

Pretty sad!

Someone needs to go to the STORE!

With it being the day before the Holiday,

it's NOT going to be me!!!

Have fun Bill!

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE!!

It's OFFICIAL!!

2010-11-16T07:47:00.000-06:00

After 40 hours of class.

40+ hours of Volunteer Time.

One trip to ISU for a Garden Tour.

I'm officially a Master Gardener!!

I have a even have a badge!

Cute Movie

2010-11-11T06:20:00.000-06:00

If you are stuck inside due to early darkness, rain, cold weather, or are just don't feel like doing anything. Pop this movie into your computer or DVD player. If you like cooking, and especially if you remember Julia Child, it's adorable! There are several LOL scenes.

Thanks Michele for letting me borrow it!

ENJOY!!!

Fall Colors....Some Annual Hold-outs!!

2010-10-24T09:15:00.000-05:00

You have to LOVE Re-Bloomers!!

Iris that bloom both Spring and Fall are great!

The Ornamental Grass that Barb and Terry gave to me a couple years ago is finally starting to look like Ornamental grass. Somehow, I've avoided hitting it with the round up!

The Morning Glory is going crazy with this cooler weather!

If you need seeds, let me know!

A few Dahlia Hold outs!

They did okay in pots this year,

but next year I'll put them into the ground.

There's just NOT enough round up to get

rid of the Fish-Tunias!!

OMG!!

I still have some Elephant ears hanging on!

I might need to get another bag of cement to make a few more casts.

Still have some tomatoes and squash holding on!

The Nasturtium LOVES the cool weather too!

The Zinnias, not so much.

We collected some seeds for next year.

I'll miss all the color over the winter.

I guess it just makes you appreciate Spring all that much more.

Why Cats Are Better Than Dogs!!!

2010-10-21T17:04:00.000-05:00

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Which animal would you rather sleep with?

The Black and White Border Collie with fresh green bird poop on his face?

Or the happy CLEAN little Yellow cat on the right? HANDS DOWN!!

Give me COUGAR!!

What is it about dogs anyway?

Why do they have to roll in things that are dirty, smelly, and often times dead?

What is the appeal in that?

Cats on the other hand, like things soft, warm, and clean.

Okay, an occasional dust roll, but that's just for coat cleaning purposes!

They aren't doing in order to SMELL!!

Now (2010) and Before (1913) - or so?

2010-10-04T16:40:00.000-05:00

Joann (husband Gorden) and Genvieve, pictured in the first photo, are sisters, and were born in our house. Actually, the house was then owned by their Grandmother, not by us. The sisters now live in CA, but stop by every year when they come to Iowa to visit family. This time when they stopped by, I suggested we park their car in approximately the same location and take another picture. They thought that was a grand idea.

We decided that a convertible would have been better, but since the vehicle was borrowed from family in IL, we didn't think we should take the top off. They weren't necessarily excited about saddling up the two ponies either. Oh well, it turned out rather nice, especially since we were battling the sun in the West!

I enjoy hearing the stories of who slept in which rooms and where the heat came from. How they had to sleep downstairs in the winter because there wasn't any heat upstairs. The heat came from a wood stove in the living room and the kitchen stove. Our bathroom was the pantry, and also had open selves for the everyday dishes and closed cupboards for the good china. It was NOT a bathroom. When I asked where the outhouse was, Joanne laughed and said, "You went West, under the clothesline and kept on walking!" Apparently it wasn't very close!

The upper porch that was on the front would hold about 2 people, Genevieve told me. She said she remembered that there was a barn fire at one of the neighbors and the girls weren't allowed to go. So, they ran up to the porch and watched from there. Funny how things in the country don't change!

The wind break that we started West of the house was their garden. They had a very large garden that feed the family of 8. There used to be a lot of large trees out in front of the house. That sure explains on the dips in the ground as those trunks have rotted over the years.

It was fun to see them again and I sure hope they stop by again next year!

Camping and Geo Caching

2010-09-26T19:24:00.000-05:00

It was the DMOTC AKC agility trial this weekend, which meant camping, running dogs, and eating. Not necessarily in that order!

We had beautiful weather on Friday night, a small camp fire and Carrie brought her grill for cooking! Liz and Tracy, both had a camper and RV up the lane a ways. Martha was in a tent, Carrie, Meme and I were sleeping in our 'red neck RVs'. "AKA - our vans!" It was awesome. Okay, for most of us it was awesome! Melinda whined quite a bit on Saturday about the beagle and the FULL MOON from the neighboring tent. Since Carrie, Meme and I were sleeping in our vans, it didn't bother us at all. We didn't hear a thing!

Saturday it rained ALL DAY!! It was pretty miserable outside. Luckily it was suppose to stop in the late afternoon. Amazingly enough, it did! The weatherman finally got it right for once! About 3:30, no more rain! So, off to the camp site and a trip to 'town' for pizza!!! As we were waiting for the pizza joint to open, Michele found a Geo Cache for us to look for. Unfortunately, we never found it, but we were interesting in trying again.

The pizza doors opened and Liz, Betsy, Michele P, Martha, Bill, Meme, Carrie and Jill FINALLY decided what kind of pizza to order. As were waiting for our food, the conversation came back to GEO Caching. Michele had tracked down a 'night time' one the evening before and asked if we'd be interested in going. OF COURSE WE WERE!! Michele told us to call her around 7:30 and we'd go find it.

We finished our pizza and headed back to camp. Melinda had a tent malfunction and decided to head into the city to get a hotel. Tracy was in town now as well. Jill was now in a tent, Bill had joined us with his own 'red neck RV' and we started a wonderful fire. It was rather chilly and we all had sweatshirts and coats. Jill decided it would be nice to toast her foot over the fire since they were a bit chilled. We were fine with that since we didn't have any marshmallows (Tracy had them) or pokers...(they were locked in Tracy's trailer).

It was finally time to call Michele! Carrie, Michele and Meme had flashlights and Jill had a head lamp! I had my flip. Michele having found this cache the night before, lead us to the starting stop and turned us loose in the woods. LITERALLY!! You begin by scanning the area with your flashlight, looking for a reflector on a tree. They are little reflector tacks. You follow these tacks to the treasure! Into the woods we went.

Apparently the conditions had changed in 24 hrs! With all the rain during the day, we now had streams of water and a running creek to cross. We made it into a clearing and spotted more reflectors in another wooded area. It was just a few feet in and the "X" was located!! Looking at the base of a tree, Carrie located the Cache box. After playing with the latch, she showed us the prizes inside! We were leaving a quarter that we'd found at the camp site, so, we could have taken something. I was eyeballing the plastic Mammoth, but honestly...what would I do with that! So, we decided to just sign the log, (Everyone that locates the Cache is suppose to sign it) and left it intact, plus one quarter. Carrie signed it SmoothSailin.

See our Video below!

As luck would have it, we ended up by the restrooms.
The perfect location before heading back to camp!

Caching was fun, and I'm sure I'll be looking for more in the future.

Interested? Go to.....

http://www.geocaching.com/about/default.aspx

2nd Provisional Judging Assignment

2010-09-15T05:27:00.000-05:00

My friend Kristi, along with her PWD, Moby, picked me up at work Friday Morning. We were heading to a Portuguese Water Dog ‘Water Trial’, in Indianapolis, MN. Indianapolis is about 400 miles away, so it’s nice to have some company along the way. Kristi has an extra 250 miles to travel, as she was coming from Lakeville, MN. It was HER idea, NOT MINE!!

The plan was for her to pick me up about 9 am and arrive at about 4:30 pm in order to get a little ‘practice’ time for Moby. I was going to complete my second required ‘Provisional Judging’ assignment, needed to become an ‘Official’ Portuguese Water Dog – Water Trial Judge.

I packed as light as possible. I had one clothes bag, one water trial tote bag – with water trial manual, and one crafty tote bag. It’s impossible for me to ride in a car without something to keep me busy, unless I’m driving of course. I also took along a small cooler. I’d felt like I’d over packed, and hindsight, there were a couple things I could have left behind. Bill thought I should take a chair, but I told him we only had Kristi’s Ford Escape, so I didn’t want to take too much stuff. I could borrow a chair at the trial.

Well, when Kristi picked me up, it was worse than I thought. I’d forgotten they had traded their Ford Escape for a compact car!!! Escort maybe??? Moby rides loose in the back seat; he of course has a harness on and is belted in. Poor guy, we could ‘almost’ see him under all that stuff!! We somehow crammed my clothes bag into the truck and off we went.

It was a fun trip over; we caught up on a lot of the summer’s events. Kristi told me of her adventures at their cabin up in Northern MN and I told her of my adventures of the summer being a ‘stay at home mom’. Before we knew it, we were arriving at the water site.

The site is actually in Noblesville, IN, and it’s at a swimming beach. They have to have it after the summer swimming season is over, so generally it’s the weekend after Labor Day. It has a large sandy beach and a nice large grassy area for your tents, screens, and crates. I wish I’d brought my swimsuit, but alas, that was one more thing to pack.

Our friend, Judy was excited to see us. She lives about 30 minutes from the trial site, and had graciously invited us to stay. Judy (Porter), Kristi (Neptune) and I (Nina), all had PWDs from Kalista’s first ever litter. They were the “A” litter and totally fabulous dogs! Another great thing that came out of that litter was our friendship. Aren’t dogs great!

Kristi and Moby got their practice in; we set up the tent, and headed to Judy’s. John, Judy’s husband was awaiting our arrival. He makes the BEST margaritas around. WOW!!! Kristi and I were somewhat prepared ‘this time’. Two years ago, we’d made a similar trip and knew how strong they were. So, we showed some restraint this time. Not that it helped much!! After one, you can NOT stand up from the table. Luckily, the food started to arrive.

Saturday morning arrived sooner than expected, and we all piled into Judy’s RAV-4 and headed to the trial. We did make a “MUST STOP” at Starbucks along the way. A ‘Flat Liner’ for me, (aka – strong black – nothing added), and a Latte of some kind for Judy. Kristi was happy with her tea

We helped the club set up for the trial. We helped set markers and buoy lines, build the course and pretty much just had a good time. The judging judge, ‘Charlie’, has spent the night with Chuck, another judge. They had a few people over Friday night, 7, I think?? They managed to finish off 11 bottles of wine between them. Those were the bottles they found anyway. OH DEAR!! Charlie didn’t seem any worse for wear. That was good, because he has a full day of judging ahead of him.

Portuguese Water Dog Trials consist of 3 titling classes and 2 non-titling or ‘Certificate’ classes. The first certificate level is Junior. The titling classes are Apprentice, Working and finally Courier. The last certificate level is Versatility, in which you can keep trialing your dog once you’ve achieved the Courier Excellent Title. For more information you can see the PWDCA.ORG web site.

For me, Saturday was just a ‘hang out day’. I could just watch the dogs and visit with friends. Just a relaxing day in the cold, wind and rain!!! Okay, it only rained off and on, but it was chilly. Unfortunately, neither Moby (Apprentice) nor Ziva (Junior Cert) passed their respective tests. Luckily, by afternoon, the rain cleared and we had a nice evening for the group dinner at the park.

Saturday evening, I skipped the Margaritas. I felt that I needed a clear head for the full day of judging ahead of me on Sunday.

Judging Day! I had PERFECT weather! It was sunny, warm, and okay, a bit breezy at times, but over all, PERFECT! I think I had 9 Couriers, 4 Working, 3 Versatility, 9 Apprentice, and 3 Junior certs. I might be off a few here and there, but I had a nice mix of every class available.

It was a great experience. Everyone gave it their best effort, but sometimes things are just not meant to be. We had our share of refuse retrieves, short go-outs, and rips around the sandy beach. Apparently there’s nothing more fun than running on the beach. I guess, I’d have to agree with that.

When you look at distractions in your normal obedience, and agility competitions, they are nothing compared to water trials. You have your rouge swans and ducks, large and small ski boats, boats pulling tubes with screaming kids, kayaks, scuba divers, people with their dogs swimming in the water; we even had a snorkeler come through a water site before. The waves made by some of those boats are huge! These are probably more distractions than any Portuguese Fisherman ever faced, but then again, we don’t have sharks. I guess everything’s a trade off.

I’ve heard Water Work described as ‘Obedience in the Water’. In a sense, I guess it is. It requires that the dog work with you, pick things up for you, wait to be sent, mark (not THAT way), and be willing to swim along side you for 2 minutes (my personal favorite exercise). The dog needs to have drive to retrieve, yet impulse control. He needs to have great swimming endurance, as well as be able to make direction changes in the water. Overall, it’s a total blast!!

My pass rate on Sunday was rather disappointing. Other judges that were there stated that this is not uncommon. I still felt bad, even though I know it was not my fault. I did have two Versatility passes, one Apprentice and one Junior. GREAT JOB JUDY AND ZIVA!!! Moby was so close in Apprentice, but couldn’t control the sand zoomies! SO CLOSE!!

At lunch time my wonderful Table Steward, Jeanie, asked me, ‘Why would you want to do this? It doesn’t pay anything, and sometimes people are not nice.’ That was a great question.

