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!

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!

Uncle, already!!!

Woke up this morning, blundered out to the living room, where Husband was looking out the window.
"It's snowing, again."
I stared at him.  "What?"
"It's snowing again.  Looks like it is coming down pretty good..."
I looked.  It was.  This photo was taken a little after 5:30 a.m..  There was a good inch or so, even at that point.

As the morning progressed, it snowed harder.  The neighbor's cows were pushing the calves under the trees and centering them with the Moms outside, to shield them from the cold.  

This birdhouse is on the side of our house, I think the drift effect is the air movement around the house.  Haven't seen any birds going in or out of late, so it might not be occupied yet.  

(They probably haven't figured out it's spring, either...)

I am HOPING that the poor little pear tree doesn't have problems because of this...  It's weathered snow before, so I am trying to be optimistic.  On the bright side, it's not ice.

Husband looked at this photo, and said all it needed was a few Christmas lights.  

I agree...

The Pines on our place seem to look more burdened than the Firs.  We aren't too worried about the trees, but we are sort of hoping the pole barn doesn't decide to let go and munch everything. 

Some cows seeking breakfast.  I would show my llamas, but they stayed up on the hill, and so I will see them later.  Husband said this was a Hay Day, being that there probably isn't a lot of grass or forage for the llamas.  So, I will be wandering out to feed, and will have to see how my wagon does on snow...  And get Buzz the Hyperactive Wonder Kitten out from her snoozing spot.  

(I try and be nice, but I must say, I wish I could let her lay in the hay and let be.  Grumpy is Buzz when she has to leave.  I can't blame her, either.)

Now I just have to decide if I will go into town and work at the substation.  I will have to see what happens as the day progresses... 

So, all of you who have had the mild winter... ENJOY IT, PLEASE!!  Now I am completely confused, I have gardening fever, AND want to put up Christmas lights!

(update:  It is STILL snowing at 11a.m., and I was told to stay home by the new boss, so I will be homebound, unless someone else locally needs help. Husband had to get the back hoe out and move a tree for a neighbor. Tree, crossing driveway... This is interesting.  Power outages here and there...)

What a difference a week makes!

Husband got a wild hair, we hadn't gone to the coast since way before Thanksgiving.  So we picked a day, I think it was like the 4th or 5th, and went coastal.

The weather was great, and the gulls were hungry.

I had sympathy for Tippi Hedren...

Little cloud action coming in.  

Along with the tide going out.

The lighthouse from Nye Beach.  

Wish I could have had closer picture...

I can't remember the proper name for this creature.  

The skeleton washed up on the coast, and they made a mold 

of what it might have looked like. They paint it different colors

every so often.  I try and get pictures of it as the paint scheme

changes, Husband always knows I will ask to go see the 

"Dragonfish".

It was a great day.  A little windy, but it was, oh, about 65 or so, and sunny, nice, nice day.

***

Then came about 2 days ago, in the morning.  The wind had been heavy all day, several places had lost power, then I looked outside to feed the cat, and saw... 

This...

There was about an inch or so.  It was wet, sloppy, cold,

and generally not what I wanted for THE WEEK BEFORE SPRING!

Sorry for the blur.  Just trying to show the snow. 

Stupid groundhog!

In case anyone thought I had fallen off the earth, remember last blog I mentioned being in the Iknitarod?  

I was knitting like crazy this whole time.  I started, then got to the center.  Did my decreases. Ran out of yarn, and realized I had screwed up royally!  I had not read the instructions right, and had decreased once on each side, not twice, as written. which basically made it a big, house shaped, pentagony thing.  Frog, swearing not so silently, and start from the middle, over again.  Decrease CORRECTLY this time.  I finished about 5 pm, local time, with the edging, and was able to have it count, as the first musher of the Iditarod came in last night at 8, (Dallas Seavey) so I was in the time frame. (Whew!!!)  

For a simple pattern, it took a h*** of a lot of effort!  I am now going to knit something... Sockly, I think.  

After I take a short break and write some letters.  I have several folks that I need to reply to.  Let's just say the Month of Letters went better than I could have imagined!  I am not going to write every day, but I am going to make a point of replying to the letters I've received.  And perhaps a few that I haven't managed to get to yet... Urk.  

A letter's a letter, right???

Well, it's March 1st.  Or one-eth, if you want to be funny.  The weather people said we have passed the normal frost date.

Uh... Huh...

