Husband and I just celebrated our anniversary. We decided to go see flowers we like. We drove through a forest area, to look at bear grass blooms and rhododendrons. It's a nice area, and we went through right at the primo time for blooms, which made for some nice photos. (Including a sneaky one I took of Husband, taking pictures!) We arrived at the area we were going to, and realized it was very early in the day, so we chatted for a bit, and decided to drive to Sisters, where we would have lunch.
We were driving by a bathroom area. Um.
Husband saw them first, and commented, "Are those... vultures?"
There must have been... A dozen? More? A lot, at any rate. Whoever is supposed to clean up the trash... Didn't. For a LONG time. As in, there were several bags, probably 6 or 7, some open, some not, and loose trash all around the bathrooms. This is what the vultures were congregating on and around.
The vultures were picking up bits and scraps from the trash, and some were just sitting, wings out, being an avian solar collector.
I wondered what a group of vultures was. I looked it up. Vultures in a group are a wake. I guess the Victorians had way too much time on their hands, leading to various groups like,
A wake of vultures, a parliament of owls (or rooks), a murder of crows, a stench of skunks, a crash of rhinos, and a kindle of kittens.
So now I have an image of all these little kittens sitting on a flat screen...
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 02, 2019
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Whoosh, whoosh, beep, beep?
Husband bought an electric car. I didn't know he was going to... I should have, after he'd commented about it a few times. He had also sold his vehicle beforehand.
I had come home from Faire last year, wiped out, stinky, sticky, and tired, and went in the house.
Next thing I know, Husband is calling for me to look out front, there was a car there. My first thought, Oh, G*d, visitors, I smell like an ill-used cow barn! I looked, and didn't recognize the car. He kept grinning.
Did I mention I was very tired? He walked me out, and I was mortified, who was here? Would I have to be polite, and not fall asleep, when we invited them in? Who owned this odd-looking car, anyway?
Then, glacially, the light dawned. "You bought a new car?"
The man was nearly giddy. Yes, yes, yes, and there was nothing but I was to drive the thing, right then...
Which wasn't my finest moment. It has no gearshift. Oh, great, automat...
Where are the keys?
He points at a button on the dash, and hands me this little fob that looks something like a half a dark chocolate biscotti. I finally get the idea that it is a push button start. Okay, what now? This little bell looking thing on the doghouse... Uh... So?
It is the "gearshift". Sort of, anyway. So, after the instruction to take it out of "P" and put it in "D", we start.
Did I mention I don't drive automatics? To wit: when Husband and I were first married, I managed to throw him over the top of his truck, as I had put the gas and the break on at the same time... And then nearly had a stroke on the spot, thinking I had killed the man. He was not happy, getting up from in front of the truck, but realized that I was more than losing it, thinking I had done him damage, he ended up calming me down! And when I had to take Dad's truck home from the hospital, it was the only bit of humor in the situation, I, quite literally, sat on my left foot, and every time I came to a light, repeated, "this is an automatic, you don't have a clutch, this is an automatic, you don't have a clutch..."
So, this took a bit of convincing that this new car was going to work for me. I drove it a bit, slowly, and then we returned home, whereupon, I managed to stop it... With both the parking and standard brake.
Sigh.
We have had this car (which is an electric vehicle) for a bit now, and I must say, after the learning curve, I am beginning to enjoy it. In fact, I think I drive it a bit more than Husband does. We have dubbed it "Junebug", (it was originally Leaf Hopper, as it is a Nissan Leaf, but the license plate has June, more or less, in it, so Junebug caught on, and stuck.)
I have found it's quiet, to the point, I have to be conscious that even wild animals, like Walmart customers, or deer, might not hear me coming up on them. I have even followed wild turkeys up the driveway. I didn't spook them, until they heard the gravel under the tires and actually saw me.
It has a few interesting features that I've not dealt with before, like a back up camera (love it), GPS (okay, but still getting used to, but she talks more than I do), and various notifications, (ranging from serious to silly. Junebug dislikes cold weather even more than I do! I think it notifies me about cold weather because it lowers the range the car can go, but I am still amused when I see this little snowflake on the dash, with "Low Temperature" on it. 38 degrees? Cold? Junebug, you are more cold blooded than I am!)
It is now the mild amusement of the gent I buy feed and cedar from. Cedar and feed go in the very back, and then I have all the groceries in the center seats. It looks like a very modern version of The Grapes of Wrath... But it works.
One minor thing, it has this Bluetooth app, where your phone can connect to your car to make it hands free. This is a good idea, in theory. But, when you drive in with this on, and Husband is making a business call, it will be just as happy to connect to HIS phone, as yours. Which makes the gent who was talking to Husband, and is now talking to Cat, extremely confused. Actually, so was I, until I figured out what happened. Bluetooth is now not used when I am in the car. I can pull over, so I do.
So, as we get all Jetsons around here, I am wondering, what we will have next... Robots for the house? Hologram garden help? Maybe a cybernetic laser implant to burn weeds?
Meh. I still haven't even mastered the phone yet, maybe I'd better hold off on the rest... Knowing how I do with the learning curve, who knows what might happen!
I had come home from Faire last year, wiped out, stinky, sticky, and tired, and went in the house.
Next thing I know, Husband is calling for me to look out front, there was a car there. My first thought, Oh, G*d, visitors, I smell like an ill-used cow barn! I looked, and didn't recognize the car. He kept grinning.
Did I mention I was very tired? He walked me out, and I was mortified, who was here? Would I have to be polite, and not fall asleep, when we invited them in? Who owned this odd-looking car, anyway?
Then, glacially, the light dawned. "You bought a new car?"
The man was nearly giddy. Yes, yes, yes, and there was nothing but I was to drive the thing, right then...
Which wasn't my finest moment. It has no gearshift. Oh, great, automat...
Where are the keys?
He points at a button on the dash, and hands me this little fob that looks something like a half a dark chocolate biscotti. I finally get the idea that it is a push button start. Okay, what now? This little bell looking thing on the doghouse... Uh... So?
It is the "gearshift". Sort of, anyway. So, after the instruction to take it out of "P" and put it in "D", we start.
Did I mention I don't drive automatics? To wit: when Husband and I were first married, I managed to throw him over the top of his truck, as I had put the gas and the break on at the same time... And then nearly had a stroke on the spot, thinking I had killed the man. He was not happy, getting up from in front of the truck, but realized that I was more than losing it, thinking I had done him damage, he ended up calming me down! And when I had to take Dad's truck home from the hospital, it was the only bit of humor in the situation, I, quite literally, sat on my left foot, and every time I came to a light, repeated, "this is an automatic, you don't have a clutch, this is an automatic, you don't have a clutch..."
So, this took a bit of convincing that this new car was going to work for me. I drove it a bit, slowly, and then we returned home, whereupon, I managed to stop it... With both the parking and standard brake.
Sigh.
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| http://images.hgmsites.net/med/2013-nissan-leaf_100414473_m.jpg |
I have found it's quiet, to the point, I have to be conscious that even wild animals, like Walmart customers, or deer, might not hear me coming up on them. I have even followed wild turkeys up the driveway. I didn't spook them, until they heard the gravel under the tires and actually saw me.
It has a few interesting features that I've not dealt with before, like a back up camera (love it), GPS (okay, but still getting used to, but she talks more than I do), and various notifications, (ranging from serious to silly. Junebug dislikes cold weather even more than I do! I think it notifies me about cold weather because it lowers the range the car can go, but I am still amused when I see this little snowflake on the dash, with "Low Temperature" on it. 38 degrees? Cold? Junebug, you are more cold blooded than I am!)
It is now the mild amusement of the gent I buy feed and cedar from. Cedar and feed go in the very back, and then I have all the groceries in the center seats. It looks like a very modern version of The Grapes of Wrath... But it works.
One minor thing, it has this Bluetooth app, where your phone can connect to your car to make it hands free. This is a good idea, in theory. But, when you drive in with this on, and Husband is making a business call, it will be just as happy to connect to HIS phone, as yours. Which makes the gent who was talking to Husband, and is now talking to Cat, extremely confused. Actually, so was I, until I figured out what happened. Bluetooth is now not used when I am in the car. I can pull over, so I do.