I think water work is a very important part of the Portuguese Water Dogs heritage. With every performance event you participate in, if there are not judges, then there’s not going to be an event. We can not expect our current judges to be available multiple weekends out of the year, especially when we have limited months we can have trials. If there are more judges, then everyone can have a much deserved break, and our trials can continue.

For now, I need to wait a couple weeks to see if I ‘passed’. Overall, I think it went well. I was so fortunate to have a great bunch of people to judge and to work with. Thank you to the OVERBOARD Portuguese Water Dog club for giving me the opportunity to complete my 2^nd provisional judgeship. Also, a HUGE thanks to the Portuguese Water Dog Club of the Twin Cities for allowing me to complete my Observe, and 1^st Provisional at their trial in August 2008 & 2009 respectively. This as been a LONG process! THANK YOU!

As Kristi and I packed up the car and headed home. Our packing was slightly better and Moby had a bit more room. It was 3:30 and we were on the road, a good 90 minutes ahead of our goal time. Life was Good. A pass with Moby in Apprentice would have been better, but she has one more shot at it this weekend. They can SO DO IT!!!

We managed to stay on 74 and avoid 57 and Effingham, IL. That alone was worth mentioning!! We laughed most the way home. It was fun.

Somehow we got on the topic of hairy legs. Women in general, not Moby’s. Moby is supposed to have hairy legs. I was telling the story about a ‘friend’ who had gone the whole winter without shaving. We were at an agility trial in MN over Memorial Day weekend and those are either 40 degrees and freezing, or 95 degrees and you’re dying from heat. This weekend happened to be the latter. Everyone was in shorts, but this friend. When we asked, she explained she hadn’t shaved all winter and proceeded to show us. OMG! We were roaring!

So, Kristi had to share a story of a dance friend. They were in ballet and her friend wanted to see how long the hair on her legs would get. Kristi said, this gal was not the type you would think would do that. So, they are at the dance bar stretching and this gal had pink tights on. She said you could really see the shadows. I almost blew pop out my nose. Some things you were should NOT discuss while you’re taking a drink of soda.

Happy Swimming!!!

Plastic Ice Cream Pails....

2010-08-18T21:43:00.000-05:00

Can you ever have enough?

I don't know about you, but I use them for EVERYTHING!! We use them to do chores; taking food trimmings to the birds, at times they are water buckets, and they can even help collect eggs. They are used for organizing craft projects, hold assorted nails, or even help with household cleaning! So, yesterday when I was looking for a container to hold paint, I decided I needed another ice cream pail!!

I checked under the sink. That's where our extra pails are stored. All I found was about 7 lids, but no bucket! How does that happen? (Please see above.) Apparently the general use of ice cream pails favors activities WITHOUT lids. Since I knew my painted would live a rather extended life in this pail, I needed a lid. So, I'd need to search a bit further for a bucket.

Luckily, the freezer is right next to the sink! My search area of choice. I knew we were out of ice cream. Trust me, I've CHECKED!! I guess I should say, we're out of 'eatable' ice cream. Somehow a bucket of 'Cookie N Cream" ice cream was forgotten. Alas, that delicious mixture of vanilla ice cream and chocolate cookies was totally freezer burnt. NASTY!!! Regardless, I still wanted that bucket!

So, a little hot water around the edges loosened it right up. I was about to put it in the trash, when I spotted one of the birds walking by. Hum....... So, I grabbed my flip video camera, (LOVE THAT THING!!!), and out the door I went!

I had no doubt they'd eat it. They will eat almost everything, except had rooted vegetables, unless they are cooked to soften them up. I'll leave out all the things they will eat, but trust me, NOTHING is off their menu. It doesn't have to be vegetable or fruit matter either!

Note Tom can actually 'tighten up' his snoodle when he wants too!! No strutting when there's ice cream around!!! Too bad the ducks were out in the pasture. I would have liked to see what they thought of it.

Bud Grafting Apple Trees

2010-08-16T09:40:00.012-05:00

We have a Red Delicious Apple tree at the top of our lane. I'll admit I'm not being a huge fan of Red Delicious apples, but these apples are quite good. Good enough that when it became apparent that the tree was having some 'age' issues, aren't we all, something needed to be done.

As you can see, it's suffered some wind damage, resulting in the loss of some significant branches. Somehow it seems to make it year after year. Like most of our trees, it leans in an Easterly direction. I guess that's what happens when you live on the top of a "Mountain" in Iowa, and get hit relentless strong North West winds 6+ months out of the year.

So, a few years ago I started checking into grafting. There were spring grafting workshops, but I was always 'too late' to get enrolled, and they were using 'their' apple trees. I wanted to use 'our' apple tree. I finally decided that maybe I could just do it myself. Finding rootstock was my next challenge. You see, in order to get 'exactly' the tree you have, you need to 'graft' it onto another tree. Seeds will NOT give you an exact replica. Crazy huh!!

After three years, yesterday I finally acquired two M26 rootstock trees. This rootstock will give me mid sized apple trees, approximately 10' in height. If all goes to plan that is!

The first step is to cut off a newer branch from the apple tree and trim off the leaves. Like this!

From this branch you need to remove a bud. You do this with a Knife! Yes Rilda, I used your nice little orange one! The blade that can do it all! You simply make a cut across the top of the stem, then coming under the bark with the knife, you shave it off. You end up with a bud like this!

All the information needed to make a 'new tree' is in that little bud under the bark. Is that amazing or what! You leave the little stem on so you have something to hang onto. It will dry up and fall off as the bud is absorbed into the rootstock.

Next you need your rootstock and a turkey. Oh wait, just the rootstock! Turkey's LOVE APPLES and this one is a little early! She really just wants to be sure there's nothing to eat NOW!!

Next you take your knife again, and make a "T" cut in your rootstock.
You carefully open up the bark to allow the bud to be inserted.

Next, you insert the bud.

Carefully wrap the bud in tight to the rootstock.

I used a strip of plastic garbage bag and scotch tape.

Now you wait.
In a couple weeks the stem should fall off.
If all goes well the bud will be absorbed into the rootstock and in 3-4
years you'll have a fruit bearing tree!!!

With apples exactly like the ones we get now.
It's the SAME TREE AFTER ALL!
Apples like THIS!

Want more information?

Here's an interesting clip from You Tube.

Fried Chicken - joke

2010-08-13T16:46:00.002-05:00

Our teacher asked us what our favorite animal was, and I said, "Fried
chicken." She said I wasn't funny, but she couldn't have been right,
everyone else in the class laughed

My parents told me to always be truthful and honest, and I am. Fried
chicken is my favorite animal. I told my dad what happened, and
he said my teacher was probably a member of PETA. He said they love
animals very much. I do, too. Especially chicken, pork and beef.

Anyway, my teacher sent me to the principal's office. I told him what
happened, and he laughed too. Then he told me not to do it again.

The next day in class my teacher asked me what my favorite live animal
was. I told her it was chicken. She asked me why, just like she'd
asked the other children. So I told her it was because you could make
them into fried chicken. She sent me back to the principal's office
again. He laughed, and told me not to do it again.

I don't understand. My parents taught me to be honest, but my teacher
doesn't like it when I am. Today, my teacher asked us to tell her what
famous person we admire most.

I told her, "Colonel Sanders".

Guess where I am now...

The Rain Garden

2010-08-10T07:01:00.008-05:00

When we moved to our acreage a little over 10 years ago, we didn't realized that Farmers loved to bury things! So, when we started to see some major indentations in our lawn, we asked around. Sure enough, some old grain bins and shed foundations had been disassembled and buried. We were left with the decision, so we leave them alone or fill them in.

The 'sink hole' closest to our house, and right out our South door seemed to be the worst. When it rained, which has been more often than not this year, we ended up with standing water. This really HAD to stop! Not that the ducks cared! They liked having a little pond for a day or so.

A few weeks ago, Bill went with me to a Master Garden 'work shop' in which a rain garden was constructed. Rain gardens are used to stop erosion, prevent unnecessary water run off and filter water naturally. The project was located in Cedar Rapids, at a home that had suffered some flood damage in 2008. The owner wanted a pretty garden, with native plants and that would help prevent excess rain water from entering the sewer system.

This project lead to a discussion about fixing our own 'standing water problem', and thoughts of adding our own rain garden. When I came upon some Native Iowa Plants on sale, it was "GAME ON"!!

When selecting plant for a rain garden, you would like them to have a deep fibrous root system. This will help filter more water. Since we used plants Native to our area, they should be able to handle our normal 'living' conditions.

The first step in our project was to haul in some soil, aka = dirt! In stepped the world's best neighbor, Alan!! He brought over his tractor and bucket and took soil from our cattle yard and filled in the 'hole'. It took 10 buckets loads to get it level.

Then we used Jeff's tiller to work up the soil. Okay, Bill used Jeff's tiller. I just pointed and directed a lot! Here's the first plants that went in. 4 - Great St. John's Wort (yellow flowers) and 4 - Anise Hyssop (purple flowers). I LOVE Anise Candy, so thought this would be a great addition to the garden.

Other plants added - Indian Paintbrush, Silky Aster, Rattlesnake Master, Purple Cone Flower (along with Sundown - red - and Sunrise - yellow - cone flowers), Swamp Milkweed, Blazing Star, Wild Lupine, Mist Flower, False Blue Indigo, and Sweet Black-Eyed Susan.

These poor plants were so root bound.
I did several cross cuttings in order to open their root balls up.
I'm hoping they will be able to spread naturally and overcome
there tight conditions. Time will tell!
Being Natives, they should be hardy enough.

BUGS!!!

Ugh, the False Blue Indigo had mites!
No wonder it looked so sad.
I hand picked them off and I'll watch for more.

Kruz is a GREAT HELPER!!
He made sure Bill dug the holes deep enough.

We had butterflies before the plants were even in the ground!

Some mulch was added, along grass seed and straw.
The fence is required to keep the birds out!
Cougar was walking the fence line and gave
chase to a couple of hens.
GOOD BOY COUGAR!

It's going to take a year or two for it to fill in.

Birds at the perimeter!
They ALWAYS know when food is available.
We did have a few 'fence breaches', we'll need to keep an
eye out for bird invasions.

At least the ducks seemed to be sober!
Jeff thought it would be funny to bring out some
fermented fruit trimming.
The ducks were a little 'sauced' on Saturday.

MAD DOG wants her OWN RIDE!!!

2010-07-30T17:21:00.004-05:00

This van is actually AVAILABLE in Wisconsin!!

A friend and fellow Portuguese Water Dog Owner happened
upon it at a Dealership!!! THANKS NICOLE!!

What she failed to tell me was....
1) How much it is....and..

2) What it's pulling! It's obviously hooked up to something!!

Mad is pretty sure it's a BOAT and
is hoping there's a lot of uneaten food inside!

ORIF - Physical Therapy

2010-07-26T15:24:00.002-05:00

Physical Therapy continues, for my wrist. I haven't brought up my ankle, for OBVIOUS REASONS!! It seems that every time I go, they send me home with something 'fun' to work with. A couple weeks ago, I got my very own container of putty!! I asked if it picked up comics out of the newspaper, he just looked at me funny. I asked if it was okay if it got full of dog hair, he said, I didn't need to bring it back. I asked if I could get orange? He gave me red instead. I don't think he really listens to me anymore! G

My first visit, 10 days post surgery, the PT people were concerned about my ability to rotate my wrist. So, I was sent home with some exercises to work on until my next visit a month later. I had to promise to do them, or they were going to make me come in a couple times a week. What a waste of time!! I did them! Yes, I know you'd think I'd slack, but I do NOT want to have problems! I'm happy to report that I was ahead of where they'd expected me to be in this department. I can now even turn the ignition of the van with my right hand. The truck, not so much! G. I opened the cap of my first new jug of milk this am! Yes, it's the little things you take for granted!

The visits all start out the same, 10 minutes under a heating pad! Just my wrist, although I sneak my left hand in there too, it's COLD in there! I really want one of those heating pads, they are AWESOME!! Followed by 8 minutes of ultrasound. They use to focus the ultrasound on the incision to help break up the scarring, but now they are working on my flexor/extension, (the ability to move your hand forward and back). This is important for such things as, getting a beverage out of a cooler, pushing a door open, or helping yourself out of a pool. I'm not doing so well in this area. Time to buckle down I guess.

I don't complain, too much, at therapy. I know they have to push the joint in order to get the motion back to as near normal as possible. Whenever I ask if it will be as 'good as new', they will only say, "that is the goal". Gee, now there's a disclaimer! Also, you learn with the general population's 'normal' is and what 'your normal' is are two different things. They use your 'healthy wrist' to determine what your normal range is.

I can't remember where I'm at for Flexion right now, but I'm not very close. Extension, I'm at 60 degrees in my right, my left is at 75. So, I need about 15 degrees of improvement there yet.

Flexion: 80-90 degrees: Bend wrist so palm nears lower arm.
Extension: 70 degrees: Bend wrist in opposite direction.