I remember it snowing on April 20th before, and while it is not QUITE freezing, we awoke to this:

Just enough snow to be kind of pretty (and cold, and wet, and sloppy... Ahem).  So, I guess we shall see what the next few days foretell for Puxywhatsis Pete's predictions.  

Stupid rodent, anyway...

In the hopes that spring will eventually BE here, I planted about 25 kohlrabi in peat pots, and about 6 long season tomato plants, which are now toasting tootsies on a heat mat.  I am hoping the early start will allow early(er) harvest.  The kohlrabi are for a friend of mine, he requests them, and last year, when I had a nice row for him, and a couple set aside for me, (that I forgot to mark), I see Husband and him walk out of the garden with ALL of them.  I am going to cure that, (hopefully) this year.  I am planting green kohlrabi for said friend, and I am planting RED kohlrabi for myself.  I am also thinking of planting my kohlrabi in a planter tub, where it's in a completely different spot than the ones I am raising for him...  

Yesterday was sort of blustery, with spots of sun, then wind, rain, and snow crossways, then dark, dark, clouds.  The weather was fitting, as it was my bosses' last day.  We all came in early for a meeting with the new boss(es, they seem to work tag team for some reason...), who were the OLD bosses' boss...es.  (Okay, I hope that sentence is semi-coherent, it sounds a lot better in my head than it does on the screen...)  

So, we showed up, not quite sure what to expect.  The bosses that were leaving were not there for most of the meeting, when they did show, they were getting ready to go, picking up papers and getting things together.  The new boss introduced himself, and we had a question and answer session.  It went rather well, I have worked with the one boss before in other capacities, and he is pretty straight forward, and refreshingly, he's one that, if he doesn't know, will say, "I don't know, let's find out."  That is such a nice thing to have, rather than filling the air with stuff and nonsense, in my opinion!  

We had cake and coffee. (We also had the great Cola Caper.  I had brought in a small Coke, and another gal had a bottle of Root Beer.  The two of us are known for not drinking coffee, and usually having sodas or, in my case, tea.  There was a quart soda cup on the table, and all eyes turned to us.  We both held up our respective cups, and shrugged.  The big soda was never claimed, I suspect it might have been forgotten by a deputy when leaving...) 

The bosses didn't eat, I think it was one of those 'gut' things, neither were acting like they were hungry, big surprise...  I was sitting down, just taken a big bite of cake, when the new boss asked me about my book.  Urg.  I motioned, then managed to get the bite taken care of.  Then I told him he'd make a great waitress with that timing.  He laughed.  

He is quite interested in the idea of my writing, and has offered to look over what I have written, so I am quite pleased.  A bit nervous, too, as I am NOT a cop, and while this is true, I don't want it to be where someone in law enforcement would laugh themselves sick at my errors, either...  I worry too much, I guess.  To wit: he'd asked how much I had finished, I told him about 8-10 pages, somewhere around there, but I kept writing, then not liking what I wrote, then starting a section again, then again, and again.  He looked at me, and said, "That's what editors are for, just write."  (As did Mom, later... Do I sense a trend?) 

Then I said goodbye to them as they left, hugs all around, and I managed to get out of there without crying.  Sniffing and sounding like I was going to, but I managed to keep it together.  That was the last thing I would need, come onto my shift with 'rat eyes'.  Ick.

In other news, the new avatar is up for the month.  This month's St. Patty's picture with BTK makes me think of a cross between a WW1 Dough boy, and Alex from Clockwork Orange.

Milk, anyone?

Sorry, flying my Geek Flag again...

Husband decided that I am doing well enough losing weight, (???) that he has set a date for us to go to Alaska.  So, I have a while yet, but we have several things that need to be figured out before we can go.  Everything from passports (we need to get them), to cell phones (can we use them?), to the tea I like, (should I take it with me, or can I get it at port?) 

I still don't know if I will be down to 150, my goal, by then, but I guess it gives me a definitive "point" to strive for.  I don't think he realizes that it took well over a year to lose 20 pounds and keep it off, but I know what I need to do, and if I don't manage to break something else, I should be able to get back to regular exercise.  I am walking some, on the road, which I don't like. (One of the neighbors has a Doberman, and it does NOT like me walking past "its" house.  Why, oh, why do I seem to have dog troubles so much???  I think I was a dog catcher in a previous life...) 

