How to weird out kids when you are walking to the store.

(Husband and I really enjoy the Lord of the Rings series, book and movie.  There is a scene where one of the characters, Samwise Gamgee is talking to Gollum about potatoes.  “Pot-ta-toes! Boil them, mash them, stick them in a stew…”  I add this so that the following will make a bit more sense.)

It was a sunny(ish) day, no snow, the roads were clear, and we were out of milk, dog food, and a few other items, and Husband had an item he’d bought ready for pick up in town.  So, we went to the big box store, to resupply.

Said big box store had shoveled the snow into large, dirty piles at the edge of the parking lot, looking like a rather… messy animal had left some items un-buried.  Lovely, white, and new-fallen, it was not!
 
We walked up by 2 children, clad in puffy jackets and gum boots, who were playing climb the hill on the man made drifts.  The Mom and Dad were watching rather disinterestedly, I think they were just glad the kids were out and moving, the way it looked.

We walked, and Husband got the sneaky smile he sometimes gets, and said, in the same tone as Samwise, “ Snow piles, Mash ‘em, squish ‘em,” whereupon we glanced at each other and finished up with, “Put 'em in a stew”, and laughed.

The kids looked up, and then ran, not walked, to Mom and Dad.  Dad looked amused, Mom, not so much.  We walked by, and I was tempted to say “Gollum”, or “Precious”, but since our geek flag flying had such a reaction, I decided just going into the store might be a better bet…  But we were still laughing.

This snow has been not too bad for us, we are in the “finger” of Oregon, according to one weatherman.  They showed a satellite, and Washington and Oregon are white covered, except for a line at the coast, and this small area from the coast to where I am, and a bit beyond.  Which is odd, as about 2 weeks ago, they were getting nothing, and we had snow.  Go figure.  The temperature has been nasty.  I am not used to 16 degree (or less!) temps.  I am happy to say my hand spun wool gloves and scarf are great.  Not as much when they are soaked, however.  I had to carry water out to the animals, and oh, my did it get cold when the water splashed into the left glove.  Let’s just say, I was very glad we had a fire going in the house!

The animals seem to be coping all right, Rudee is doing much better, since we came up with a “heating pad” for him.  It’s actually a seed warming pad.  I guess that would be what a doctor would call an ‘off label use’.  It doesn’t get very warm, I believe 20 or so degrees above what is on it, so it won’t burn him.  The chickens are doing pretty well, they were confused with the snow, and didn’t go out in it much.  I have a Flock Block inside for them, a little extra nutrition, and since they want to stay inside, it also keeps them from pecking each other so much. (The avian version of Mean Girls, I guess…)  The llamas are just fine, they just look at me like I am an idiot when I try to encourage them into a shelter of any type.  They don’t seem to be cold.  They DO like the extra food.  And Buzz, our outside cat, is very happy, as I am feeding her gooshy type food, to supplement the dry stuff.  She has been VERY friendly of late.

So, I hope all you blog friends are doing okay with the weather where you are, and stay comfortable!

Colds, and musings on da blog...

Just so you know, colds are nasty, evil things.  I swear they are some demented demons idea of a joke.  I mean, you sneeze, blow snot every where, look like death warmed over way too long in the microwave on "high", and sound like a circus elephant with a clothespin on its nose. 

And that's the GOOD points...

So, after nearly a full week of this, I am back to (relatively) normal again.  I will assure all who care, I am not allergic to my new cat, (even though there was much arguing and disagreement from my Doctor... I went in for a pain problem, and we spent more time musing on mucus then my shoulder), and I am alive and doing well, if not blogging worth a darn. 

Is it because I have nothing to blog about?  No, in fact, I really need to start writing down notes so I don't forget things I want to blog about. 

Is it because I don't have time... Well, yes and no.  I really probably could manage my time at home better, there are times that I don't have a minute to sit in front of the computer, then there are times when I have the better part of a day, if I so want.  But, like today, I have time at the sub (and remembered my dang password) so I have plenty of time to blog. 

So, what's the hang up?  Hmm.

I guess I don't get started, and so don't do anything.  Then, when I do start, I tend to write just one blog, and leave it for much time, before I go back again.  Huh. 

This is where I think I will take a blog friend's advice, Messymimi had suggested some time ago that I might do several blogs at a sitting.  I would then just queue them to come up one at a time.  I think I should maybe start doing that.  I know when I would have time to blog, most weeks, and then I could get several little blurbs out, letting people know that I had not, as of yet, at least, run over my computer with a truck. 

You never know...

Getting back to posting...

I took a bit of time off.  I had family that was coming out to our house (to see the cat).  That stupid cat has a better social life than most PEOPLE that I know!  So I spent some time making sure the house was presentable, we had enough seats.  (This is something I have to do.  A flat surface, such as the area beside me on the couch, becomes a makeshift knitting table with amazing swiftness.)  Then making sure that it was as baby safe as I could make it. (Family brought... I think she is two years old, and she is a wonderful little umpty umpth cousin to me...) 