Last Monday, Brad, my PT guy, really did some stretching on it and it hurt for two days after. I did mention it to him last Thursday, so he gave me an easy day. Today I told him, I'd rather have it hurt for a few days and get back to 'normal', then not. So, back to major stretching we went. I also got to do an arm bicycle, which is really a waste of energy!! Last Thursday I only burt 20 calories in 5 minutes of pedaling. That was DISTURBING!!! Today, however, I burned 23, so that's more like it! JL!! I'd really like to avoid that machine in the future.

Today I also got a round elastic band! When I mentioned that it looked rather dangerous, he gave me that "look" again. I explained that I had a friend that has had a LOT of bad experiences with bungee cords and that this did NOT look safe! He advised that I keep said 'friend' away from it. SORRY MARTHA!! Then I told him, on the bright side, I could always use it as a tourniquet in case of emergency. That got me another one of those "looks". G

I do weight lifting while I'm there! Yep, BUFF ME UP!!! Okay, so it's just wrist weight lifting. I started out with a one pounder, then moved up to 2 lbs. The 2lb weight was purple, I explained that I wasn't really a purple fan, so could we just use the orange one? Since Orange was 8 lbs, he said no, but he did move me up to 3 lbs. It's green, which is better than purple.

Writing is still the most painful thing for me to do. Well, that's not necessarily true, pushing myself up with the palm of my hand is, but I can avoid that. Bill has pointed out that I'm still able to sign my VISA receipts. To be honest, that's about as much as I can write. That has something to do with one of those bones that either had to be removed or is pinned somewhere. Let's face it, I'm screwed!! (pun intended)

You really don't think about what you do everyday that involves your wrist. You brush your teeth, open doors, turn handles, shake hands (or not!), reach in a cooler, pull a chair from under the table, pick things up, pull weeds, open a bottle of soda/water, write, type, drive, shift, knit, crochet, and I won't mention bathroom duties. Too late, I guess I already did. Try it sometime, go without using your dominate hand. UGH! What a pain!

Brad said I was really lucky to get the surgeon I did. Apparently he thinks very highly of him, so that's nice. Dr. P didn't even flinch when I asked him if I was murdered if they could ID my body with the plate. He said, "Why yes they can!" Apparently he doesn't get asked that very often. G

As proof that you can find almost ANYTHING on You Tube....here's an ORIF. There are several of them out there. ENJOY!! Or not????

Crop Dusting!!

2010-07-25T18:55:00.003-05:00

Riding in a Crop Duster is on my "Bucket List". Since adding it to my list I've learned that in order for me to do this I'll either: 1) Learn to fly a plane and have someone hire me. 2) Literally sit in the pilot's lap, as they are ONE SEATERS!! It appears that this item might not be obtainable, so in the mean time, I sure enjoy the show they put on!

Early this morning, the crop dusters were out in force! Unfortunately for the dogs, that means they have to stay inside.

These pilots are amazing, they head straight for your house, barn or power lines and then at the last possible minute, lift out of danger. Well, most of them do anyway. Every year there are accidents and it's not hard to understand why or how. It's truly incredible to watch.

After several passes by our place, I went in to get the 'flip'. I'm all ready to record and I'm apparently standing too close to the electric fence. ZAP!!! VBG So, if you listen closely at the very beginning of this clip, you'll hear me say, "ouch". It wasn't really that big of a zap, especially compared to Julie's fence that zapped me a few weeks ago! It was more of a 'wake up' call. G

I also found a little clip on You Tube!

ENJOY!!!

Cedar Rapids - Pet Ordinance Revision - Dogs left in cars!

2010-07-23T08:20:00.000-05:00

Cedar Rapids is suggesting some changes in the Pet Ordinance laws.

Why do they always wait until the day before the meeting to make this stuff known? Is is so people have plans and can not attend? It sure seems that way to me.

The meeting is tonight Friday in the community room of Cedar Rapids police headquarters, 505 First St. SW, beginning at 6:30. It's a two hour meeting. There is also one scheduled for Tuesday 7/27 - Location and time isn't available at this time.

For many of us outside the Cedar Rapids area, this may not seem like it impacts us. IT DOES!! Please read the BLUE Section 4 - 23.05.

Many of us leave our dogs in our vehicles when we go to train or show our dogs. We provide sun screens, fans and anything else our dogs may require to keep them comfortable. So, if you train or show in Cedar Rapids, this impacts YOU!!!

The way this reads, you can not take your pet along for any trip if you will be leaving it alone in the vehicle. I'm pretty sure this does NOT mean we will now be able to take our dogs into the "Road Ranger" with us to get a soda! G

===============================================================

Chapter 23 Ordinance Revision - Summary of Changes

A public hearing has been scheduled for the July 27, 2010 City Council meeting to adopt revisions to Chapter
23, Cats, Dogs and Other Animals. In anticipation of that public hearing, the following is provided as a
summary of the changes proposed within the Ordinance revision.

Licensing

Most municipalities and counties require that its citizens pay a licensing fee for their pets. Some reasons for animal
licensing include Public Health and Safety concerns (licensing requires proof of a valid rabies vaccination), a greater
likelihood of reuniting lost pets with their owners, and a reduction in pet overpopulation through the use of a differential
licensing fee structure.

Outsourcing administration of the licensing program will provide a turnkey solution to managing all functions of an animal
licensing program, thus freeing up animal control personnel to spend time serving citizens and increasing the services
provided to citizens while saving the agency valuable time and money.
Licensing administration services typically consist of the following:

Processing licensing mail

Depositing licensing revenue

Entering licensing and vaccination data

Mailing license tags

Providing customer service to citizens, veterinarians, and agency staff

Collecting and processing tag sales reports from authorized registrars

Maintaining privacy of data according to applicable laws

In order to increase animal licensing and compliance, a licensing administrator can also provide the following services:

Mailing licensing notices and follow-up notices to citizens

Offering online licensing with credit card payment, provided that all documentation requirements can be met

Customizing a website with licensing information and customer service for the citizens of the municipality

Proper licensing results in a reduction in the number of animals which enter animals shelters, and therefore eliminates the expense that would have been associated with the care, feeding, and disposition of these licensed animals. Enforcement of licensing helps to ensure compliance with rabies vaccination requirements, which in turn reduces the probability of an
outbreak of rabies in the local animal population.
Finally, proper education on the benefits of licensing and vaccination generally promotes more responsible pet ownership, resulting in a safer, more informed community.

Recommended licensing fees for both dogs and cats 4 months of age and over are:

$10 annually for altered dogs and cats

$35 annually for unaltered dogs and cats

Exception:Persons sixty-five or older may obtain permanent licenses for spayed or neutered cats or dogs which are valid for the lifetime of the cat or dog; provided, such cat or dog must permanently reside with the license applicant; provided further, no person or persons residing in the same household may obtain more than three such senior citizen pet licenses.

Licenses not renewed by the designated renewal date shall be assessed an additional license fee of $10.00.

Handling fee. Where license application is made to the authorized pet licensing agent, such agent may charge a handling fee, not to exceed $5.00 per license. Where written application is made to the authority's designees, such designees may charge a handling fee, not to exceed $5.00 per license. Provided, however, that such fees shall not apply to a blind owner, keeper or harborer of any dog or cat of a hearing-impaired owner, keeper or harborer of a hearing-aid dog or other service dog.

Definitions

Some of Chapter 23 definitions needed updating:

1. Use of "dangerous´ or 'vicious´ was often confusing. Not all dogs that bite are 'dangerous´ or 'vicious´. Some bite incidents are accidents. Redefining and clarifying bites into either 'Potentially Dangerous´ or 'Dangerous´ allows officers the latitude to make the appropriate call based on individual situations. It also allows officers to impose certain restrictions on dogs declared 'potentially´ dangerous, such as requiring the animal to where a muzzle when off
the owner¶s property, microchip implantation and registration, or requiring animal behavior or obedience training.

2. The use and reference to Wild and/or Exotic is also clarified, and referenced only in terms of wild animals. While the current ordinance defines Wild/Exotic, it did not prohibit them or provide for a disposition of wild/exotic, thereby defining what a lion, tiger or bear was, but not disallowing the ownership of them within city limits. This has been corrected.

3. Includes definition of Urban Chicken to correspond with new Chapter 23A.
Miscellaneous Updates include:

1. Edits ordinance to 'Manager´ vs. 'Director´

2. Includes 'venomous and constricting snakes´ to list of Wild and Exotic. We currently ban crocodilians, but do not include venomous and constricting snakes, which are often more of a problem than the crocodilians. Iowa Code 717F bans most venomous and constricting snakes.

3. Updates of 23.02 Rabies Vaccination and 23.04 Veterinarian Requirements to include that licensed veterinarians shall provide copy of vaccination certificates to animal control division. This will aid in licensing compliance.

4. Section 23.05 Duty of Owner. (i) Prohibits unattended animals left in cars. Animal Control receives dozens of these calls regularly, especially during the summer months. It takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation. On a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees -- and hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun!

(j) addresses abandonment.

(k) prohibits ownership of fowl within the city limits without first obtaining a permit.

5. New Section 23.07 Animal Noise. Clarifies what is considered a disturbance, limitation on time and frequency of noise, and how it will be enforced.

6. Section 23.12 Updates 'Manager´ and enforcement of power to include Animal Control Officers and Police

Officers.

7. Sections 23.20 and 23.21 updates Wild or Exotic and Dangerous language, and provides for a disposition.

8. Section 23.22 is amended by removing 23.22(b)(2) there from. City Attorney¶s office recommends that if alternative relief is sought, such as prohibiting a person from owning animals or putting an animal up for adoption,a municipal infraction should be considered.

9. Section 23.33 Citations for Violations. Authorizes Animal Control Officers to issue citations for violations of

Chapter 23.

10. Sections 23.34 and 23.35 Schedule of Offenses and Fines, and Fees. Per recommendation by City Attorney and City Clerk, removes table of fees from the ordinance, and provides for updates to be passed by resolution.

Please Save my MARRIAGE!!

2010-07-14T11:50:00.004-05:00

This little 5-6 week old kitten lives up the road. She REALLY needs a home, and Bill said, "NOT OURS!" She is so darn cute and really hard to get pictures of, as she's in motion all the time!

If you know anyone looking for an adorable "Border Collie" Kitten, please have them contact me. There are several others to chose from, but this one is the cutest!

I'd really like to bring it home, but 4 'farm' cats is enough for us.
I'm not sure if Bill would really put up a huge fuss, or he is just 'thinking' he would.

At least he hasn't said, "that Kitten or me!", cuz I sure would MISS HIM!! G

Native Plants!! Rattlesnake Master!

2010-07-12T13:59:00.013-05:00

Bill took me out Saturday afternoon to see the Shellsburg Native Plants & Prairie. We haven't been there in over 6 weeks and WOW has it grown!!! I might point out here, that Bill had a motive in driving me 15 miles to look at plants. It was FOOD!!! Roy's Grocery is in Shellsburg, he has the BEST BRATS around! NO QUESTION!

Here are some of the Purple cone flowers.

Remember the "Cup Plant" from my May blog?
It's now HUGE!!
It's starting to get yellow flowers.

The 'Compass Plant' has these cool 'lace' type leaves.
At a glance, you might think it's a thistle.

As it grows, over 9' tall, it develops yellow flowers that 'follow the sun'.
(Or not??)

The story is that the pioneers would look to this plant
for direction. In the open prairie, you could easily get
going in circles.

I think Martha and I must have used
THIS Compass Plant when we ended
up in Effingham, IL!!!
It's not pointing in a clear direction.

One of my favorites is the "Rattlesnake Master".
It's leaves resemble a Yucca type plant.
Native Indians used the root as a antidote
to rattlesnake bites.

Pretty neat looking...huh?

Here's what you might have seen crossing Iowa 200 years ago.
I'm pretty sure Roy's wasn't established then. G

Later in the evening, Bill was going to do some mowing with the push mower.

SURPRISE!!!

The bagger was already in use!!
That darn Cougar!!

July has been a good month so far.
NO INJURIES!!!

My wrist is healing well,
and my ankle is feeling much better!
My ankles really are
NOT THAT FAT!!!

How Do You Make It Through The Day????

2010-06-30T11:39:00.004-05:00

Bill asks me this all the time!

To be honest, I'm not sure myself sometimes.

Case in point; Our new enclosed porch is really nice to sit on and eat,
read a book or just hang out. I've left the door open for the
dogs to come in and out from the yard whenever they'd like.
Apparently the flies too this as an invitation to come in.
UGH!! They are so ANNOYING!

I don't like to use a fly swatter as it requires that I stop reading
in order to dispatch the said fly. Not only that, Seeker has decided
that the fly swatter is a really fun tug toy!

So, plan B! I did a classical 'Red Neck' thing and hung one of
those sticky fly strips above one of the windows!
SMART HUH!!

Later it was getting rather stuffy, so I opened the window.
It was windy that day, guess what happened?
Yep, that darn strip, along with any stuck flies got
attached to my face! YIKES!! That stuff is sticky!!