I don't have any good shoes right now for walking the hill, and Husband doesn't want me to, until it dries out. A lot.  So, I walk the road.  It will do, I guess.

And The Challenge.  I managed to get a letter out most everyday the mail ran, except for about 2 or 3.  I took a lot more than 24 addresses, however, so I am still writing letters!  I found out some won't write back, after February, some will.  I think I will just finish with the ones I have left, and go from there.  That way, I know I did what I said I would do, and write the people I said I would.  I have received several responses, that was very nice, and a few that sound promising as pen friends.  And I found I really like using fountain pens.  So, I consider it a general success.

Llama is putting on a little weight, and she now knows that she is going to be fed in the chicken house.  The only problem with this is, I walk in, and have to move her out of the way, as she then stops in front of the feed barrel.  Which is where I need to be, to feed her!  This also aggravates the chickens, who seem to think they should be fed too, for some strange reason. And they don't really like playing "Dodge the llama feet".

Ah, the life of my critters.

Time for travelin', where's my wings?

So.

I was going to be a good kid and knit on my Mom's socks.  And I did.  But I finished the other Travelling Fairy sock.   This is the finished pair, upon my delicate tootsies... (Ahem...)  I hope to wear them to spinning, to drive the "identical twin socks" people nuts.  Heh.  I made a real effort to make these different in look, but enough similar, that they are a pair.

It snowed.

Okay, it made a little tiny fluffy, powdered sugar cover on the lawn. (Cordova, Alaska this ain't...)  It did this yesterday, and this morning.  I could tell that at least two of the llamas either slept in the open, or they were snowed on early in the morning, as they had the same little powdered sugar fluff along the line of their backs.  I must say, I can tell my "white" llamas are more Aran-y during this weather, the snow is white.  The llamas... Not so much.  Especially the "all white" Llama, who has found a wallow of iron rich dirt, so right now she is reddish pink-brownishy.  I will have to clean her fiber a lot before I can use it.  

The biggest problem this morning, making me think twice about going outside, is that it melted during the day yesterday, and refroze during the night.  I don't want to slip again, so I am staying housebound for the time being.  Bless Husband, he is just fine with this, fed YET AGAIN this morning.  At this rate, I will be able to go feed, oh, about JULY... Hmph.

To do list for today: knitting, reading, some house cleaning.  (Yes, it's thrill packed here at Fur 'n Feathers Farm, folks...)  I think I will work on my charity knitting today.  I have a pink baby blanket for a charity group I send to. I have to get that blanket finished sooner or later, and well, it's a day of volunteering, so this is my volunteer knitting, right?

Then of course, back to Mom's sock.  I am getting close to the "complicated" part of the sock, so I will see if the gal's statement that this pattern will not send me to the corner, into the fetal position, will come true.  It has been a good pattern, so far, so I am hoping that will continue...

Pictures of sock and blanket soon, promise!

Sock, elders, and snow.

So, I finally, but finally got messymimi's prize to her.  I told her I would knit up a Christmas sock, and though it is now nearly March, I did get it finished...

 The finished sock...

And my little tree design.

So, I am pleased that it came out pretty well.  And that it got there!  (For me, and yon postal thingies, that isn't always the case...)

In other news, I mentioned in the last blog that I wondered why the kids were called "elders".  I found out that there is a site, (not surprisingly, named mormon.org) where they have actual people who will answer your questions.  I decided to give it a try, and I found out that the young folk are elders because they are missionaries for the church, not because they are old fogies drinking from the fountain of youth... 

I must say, I thought the folks were very nice answering my questions.  I find that, sadly, so many of these sites have "trolls" visiting who seem to have the sole purpose of finding ways to be complete, obnoxious (your pejorative here).  While I have no burning desire to become anything other than what I am, I find learning about other's faith, politics, where they live, and just who they are, can be fascinating, (if I don't get someone who is a 'troll' on the other end.)  As a wonderful man once said, "there are douche bags in every religion..." And pretty much everywhere else.  But there are wonderful people too, if we can find them. 

And there's your dose 'o saccharine for the day!  ; ) 

And well, I knew it was February.  It has been undeniably confirmed...

This is the view from my meditation area.  While a terrific view, my meditation has been transferred to the house of late, because the morning temps have been anywhere from 17 to 30 degrees in the morning! (-8 to -1, for my C preferring friends.  Either way... BRRRR!!!)