And I have changed my blog icon to reflect the cougar that seems to want all the attention.  I am going to try and get photos on the sides of my animals, so no one forgets old Tux, but I figure, with that cat, I can decorate for the holidays and such.  (Now how am I going to get rabbit ears on that thing?)

So, that was taken care of, and now that I am finally, but finally over that cold, (I had a nagging cough for over two weeks!), I went back to my spinning class.  Then some catch up on all the 'stuff' that I needed.  Let's just say, I am glad llamas and chickens eat more or less the same food, as I was feeding everyone the same thing for a day or two until I could get to the feed store.  I suppose I could have asked Husband, but he is busy with work, so I figured,well, cracked corn seems to fill up everyone.  And with the llamas being somewhat sloppy eaters, it gives the chickens "leftovers"...  (Re reading this, I might mention that Husband and Rudee did NOT have to eat cracked corn.  Though Rudee would, if I would let him...)

Fixed the fence.  You will notice there is no picture.  I did a hideous job that I am not proud of, but it does keep Rudee from going into the neighbor's field.  It did not, however, keep that little PITA dog of the neighbors for managing to nose UNDER the thing again, so I am going to get land mines heavy fencing, and some hog rings, and see if I can defeat the little monster that way. 

This is becoming personal...

I came home to the smell of fir trees.  I wondered what that was all about, when Husband told me we had a load of chips delivered from the power company.  In this area, if you let the company know that you would be willing to take them, they will give you the chips from clearing the right of way. (Otherwise they have to take it to the dump and pay for it.)  This is mostly pine, fir, and occasional other stuff.  But mostly fir, it smells like, this round.  We want to put a bunch of it on some of the sinking areas where the llamas walk from the back field to the front.  Also, my chicken yard could use a good going over, since the rainy season has floated away a lot of our work, leaving a mud ball out in front...

I am knitting a baby blanket.  I said it was a baby boy's blanket, as I am making it in blue with a "diamond plate" pattern.  Well, Husband disagrees, saying that the diamonds are all connected, and big. Diamond plate is tiny, and not connected.  Hmph.  Well, just so happens, I have a pattern for small, non-connected solid diamonds.  The gauntlet has been dropped, and so I know what I will be working on NEXT blanket! 

Speaking of Husband. You remember, the guy who doesn't like cats?  He was so disappointed, he'd tried to get me a Maine Coon, ahem, for ME, that someone was getting rid of on Craig's List. 

He hates cats.  My Aunt Fanny, he hates cats...

And I said that I would get some pictures of the tree that fell?  Here is the root ball. I can't reach the top well, so it's a bit tall taller than 8 feet (about 2.5 meters).

And the tree itself? I am guessing 30 to 40 feet or more (9 to 12 meters), probably more.  It knocked down a smaller tree nearby.  But, again, no one hurt, no fences down.  No llamas squished.  And we will have more firewood.  I guess it's all good.  So far. 

But I am not hauling firewood yet, mid August, either...

Hi, Mom!!!

Well, if you are reading this, and you are NOT my Mom, you should know that my Mom is bravely working at finding out about computers, and taking a class. She isn't exactly afraid of computers, but doesn't know enough about them to be comfortable with them.

So. She and my Dad will take a class (Dad already knows a bit about computers, but wants to brush up...) and hopefully Mom will learn enough to be able to get info from websites she's seen on TV, or listen to music, or radio, or just... read my blog!

If you are my Mom... Hi, Mom! This is my blog, if you want to read 'stuff' from it, go to the left under "recent posts" and pick one.

Why has it been so long since I blogged last? I had a cold. A cold that lasted almost 2 weeks. BLEAH!!!! I am starting back to the land of humans again, so hopefully blogging will thusly get back on track. Maybe. If I feel like it... Then again, maybe not.

Head Cowd...

I thought I had allergies. Well, it tisn't. I am now the wonder snot producer of the North West. I thought it was going to be a miserable day.

Then I went outside to feed. The Weekly Wonder chicks, while still terrified of me, are sprouting little tiny flight feathers.

There were no slugs on the front porch this morning, when I went to feed the cats.

There were several birds singing, and I saw at least 2 robins and some little cute brown and orange bird that seems to have a penchant for doing loop de loops as it takes off.

The neighbors calves are playing "head butt" tag out in front of the window, so I can watch them, instead of in the back field, where I can't see them.

I have no where I need to be today, so I can just stay home and vegitate.

Hey, maybe it isn't so bad... If I could just stop the snot machine... Maybe I should just stuff a hankie up each nostril. Hey, no one's home.