So, as we get all Jetsons around here, I am wondering, what we will have next... Robots for the house? Hologram garden help? Maybe a cybernetic laser implant to burn weeds?
Meh. I still haven't even mastered the phone yet, maybe I'd better hold off on the rest... Knowing how I do with the learning curve, who knows what might happen!
Thursday, April 21, 2016
R is for Racoons, rabbits, and... No, not happening...
My reputation as a country kid followed me when I went to college. I suppose it was when I tried to raise corn on the window sill that it was cemented in that I liked nature. (Or that I was a nutcase, but I like to think the other...)
This was a two-edged sword, as I was then the "expert" for any animals roaming about. Especially those that managed to get in people's apartments. We had a period of time when the landlord was working on people's bathrooms, thereby leaving holes that would lead outside. At least if you were four footed. Or not...
Also, quite a few folks, during the spring and summer, would leave the front door, or the back window open during the day. This lead to my helping someone get a bird to leave... This one was pretty easy, had them turn off all the lights, then open door and window. Then walk toward bird. Bird took off, pooping as it went, which upset the person. I shrugged, explaining, it's what birds do. I found out she started telling others that I was some sort of 'animal expert'.
I went on to help someone remove: a cat, a couple rabbits, and one opposum. (You'd be amazed what you can do with a cookie pan and a large blanket.) A raccoon was a bit more tricky, we managed to do that by closing the door to the bathroom where it came up, and getting some stinky food, (cheese? I don't remember, but it smelled...) and putting it by the vent nearest that bathroom. Sure enough, about 10 or so minutes later, the furry bandit's nose was twitching 'round the corner. After a nice lunch for the critter, we started blocking vents.
Thought we had blocked them all...
I was doing some homework, when there was a knock on my door. A tiny lady that lived at the end apartment asked if I would help her with an animal in her tub.
Uh, sure...
We walked back to her apartment, one of the last ones to be repaired, and in the tub, nearly as long AS the tub, was a boa constrictor! Please note, I am not afraid of snakes. However, this critter was big, and I don't know how to handle large snakes. I turned, and told her that this was a time to call the police.
I kid you not, she looked at me like I was nuts, and said, it's a snake, not a burglar. Nonplussed, I replied, yes, but the police know who to contact for animal control.
Oh...
It was rather a good thing we did call the police, as someone a few houses away had called that their pet snake had wandered off while sunbathing. (!!!) So, I waited with the lady, who WAS afraid of snakes, and didn't want to be alone, if it got out. We waited by her front door, until the police, and animal control arrived, soon to be followed by the owner. This parade went in, the owner came out with said animal.
That's when I decided to tell the landlord I was going to start charging him for animal removal if he didn't get all the holes plugged up in the apartments!
This was a two-edged sword, as I was then the "expert" for any animals roaming about. Especially those that managed to get in people's apartments. We had a period of time when the landlord was working on people's bathrooms, thereby leaving holes that would lead outside. At least if you were four footed. Or not...
Also, quite a few folks, during the spring and summer, would leave the front door, or the back window open during the day. This lead to my helping someone get a bird to leave... This one was pretty easy, had them turn off all the lights, then open door and window. Then walk toward bird. Bird took off, pooping as it went, which upset the person. I shrugged, explaining, it's what birds do. I found out she started telling others that I was some sort of 'animal expert'.
I went on to help someone remove: a cat, a couple rabbits, and one opposum. (You'd be amazed what you can do with a cookie pan and a large blanket.) A raccoon was a bit more tricky, we managed to do that by closing the door to the bathroom where it came up, and getting some stinky food, (cheese? I don't remember, but it smelled...) and putting it by the vent nearest that bathroom. Sure enough, about 10 or so minutes later, the furry bandit's nose was twitching 'round the corner. After a nice lunch for the critter, we started blocking vents.
Thought we had blocked them all...
I was doing some homework, when there was a knock on my door. A tiny lady that lived at the end apartment asked if I would help her with an animal in her tub.
Uh, sure...
We walked back to her apartment, one of the last ones to be repaired, and in the tub, nearly as long AS the tub, was a boa constrictor! Please note, I am not afraid of snakes. However, this critter was big, and I don't know how to handle large snakes. I turned, and told her that this was a time to call the police.
I kid you not, she looked at me like I was nuts, and said, it's a snake, not a burglar. Nonplussed, I replied, yes, but the police know who to contact for animal control.
Oh...
It was rather a good thing we did call the police, as someone a few houses away had called that their pet snake had wandered off while sunbathing. (!!!) So, I waited with the lady, who WAS afraid of snakes, and didn't want to be alone, if it got out. We waited by her front door, until the police, and animal control arrived, soon to be followed by the owner. This parade went in, the owner came out with said animal.
That's when I decided to tell the landlord I was going to start charging him for animal removal if he didn't get all the holes plugged up in the apartments!
Thursday, April 07, 2016
F is for Fur 'n Feathers.
Furry and fuzzy,
Feathers and fur,
Farm and free,
Look at all the animals I see.
Finny, fluffy,
fat, or fleet,
I love my friends the animals,
and they love me!
(Ok, the llamas are ambivalent, but the rest do...)
The poetry is sort of wonky, but you get the idea...
So, what is YOUR favorite animal?
Friday, April 01, 2016
A is for Animals...
So, to start the old A to Z thing, I will be writing about animals. I have been around animals most of my life. Large or small, fuzzy, smooth, gentle or obnoxious, I like animals. (Okay, the obnoxious, maybe, I prefer from a distance, but still...)
Please note, "animal" might include insects. A couple of my posts are still in the "hmmm" stage, so I might have a blog or two that covers a larger portion of the spectrum.
Oh, and I also will probably have my standard blog under the A to Z portion, so if you just want that part, read the top. If you want the whole 9 yards, so to speak, read past the *** where I start the "normal" blog.
If much of anything I do could be considered "normal".
So, welcome to the A to Zers, to my wonderful blog friends, and even the random folk that might just have shown up here accidentally. Enjoy!
Please note, "animal" might include insects. A couple of my posts are still in the "hmmm" stage, so I might have a blog or two that covers a larger portion of the spectrum.
Oh, and I also will probably have my standard blog under the A to Z portion, so if you just want that part, read the top. If you want the whole 9 yards, so to speak, read past the *** where I start the "normal" blog.
If much of anything I do could be considered "normal".
So, welcome to the A to Zers, to my wonderful blog friends, and even the random folk that might just have shown up here accidentally. Enjoy!
************
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Night sounds.
I had a bad night a bit ago, and sat in our living room.
I just kept the lights off, and sat on the couch, hoping I could go back to sleep. But, then, I started listening.
tcktcktcktcktck... Hmmm. Oh, that's the timer for the lights.
Muuuhhhh. Well, one of the cows must be near our fence again.
Grumble, thump. KaTHUMP. ??? Ah, that was Rudee, flopping over in his doghouse.
Prrt? Thump. Thip, thip, thip, thip, prrrrrrrt???
Hello, Ding, yes, I am awake, sit here, if you'd like.
Soft rustles as she makes herself comfortable. I hear Husband mumble slightly in his sleep.
The darkness continues. I hear an owl. Then a car go by.
I was amazed at how much noise there is in a quiet room...
Finally, sleepiness starts to overtake me, and I go back to bed, and lie down.
Prrt? (bleh)
Really, Ding? Sleeping is the norm for humans, this time of night. Thank you, but I don't want a toy mouse in my ear...
I just kept the lights off, and sat on the couch, hoping I could go back to sleep. But, then, I started listening.
tcktcktcktcktck... Hmmm. Oh, that's the timer for the lights.
Muuuhhhh. Well, one of the cows must be near our fence again.
Grumble, thump. KaTHUMP. ??? Ah, that was Rudee, flopping over in his doghouse.
Prrt? Thump. Thip, thip, thip, thip, prrrrrrrt???
Hello, Ding, yes, I am awake, sit here, if you'd like.
Soft rustles as she makes herself comfortable. I hear Husband mumble slightly in his sleep.
The darkness continues. I hear an owl. Then a car go by.
I was amazed at how much noise there is in a quiet room...
Finally, sleepiness starts to overtake me, and I go back to bed, and lie down.