Unlike my friends on the eastern end of the US, we received... About 2 or 3 inches.  And most of it has melted.  There was a prediction of six, but we live in a spot that is slightly warmer, and doesn't usually get the predicted amount.  We are supposed to get some more snow this weekend possibly, which should turn to rain this week.  Please think really, really good thoughts, that it doesn't just turn to rain, and we have it as ice.  Been there, done that, detest it heartily.

But we have the generator ready... Just in case.  And people provisions.  And of course, pet food. 

Gotta have llama chow...  (Watch out, they spit!)  ; )

Twofer, white stuff, and aggrivation.

Went to give blood yesterday.  It was at the LDS church.  I know very little about the Mormons, but I am always amused when I donate there.  The "Elders" volunteer, usually out front for verifying that I have an appointment and such.  These Elders are... about 17?  20 years old, tops... Maybe.  They must make elders waaay younger at that church.  I say this to offend no one, it just amuses me to have an 'elder' that is half my age or more.

Once I was in for the drive, I noticed they had a slightly different setup than I was used to and commented on it.  The gal doing the intake physical told me that they were doing "double red" donations, would I be interested?  I said sure.  She checked then told me they were full.  About the time she said that, another gal came up and told her that the other person had the wrong blood type, that if she had another person, they could use them.  So I said I would, and they started the process, which, all in all, seemed pretty much like the regular process, except they asked how tall I was. 

Okay...

So she led me over to the machine, and they hooked me up again, and asked about how tall I was.  Again.  And if I had any questions.  Yeah... What does how tall I am have to do with giving blood?  The gal then explained, with women having menstrual flows, they lose more iron then men.  Therefore, they need to be (her words) stouter, to do this kind of donation.  Huh...  So they explained what was happening. 

I was hooked up to a centrifuge, which spins the blood at 7000 rpm, that separated the cells from the rest of it (plasma).  The cells go into one bag, the plasma into another.  I also received saline, with the plasma, to make up for the cell loss. 

There was a heating pad under my arm, and they explained that the plasma would be returned cold. (I forgot to ask why...)  This process is repeated twice, hence the "double red" term.  I basically give twice as much in this process as I would giving just my normal pint.  So, I lean back and watch the thing go round.  Listen to the gals josh with one another (happened to be all gals doing the drive this time, as far as I could tell).

So the centrifuge finished, and started pumping the plasma into the one bag, and the cells into the other.  I commented "That looks like BEER in that bag".  The gals laughed, saying that was not the first time that comment had been made.  It was a golden yellow color with a head on it, just like someone had poured a pale ale into the bag.  She then joshed with me a little, as some of the cells creeped into the bag as it finished, "Yes, we know when to go to the next step when the beer turns into a Tequila Sunrise." 

Love the technical aspects of donation! 

I noticed that I became just a bit cold as the plasma was returned, and put my coat over my shoulders.  'Do you need a blanket' was asked several times.  Nah, the coat was plenty.  I was then told I might have some tingling sensations.  Wow, they weren't kidding! Know that "pins and needles" sensation?  I had it the whole of my person for a short bit.  Strange sensation, but went away quickly.  Watched the cell merry-go-round again, and then the process started again.  This time, I got cold.  I hadn't realized that the first round would lower my temperature enough to make me really, REALLY cold the second time.  I was shuddering so hard it was hard to ask for a blanket!  When they put the blanket over me, I joked that I must be a bit of a wimp to need the blanket now.  She winked, and said, nah, you would have been a wimp if you needed it the first time. 

So, since I gave what amounts to 2 pints, I received my 6 gallon pin, and a second little pin for my first "Double Red" donation.  And since I gave more, I have to wait 16 weeks to donate, not 8.  But my donation will help more, so I guess it balances out. 

The only side effect that I seem to have had, they said I would be tired.  Now, this is normal for any donation that I have had, but this was a bit more... pointed.  I was walking this morning, and after Husband freaked me out slightly by riding the ATV up to meet me, (OMG, something's wrong, whatwhatwhat?  Turns out, he was putting fresh plugs in for the ones that had been fouled, and wanted to run the rig. Oh.), and he noticed that I looked beat.  I told him I was, that I seemed to be just shy of wiped out.  He, the voice of reason, said I should maybe just ride back.  I, the voice of stubbornness, said I could walk back, and that I should finish my exercise.  He countered, I don't want to have you collapse up here.  Then I considered Rudee's last attempt at imitating Lassie, and decided I should just head down the hill early. 