So last night, I'm standing on something that, NO one armed,
or otherwise intelligent person would be standing on, and
fell off! I was of course on the hallway stairs. THUD!!
#$(*#&%#_(&Q_#&$*

Bill came running, "WHAT THE %$#&#@ did you DO!!!
Did you hurt your arm again!"
"NO, it's my ankle." I replied.
"What the #&^%@ were you doing?" he asked.

I blew off that question and examined my ankle.
"Wow, it's NOT suppose to look like this!!" I said,
showing him my ankle.
An EMT, Bill would NOT MAKE!
He couldn't look. "Is it broken?" he asked.
"No, I don't think so." I replied.
"Can you get me a bag of ice with water in it?"

He returned with the ice. I have a couple wraps from
my wrist and used those to wrap up my ankle.
Then I did what any sane person would do.....
I took two pain meds and ...
"Googled" treating a sprained ankle.

It was amazing, my wrist didn't hurt anymore!
Luckily I didn't try to catch myself with my
right hand. I just dropped, apparently onto my ankle.

I deduced I have a 1st degree ankle sprain.
Treatment; ice, elevation and wrapping.
Those will be easy!
I took a couple pictures, but they don't do
it justice. It's nicely swollen with some purple shading.
Okay, a lot of purple shading.

What could possibly happen next?

This morning Julie, the gal I ride with, to see if
I'd walk down and let her horses out on the grass.
She still lives in town and I'm only 1/4 mile from them.

So, open the first gate and am having some difficulty
with the second when ZAP!!
Right on my ARSE!!
I called Julie to let her know her electric fence is working!

I think I'll stay inside the rest of the day!
In a chair, with a very safe book!

Did I Really Listen to THIS!!!!!

2010-06-22T21:08:00.001-05:00

Check out the shoulder moves and the hair!!

OMG!!! LOL!!!

I'm pretty sure the Vinyl is upstairs.

YIKES!

Girls Just Wanna Have FUN!!

2010-06-18T13:57:00.002-05:00

How fun is this!!!

Tina and Chandi - Britain's Got Talent 2010 - Auditions Week 1 @ Yahoo! Video

Life Goes On...

2010-06-12T09:40:00.005-05:00

Wounded or not, life continues on the 'Windy Hill Fowl Farm and Puppy Ranch'.

These little turkeys hatched on 6/10 & 6/11. I was fortunate enough to get to them before their mothers pecked them to death like they did the other 7!! UGH! It might be because two Turkey hens are sitting on the nest and not just one? Next year I'll do things differently. They sure look delicious, um, I mean CUTE!!

Now I check the next twice a day to see if any others have hatched. They are still sitting on 18 or so eggs and timing is EVERYTHING for their survival. Right now they are on the enclosed porch in a shoe box with a lamp leaning over the box for heat. They need to be kept at about 99 degrees for awhile. It sure would be easier if MOM had just done it! Bill will make up a nursery out in the building later today. They are close to getting OUT of the box! One poor little guy keeps getting turned upside down like a turtle and can't get back up! It's lucky I check on them often.

June has been a pretty tough month for us. I'm hoping we can make it through the rest of it without BILL getting hurt. He seems to be the only one that's gone UNSCATHED so far! I broke my wrist on 6/1, Mad was at the vet's with a bladder infection 6/2. Saphira, the colored pony had a horrible swelling on her belly, umbilicus and udder, so the vet came out on 6/3. Thankfully Julie came down to hold her. Saphira, not the vet. She'd been bitten multiple times by 'black flies' and was having an allergic reaction to them. So, a steroid and histamine shot later, she seems to be good. Adam, well, he was scuffed up from his fall with me. He also had flies attacking his face and swelled up. Thank Goodness for Hemorrhoidal cream!! It helped relieve the itch and swelling. It's looking MUCH better and the hair will grow back. No body wants butt cream on their face, but it sure made a difference!

Kruz had a sty on his eye lid removed on the 10th, he's doing fine. Seeker slipped in the tub yesterday and spent an hour limping on his right front leg! UGH! He likes to lay in their when it's hot, we don't run our central air and apparently that's the coolest place in the house. So, as you can see, Bill is the only one without injury!!

Speaking of Bill! Wow, has he ever come through! He is now quite the horseman, as I'm not able to put halters on the horses to take them out to the pastures. He puts them on and leads them out for me! What a guy! There are not multiple chores he gets to do, LUCKY HIM!! He seems to be taking it all in stride.

My typing is still one handed and frustrating! Hopefully physical therapy will start after the cast and stitches come off out Friday. In the mean time, I could really do with a 'one handed keyboard', did you know they actually MAKE such a thing!

One last thing, some humor that either Meme or Martha sent me.
Too funny NOT to share!
Hug your Dog! Kiss your Pony!!

Operation!!

2010-06-09T16:05:00.006-05:00

I loved that game! G

Surgery was Friday 6/4/10. Bill dropped me off at 12:15. Yep, just like someone dropping their dog off at the vet. Thing is, we wait for our dogs! Even on surgery days. Would you leave your children?? In Bill's defense, I told him to go back to work. What a waste of vacation that would be!!

They'd changed my surgery time 3 times since Tuesday. At first it was 1 PM, then 2:30 and finally they settled on 2:15. Bill went with me to check in and promised to be back by 3:00 in case my surgery didn't take the whole 90 minutes.

They took me promptly back to "lucky room #7". The nurse, Connie, had my plastic bag of "goodies" and I had my tote bag with a book and sweatshirt. I know those places are cold!!! Of course I had to ask if there was anything Orange in there! Nope, just blue and gray!! BORING!!

She left me to change and was the first thing I turn loose in the hospital...but a stink bug! That made me laugh out loud. I can't seem to get away from those little buggers! I open the curtain and sit in the chair with book in hand. I'm not getting in that bed any sooner than I have to.

Enter Dr. Psky, he's a nice guy! He tells me what they are going to do and explains I might end up with some external hardware if he can save all my little carpal bones. He wouldn't know until he got in there. I asked "When can I go back to work" (we'll see), "When can I ride again" (we'll see), "I have an agility trial tomorrow, can I run a dog?", finally he says, "Can you at least wait until I get the stitches out?" He asked if I had any more questions, I had just one. "So how much pain will there really be?" He said that since I was sitting in a chair reading a book that I shouldn't have any problem at all. EXCELLENT!! He marks my 'cast' with a P (so they know what they are working on) and leaves.

In comes Connie. She makes me get into the bed. RATS! On the plus side, she gives me a "Teddy Cuddler" - this plastic cover that fills with warm air! I WANT ONE!!! She also wraps my left arm with a warm towel to 'pop' my veins. I'm snug as a bug in a rug. Hum, speaking of which....wonder where that little stink bug went?

she takes out a little insulin needle and explains it contains lidocaine, it stings. So I'll feel a little poke and a big sting. After she's done she says, "Well you should have felt a big sting". I told her it did sting, but what could I really do about it. She just laughed. So then she pulls out the needle for the IV! I told her, WOW, now there's a needle! I wouldn't stick that in my horse! She thought that was pretty funny too and told me, "see why I gave you the lidocaine"? GOOD JOB HER!!

She takes my vitals, BORING!! BP 114/72, pulse = 56. She helps me fill out my extremely boring health history. She said they don't see a lot of "boring" patients anymore, so I was a treat! WOW! Now that's something I don't hear every day! Next I get this antacid reducer stuff. She called it the sweat tart without the sweet. It was really tart. I drank it down and told her it was really good. She said no one had ever said THAT before. I explained that it was probably because I haven't had anything to drink since 9PM the previous evening.

Next came the anesthesiologist, Nancy L. She said that they were ahead of schedule so I'd be going in early. YIPPEE!! She looked at my chart, declared me 'boring' and asked if I got motion sickness. I told her no, but my friend Martha does! She just smiled and told Connie that I didn't need to have the "sweet tart stuff", Connie told her, "Too late and she liked it". This made Connie's eyebrows go up. Yep, I'm scary!

Now, Jeff told me to really look forward to the pre-anesthetic, watch a clock if possible and when the clock starts to shutter back and forth, that means it's working! It's really cool!! Well, Dr. Nancy said to just 'skip" it as they didn't need me any calmer. So they told me a couple stories about the people they had to retrieve from the ceilings. G

Into the Operating Room we go. It's cold and OMG!! Is that the Beatles?? I move over to the next bed and ask, "Is that what we'll have to listen to?" The tell me it's whatever the doctor chooses and what would I prefer? I respond, "Five Finger Death Punch" and someone turned out the lights! HOW RUDE!! I didn't even get to count!

Next thing I remember, I' in recovery, putting on my clothes and attempting to walk. I guess I didn't look too stable as they wheeled me out. It was after 4 by now and I'm sure they wanted to go home! Probably saved them some water vomit in the new Parking Ramp too.

Bill said Dr. Psky said I did a good job of smashing it up. They could fix a carpal bone or two, I'll find out which ones when I go back next week. Sounds like I could loose some flexibility, but considering I'm still on the right side of the grass, that's not that big of a deal. I found a little diagram that shows all 8 little bones so I'll know exactly what's missing. I have a Titanium plate and 10 stainless steel screws. It needs to stay in a year or two and then could come out if it's bothering me. One of the most difficult things for me will be no lifting of heavy weight with this hand for at least one year. He has yet to define "heavy", so I'm not sure what that really means yet.

If you check the dictionary under "Good Patient", you will not see my picture. G That being said, if you look under positive attitude, good sense of humor and determination, there you will find me!

So I'm home, meds are good, driving restriction bad. Typing one handed is frustrating, although I hear they made one handed keyboards. The dogs LOVE the afternoon naps! Looking forward to things getting bad to normal! Whatever that is.

Surgery is Over!!

2010-06-05T01:15:00.003-05:00

I'll post a post-op xray later. Worst part?
Post op nausea!!! UGH!!! I hate vomiting!
Hey, at least it was in the grass! G

I'm glad I only drank water at the hospital!
Too bad about the toast,
had that after a nap when I got home,
lost it while I was slowly touring the garden!!

No external hardware, he couldn't save that bone.
Plate with screws that I can keep if it doesn't bother me.
Otherwise it can come out in a year.

More later.....running to........um..

yogurt, not sure I'll be able to eat that anymore.
UGH!!!!
Didn't get the toilet lid open in time.
What a mess..I should have tried to make it outside!
I cleaned it up. Bill's sleeping.
I'm suppose to have a responsible adult watching me
for 24 hours!

I'm glad for the 3 dogs!!
They haven't left me out of their site!

Break Out The Pain Meds!!

2010-06-03T03:41:00.003-05:00

Last night I finally caved! Hey, I lasted 36 hours! My fingers were the size of sausages and I didn't sleep well the night before, so pass me a pill!!! Of course it's 3 something am right now, so it didn't help THAT much!!

I know, Adam and I are very lucky. He did NOT do anything wrong. It was a hole, he stepped in it going at pretty good speed. He tried to keep his balance, and just couldn't. It happened so fast, one second we're posting at an extended trot, the next we're both falling forward. The only thing I remember seeing is his terrified eye about 3-4' from me. I wonder if he saw the same look in my eye? Then we were both up, and out of the ditch. I guess we both bounce. G I don't remember landing and I don't remember getting to my feet. It was that fast. It's true, your whole life can change in an instant. We get another chance!

I'm learning what I can and can't do with one hand. The can't do list is actually rather short! I'm not fast and things are frustrating!! Such things as typing, that can drive you crazy in a short order.

Getting dressed isn't too bad. Pulling a sweatshirt over your head can be tricky. You'd be amazed how often you pull on your wrist tendons!! OUCH!!! If you REALLY need to use the restroom, you'll probably want to go ahead of me.

My hand is turning the prettiest purple, if I need to loosen the wrap today I'll take a picture. Oh, better charge the battery!!

I think the splint they put on Tuesday was too tight! You know how you can wake up with some sheet crease in you skin and it's rather painful? That's how I spent most of my day yesterday. It wasn't the wrist that hurt, it was that horrible binding sensation. I finally just took everything off, wraps, gauze, padding and splint, and put it back on looser. My Jimmy Dean's were most grateful!!

Things are definitely more challenging 'off handed'!! I can't tie my shoes, but that's okay, I rarely did anyway. I can't put a halter on the ponies to take them out to pasture. I'm also not sure how well I got my left armpit shaved. I know you really wanted to know THAT!!!

Surgery is tomorrow at 1:00 and should only be about 90 minutes. I'm sure I'll want to get out of there more than those working there! Hopefully Dr. Psky is thinking more about my wrist on Friday afternoon than his golf game! I'm sure looking forward to having that behind me!!

being a master gardener is DANGEROUS!!