Prrt? (bleh)
Really, Ding? Sleeping is the norm for humans, this time of night. Thank you, but I don't want a toy mouse in my ear...
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Aminals...
Yes, I misspelled that. Husband and I say it that way quite often, usually when I tell him I am going to feed.
It has been an off and on winter. The llamas have been fat and fluffy. I fed them more this winter, as the grass in our fields don't seem to be coming back quite as quickly, and I have a fair amount of hay, so... Why not? I have hay fever, so I have taken to putting the hay in a container to carry out to them, but they still seem to be getting used to me sneezing while feeding...
Buzz, she is getting to the point where she will hide in said hay, and is rather disgruntled when I move the tarp covering it to get the llama's breakfast. I think she is getting old enough that she'd rather just sleep under there until noon, when it's warm, and she won't be as likely to be cold, wet, or bothered by Rudee. (Yes, Rudee still tries to roll her, but not as aggressively as he used to...)
The chickens are finally getting busy with spring laying. They are giving me 4 to 6 eggs a day now, and they are filling out, and becoming nice looking hens. Mon Ami must have a preference for blondes, as most of the young hens are yellow tinted, not red from the Rhode Islands... I don't know if I will let anyone set intentionally this season, but I've said that before, and still ended up with chicks... So, we shall see who wins the battle of wits/wills this year.
Ding has filled out, and is a lovely lady, and not a bit of attitude.
BWAHAAHAHAHAAAHAAAAA!
Ahem.
She and Husband are best buds, but she still follows me around the house, and we have odd little conversations. She trills, I tell her what I'm doing, or plans for the day, she mews... I am rather happy I wasn't born in the time of the Salem Witch Trails...
Lastly, Rudee. He did okay this winter, but he is getting to be an old dog. He is nearly deaf, and I don't think he sees all that much better. We've taken to cleaning the kennel nearly every day or so, as he really isn't as able to 'hold it' as well as he used to. I am sort of sad that he is getting older, he walks with a bit of a limp, groans when he gets up. He still seems happy to get out and walk, for a while, he likes to have breakfast, but he prefers to eat much smaller meals. He's just getting to be an old guy... We had to give him a bath a few days ago, because he stank so badly. He just wandered around, looking confused for a while afterword.
It's odd how time moves on, and you don't notice for what seems like ever, then suddenly, things change. But, then I look in the mirror, and realize, if he has any thoughts like this, he probably remembers me looking a bit different not so long ago, too...
It has been an off and on winter. The llamas have been fat and fluffy. I fed them more this winter, as the grass in our fields don't seem to be coming back quite as quickly, and I have a fair amount of hay, so... Why not? I have hay fever, so I have taken to putting the hay in a container to carry out to them, but they still seem to be getting used to me sneezing while feeding...
Buzz, she is getting to the point where she will hide in said hay, and is rather disgruntled when I move the tarp covering it to get the llama's breakfast. I think she is getting old enough that she'd rather just sleep under there until noon, when it's warm, and she won't be as likely to be cold, wet, or bothered by Rudee. (Yes, Rudee still tries to roll her, but not as aggressively as he used to...)
The chickens are finally getting busy with spring laying. They are giving me 4 to 6 eggs a day now, and they are filling out, and becoming nice looking hens. Mon Ami must have a preference for blondes, as most of the young hens are yellow tinted, not red from the Rhode Islands... I don't know if I will let anyone set intentionally this season, but I've said that before, and still ended up with chicks... So, we shall see who wins the battle of wits/wills this year.
Ding has filled out, and is a lovely lady, and not a bit of attitude.
BWAHAAHAHAHAAAHAAAAA!
Ahem.
She and Husband are best buds, but she still follows me around the house, and we have odd little conversations. She trills, I tell her what I'm doing, or plans for the day, she mews... I am rather happy I wasn't born in the time of the Salem Witch Trails...
Lastly, Rudee. He did okay this winter, but he is getting to be an old dog. He is nearly deaf, and I don't think he sees all that much better. We've taken to cleaning the kennel nearly every day or so, as he really isn't as able to 'hold it' as well as he used to. I am sort of sad that he is getting older, he walks with a bit of a limp, groans when he gets up. He still seems happy to get out and walk, for a while, he likes to have breakfast, but he prefers to eat much smaller meals. He's just getting to be an old guy... We had to give him a bath a few days ago, because he stank so badly. He just wandered around, looking confused for a while afterword.
It's odd how time moves on, and you don't notice for what seems like ever, then suddenly, things change. But, then I look in the mirror, and realize, if he has any thoughts like this, he probably remembers me looking a bit different not so long ago, too...
Sunday, October 18, 2015
A lack of charm(s), among other things.
Yes, Virginia, it's been a while since I've blogged.
I won't say I've been busy, but it's been sort of chaotic. First, a charm bracelet that I borrowed from Mom is missing. I have been going through all the places I had it, (I was buying a charm for the bracelet at Christmastime, and needed one charm to show the jeweler...), cleaning out all the places I store important items, went through all my coats and winter clothing... Even went through a lot of my Christmas 'stuff' ornaments and decorations.
No dice, so far.
Husband had to put up with my nearly total mental meltdown, as it caught me so off guard. I'd thought I'd returned it to my mom just after Christmas. So, we continue to look, and call different places I thought it could have fallen out/been left/whatever.
So, how I figure it, I will go look for something unrelated in a few months, and there it will be, like a little silver lump.
At least that's my hope...
I have set up my Face Book account, and to quote Mr. Chatterbox, "Just remember that having a lot of friends on Facebook is like sitting at the popular table...in an insane asylum."
My word, are you right, sir!
I have ultra far right wing folk, ultra far left wing folk, very Christian types, very Pagan ones, and some that I am not sure WHAT they are (nor do I care, actually.). I actually had to "block" one person's account, I really didn't care for the language and photos... Sadly, it's a family member, so I will have to check it from time to time. But, other than a few people asking my comments on a topic I will NOT discuss, I have sidestepped any huge land mines, political or otherwise. I have about 17 or so folks that I am FBing. I am using it for folks I wouldn't be able to chat with normally, that live out of the area.
Oddly enough, I was going to sign up with a local book writer's group, and my auntie. Guess which two are not on FB anymore? Hmph.
I wanted to post some pictures here. I will try and see if I can, in the early morning. Husband and I have found that is the time when the slug slow internet sort of runs steady, if not quickly. (That's when I have been checking the FB thing, several of my friends send videos. Oh, great...)
I found that a few of my friends with Green Asterisk internet have been having the same problems that I have. One even went so far as to call the company. They told her that it was just a common problem, and they couldn't do anything about it. She said, well, then, can I pay half the amount on my bill, since you are giving me HALF the amount of internet?
Uh, no... (Like we expected anything different? *Sigh*...)
So, I muddle along, trying to find times when the blasted thing doesn't time out on me... Meh...
The animals are doing pretty well, we ended up with only 3 roosters on the last big clutch of eggs. There are only two chicks left of the latest batch, the one chick wouldn't stay around Mom. Or any of the other chickens. And would walk out by its self in the main yard. Well, even with me trying to shoo it back, it didn't work. We had a Red Tail hawk, and I suspect it had a meal...
The last two, however, are doing quite well, if a bit ratty looking at the moment. They are at that "ugly" stage, where they don't have baby fuzz, quite, and they aren't feathered out, quite. They sort of look like feather dusters that someone dropped in dryer lint.
I picked up a few books. I wanted to read some of these for a long time, some I'd read before... But.
I'd read them in college for English Lit, those, read fast, take notes, take test, boom, done. Retention, what retention? You mean, I'm supposed to REMEMBER it???
So, I am starting with Jack Kerouac's On The Road. I have several, and I will try to mention what I am perusing, as I peruse. But now I can read them to enjoy them. I think that will make them a lot better. However, I will not be reading A Tale Of Two Cities any time soon. Or ever. Yeah, never's good...
I tried to read that book. I like some of Dicken's work. That, my dear blog friends, ain't going to be one of them.
And I have a class coming up soon, I will have a very busy week, as I drive about an hour to get to the class, then about 8 hours, then home, for about 3 days. I feel really, really fortunate to get the chance, so I don't begrudge the drive, especially since the last one was held about 2 1/2 hours away. The classes are for all over Oregon, so they even have low cost housing, if needed. I just have to remember to bring a lunch... Yep, fortunate.