2010-06-01T19:34:00.011-05:00

i took today off to do some master gardener work. it was suppose to be a nice day and i thought i'd take Adam out for a ride. so, eastward we went at about 9 am this am. we started a out at a nice walk, and not finding any native plants in the ditch we worked up to a brisk trot.

i spotted some promising plants, so i told adam, "you watch the road for ground hog holes, and i'll watch for plants". yes, i really do talk to him when we ride. somehow i think we got mixed up and thought he was watching the ditch, because we went DOWN!!!!!!

luckily, he tossed me over his head and he rolled over sideways...i think?? I just know that other than a few scrapes, he's fine. he could have broken his leg. if he'd landed one me it would not have been much better. we were now 1.5 miles from home and Adam was about 200' away. he didn't know what to do. i talked to him quietly while holding my wrist. as i'd approach, he'd walk away.

this is a road rarely traveled, but a truck turned off the highway. he asked if i needed help catching the horse. i told him that Adam wasn't afraid of cars, so if he'd drive up in front of him he would likely stand. he did, and Adam did. i was able to walk up and take hid reins.

the guy asked if i needed help back on. Adam is a good 16hh and i ride English. i was pretty sure my wrist was broken and if i got on, i wasn't sure how i'd get off. he then asked how he could help and i asked if he could put his tailgate down if i could sit and have adam follow behind. he did and it worked!! TG! this guy was so nice and he took us home. i think he departed quickly so he didn't have to unsaddle him! G

once adam was away i called work to find a place to go. rigged myself a splint of pvc pipe and orange vet wrap. from that clinic to the hand surgeon. im schded for surgery fri at 1pm. apparenty i've shattered my wrist, distroyed my carpal bone and snapped off that cute little round bone. so...for the next 6-8 weeks youll have to put up with very bad typing!!

pictures below..... the hole!!

the landing - 4' ditch....

the pony...

the splint...

the second splint.....
the 3rd splint....

the xray.....

the sweeling....

the end.....

The Iowa Prairie!!

2010-05-27T15:12:00.009-05:00

Do you miss those old Iowa Native Plants? Would you enjoy seeing them those plants make a come back? Do you even know what type of plants those would be?

One of my Master Gardener Projects involves looking for and identifying Native Iowa plants that are currently in the ditches around our township. We live on the ‘border’ of Florence and Fremont Townships. I would like to do both, but will start with Florence and see how far I get.Each Township appears to be about 6 square miles and with a gravel road each mile. I guess that’s a lie, there’s at least one highway and a couple gravel roads that ‘break’ the one mile rule. Regardless, each Township has many miles of gravel that needs to be checked for Native Plants. What better way to do this than horseback! At least that’s the plan. The highways are State Territory, so no need to worry about those.

The most important ‘job’ of being a Master Gardener is educating others. I thought blogging some of this adventure might educate some of you on the Iowa Native Plants. You may have forgotten about htem, or were never aware of them. So, I’ll be blogging a few of these adventures along the way.

One of the first steps involved to educating me. What better place to go than the Shellsburg School! Yes, they have a “teacher made” Native Iowa Prairie. I spent 3 hours there one evening becoming familiar with what plants to look for and how to identify them.

Tuesday evening I went back out to take a few pictures on my own, and Bill wanted to come along. I warned him not to expect something totally spectacular, but he was welcome to come. This was going to, at first, look like a large grassy area. He seemed to have a good time, and before long he was pointing out plants to me. We’ll go back every few weeks to see the changes in the prairie plants that are currently 12-24” tall, as some of these plants will reach 6-12’ in height!

Here’s a picture of the prairie.

The first one we encountered was the “Cup Plant”.

(This is what it will look like in another month or so)

This Native perennial, a member of the Aster family, gets between 4-10’ tall with yellow ‘sun’ type flowers. The name comes form the way it’s thick leaves are attached to it’s thick stem.

They attached to form a ‘cup’ that literally holds water. The story told to us was that the settlers would find this plant and drink the water held in it’s leaves. It was also used as a chewing gum and the young leaves could be cooked for eating.

This is what it looked like on Tuesday 5/25)

(See the water in the "Cup")

Researchers are also exploring whether the cup plant could be grown in low, moist prairies generally unfit for cropland. It would be grown and processed along with native grasses grown for biomass.

Bill of course thinks we should plant some, so we have water always within reach.

From now on when you’re thirsty you can ask,

“Where’s a good ole' CUP PLANT when you need one!!”

Jack and Jill = GPS

2010-05-24T21:59:00.002-05:00

Bill has a Garmin. He LOVES his Garmin, and he calls her Jill. How original! That’s the name that is on the US Women’s voice that comes with the machine!! Me, I call her SYBIL!! She’s not my favorite device, and I’ve threatened more than once to toss her out the window. On one occasion I really MEANT IT!! Her voice just gets on my nerves! Not only that, she’s nasty!

I will admit to using Sybil on a few trips. I will also admit that she has gotten me where I needed to go, even if it wasn’t the most logic route. So, when I headed up to Eau Claire, WI last weekend I took her along. Actually, she was along, but I changed her name to “Jack”, which is the US male voice. I was hoping he would be smarter than Jill.

Jack and Jill are not flexible when it comes to traveling to Eau Claire. I should point out here that there is NOT a good way to get to Eau Claire from Eastern Iowa. GPS always want to take you through Dubuque. If you don’t want to go that way, you have to ‘trick’ it. How insane does one have to be to have to “Trick” a GPS device! Seriously, print out your directions on a piece of paper and be done with it!! Oh no, we LOVE our technology!!

The way I wanted to go involved heading North to 63, toward Rochester, and then taking 90 across the river to WI. Once I got to Spring Valley, MN, Jack gave up and showed me the proper route to get to Eau Claire. Way to go JACK!!

I thought I would be really smart and mark the location of Spring Valley, MN on the GSP so that when it came time to go home I could once again, ‘trick’ it into taking me back to Spring Valley and home. It sure sounded like a good idea to me!!! It didn’t work out that way.

I can truly say that the 4 or so times I’ve been up to Ann’s since we gotten Seeker, I’ve never come home the same way. One time Bill went with me and we were heading home in the dark, on two lane highways dodging horse draw Amish buggies! That was so NOT GOOD! Thanks JILL!! Um, I mean Sybil! Another time we thought we’d go ahead and take the LaCrosse/Dubuque way home and stopped to visit Carrie and Michele at the hotel to see how the agility trial was. I thought that way seemed longer than the 63 route, but it’s hard to tell.

I should have realized I was in trouble when Jack couldn’t find the Days Inn I was to stay at Friday night. In fact, Jack didn’t know $^*!. The address was correct, and he ‘thought’ he knew what he was talking about, but he took me to an empty lot.

The only good thing was it was right next to a nice new Menard’s!! I called home, thank goodness for tracphones, and Bill helped me find the hotel. I marked the location so Jack could find it the following evening.

Sunday afternoon I was all ready to head home. I plugged in Jack and sent him to Spring Valley. Sounds easy enough? Right? Nope, he wanted me to go a different route than I’d come up on. What the heck!! I had a general idea of the first 3 highways I needed, all 2 lane, but after that I wasn’t sure. So, I called home. I TRIED to call home!! Call Failed! Gee, what if this was a real emergency??? I still ended up getting “lost” around 52 and 63, but finally ended up where I needed to be. Jack kept trying to move me over to 218, so I just ‘shut his hole’. Yep, OFF buttons are AWESOME!

Bill pointed out that he’d send me off with directions on how to get there, how to find the hotel and how to get home. All I had to do was look at them. Gosh…..that sounds an awful lot like Effingham!! I wonder if Jack or Jill would have saved Martha and I on that trip?

Got Ash Trees? EMERALD ASH BORER FOUND IN IOWA

2010-05-17T07:27:00.004-05:00

This isn't good news for all those Ash trees!!!

The Community Forestry Connection

May 14, 2010

Special Report:

Officials with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following press release today. 5/14/2010

EMERALD ASH BORER FOUND IN IOWA ALONG BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN ALLAMAKEE COUNTY

Invasive Pest Kills Ash Trees, Iowans Asked to Not Move Firewood

DES MOINES – The Iowa Emerald Ash Borer Team confirmed today that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive pest that kills ash trees, has been found in Iowa along the Mississippi River two miles south of the Minnesota border in Allamakee County. The land is owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This is the first confirmed EAB infestation in Iowa.

Four EAB larvae were found in one ash tree by members of Iowa’s EAB team during a survey of the area following the recent announcement that the beetle had been found just across the Minnesota border. An infestation in nearby Victory, Wisconsin was discovered in 2009.

A quarantine prohibiting the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock, ash timber, or any other article that could further spread EAB is pending from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. A federal quarantine would follow the state quarantine.

Iowa State University Extension will issue a separate news release providing EAB management recommendations for homeowners.

This detection of EAB in Iowa was the result of collaborative effort that has been looking for this pest since 2003. Detection efforts have included visual surveys, sentinel trees, trap surveys, nursery stock inspections, sawmill/wood processing site visits, and hundreds of educational programs.

This year EAB team members are in the process of placing 1800 purple traps at high-risk areas in the state, including in a 1.5 mile grid along the Mississippi River. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also has 412 trap trees in the state this year, 12 of which are in Allamakee County.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is native to eastern Asia, and was detected in the United States near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. EAB kills all ash (Fraxinus) species by larval burrowing under the bark and eating the actively growing layers.

The metallic-green adult beetles are a half inch long, and are active from late-May to early-August in Iowa. Signs of EAB infestation include one-eighth inch D-shaped exit holes in ash tree bark and serpentine tunnels packed with sawdust under the bark. Tree symptoms of an infestation include crown thinning and dieback when first noticed, epicormic sprouting as insect damage progresses, and woodpecker feeding.

EAB has killed ash trees of various sizes in neighborhoods and woodlands throughout the Midwest. Ash is one of the most abundant native tree species in North America, and has been heavily planted as a landscape tree in yards and other urban areas. According to recent sources, Iowa has an estimated 58 million rural ash trees and approximately 30 million more ash trees in urban areas.

The Iowa Emerald Ash Borer Team includes officials from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the USDA Forest Service.

The movement of firewood throughout Iowa and to other states poses the greatest threat to quickly spread EAB even further. Areas currently infested are under federal and state quarantines, but unknowing campers or others who transport firewood can spark an outbreak. As a result, officials are asking Iowans to not move firewood and instead buy wood where they are staying and burn it completely.

To learn more about EAB please visit the following websites:

Mother Day FUN!!!!

2010-05-10T18:24:00.016-05:00

It was a BEAUTIFUL day for MOTHER'S Yesterday!!
What a GREAT DAY for more PROJECTS!!

Carrie got Bill a Topsy Turvy on clearance last Fall, so it was time to assemble it.
Bill was a GREAT SPORT about the first 10 pictures,
he got a little grumpy after that!

Here he is reading the directions!
Proof that guys CAN read directions.
He pointed out that it claims this will last for YEARS!
We'll see!
(Note, we are currently getting 25+MPH winds,
we had to move Mr Topsy to a secured area)

This is a Mountain Pride Red Tomato.
Now the trick is to get it inside!

HELLO DOWN THERE!!!!

TA DA!!
Just like on TV!!

Meanwhile, our oldest cat, Chemi (she's 11) decided to climb on top of a table cloth that was sitting on a large tree pot. The Pot had been used the night before to protect a Hydrangea from the Frost. Chemi thought it made a nice little hammock!

The fun didn't end there!

Bill had broken a tooth on his chain saw on Saturday cutting
up the Silver Maple. Never Fear!! Aaron to the rescue!
Apparently his been know to stop at total strangers homes
in order to help people cut down trees.

Here he is trying to avoid the ole' Plumber's well...you know!

Not to be left out.....Julie took a turn at the wheelbarrow!

Of course Bodee had to give little Cougar a squeeze!

Dude! HOLD ON!!!

Before you think this was total Cat abuse.
Bodee found a stick and a stump, what more
could a boy want????

Cougar was feeling dis'ed.
Here comes Cougar!!!

"Come on kid, I'm MUCH more fun than a stick!"

Hey Bodee!

GOTCHA!

They were VERY helpful!!

So, after Aaron helped Bill hold the ladder so I could take the piece
of new flashing down. Yes, the siding we JUST had put up. It took them 5 months to
'finish' the job, and one wind storm to knock a piece loose.
Let's not even get into the leaks in the house. Bill's call, the guy hung up on him.
Ben Schulte Construction from Amana - Don't DO IT!

After that fun, we planted the garden, mow the agility yards, put up more electric fence to give the ponies 3 different pastures. Then mowed one of the pastures I didn't get to on Saturday, started to mow the rest of the yard, but Bill took over so I could rearrange my north planter. Sprayed a gallon of my favorite liquid 'Round Up' and came in to take LONG HOT BATH.

Bill, meanwhile took a Raccoon across the road for a 'visit'.

Another really productive, yet exhausting weekend.
Makes Mondays at work down right RELAXING!!

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day too!

Felling Trees!!!

2010-05-08T19:18:00.004-05:00

BEFORE

When we moved out to Windy Hill Fowl Farm and Puppy Ranch 10+ years ago, it had a number of Silver Maple Trees. The plus side it that these are fast growing shade trees. The down side is they are a soft tree that doesn’t hold up well to wind, heavy snow or aging. We’ve had at least 2 fall on their own over the years and luckily have never landed on anything of value.

Since we’ve just sided our house, (some trim was already ripped off by the wind, that’s another blog story), we thought it might be good to remove a couple trees that were old, dying, rotting,leaning and a threat to our electrical wire that’s attached to the house.