So, I will try and let all of you know about the rest of the animals, the mouse, Ding, and just how much cleaning it takes to get a place presentable when a former boss comes to visit... Soon.
I won't say I've been busy, but it's been sort of chaotic. First, a charm bracelet that I borrowed from Mom is missing. I have been going through all the places I had it, (I was buying a charm for the bracelet at Christmastime, and needed one charm to show the jeweler...), cleaning out all the places I store important items, went through all my coats and winter clothing... Even went through a lot of my Christmas 'stuff' ornaments and decorations.
No dice, so far.
Husband had to put up with my nearly total mental meltdown, as it caught me so off guard. I'd thought I'd returned it to my mom just after Christmas. So, we continue to look, and call different places I thought it could have fallen out/been left/whatever.
So, how I figure it, I will go look for something unrelated in a few months, and there it will be, like a little silver lump.
At least that's my hope...
I have set up my Face Book account, and to quote Mr. Chatterbox, "Just remember that having a lot of friends on Facebook is like sitting at the popular table...in an insane asylum."
My word, are you right, sir!
I have ultra far right wing folk, ultra far left wing folk, very Christian types, very Pagan ones, and some that I am not sure WHAT they are (nor do I care, actually.). I actually had to "block" one person's account, I really didn't care for the language and photos... Sadly, it's a family member, so I will have to check it from time to time. But, other than a few people asking my comments on a topic I will NOT discuss, I have sidestepped any huge land mines, political or otherwise. I have about 17 or so folks that I am FBing. I am using it for folks I wouldn't be able to chat with normally, that live out of the area.
Oddly enough, I was going to sign up with a local book writer's group, and my auntie. Guess which two are not on FB anymore? Hmph.
I wanted to post some pictures here. I will try and see if I can, in the early morning. Husband and I have found that is the time when the slug slow internet sort of runs steady, if not quickly. (That's when I have been checking the FB thing, several of my friends send videos. Oh, great...)
I found that a few of my friends with Green Asterisk internet have been having the same problems that I have. One even went so far as to call the company. They told her that it was just a common problem, and they couldn't do anything about it. She said, well, then, can I pay half the amount on my bill, since you are giving me HALF the amount of internet?
Uh, no... (Like we expected anything different? *Sigh*...)
So, I muddle along, trying to find times when the blasted thing doesn't time out on me... Meh...
The animals are doing pretty well, we ended up with only 3 roosters on the last big clutch of eggs. There are only two chicks left of the latest batch, the one chick wouldn't stay around Mom. Or any of the other chickens. And would walk out by its self in the main yard. Well, even with me trying to shoo it back, it didn't work. We had a Red Tail hawk, and I suspect it had a meal...
The last two, however, are doing quite well, if a bit ratty looking at the moment. They are at that "ugly" stage, where they don't have baby fuzz, quite, and they aren't feathered out, quite. They sort of look like feather dusters that someone dropped in dryer lint.
I picked up a few books. I wanted to read some of these for a long time, some I'd read before... But.
I'd read them in college for English Lit, those, read fast, take notes, take test, boom, done. Retention, what retention? You mean, I'm supposed to REMEMBER it???
So, I am starting with Jack Kerouac's On The Road. I have several, and I will try to mention what I am perusing, as I peruse. But now I can read them to enjoy them. I think that will make them a lot better. However, I will not be reading A Tale Of Two Cities any time soon. Or ever. Yeah, never's good...
I tried to read that book. I like some of Dicken's work. That, my dear blog friends, ain't going to be one of them.
And I have a class coming up soon, I will have a very busy week, as I drive about an hour to get to the class, then about 8 hours, then home, for about 3 days. I feel really, really fortunate to get the chance, so I don't begrudge the drive, especially since the last one was held about 2 1/2 hours away. The classes are for all over Oregon, so they even have low cost housing, if needed. I just have to remember to bring a lunch... Yep, fortunate.
So, I will try and let all of you know about the rest of the animals, the mouse, Ding, and just how much cleaning it takes to get a place presentable when a former boss comes to visit... Soon.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
J is for...
Just looking at my animals.
Ran late today, J was a hard one to figure out what to put, but figured the gang could help out...
Yep, I am blessed...
Ran late today, J was a hard one to figure out what to put, but figured the gang could help out...
 |
| Mooom! Do I have to sit for all these stupid pictures??? |
 |
| Mon Ami, showing that he loves to be head and feathers above the rest... |
 |
| Waiting for the apples... |
 |
| Nope, no apples here, either... |
 |
| Pictures. Huh. Big Whoop. |
 |
| Photo Bomb!!! |
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| I am Queen of all I survey. Toes included... |
Wednesday, April 08, 2015
G is for...
Good Morning.
Tuesday Mornings, specifically. I have volunteer work that day, and so I have to "get at it" early.
I wake, and usually hear Husband already starting his day, showering. I get up, let the cat out of the carrier, (we have her sleep there, for safety and health reasons. Her safety, our health...), and we walk to her food dish. I put down her kibble, clean the litter pan, and, after washing up, I prepare Rudee dog's food, and head out to the early morning. In fact, right now, it's not so much early morning as just DARK. I have to take a flashlight out, so I don't stumble. Run the dog out for his morning potty break as I feed Buzz cat. I hear the wild turkeys chuckle and gobble as they come out of the trees.
The neighbor's dog usually sees me, and starts barking. Since he has the average intelligence of burned out 1/2 watt light bulb, I ignore him. I keep wondering how the neighbors can stand it, but they don't seem to get upset with him letting fly at 5:30am...
I get the food out, and Buzz lives up to her namesake, purring and crunching away. I then get the chickens some food, and oyster shell. They grumble and cluck, wanting out as soon as they wake up, this is the one day of the week they get out early. They fly out the door, each claiming the 'best' spot, eating like I've starved them to death. Drama Queens. (And King...)
If they decide to show, I will give a little bit of feed to the llamas. They have learned not to dawdle, they love the food, but if they don't finish it quickly, the chickens are much willing to clean it up, even if they have to peck noses to do it. The llamas, in turn, spray the chickens with spit, so I usually make a hasty exit before I have to have a shower...
And back into the house, quick breakfast for me, get my uniform on, make lunch, grab my various bags o' tricks, and purse, get out the rig, and get gone.
Come to think of it, I think it's one of the only days of the week that I am actually organized!
Tuesday Mornings, specifically. I have volunteer work that day, and so I have to "get at it" early.
I wake, and usually hear Husband already starting his day, showering. I get up, let the cat out of the carrier, (we have her sleep there, for safety and health reasons. Her safety, our health...), and we walk to her food dish. I put down her kibble, clean the litter pan, and, after washing up, I prepare Rudee dog's food, and head out to the early morning. In fact, right now, it's not so much early morning as just DARK. I have to take a flashlight out, so I don't stumble. Run the dog out for his morning potty break as I feed Buzz cat. I hear the wild turkeys chuckle and gobble as they come out of the trees.
The neighbor's dog usually sees me, and starts barking. Since he has the average intelligence of burned out 1/2 watt light bulb, I ignore him. I keep wondering how the neighbors can stand it, but they don't seem to get upset with him letting fly at 5:30am...
I get the food out, and Buzz lives up to her namesake, purring and crunching away. I then get the chickens some food, and oyster shell. They grumble and cluck, wanting out as soon as they wake up, this is the one day of the week they get out early. They fly out the door, each claiming the 'best' spot, eating like I've starved them to death. Drama Queens. (And King...)
If they decide to show, I will give a little bit of feed to the llamas. They have learned not to dawdle, they love the food, but if they don't finish it quickly, the chickens are much willing to clean it up, even if they have to peck noses to do it. The llamas, in turn, spray the chickens with spit, so I usually make a hasty exit before I have to have a shower...
And back into the house, quick breakfast for me, get my uniform on, make lunch, grab my various bags o' tricks, and purse, get out the rig, and get gone.
Come to think of it, I think it's one of the only days of the week that I am actually organized!
*****
G could also be for good deeds, which I saw yesterday. I was getting groceries, and then lined up to pay and leave. 2 people ahead of me.