We picked two trees, for now, to have dropped. One large Silver Maple that has recently been losing more limbs than leaves. It's inside was hollow and a place to drop empty water bottles and broken toys! That needed to STOP! The other an old walnut that was leaning a bit too close to the the electrical line, not to mention, every try to plant any 'pretty' trees next to a black walnut? It's a Death sentence! They excrete a chemical called juglone which a number of plants are sensitive to.

Monday a couple guys stopped out and in 45 minutes had those two trees down! It was quite interesting to watch. I think most of the time was spent getting the 7’ wide truck through the 7’6” wide gate! Somehow I don’t think the phrase, “Suck it in” would have helped! The young guy was really nice, the old guy was kind of grumpy, thus, I didn’t think he’s appreciate my ‘flip video’. So, I had to secretly ‘film’ from inside the house.

I didn’t get all of it, as I was getting ready for work, but they were very good at what they do. We now have two neat piles to cut apart this weekend. At least we have SOMETHING to do!!

Some of my favorite parts. Tying the top limb to the bumper of the truck. Leaving the chain saw, next to the tree. The bucket!! Love the BUCKET!! I sure wish we had one of those!

AFTER

Enjoy the show!

Meet Marmaduke!

2010-04-29T16:05:00.003-05:00

Okay, so his name is Clyde and he’s an 8 month old yellow lab. He looks more like a Great Dane to me, but hey, he is what he is. Bill had a co-worker ask if we’d watch his 8 month old lab puppy while he worked out of town a couple days. This wasn’t exactly what we were expecting!!

Unfortunately, no one at our house appreciated Clyde as much as he would have like them to. Mad gave him a lot of ‘advise’ to stay away, but he didn’t read it and couldn’t keep his nose out of her ‘private area’. Thus, Mad would hide behind us when they were together.

Seeker was fine with him as long as there was a ball involved. Seeker chased the ball, Mamaduke, um, I mean Clyde would run after him, all was good. He was so much larger than Seeker we just didn’t even try to have them loose together in the house.

Same with Kruz, too much size and age difference. Kruz did end up in the kitchen with him at one time, all we heard was the scream. No blood and the scream was Clyde. Apparently Kruz was a little more forceful with his warning than Mad was.

He didn’t understand that close doors couldn’t be pushed through with his head. He ran into numerous doors, I don’t think he even noticed they were shut. I hope the other puppies in the litter got the brains! G

He would literally hang over the baby gate in the kitchen, which is 36” tall. All our dogs would disappear into the back bedroom. Apparently it’s true, “outta sight, outta mind”!

Last night, Clyde went home. The house was amazingly quite! He’s a nice dog, but HUGE! He’d really benefit from some obedience classes.

Busy Weekend!!!

2010-04-21T15:51:00.008-05:00

Holy Cow, is it Wednesday already!! Adam and I just got back from the Palo horse trial ride for Julie's birthday (which is Friday). We moved up the ride due to the weather forecast which is promising rain on that day. We had a great time with Julie and Nellie. Maybe I should say, Julie and Tammy had a great time! Nellie and Adam had a couple 'eye rolling' you GOTTA be kidding moments which involved multiple water crosses and a couple questionable wooden bridges! J & T are ready to go again!

Wow, it’s just amazing what you can get done in a weekend if you put your mind to it, and your back, arms, legs, well, you get the picture! Nice weather and a ton of stuff to get done! What a great weekend to be HOME!

I started off planting some annual seeds in little containers, over 100 Zinnia, 72 Coleus, and a few vegetables (for me!!). I used the handy dandy potting bench that Bill made for me!! I spent a couple dollars on hardware and the rest we already had! Actually, the table top is porcelain from my dad’s garage. My sister spotted it and thought it would make a great potting bench. She was RIGHT! Isn’t it cute?? The two totes below have 'soil' in them. When I remove the pots on top, there's a nice work area, even a shelf!

I also potted a few Dahlias and I got an Elephant ear. I’ve always wanted one, so what the heck. You should have seen the cashier at Menard’s trying to figure out what the heck it was. It was probably because I’d put it in a ‘hardware’ plastic bag and he was a guy! Bill got a laugh out of his reaction. These beauties are planted in my portable green house, it's made up of totes with windows as lids. This way I can bring them inside at night.

I moved onto potting some of my perennials for the up coming Benton County Master Gardener Plant Sale!! It’s on Wednesday, May 19^th at the Benton County Fair Grounds. All monies will be used in funding a field trip to a nursery or garden, some day? I still have a few things left to pot up, but so far I have 17 Russian Sage, 18 ground cover sedum, 8 Silvia, 5 hosta (That I have to find the name for), and a few other things…I think?

I repainted all the agility contact pieces. I’m so really for classes to start! Hopefully we don’t loose all this nice weather next week!

I also measured the East and South walls of the enclosed porch. The contractors claimed the ‘ran out’ of barn wood and needed to use the T1 for those last two sides. Well, I measured the walls and the barn wood and guess what, they LIED!! I think they were just ‘tired’ of the project.

BEFORE

So, Bill and I teamed up and removed the T1 siding and put up the barn wood without any major injuries. We did suffer some sawdust in the eyes and a couple splinters, but a little whinnying seemed to cure it.

After

I think that was all on Saturday? I started at 5 AM and got into the house around 7 PM. I was bushed!

Sunday wasn’t much improved from a work stand point. I continued to re-pot perennials,

and then made up a ‘red neck green house’.

Pretty smart huh! We’ll see if it really worked or not when the seeds some up, or DON’T! I made it from some heavy metal cylinder “tree protectors” that the former people left us! He had cattle and I can only assume these were to protect seedlings from the cattle. Since the only thing we had out here 10 years ago were Silver Maples, I’m not sure why he bothered protecting THEM!! Anyway, they are very heavy and do a great job holding the plastic down. I have to be careful as it gets almost TOO hot under there. We’re closing it shut at night and then Bill opens it up a bit in the mornings.

We made our doggie smore video. That was fun!

Bill mowed the lawn, I sprayed round up. I planted some perennials out in the North East corner of the north agility yard. Julie, Aaron and Bodee dropped by. They spent some time playing with the dogs and laughing at Tom the Turkey. He thought the reflection in Aaron’s truck bumper was another turkey. It was pretty funny.

I think we called it a night. It was a very productive weekend, but now I’m exhausted! Luckily, or not, I think it’s suppose to RAIN this weekend! Hum, maybe some painting inside is in order?

Stink Bug Invasion

2010-04-16T05:17:00.000-05:00

The Asian Beetle! (Looks similar to a lady bug) Or as we call them, the Stink Bug! If you’ve ever been bitten by one and tried to take your revenge by smashing it you your fingers, you’ll know EXACTLY what I’m talking about. Apparently, someone in the agricultural field thought it would be a great idea to import them from Asian in order to eat all the aphids that caused damage to most foliage crops. That ‘relocation’ apparently failed, but no one thought to tell the beetle that!

About a month ago, we had a HUGE population invading our house. I almost blogged about the bugs then, but we got busy with a lot of traveling, and it never happened. This week however, they’ve returned with a vengeance! So, here you go. The ‘low down’ on the Asian Beetle Saga!

Now, the research I’ve done states they don’t breed indoors like some other pests. You could sure fool me, as I’ve been sucking up literally hundreds at a time. Both Border Collies go totally nuts when I get the vacuum hose out. I’m sure it has NOTHING to do with the fact that I tease them with it by sucking their ‘butts’ if they turn their backs on me. I tried that with Mad, the PWD last night, she just rolled her eyes and left the room.
Our vacuum hose now as an orangish film coating it. Rather nasty!!

On health tidbit to make note of here. Do NOT rub your eyes after you’ve smashed an Asian Beetle. Apparently you could have an allergic reaction. I know I think of rubbing my eye after I touch them all the time. So, a word of warning!

I was brushing my teeth last night and felt something small and hard come loose. I thought I’d lost a filling! I bit down on it just a bit and it smashed. Yep, STINK BUG!! Luckily my CREST toothpaste could overpower the taste of the nasty little bug!

How do you prevent them from invading your house? Seal cracks and openings. Hum, our house was built in 1890, I’m thinking that is next to impossible! Larger holes can be filled with cement, hey, it’s what they have on this web site!

Bill found a Glad product that’s for flies. Remember those round cylinders that pull out to a long strip? If you ever hang them in the barns or outside you’re always getting caught in them? Well, they now make some rectangles that adhere to your windows. They work pretty darn well if it’s warm enough for the sticky stuff to be sticky. Once they are full you just peel them back off. We used a 4 pack, but they filled so fast they didn’t even make a dent in our bug population, so we’re back to vacuuming.

If you have any other solutions I’d love to hear them!!!

Mr. Coffee Woes!

2010-04-11T07:26:00.003-05:00

Note the time on the coffee machine. I've been up since 5 and STILL waiting for a cup of Coffee!! Anyone else feel my PAIN!! Luckily I have some instant packets for just such emergencies, but it's not the same!

My timer on my Mr. Coffee is always set at 5 am. It has NEVER failed me. Now, there have been times when it didn't pull all the water from the water basin. I learned quickly how to solve that problem. We have hard water, thus the salt water deposits build up inside the percolating. tube. The solution? Make a vinegar and water solution and put that into the reservoir and let it cycle through the coffee maker a few times. Works like a charm! I love this coffee pot, it's stainless steel! I've always somehow break the glass ones, so this one is very valuable to me! It goes to work with me EVERYDAY!!!

Today's problem is a little different. The percolator just isn't percolating! Just a dribble. So, I'm "douching" the machine, but it's not looking promising. Normally I use a 5 parts water to 1 part vinegar solution. I'm not up to about 50/50 and I'm on the 4th cycle. It just stopped again, time to go see how it's doing.

If you have any other suggestions, let me know!

E-Book Anyone?

2010-04-05T20:38:00.003-05:00

Do you like to read? I have a few friends who have purchased either the Kindle ($259-$489) via Amazon, or the Nook ($259) by Barnes and Noble. They all LOVE them! You can download up to 1500 books all on a little device the size of a small thin paperback. It’s pretty amazing! You can change the font size and one of the best features; you NEVER lose your page! WOW!

Now Apple just introduced the IPAD. Talk about KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! You can surf the web, e-mail, watch a movie, play games, listen to tunes or read a book, magazine, etc! It can synchronize with your I Phone or I Touch, like I have either of those! You’re going to pay for it however. Anywhere from $499-$829 depending on how much speed and storage you want. You’ll also have a possible Internet service of $15-$30 a month.

It can make your head spin! Can you imagine a day when we don’t have paper? Look at all the trees we’d save! Look at all those librarians in the unemployment lines! Not to mention, putting the printing press out of business. Would we even need the US Postal Service anymore?

I wonder if there will come a time when you can get e-books free through the library. That’s the only way I can see myself going to one of these devices. I really like the idea and the size. What I don’t like is the need to pay for books. The big claim is $9.99 for best sellers! That’s all well and good, but if I have to pay $10 a week (that’s what I read on average) for a book and the library is free, I can’t justify an E-reader.

The other down side, that I see is the finger prints. I hate finger prints on my computer screen. I can’t see how people can stand those “I Touch” type devices. I’d be wiping it off constantly!

For now, I’ll stick with my handy paper backs and continue to kill a tree. Since I get my books from the library vs. buying them, I’m not killing as many trees as I could be. We recently subscribed a magazine ‘on line’, so that should be interesting. I don’t know about everyone else, but you only have so many books and magazines you can justify keeping!

In the mean time….HAPPY READING!

It's OVER!!

2010-03-30T10:21:00.006-05:00

There's a saying - "It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings".

In our case -

"It's ain't over 'til the Dumpster's hauled off"!

Today was the day!! I think the house is officially COMPLETED!!

I'd almost forgotten what the North side of the building
looked like from the house.
It's been a LONG, almost 5 months!

Some of it was weather related, some deer season related,
some unreliable worker related, and some ....um...I'm
not really sure WHAT related!

BUT IT'S DONE!!

It' all began on 11/04/09 with the delivery of
the dumpster and siding.

The dumpster doesn't look very big!
You'll just have to take my work for it that it was!

I'm just glad I made it the whole 5 months
without backing into it with the van!!

He draped it with a cover!
Sal, you were right...we should have tossed more in!

Then loaded it onto his truck.
(I was taking pictures from the house)

Wow, that was easy!

and drove away!!

Good Bye OLD 1890 WOOD SIDING!!

Best Friends!!

2010-03-29T07:59:00.003-05:00

This is a really amazing video!!
Thanks Don for sharing!!

Follow up.....

Happy 60th Birthday Rilda!!

2010-03-22T08:28:00.002-05:00

One of the many reasons we enjoy the DMOTC Agility Trials each March, is the birthdays we celebrate. Maybe it's more the cake we like? With this group, food is always the most important factor! It's sad, but true.

This year, Rilda celebrated her 60th Birthday! We did a pretty good job of 'down playing' it on Friday. On Saturday, out came the cake and presents! Rilda adores Greg Louganis! Seriously, what's NOT to adore? So, imagine Meme's surprise when she found a copy at the the used book store! It's in great condition. When she opened it at home, she discovered another surprise. IT'S ACTUALLY SIGNED!!!! We had toyed with the idea of 'signing' it ourselves, but we really didn't have to! I checked on line and found a signed copy for $50! Meme, you got a bargain!

I also think this is the 3rd anniversary of Rilda's STOP SMOKING campaign!!

CONGRATULATIONS RILDA!

The Cat's DAY!!

2010-03-18T05:44:00.006-05:00

Well, the Kitties all lined up for their vaccines! To be honest, they were in it for the FOOD! They wanted their kitty krunchies, and had NO IDEA a vaccine was involved. Cougar, Chatter and Chemi were all waiting at the back door. Hum….no Cher! AGAIN! She apparently knew something was up.

I went inside to get the vaccines mixed and was surprised, not pleasantly, to find these were actually to be given intranasal. Yes, that’s right! Up the NOSE!! Of a cat! Are you freaking kidding me! Let me give them a quick poke instead! What sane person tries to put liquid up a cat’s nose! I might as well sign up for a ‘Running With the Bulls”! Oh well, it is what it is. Bill was not home, not that he would have helped anyway! So, I mixed up my first vaccine and went to find the first victim.

Apparently, the cats weren’t all that smart, and did NOT think anything was amiss. They were all still there! Although by now they were starting to look a little put off, kind of like those drive through people, at the fast food joints that have to pull ahead and park to wait for their food. There was trouble a brewing! The Cat’s were CLUELESS!

Cougar was the first in line, he’s a nice kitty, so figured he was the ‘safest’. I had the nasal dropper in my right hand, and had a glove on in my left, just in case things got a tad bit “Western”! I put one drop in each eye, per the instructions, and then the rest up each nostril. NO REACTION!! So now I’m thinking the drop in each eye much paralyze any reaction you’d get if you simply put it up their nose? He was a little put off by the liquid up the nose, but he was purring the whole time. Typical Cougar!!

The next two cats were also perfect! I LOVE THIS STUFF! I also vaccinated Cher without any problems. WOW!! I AM SOLD! Hey Cher!! I got your picture!!!

Our ‘Cat Fun’ continued, as today Cougar had to go into the Vet for some chronic ear mites. The lucky guy, also needed a Rabies shot. They always ask if he needs his other shots, so today I took the little plastic bag the vaccine came in to show them what he’d just gotten. They had not seen the nasal drops either. We finally decided maybe it was due to the restrictions on needles in some states. This allowed people to vaccinate on their own without the needles. They were surprised that the cats didn’t seem to mind. Okay, maybe it was just ‘my’ cats that didn’t mind?

We were in the office a little early for our appointment, and from the growling, screaming and meowing; the first ‘victim’ of the day was another cat. YIKES! I hope they had on the ‘kitty gloves’, he was NOT happy! Cougar was just sitting in the vari-kennel, quietly waiting. He didn’t even make a sound on the way over, just rode quietly.
What a weird cat!
Finally, it’s our turn. I’m sure the Vet was thinking….’Great, another CAT’!! Insert ‘eye roll’ here. So, I explained what the problem was as I got Cougar out of his kennel. PPPUURRRRRRR

As soon as you touch this cat, it’s like a ‘on switch’, the motor starts to run! The vet looks at his ears, gives him his shot, cleans his ears, THREE TIMES and the darn cat just keeps laying there purring. You don’t even need to hold him. It’s the funniest thing! The Vet Tech is laughing, because it’s loud! Cougar’s in ‘kitty heaven’ with all the attention! Okay, so the cat has a mental disorder. What a nice cat!

NEW STORM DOOR!!!

2010-03-15T20:00:00.003-05:00

We got our new storm door put on today!!!!

Why so excited??

After 10 years of having a door ripped out of our hands by an East wind, Bill might actually have found one that can survive!! It's a very heavy door, with two pulley backie things (technical term). It's comes in any color, as long as it's white. That was the only down side, it's rather boring. But if it stays ON, WHO CARES! I'll just paint the white boards around it a dark color, that should help. It's so heavy, we'll need to be sure the cats are out of the way or they could lose a tail....or worse!

When Bill started looking, he asked, "so what do you want." I told him, "I really didn't care, as long as it stayed on!!" I might have dropped the "F" bomb a couple times, it's hard to say. I told him that if the door came off again, that the whole south side of the house had best follow along with it! As much as this door cost, It HAD BETTER!!

Oh look at the cute little kitties. Chemi is the gray Tort, she's 11. Chatter is the white one, I'm guessing he's close to 3, he just showed up last winter. I guess 'word' gets around that I like cats. Finally, the cream colored one is Cougar. He's about 3 as well. Seven year old Cher didn't choose to be in the photo op without reimbursement for her time. Not to worry, she'll get 'hers'!! I just order kitty vaccines today! SSSSHHHH!!!!! Mums the word!

The inside of the newly enclosed porch is coming along. It might be done by next winter? Honestly, I think they should be done this week....but I'm not holding my breath. It's looking pretty good I think. I know, it looks like the outside of a barn! Isn't that great! I have to dust off my old horse collar/mirror combo! This little 5.5' X 17.5' room will be the nicest one in the house! I'm looking forward to having it done so I can sit out their with a book, a cat and a cup of coffee!! Here Kitty Kitty!

Are You a Coke Drinker??

2010-03-11T18:05:00.002-06:00

Okay, I admit it...I drink PEPSI!!

A Coke on occasion, if it's the only cola option.

This however, is a cute little video!

HAVE FUN!!!

A Coke and A Smile!

Freezers are FULL!!

2010-03-09T08:58:00.003-06:00

As the temperatures moved into the 30's and 40's, our outside freezer, has come to an end.
Not that I'm sorry to see winter end and spring come! I wasn't however looking forward to finding room in the freezers for the remaining deer parts - AKA Dog Food.

We do count ourselves lucky for the cold winter. Winters past we have seen abnormally high temperatures in January/February, sometimes pushing into the 60's. Those temps this year would have been truly a nightmare for us. Visions of calling family and friends to see if they'd have room for a deer leg or slab of ribs would have been more then some of them could take. Where's video conferencing when you need it!

Thus, Saturday found us rearranging our two freezers, one of which is 'suppose' to be the 'human's freezer'. (Please note - I'm not implying we keep Humans in there!!)
US mere 'Humans', ended up with one shelf at the top of the smaller freezer, and enough room for a four loaves of bread. It's not hard to see who takes priority in this household!

The freezers are now officially jam packed. So much for the one inch rule!!
You know, the one that says you should leave one inch around the sides and top of your freezer?
I'm sure the dogs will make quick work of it. I did take 30 more pounds of deer trimmings to the locker to have some deer jerky and brats made. Hey, that's 30# less that I didn't have to find room for! The locker said it might be April before the brats are ready, I tried my best to look disappointed. We have several more bags of nice deer trimmings that the dogs may never see.
We'll see how the brats turn out first.

Meanwhile, the hens are laying like crazy again! So, it's time to boil and freeze those eggs as well. Did you know you can freeze boiled eggs? Hey, it works! The dogs don't seem to mind.
The grocery stores seem to be running sales on chicken hind quarters like crazy. I'm sure it's a conspiracy since we don't have room to store them right now. I can't complain, the dogs have been living off this deer since Christmas time. I can only hope next years hunt goes as well.

If We Could FLY!!!!!

2010-03-07T08:57:00.004-06:00

More rummaging through boxes of pictures and such.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

This must be from 2001, as our house is still
all white and our roof is gray.
Funny how you need to use things like that
in order to date pictures.

My Niece, Daphne, myself, and my geese, Richard and Hyacinth.
Daphne's feeding them grain from her hands.
What good little geese.

I enjoyed my geese.
They LOVED me and would follow
me EVERYWHERE!!

If you put out your arms and 'flew',
they would join in by flapping their wings.
It was GREAT!!

FUN CARD TRICK!!!

2010-03-05T14:46:00.001-06:00

Thanks Linda!!

What's Wrong With THIS Picture?

2010-03-03T16:46:00.004-06:00

WHAT!!

A Portuguese Water Dog pulling a sled
with some Samoyed helpers?

Kalista's Knee Jerk Reaction -
AKA - Krickie - got a little help from
her friends at a recent sledding event.

I'm not sure why no one seemed
excited to be sitting in the sled!

At least if they all got loose,
you could find the PWD!!!

Looks like all they needed
was a good old jack rabbit to chase!

MUSH!!!!!

If you haven't read Winter Dance,
NOW IS THE TIME!!!!!

Spring is HERE!!!!

2010-02-28T06:56:00.006-06:00

Well, at least tomorrow is March 1st!
We're GETTING THERE!

Now if someone would just show
Mother Nature the calendar!

I took a couple pictures as the
sun was coming up this morning.
It's currently 12 degrees at 630 am.

One of my many projects for March
is to trim back my Dogwood shrubs.
I need to thin them out at the base to keep
the 'red' wood and let new growth develop.
It's a little difficult to do when
they are under 2' of snow!

Then there's my garden, pictured below.
It's there!!
You'll just have to trust me!
My "fall" planted garlic is under
6' plus of snow.

Do you really think I'll be tilling
this by Good Friday to plant potatoes?
I'd say .... NOT!!!

Yesterday I was at Theisen's and bought some
vegetable seeds. That was very exciting!
Kind of depressing when you walk out to cold and snow.
At least I have something to look forward to.

They only had 'cheap' vegetable seeds.
Normally I can get cheap flower seeds as well.
One of my favorite summer flowers is the Zinnia.
When I say cheap, I'm talking 10 cents a pack!
Okay, so they went up to 15 cents this year,
that's still a DEAL!!!

I love looking at the Seed Catalogs.
Especially the 'What's New' for the year.

This year I'm going to try going some grapes.
They take awhile to mature, but it 'might' be fun!

It's nice just to at least 'think' about
getting back out in the garden.
Even though I know it's going
to be awhile before it actually happens!

Poor Singleton Puppy.....

2010-02-24T16:01:00.003-06:00

(Seeker - Fun with PSE)

Below's Seeker's "Son"

Poor little guy!!

His Eyes are blue,
His Ears are down,
He's all alone....
No one to be found.

At least he can stand up now!

He has no one to play with, (Or that WANTS to play with him).
so he's forced to play with a puppy mobile!

I'm impressed that the toys are still attached!

Actually, his mom likes to play with him!

He's 11 weeks old already!
Isn't he fun!

Traveling in February!!

2010-02-22T15:24:00.003-06:00

Will we NEVER LEARN?

Apparently NOT!

Two years ago we attended the TAC Agility trial in Wentzville, MO
and drove back through an ice storm.
They'd moved their trial back 2 weeks, so surely this couldn't happen again?

Saturday was beautiful, with temps in the 50's.
We saw brown grass that we'd forgotten existed!
We then walked through the mud that reminded
us why we were NOT looking forward to Spring!
What a MESS!!

When we left at 12:45 Sunday afternoon,
Sybil (Bill's GPS), told us we'd arrive home at 4:45.
She lied!

We knew there was a chance of snow, but
had heard that the intensity of the storm
was down graded. We hoped we were in the clear.

In fact, our trip through Hannibal and on
into Palmyra was uneventful.
That soon changed!

Carrie called Mike to get a road report.
The IOWA DOT was reporting the roads
we were on were....wet.
I guess they we're 'right'.
Just because they were frozen,
doesn't mean they weren't WET!

Here's the little FLIP Video.
SCREAM WITH ME!

The semis would drive by in the fast
lane and toss slush up onto the side
windows and windshield.

We had a couple vehicles lose control
and fish tail back and forth in front of us.
Of course I always seemed to be
knitting when THAT happened.
(No, I wasn't driving!!!)

The last vehicle passed us like
a bat outta hail and then.....fish
tailed and ended up in the ditch.
It was a MAN DRIVING!
A women was with him.
We really wanted to hear THAT conversation!

The roads got much better around Hills.
Hills, IA that is.
We arrived home at 6:15.

Back at the hotel Saturday night,
Seeker and Marti had a great time!

Dog Eating.....

2010-02-16T17:31:00.001-06:00

Okay, I know....BIG DEAL!!!

If this were Bea and Cider they would NOT be as patient!

Very cute VIDEO!

Where do people come up with this stuff!!

AN AWESOME YOU TUBE!!

2010-02-14T11:27:00.003-06:00

That just HAS to make you smile!!

An Echo In The Bone

2010-02-13T16:51:00.003-06:00

Well, I FINALLY got through this book!
IT WAS AWESOME!

It took me about 4 months!
WHY???
Well, I was on the waiting list at the
library and finally got it.
I was in the middle of a Robin Hobbs
book and so finished that one.
By the time I was 3/4 of the way done I
had to 'give it back'!!

Back on the waiting list again.
It was worth the wait and a great
way to make it last a little longer!
Not that I would recommend that
method to everyone however.

One of the main characters did die.
I suppose they have to someday.
It was still very sad.
Now it will be several years before
the next one comes out I'm sure.

I really should go back and read the
"Outlander Series"
all over again.
I know there are things I've missed.
It's amazes me how much I remember
from the past books.