Great, quick line...
The first was an older man, another a woman a bit younger than me. I watched as the man pulled out a card, typed in a number, and the clerk shook her head.
"Pin didn't work, could you try again?"
Type, type, type.
Nope.
He pulls out another card.
Same result.
I start to fidget. I start to hurt if I stand very long, and this was seeming to take a bit.
He pulls out a third card.
Greaaaaaat.
Type, type, type, type.
"Sorry, sir, still not working..."
About this time, the lady peeks at what he's getting, and I see a smile hit the corners of her mouth. She slips into her purse, pulls out a ten, and taps the man on the shoulder.
"Merry Christmas early! I will pay for his groceries..."
The man looks surprised, and then thanks her, asking if he needs to pay her back.
"Yes, you owe me one thing. Go home and ask your wife what your pin number is!"
:)
Monday, April 06, 2015
E is for...
Evening.
The sun goes down. We might, or might not, have watched a little TV. Husband starts looking at a few forums that he reads, I might be knitting, reading a book, blogging, or reading in some of the forums I am a member of. (So far, we haven't met up yet in any of the forums, tho...)
Schrodinger cat, tired from her day of bird watching, mischief making, and toy mouse attacking, will wander over to one of us, usually Husband, but sometimes me, and curl up for a nap. The room gets darker, then the lights come on.
We hear the chickens squabble for the best roosting spots.
The wild birds settle, quieting down, while the frogs 'tune up' for the evening songfest.
One of our... more... unique neighbors, salutes the evening with rifle shots. Why, I do not know. But it has become a sort of normal background noise, like the cars on the main road up from us.
Rudee dog snorts, grunts, and makes himself comfortable for his evening snooze. If I listen carefully, I can hear him snore.
The house here doesn't make too much noise, but I can make out the fridge, and a clock or two ticking.
Evening seems to be a slow time at our house. And, when you think about it, that's a good thing!
The sun goes down. We might, or might not, have watched a little TV. Husband starts looking at a few forums that he reads, I might be knitting, reading a book, blogging, or reading in some of the forums I am a member of. (So far, we haven't met up yet in any of the forums, tho...)
Schrodinger cat, tired from her day of bird watching, mischief making, and toy mouse attacking, will wander over to one of us, usually Husband, but sometimes me, and curl up for a nap. The room gets darker, then the lights come on.
We hear the chickens squabble for the best roosting spots.
The wild birds settle, quieting down, while the frogs 'tune up' for the evening songfest.
One of our... more... unique neighbors, salutes the evening with rifle shots. Why, I do not know. But it has become a sort of normal background noise, like the cars on the main road up from us.
Rudee dog snorts, grunts, and makes himself comfortable for his evening snooze. If I listen carefully, I can hear him snore.
The house here doesn't make too much noise, but I can make out the fridge, and a clock or two ticking.
Evening seems to be a slow time at our house. And, when you think about it, that's a good thing!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
K is for Kodak. (c)
Cameras seem to change more slowly than some technologies...
My Grandma M. had a Brownie camera. Quite frankly, I don't recall her ever using it, if she did, I was fairly small, at any rate. I like looking at some of the old black and white photos she has, with the pretty little scalloped edges. Later, they became the clean, straight edges that my photos had.
The cameras I think of when I had photos taken were with the flash cube. Oh, my, you didn't want to look into one of those things! Even a quick glance was enough to have blue-green spots for a while, making it look like you had entered a disco somewhere. Especially if it was a group gathering, pop, flash, pop, pow, flash. And then REMOVING that little cube! I think putting a finger on a red hot grill couldn't be much worse...
Family would take the requisite 4 pics, then wait to get the cube removed to take another four. Sometimes, if someone was impatient, a hot pad would be employed. I wondered if the camera would melt, if you took too many pictures.
(With one or two of my family, I hoped so, but it never happened...)
Then Mom got this cool rig, you took the photo, and it pooped out this little card, and I sat fascinated. A gloomy shadow formed, then took shape, then finally became a nice picture, all finished and ready for the photo album. I took a few pictures that way.
Most of the photos I took at that time were of my animals. Which, didn't usually turn out too well. (If I'd saved them, I probably have the world's largest collection of cat derrieres.) I didn't take too many photos, it seemed like I had other things I wanted to do, and the one camera I took to camp was dropped in the water, (along with the owner), and ruined, and I just lost the inclination.
Much later, after I was married, Husband and I picked up a digital camera. Other than the one I have is rather slow, I really enjoy taking pictures. I don't feel like I am wasting film with a bad shot, and I don't have to buy reams of cubes to take pictures. Kind of a battery hog, but I guess you have to have some method of getting from point A to B.
But my animals still seem to be my major focus...
My Grandma M. had a Brownie camera. Quite frankly, I don't recall her ever using it, if she did, I was fairly small, at any rate. I like looking at some of the old black and white photos she has, with the pretty little scalloped edges. Later, they became the clean, straight edges that my photos had.
The cameras I think of when I had photos taken were with the flash cube. Oh, my, you didn't want to look into one of those things! Even a quick glance was enough to have blue-green spots for a while, making it look like you had entered a disco somewhere. Especially if it was a group gathering, pop, flash, pop, pow, flash. And then REMOVING that little cube! I think putting a finger on a red hot grill couldn't be much worse...
Family would take the requisite 4 pics, then wait to get the cube removed to take another four. Sometimes, if someone was impatient, a hot pad would be employed. I wondered if the camera would melt, if you took too many pictures.
(With one or two of my family, I hoped so, but it never happened...)
Then Mom got this cool rig, you took the photo, and it pooped out this little card, and I sat fascinated. A gloomy shadow formed, then took shape, then finally became a nice picture, all finished and ready for the photo album. I took a few pictures that way.
Most of the photos I took at that time were of my animals. Which, didn't usually turn out too well. (If I'd saved them, I probably have the world's largest collection of cat derrieres.) I didn't take too many photos, it seemed like I had other things I wanted to do, and the one camera I took to camp was dropped in the water, (along with the owner), and ruined, and I just lost the inclination.
Much later, after I was married, Husband and I picked up a digital camera. Other than the one I have is rather slow, I really enjoy taking pictures. I don't feel like I am wasting film with a bad shot, and I don't have to buy reams of cubes to take pictures. Kind of a battery hog, but I guess you have to have some method of getting from point A to B.
But my animals still seem to be my major focus...
But not as many cat... butts, at any rate. I am unsure if this is an improvement...
Monday, March 10, 2014
Snow days here...
These are a few pictures from when our area got an unusual blast 'o snow and ice... Let's see what Rudee's opinion of going out into deep snow for a potty break...
Uh. Yeah.
It didn't exactly thrill him. Husband finally dug a trail so Rudee wouldn't slip and tumble, or go in his kennel...
Husband and I had to go out in the snow, which made our hats wet. Fortune would have it, we had a convenient place to dry them next to the stove. Doesn't Loopy look fashionable? Heh...
This Sequoia had about 7 inches of snow on it at this point. Most of the trees around ended up looking like closed umbrellas... Amazingly, most (not all) popped right back out again... Except for the ones that played "let's dump massive amounts of limbs. Nah, we'll just fall over..." This tree was a nice exception.
My goofball llamas aren't as goofball as I thought. I saw them digging, then they would sit on the hay under the snow. I would feed where they were sitting, so they could dine there. Husband said it was Bed and Breakfast. I think I agree... The snow would pile up on the back, they would shake it off occasionally, but it never seemed to bother them a bit.
THIS is when it became interesting. It's a pretty image, but the ice damaged a lot, even my forgiving bamboo lost several branches...
See that little tiny yellow dot on the top of the snow pile? That's Digger, my little yellow rubber duck. We put him atop the snow pile my Husband made so we could get out, and it took the little guy about 2 1/2 weeks to get down to ground level again.
And that, my friends, is Digger, all cleaned up, and ready for the next adventure. But he really hopes it involves sunshine! His tush is a bit cold!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Summer Day.
A day wherein I actually remembered to grab the camera.
Rudee wanting me to come out NOW, so he can go run around...
The plants are finally starting to look filled out.
I had sort of an accidental patriotism streak here,
the center is blue stars, and I alternated red petunias,
and white alyssum, and it came out pretty well.