It's a great series if you're looking for
a read that involves time travel and adventure!
Anyone that dedicates her book
to her dogs has got to be BRILLIANT!

I might even have to check into
her Lord John Series.

HAPPY READING!!

Pumpkin Games

2010-02-10T16:52:00.009-06:00

First you need a FROZEN PUMPKIN!

Not a problem.
We still have some from the Fall leftover.

Then you pull it toward you,
and push it into the snow.

Then you get your mouth around it.
Yes, his bottom jaw is UNDER IT!

Then you bat it around awhile.
"Sink" it into the snow again......

Dig it out.......

Repeat as Often as NECESSARY!!!
Or as time allows.......

I'm not sure he'll be able to play
Soccer with the Neighbor Boys this Spring!
Unless they use Pumpkins of course!

There’s Cheap ......

2010-02-09T17:52:00.003-06:00

and then there’s…..um CHEAP!!

These are my “GOOD” Columbia snow boots. I liked them just fine when I bought them on clearance from Gander Mountain several years ago. I can’t remember when I bought them for sure, but I do know it’s been within the last 10 years. Seems to me that boots should last a bit longer than that, but then again, that’s probably just me.

It’s not that I don’t like boots, I do!! But I have a hard time finding nice warm boots that I like. These were okay, they worked for cleaning stalls, playing in the snow and doing chores. They were not good for riding English, but would work for my Western saddle. I prefer English however.

After the last ice storm a few weeks ago, I noticed some cracks. Actually, truth be told, I noticed them last spring when my feet started to get wet. Obviously I didn’t put too much effort into finding new ones! I have been fine with these until the ice started melting and my boots were no longer dry. So, then I took to wearing Bill’s winter boots. Those worked great, as long as I wear double thick socks, and Bill doesn't need them.

I’m not on a mission to find some GREAT, WARM, SLIP ON, winter boots!
If you know of a great brand, and even better if they are on CLEARANCE!! G

I’ll be honest; I use things until they wear totally out. I have an LL Bean pullover coat that I’ve had for over 12 years. I LOVE IT!! I wear it spring, fall, winter….I don’t care! LOVE IT! The only thing I don’t like is my zipper on the pouch has broken twice. Oh well.

My gloves, same thing. I have some LL Bean work gloves that are Gortex and Primaloft. LOVE THEM!! They have a hole on the side of the thumbs from wear, but it’s not all the way though yet. I’ll probably take them to a shoe repair place to have them stitched this spring. They are still PERFECTLY fine! Well broke in…why I would want NEW ONES!!!

COVERALLS!!
(Not LL Bean - do they make coveralls??_
I have an old pair of camouflage coveralls from 1987. (Yes, they are in the photo with the boots) I’m NOT LYING! They are totally my favorite! They have an orange patch in the butt where they were snagged on a nail in the barns while coon hunting. I have a newer pair of boring tan ones I got on clearance about 5 years ago. They are ‘okay’ in a pinch, but they are so stiff! Nothing like my nice broken in coveralls. I could LIVE in those things!
Wait….sometimes I think I do!

In my ‘Dream Life’ I’d be a field tester for LL Bean.

Hum….wonder how I apply for THAT JOB!!!

House Update.....

2010-02-03T18:08:00.005-06:00

The siding is FINALLY DONE!!!
Yes, 3 months after they started!!

Before
6/1/09
(Everything is nice and green!!)

After
2/3/10
(WINTER!!!)
Okay...this isn't a TOTALLY after
picture....theirs still Tyvec showing. G

Okay, well, it's ALMOST done.
There are a few things that need to be
completed when the snow melts and
it warms up a bit.

The BIG dumpster of
old siding is currently buried in snow.
The caulking around the windows needs
to be completed in warmer weather.

The lighting rods and cables
also need to come off.
The are so NOT attractive!

The painting of the PVC trim boards will
also need to wait for SPRING!!
It will add a little of the dark brown
around the windows.

I like the scallops they
did in the two peaks.
The North peak will have
two lights to light up the
135 X 145 Front Agility yard.
That will be nice!

They also need to put on a new South storm door.
You know, the one that keeps blowing off.
Bill went to see one last night that's he's
SURE is Tammy PROOF.
It is super heavy, has a better latch,
double door puller backers and for $7
a security chain!
The only down side is it only
comes in white.

We don't have our South or North Porch lights up yet.

Finally, the east porch interior needs to be finished.
I have to find the right amount of
red wainscoting barn board to get the job done.

Someday...it'll all be finished.
Hopefully before agility classes start!

One of those Weekends!!

2010-02-01T08:01:00.002-06:00

Do you know what this is???

This is what happens when you make homemade
Ham and Potato soup and forget to turn off the burner.
Then you proceed to have a conversation with
your husband while you're leaning on the
Sherri Bake Oven (AKA - our stove).

I thought I smelled something burning.
OMG!!! IT'S ME!!!

My old sweatshirt now looks even MORE
Loved with a nice 3+" burn hole in it.

Luckily I had two sweatshirts on!

7 PWD puppies!!

2010-01-28T17:09:00.004-06:00

Okay, I'll admit, I guessed a LOT more! G
There were 8, but one was malformed, so 7.
That's a nice sized litter.

4 girls, 3 boys.
All Black (my favorite dog color!)
Well, except when it comes to Bichons.
I like them white! G

2 Curly Girls
2 Wavy Girls
1 Curly Boy
2 Wavy Boys

I'll post a picture or video if I can get
Linda to figure out how to export it for me.
Hopefully she'll just give it to Tim to do!
Or Chuck - CHUCK - Help me out here!!!

They really aren't much to look at right now.
Picture little black leeches and you've
pretty much GOT IT!

Okay, I have one of Nina
(black curly)
at a day or so old.
CUTE CUTE CUTE!
Okay, so she's a black blob.

Linda, get taking some pictures!

How Many Puppies?

2010-01-25T21:30:00.005-06:00

Fit inside a Brown Portuguese Water Dog?

Care to take a guess?

More importantly, how many are
curly and black females?

Here's the most hysterical part.
if you look at the puppy on the bottom right,
it looks like Obama!

Let me show you.

Crazy huh!!

Maybe it's just me?? LOL

You should see what I find in clouds!

Junk Drawer Scavenger Hunt!

2010-01-24T15:47:00.010-06:00

Do you remember doing those when you were a kid?

You'd have a list of items you needed to get and you
ran door to door asking 'strangers' for them.
It could be a paper clip, twist tie or a brown shoe string.
Yep, those were the days!!
I don't think they do fun things like that anymore.

So, I thought it might be fun to have a
Blog Related Scavenger hunt.

I asked people to send me a picture
of their 'Junk Drawer'.
You know, that favorite draw that
defines CHAOS!!

I was NOT surprised to hear some
people don't have a junk drawer.
I'm sorry...that's just NOT RIGHT!

My sister is one of them!
I was at her house one day,
it's way too organized!!
Finally, the 'order' just got to me.
"Show me your JUNK DRAWER!"
The next work began with a 'B'.
She just laughed.
Next time I stay I'm going to leave the
bed unmade. I might even have to
drop both pillows on the floor and
LEAVE THEM! G

So, below are the junk drawers.
Your job it to see how many similar items you
have in YOURS!!
(Those of you that submitted them,
you can't use your own drawer)

You can combine your number from
your Human Junk drawer and your
Canine Junk drawer.

So, for example if you only have a kong and
a battery, then you have a total of two items.
Not to mention, a very sad Junk Drawer!

Whomever has the most items wins a prize!!
SERIOUSLY!

Not to mention, you might actually
re-organize your junk drawer while
you're at it! That's MY PLAN!

Dog Reading Program - WON!!!

2010-01-22T16:04:00.003-06:00

Thank you for all your VOTES!!

You DO make a DIFFERENCE!!!

http://blog.betterworldbooks.com

Postman's Creed

2010-01-20T17:34:00.006-06:00

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these
couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds

But ICE DOES!!

In defense of the US Postal Service, it doesn't say Ice.
I guess I just assumed they'd ALWAYS DELIVER!

It's not like I was waiting for anything specific.
Maybe my newest issue of Backyard Poultry!
I love that magazine.

Speaking of birds....here's what the
door looked like going into 'their' place!

I'm sure the birds were happy to be in.

After 24 hrs in a box stall....
Saphira just wanted OUT!!

Sorry Pony, tomorrow afternoon!

Oh, BTW, USP delivered to our house today.
Hum....maybe our postal carrier needed a ride
with BROWN!!

Children's READ With a Dog Program

2010-01-17T15:47:00.003-06:00

Please take a moment to scroll down and vote for Eileen Roston
and her Portuguese Water Dog,
Lucy (Kalista's I'm Gilded Two CD RN NA JWD)and their READ Team.

Lucy and Eileen are involved with the READ Dog program and work in several
Twin Cities area schools. If their team gets the most votes,
they will win a $20,000 grant to help provide books
and materials for the children they serve.

Here's the link.
http://www.betterworldbooks.com
Find the blue box on the page that says VOTE NOW.
Scroll down to find "Intermountain Therapy Animals Reading Education Assistance Dogs".
Select & then Submit.

Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

2010-01-16T08:45:00.003-06:00

If you're looking for a quick, easy read.
A book that has multiple laugh out loud parts,
and I'm only a third of the way done.
Very little thought on your part required.

THIS IS IT!!

Enclosed Porch!!

2010-01-14T12:43:00.005-06:00

OMG!!! They are FINALLY starting to get moving!

With the temperatures improving, I'm hopeful they are
going to actually finish this siding and enclosed porch project!
Might it actually be TRUE?
Do I dare to HOPE?

Yesterday they got the door and windows in.
The porch is now officially ENCLOSED!
I'm looking forward to having a nice sunny area to read!

Today I stayed home for the electrician to hook up
the recessed lighting so they can put the tin up.

The porch isn't terribly tall, so I thought recessed
might be the way to go for the lighting.

The ceiling will be white tin.
The interior walls will be red wainscoting from our
corn crib that was torn down 5 years ago.
Trim will be old barn boards and the flooring
will be vinyl, with an old wood floor look if I can find it.

The decor will be in JOHN WAYNE STYLE!
TOTALLY WESTERN!!!
Yep, My SPACE!
My old horse collar mirror with hames is ready to hang!
Bill will only pass through briefly!! LOL

Here's two of the 3 lights.
They will probably look better 'in'
the ceiling! G

Dear Diary.....

2010-01-14T08:20:00.001-06:00

It’s been 7 weeks since I’ve been in the pool.
It’s NOT my fault!

The pool was undergoing some much needed repairs for the last several weeks.
What started off as a general cleaning and painting, turned in more extensive work.
The pool was back in service on Monday 1/11 and I made it Wednesday Morning - 1/14.

The pool is AWESOME!
The lines are nice and boldly colored.
The water is pristine!
Maybe ‘not so much’ after Wed nights first “Open Swim”. G

I must admit, getting back into the pool was GREAT!
I did wonder this morning at 5 am why the heck people would venture out into the freezing cold weather, just to turn around and get pert-a-near naked, and jump into cool water! Are they nuts!! PRETTY MUCH!

I did wonder how it would go since I hadn’t swum for so long.
I had flashbacks to a year ago when I couldn’t do one lap without grabbing the side!
I did not want to have to start all over!!!

When I got to the pool and opened my ‘swim bag’ I discovered my swim caps (Yes, I do where a sexy swim cap!) were totally molded together. After a few minutes of pulling and prying I managed to get it opened enough to put on my head. Note to Self: You really should take your sweatshirt off first as the latex of the cap stick to the cotton of the sweatshirt. I look in the mirror and my cap is now ½ on, actually, this is probably an improvement! I fix my cap and try to remember which goggles I use. The clear ones or the blue ones? Hum, the clear ones look more comfortable. So I work up a glob of spit and work that into them as I walk out to the pool. Oh stop!! Everyone does it! (Spits in their goggles that is)

I jump into the deep end as I can not stand the slow agony of sliding in and then walking slowly to the deeper depths. A sharp knife cuts the quickest and you might as well just get’her done! The water temp was actually pretty darn nice, not the normal cold shock from hell!

I start lap number one. Oh, this is so nice to be swimming again. Oh crap, my goggles are leaking! I swim the length back to the shallows with water washing over my eyes at breath. HOW ANNOYING! I stop in the shallows and tighten my goggles. Now that I think about it, I think these on the ones that tend to leaks. They won’t after I tighten them up a couple inches!

I start lap number two. Good golly these are TIGHT! I’m getting a head ache and they are still leaking!! Fine! I swim another length to get back to the shallow end of the pool and get out. Wilma asks if I’m done already!! She’s laughing. I tell her I need to get my ‘non-leaky’ goggles. She understands!

I get by nice blue ones and they are PERFECT!! Except for the ring they’ll leave around my eyes for four hours following the swim! Talk about bags under your eyes!

I proceed to swim 28 more laps at a decent pace. I sure wasn’t setting any records, but I finished and today, that’s all that mattered! I’ll get faster again and I realized I really did miss the swimming.

It was great to be back in the pool!