It's haying season, the roads are filled with balers, pickups,
trailers, and lots of young men with feed caps and muscles.
And a few dogs. At the end of the day, there is a lot of cans,
mostly soda, and dust. Some dust is even still on the ground...
The neighbor moved his cattle to the field in front of our house,
so I can watch "my" cows again, for a while.
The new group. 4 chicks,
Burlington, Northern, Santa Fe, and Chattanooga.
(The little yellow rooster is Burlington.)
Bow to your partner...
And do ce do!
Blondies taking in some sun. And light refreshment...
Monday, September 03, 2012
Walking leads to some interesting moments.
I mentioned that I am up to 4 miles walking. I go from my house to the next road, and then back, twice. I have been able to do this pretty well, until the last few days, when I got a dime sized blister on my heel. NOT fun. But, I have found a bandage meant for blisters, and it has helped a lot.
It's been an adventure of sorts walking out on the road as opposed to walking the hill at the house. I have found that most of the neighbors know that I am walking... Even though it's usually at about 5-7:30 am. I have had several of them comment on "Oh, I missed you x day..."
Er.
Usually Monday, that day I "skip" walking as I go do my shopping for the week, and get enough walking doing that! : P
And more than once, neighbors will walk out to talk. I chat with them on the goings on locally, gossip, all that important stuff... You live in a rural area, people tend to get up early...
The assortment of animals around here has lead to some amusement on my part.
Horses: One neighbor trains horses for carriage work. She now knows that one of the horses needs to go the other direction from the way I am walking. Twice now, she has been working the horse, and once it sees me, it will slow until it paces me, and it really, REALLY doesn't want to walk away. I don't know if it sees me as a 'buddy', or just wants to slow down, or what, exactly, but I now see her check the road, and if I am coming, she goes the other way, so as not to have her horse 'argue' with her about how fast he needs to go. She has several other horses, and none of them seem to be so inclined to slow and pace me, except the one.
Birds: If I am lucky, I get out at sunrise, and I get to see two Blue Herons that must nest by a local field. They swoop down over the area, then go back up to (a nest? food?) the direction they came down from.
Another time, I was walking and couldn't figure out what the big "lump" on top of the phone pole was. There were small birds all around it. When I finally was close enough to see, it was a Redtail Hawk, and it was on the post, while all the little birds were quite close on the wire. I must say it suprised me. I wanted to take a picture, but by the time I'd come back with the camera, it had left.
There is a rafter of turkeys that live in the trees on our place. They go from place to place in the area, and right now, are leaving lots of feathers. I have been picking them up, I have quite a few. I also have an owl feather, Husband found a goose feather (that I might wear at Ren Faire this year), and even a black and orange feather, that I am still trying to figure out what bird it's from. I put the feathers on my hat, but I think I am going to have to do something with them, I put them in a vase, and the vase tipped over and broke, soooo... Plan B.
Cats: There are dozens of cats around here. And they do not like to stop and chat. I come by, and they slink away, or even flat out run. Since I walk just at morning light, I think quite a few of them are finishing the 'night shift' of cat doings. The horse barn seems to be a haven for a lot of them, I have counted at least 5 or 6 most mornings walking there. If there is a fence between them and me, they just sit and watch me go by. If not, they hide under the foundation gap, or run off. ONE cat has meowed at me, but when I kneeled down some and called 'kitty', it made sure to stay way far from my hands...
Dogs: All the neighbor dogs seem to have well tuned barkers. I know which houses have dogs now... All of the ones that have dogs also have NOISY dogs. The neighbor that trains horses, has a farmhand that brings his dog. I am not on great terms with that dog. Why, I do not know, but the dog, named Odie, will run up to the fence, and bark at me. Then follow along the fence. Yep, still barking. When he reaches the gate, he will bark, and start to follow me. I have shooed him 'home' two or three times, which he doesn't like. His people is pretty nice, though, and now calls Odie, to try and keep him from being quite such a... pest.
Rudee misses walking with me, but I don't dare take him on the road. He doesn't walk well on a lead, he wants to wander, rather than staying by me, and I have no idea how the other dogs around might react to him. Plus, the poor ol' guy is getting arthritis in his joints, too, so we just take much shorter walks, or we let him out to wander when we are outside. He seems to enjoy this.
I had one interesting little dog incident. I was walking, and ZIP goes a little bitty (Yorkie???) dog. I was rather surprised, and managed to snag it and read the collar. Phone, no address. Ok, whip out the cell, no answer. I start walking back, and the stinker manages to wiggle out of my grasp with traffic coming! I wave frantically to get the truck to stop, when the guy in the driver's seat leans out the window and bellows, "Bennie, what the **** are you doing out here?!?" I let him know that the dog had followed me. The guy looked embarrassed, "yeah, he tries to everyday when you go by, but I normally catch him. (Ah, yes, another person noticing the walking gal...) I now check for low rider pups, and the truck guy waves most every day now.
Part of the reason that I walk early in the morning, one of the trainers at the carriage place has two Dobermans. They are mean, and one has tried to corner me when I have walked, so I adjusted the time to before he shows up for work. I am hoping as the seasons change, I will be able to continue walking before he, and they, show up.
I have planned for this, much to Husband's amusement. I wear a band around my hat that is actually meant for hard hats, it has a hands-free flashlight. On the back, I put a bicycle light, which flashes about every second or so.
So if you see a gal in a floppy hat, usually with sunglasses, a bright orange safety vest, and lights front and back, it's me.
I think I will never cease to amuse my neighbors...
It's been an adventure of sorts walking out on the road as opposed to walking the hill at the house. I have found that most of the neighbors know that I am walking... Even though it's usually at about 5-7:30 am. I have had several of them comment on "Oh, I missed you x day..."
Er.
Usually Monday, that day I "skip" walking as I go do my shopping for the week, and get enough walking doing that! : P
And more than once, neighbors will walk out to talk. I chat with them on the goings on locally, gossip, all that important stuff... You live in a rural area, people tend to get up early...
The assortment of animals around here has lead to some amusement on my part.
Horses: One neighbor trains horses for carriage work. She now knows that one of the horses needs to go the other direction from the way I am walking. Twice now, she has been working the horse, and once it sees me, it will slow until it paces me, and it really, REALLY doesn't want to walk away. I don't know if it sees me as a 'buddy', or just wants to slow down, or what, exactly, but I now see her check the road, and if I am coming, she goes the other way, so as not to have her horse 'argue' with her about how fast he needs to go. She has several other horses, and none of them seem to be so inclined to slow and pace me, except the one.
Birds: If I am lucky, I get out at sunrise, and I get to see two Blue Herons that must nest by a local field. They swoop down over the area, then go back up to (a nest? food?) the direction they came down from.
Another time, I was walking and couldn't figure out what the big "lump" on top of the phone pole was. There were small birds all around it. When I finally was close enough to see, it was a Redtail Hawk, and it was on the post, while all the little birds were quite close on the wire. I must say it suprised me. I wanted to take a picture, but by the time I'd come back with the camera, it had left.
There is a rafter of turkeys that live in the trees on our place. They go from place to place in the area, and right now, are leaving lots of feathers. I have been picking them up, I have quite a few. I also have an owl feather, Husband found a goose feather (that I might wear at Ren Faire this year), and even a black and orange feather, that I am still trying to figure out what bird it's from. I put the feathers on my hat, but I think I am going to have to do something with them, I put them in a vase, and the vase tipped over and broke, soooo... Plan B.
Cats: There are dozens of cats around here. And they do not like to stop and chat. I come by, and they slink away, or even flat out run. Since I walk just at morning light, I think quite a few of them are finishing the 'night shift' of cat doings. The horse barn seems to be a haven for a lot of them, I have counted at least 5 or 6 most mornings walking there. If there is a fence between them and me, they just sit and watch me go by. If not, they hide under the foundation gap, or run off. ONE cat has meowed at me, but when I kneeled down some and called 'kitty', it made sure to stay way far from my hands...
Dogs: All the neighbor dogs seem to have well tuned barkers. I know which houses have dogs now... All of the ones that have dogs also have NOISY dogs. The neighbor that trains horses, has a farmhand that brings his dog. I am not on great terms with that dog. Why, I do not know, but the dog, named Odie, will run up to the fence, and bark at me. Then follow along the fence. Yep, still barking. When he reaches the gate, he will bark, and start to follow me. I have shooed him 'home' two or three times, which he doesn't like. His people is pretty nice, though, and now calls Odie, to try and keep him from being quite such a... pest.
Rudee misses walking with me, but I don't dare take him on the road. He doesn't walk well on a lead, he wants to wander, rather than staying by me, and I have no idea how the other dogs around might react to him. Plus, the poor ol' guy is getting arthritis in his joints, too, so we just take much shorter walks, or we let him out to wander when we are outside. He seems to enjoy this.
I had one interesting little dog incident. I was walking, and ZIP goes a little bitty (Yorkie???) dog. I was rather surprised, and managed to snag it and read the collar. Phone, no address. Ok, whip out the cell, no answer. I start walking back, and the stinker manages to wiggle out of my grasp with traffic coming! I wave frantically to get the truck to stop, when the guy in the driver's seat leans out the window and bellows, "Bennie, what the **** are you doing out here?!?" I let him know that the dog had followed me. The guy looked embarrassed, "yeah, he tries to everyday when you go by, but I normally catch him. (Ah, yes, another person noticing the walking gal...) I now check for low rider pups, and the truck guy waves most every day now.
Part of the reason that I walk early in the morning, one of the trainers at the carriage place has two Dobermans. They are mean, and one has tried to corner me when I have walked, so I adjusted the time to before he shows up for work. I am hoping as the seasons change, I will be able to continue walking before he, and they, show up.
I have planned for this, much to Husband's amusement. I wear a band around my hat that is actually meant for hard hats, it has a hands-free flashlight. On the back, I put a bicycle light, which flashes about every second or so.
So if you see a gal in a floppy hat, usually with sunglasses, a bright orange safety vest, and lights front and back, it's me.
I think I will never cease to amuse my neighbors...
Monday, January 30, 2012
Weather. Or not...
I took some pictures yesterday, we were going to get some rain in, and the clouds looked interesting. When I went outside, I found out the sun had risen only on the neighbor's field. We were still getting ready for sunshine, I guess... Thought it looked nice.
I thought this looked a lot like freshly cut fiber from a llama or sheep, but I tend to be thinking about that right now... It looks a bit like an unrolled roving.
Yes, I have fiber on the brain. If not in it...
A larger view, which almost looks like a storm, or some such, but this little bit of clouds, never did do anything...
This is Brassy, our mascot. He is finally getting to have some character, he was incredibly shiny when we first put him up, brilliant copper color. Now he's getting some tarnish, some verdigris, and it's making him look much better, in my opinion.
This is the garden, asleep for the season. Husband had to do a repair on the fence, we don't know exactly what happened, but there were deer tracks leading up to the corner of the fence, and the fence itself was leaning at about a 45 degree angle. (I leave the gate open to let the deer come in and eat the grass...) The deer might have spooked, or just not gauged the jump right. Husband has it fixed now, though.
This is such a great picture of Rudee, I almost hate to tell you how I got it. I was trying to get his attention, and he wasn't interested. Then I cracked a LOUD fart. He snapped to attention, ears up! WHAAAT??? I guess, if it works, it works...
And this last one? This is why you feed the llama BEFORE you take the picture... The camera barely escaped a nose print!
Monday, January 09, 2012
Zoooooom... Later.
Went to the Doctor this last week, and he gave me the all clear to drive, with the proviso that I need to practice some, and that I don't, say, plan a 6 hour drive somewhere immediately. I am pleased that my leg is recovering well, I am walking with the cane still, I suppose I don't REALLY need it, the doctor actually said it doesn't matter one way or another, and that it... Um...
Ok, he said that his Grandpa used a cane, and when asked why, as he didn't have problems, he said it was to move annoying children and dogs. Doctor said that gives me license to use it accordingly as well. (Needless to say, I cracked up...) Our next door neighbor, who is also a doctor, mentioned that it could give me a false sense of security if I was out feeding, as it wouldn't prevent falling on ice or poo. I told him that generally, I don't go out if it's icy, and well, I knew about the poo, since I was carrying TWO walking sticks when that happened. He then suggested I use a walker to feed.
Um. No. I will have husband help me, but I can't begin to figure out how to walk around with a bucket of feed, a walker, and have 5 eager llamas bouncing around me... And hay flakes? Not happening! Husband thought I might try using my wagon again, to pull the stuff around. I have no idea how that might work, since two of the llamas are rather piggy... We'll work it out...
I can't say I might not be up, weight wise, this week, since I have been a bit more gluttonous, but I have been able to keep the weight from going too nuts. Haven't lost much, but haven't gained much. Both docs say I now can get back to walking, and it will make the bone heal faster. Just have to figure out where to walk (more) safely.
And I finished one of my socks. I call it (just because) the "Travelling Fairy Socks". I will be knitting another eventually, that will be as long, but totally different looking, (for one thing, I am using white as the contrast color). I think I made the leg 16 inches, folding down to 8. It's just a scrap-tastic sock I had been thinking about, and wanted to try. I have a feeling that my spinning class will have hysterics, since they want socks to match... That isn't going to happen with more than a few of my upcoming socks, to be named "Port and Starboard", "Cop Car", and some Dobby socks. What's the use of doing knitting for yourself if you can't have some fun?
I am still knitting on Mom's socks, I will post up a picture when I get one finished, it's a very involved pattern to what I normally do, that's why it's taking so long...
If you are counting, I am down to 3 sock pairs, and one blanket I am knitting on... I'm slipping! Quick, I need something to cast on! HAHAHA!!!
Ok, he said that his Grandpa used a cane, and when asked why, as he didn't have problems, he said it was to move annoying children and dogs. Doctor said that gives me license to use it accordingly as well. (Needless to say, I cracked up...) Our next door neighbor, who is also a doctor, mentioned that it could give me a false sense of security if I was out feeding, as it wouldn't prevent falling on ice or poo. I told him that generally, I don't go out if it's icy, and well, I knew about the poo, since I was carrying TWO walking sticks when that happened. He then suggested I use a walker to feed.
Um. No. I will have husband help me, but I can't begin to figure out how to walk around with a bucket of feed, a walker, and have 5 eager llamas bouncing around me... And hay flakes? Not happening! Husband thought I might try using my wagon again, to pull the stuff around. I have no idea how that might work, since two of the llamas are rather piggy... We'll work it out...
I can't say I might not be up, weight wise, this week, since I have been a bit more gluttonous, but I have been able to keep the weight from going too nuts. Haven't lost much, but haven't gained much. Both docs say I now can get back to walking, and it will make the bone heal faster. Just have to figure out where to walk (more) safely.
And I finished one of my socks. I call it (just because) the "Travelling Fairy Socks". I will be knitting another eventually, that will be as long, but totally different looking, (for one thing, I am using white as the contrast color). I think I made the leg 16 inches, folding down to 8. It's just a scrap-tastic sock I had been thinking about, and wanted to try. I have a feeling that my spinning class will have hysterics, since they want socks to match... That isn't going to happen with more than a few of my upcoming socks, to be named "Port and Starboard", "Cop Car", and some Dobby socks. What's the use of doing knitting for yourself if you can't have some fun?
I am still knitting on Mom's socks, I will post up a picture when I get one finished, it's a very involved pattern to what I normally do, that's why it's taking so long...
If you are counting, I am down to 3 sock pairs, and one blanket I am knitting on... I'm slipping! Quick, I need something to cast on! HAHAHA!!!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Quiet day.
It's raining here. It hasn't rained in some time, so it's not a bad thing. Nice to listen to, at any rate. I have been knitting, reading, and some house cleaning. The leg, well, it's improving, I guess, at least it's getting enough better that I keep forgetting where I left my cane from one room to the next!
I am still not stable enough to go feed by myself. (Some of that has to do with the dang boot I have to wear, it's ROUNDED on the bottom, and meant for floors and level concrete, not 'dances with chickens and llamas' on gravel...) I am not real pleased by this, but at least I know that "He Who Doesn't Care About Llamas" is doing okay:
I am still not stable enough to go feed by myself. (Some of that has to do with the dang boot I have to wear, it's ROUNDED on the bottom, and meant for floors and level concrete, not 'dances with chickens and llamas' on gravel...) I am not real pleased by this, but at least I know that "He Who Doesn't Care About Llamas" is doing okay:
That is my husband, giving a back scratch to Lorenzo. He also gives back scratches to Llama, but the others don't want it. (The others still need some work...) Husband has been feeding the animals faithfully, and I will hopefully be able to take over soon. I have an appointment on January 5th to see if I have improved to the doctor's liking. Then I will find out how soon I can feed, drive, things like that. I know I shouldn't be in a rush, but it would be nice to be able to do some things by myself again...
So, not much on this blog, but hopefully something new and interesting soon. (I have to reknit one sock, or I would have a photo by now. It came out WAY too big... I want a wearing sock, not a Christmas stocking!)
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Hi! Miss me? Owwwiiiooooooooooo! Bark!
Today's walk was just so strange, thought it was worth at least a quick blogging.
I went up the hill with a pedometer, Rudee, the sticks, cell phone, and my tunes. Just a regular day... Well, the pedometer was new, but still, I didn't expect anything but a somewhat more accurate report on my walking. So, I am trotting along, when Rudee gets all 'focussed'. He does this when he sees a deer, or a squirrel, or hears something, but knows he's not to leave me. I didn't see a deer, and so I looked. He started whining. I looked around, and became a little confused.
"Ok, go get 'em."
I figured, that way I could at least SEE what he was up in arms about. He bolted! ZOOOOOOM! Right across the top of the hill to the fence. I then realized I was hearing something, and turned off the music. Howling, screeching noises, crashing, and more howling. My first thought was coyotes (really, really common around here). My second thought was, geez, that is a LOT of noise.
I waited, and then thought, ya know, our neighbor... Is she okay? This got me on my cell phone to call Husband to ask if he'd call her. She's elderly, and everyone has been a bit more 'on edge' with the cougar and whatnot. I told Husband that it sounded like something was being attacked up where I was. I was walking to where Rudee was, who was trying his level best to stick his head through the fence. That's when I saw the outline.
"Husband! There's a BEAGLE up here! There's TWO beagles up here! There's THREE beagles up here!" (And so, if needed we now know who can take The Count's spot on Sesame Street, if he needs a break.) So, hung up with Husband, and kept an eye on Rudee, and the general fracas. I was expecting a person sooner or later. Finally, the beagles decided Rudee was fun, but they were on the track of something, and blasted down the hill, making a hard left to the neighbor's place.
Husband called back, it turns out, neighbor had seen a bobcat run by her house, and the directions I'd given to Husband, told him that they were probably tracking it. The neighbor thanked us for calling, and said that NO, there was no permission given to hunt on her place. She was calling the Sheriff.
Never saw the owner of the beagles. We saw the patrol go by a little later, I don't know what happened, I might try and find out later. I know we have had several folks complain about shooting, and comment on getting a Neighborhood Watch. I think I better get more motivated to get that going...
Oh, and I walked 1.015 miles, according to the pedometer. Wonder if beagle barks affect accuracy?
I went up the hill with a pedometer, Rudee, the sticks, cell phone, and my tunes. Just a regular day... Well, the pedometer was new, but still, I didn't expect anything but a somewhat more accurate report on my walking. So, I am trotting along, when Rudee gets all 'focussed'. He does this when he sees a deer, or a squirrel, or hears something, but knows he's not to leave me. I didn't see a deer, and so I looked. He started whining. I looked around, and became a little confused.
"Ok, go get 'em."
I figured, that way I could at least SEE what he was up in arms about. He bolted! ZOOOOOOM! Right across the top of the hill to the fence. I then realized I was hearing something, and turned off the music. Howling, screeching noises, crashing, and more howling. My first thought was coyotes (really, really common around here). My second thought was, geez, that is a LOT of noise.
I waited, and then thought, ya know, our neighbor... Is she okay? This got me on my cell phone to call Husband to ask if he'd call her. She's elderly, and everyone has been a bit more 'on edge' with the cougar and whatnot. I told Husband that it sounded like something was being attacked up where I was. I was walking to where Rudee was, who was trying his level best to stick his head through the fence. That's when I saw the outline.
"Husband! There's a BEAGLE up here! There's TWO beagles up here! There's THREE beagles up here!" (And so, if needed we now know who can take The Count's spot on Sesame Street, if he needs a break.) So, hung up with Husband, and kept an eye on Rudee, and the general fracas. I was expecting a person sooner or later. Finally, the beagles decided Rudee was fun, but they were on the track of something, and blasted down the hill, making a hard left to the neighbor's place.
Husband called back, it turns out, neighbor had seen a bobcat run by her house, and the directions I'd given to Husband, told him that they were probably tracking it. The neighbor thanked us for calling, and said that NO, there was no permission given to hunt on her place. She was calling the Sheriff.
Never saw the owner of the beagles. We saw the patrol go by a little later, I don't know what happened, I might try and find out later. I know we have had several folks complain about shooting, and comment on getting a Neighborhood Watch. I think I better get more motivated to get that going...
Oh, and I walked 1.015 miles, according to the pedometer. Wonder if beagle barks affect accuracy?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Messing about in boats...reverb 29
This morning the weather folk said, rain, bad day. I walked, it was fairly nice, a little overcast.
Had to convince the llamas we were 'friendlies', they usually don't walk UP the hill when we go DOWN. I think the cougar has spooked them a bit more that I would like to admit. Lorenzo is getting real skittish about body checks, I touch his hip area, and he makes to spit at me. This part is no big deal, but then he tries to stomp. Lorenzo has a fat, furry butt, so I have to stand fairly close. This makes my foot in rather hazardous territory!
But we are all doing okay so far, (I had to up Llama's feed a little, she just doesn't put on weight like she used to. What is it about getting older and getting skinnier?) But they are doing well. So is Rudee, except he is getting the grumpy treatment from me, as he is finding llama beans to roll in, and smells like, well... Llama beans. Not the worst smell, but I still don't want to pet him and smell of manure.
Husband saw the weather, and said, well, since we can't go out if it's raining, I will go work on the boat.
(Since we can't go out? Hmmm.) So, he started working on the electronics. I washed a load of clothes. Started a second load. Boy, it's looking nice outside. Started cleaning the table. It really is brightening up... Wonder if Husband will change his mind...
Door opens. "Are you doing anything this afternoon?"
"No. Why?"
"I think I want to go out and test run the boat."
Why was I totally not surprised one bit? Does the fact that I already had a lunch pack put together and my knitting bag sitting ready give you a hint?
We went out, and it was warm! I was truly expecting it to be very cold, but I didn't wear a heavy jacket, just my sweatshirt and gloves (well, the life jacket, too), and didn't get a bit cold. We didn't go very fast, though. The water level was waaaay down (read: lots of deadhead stumps and rocks), and there was lots of wash in the water, leaves and sticks and bark. In fact, there was a lot of debris stuck in the jet intake when we got out. (Intake guards are a very good thing, Martha!)
Mud. Lots and lots, and orange sticky gooball mud. My shoes were coated, and so guess what little thing I have to do... (AND they are my 'good' shoes, adding insult to injury. Couldn't find my others, and I wasn't wearing my gumboots out. Meh.)
So, it's supposed to go back to January temperatures soon, so I guess enjoy the little flings of late spring while we can, yes? (And get my laundry done quickly!)
***
Ordinary, as in not exceptional. Walking, and observing the weather and the area. Seeing the plants go from scraggly ice covered branches, to fat little bud covered things, to light green starts, then the fullness of oak leaves, to head back into the quiet of winter.
Watching Rudee (and Tux, till he stopped) running up the hill, and the amusing way they would claim the top. (And seeing who would shed the most when they were in the right amount of light. Sadly, sometimes I was the winner... eeep.)
Finding out that I can go walking and not hurt after. Or that I can walk to stop my hurting.
Seeing birds. Seeing some sort of lizard run by. Rocks that are thrust up from winter's cold. Mud, that isn't just brown. I have found red, brown, yellow, sort of off green, and even a whitish blue!
And finding out just how much
Guess that doesn't count on joyful. But the fact I have a real good vacuum to clean it up does! :)
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