I read the info, and the fatigue is only supposed to last a day or two, so I am fine with it, but it sure took more out of me than I expected, so to speak. (Oh, and I took a picture of my plasma "beer", but it's on my cell phone, so I don't know at this point how to get it on my blog.  Once I do, I will post it.)

The weather guessers are all in a horrified tizzy here, it is supposed to snow.  It tried to, a little this morning, I saw a few flakes mixed in with the rain, and even some snow "pellets" that bounced off my hand and hat.  It even made Rudee's fur look beaded.  I have crocus up, a daffodil, and some other stuff starting to come up.  So, they are talking as low as 19* F, and about 6 inches or so of snow.  Yay.  So, we shall see if they are panic-stricken for no reason, or if I will be snowbound this next few days.  I am not looking forward to snow, but we are prepared, so I guess it can do what it's gonna. 

Like I can stop it...

And the scale.  The stupid, stupid scale.  I am getting most heartily sick and tired of this same .8 up and down.  I had a great week!  I fit into a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for nearly... Well, 20 pounds or so ago.  Exercising well, (Husband checked the distance with the ATV, and says I am doing closer to two miles a day, than one.)  I figured it would be great, I had to be down.  .8 UP.  Someone mentioned measuring myself, and I did last week, forgot to this week, so I will have to see if THAT changed, but I was so frustrated, I bawled.  Husband was standing there, which made it all the more embarrasing for me (I detest to cry), but he was so good about it.  He basically said to ease up on myself, I was working hard.

Yeah.  But it still sucketh, yea, verily...

Thank you East Coast, keep it comin'...

We have snow on the mountain again!  Now, I know those of you who are up to your... elbows... in the stuff probably aren't impressed.  But...

No snow in winter = Drought in summer.

Yes, this is Oregon.  But it still happens.  And we had a "Pineapple Express", which means that after we had a lovely batch of snow up high, the Jet Stream changed to bring warm air and melt same.  So, it was looking a bit chancy for a while.  But there is snow up there.  Now if we could just keep it up there, and all of you on the other side could get your own Pineapple Express...  (Not all at once, however, or boats might be the next thing for that area...)

St. Valentine's was pretty quiet for us, Husband had a job, so we exchanged little gifts.  I gave him some candies he likes (Sweeties.  Thought it was appropriate, somehow.)  He gave me not one, but two cutting board that I have been asking about.  He made them.  I like smaller cutting board, and so he took a standard board, and cut it in half, then using some of the machines that he has, cut it out to make a cutting "island" with a pouring area when finished cutting.  I like!

We had dinner, and watched Toy Story 3.  Not the most romantic movie, perhaps, but it was one neither of us had seen, and certainly a better choice than Insomnia... 

I am getting a few minor victories of accomplishment here, I have finished socks, Christmas Stocking, and FOUND THE VIDEO that I hadn't been able to find for about 2 months.  So, I can finally watch the guitar video like Husband suggested. 

Found a pattern for a messenger bag, knitted.  It only takes about 1000 yards of yarn...  (Eep!)  I was thinking about using my hand spun, but even if I used every last scrap, I don't believe I would have enough.  I will look through the stash, but I suspect that there wouldn't be enough of any one color there, either.  And, as one of the gals said in spinning, it's sort of a waste to felt homespun, it's sort of like hiding it.  Sooo, I will have to budget for my latest thing.  But, the priority is chicks.  Chicks are coming into the feed store this next week, so I am am going to get out the heat lamp, water trough (It makes a terrific container for the wee clucklings), and the usual stuff and nonsense that I dig out for the babies.  We haven't had any bobcats for a while (knocking on wood frantically), so I am hoping that if I buy a batch, they will grow this time, and not become a feline buffet line.

So, what am I doing today?  I fed, then walked, (Rudee was really wanting to.  I was not.  Rudee won.  I wish that I could WAKE UP as perky as that dog, sometimes!), then did a bit of house cleaning.  Knit a sock toe.  Made lunch.  In all, a very unexceptional day. 

You know, those are nice, sometimes. 

And, I should be getting my Library Card any day now.  Just signed up, and then I can check out items with total disregard to the wall of books already in my house.  (Heh.)  In truth, I am actually looking for it as much for some of the video and music options as anything.  Magazines, too. 

So.  I suppose I should go do something.  Hm.  Betcha I could start dinner soon. 

The thrill never ends, yes?

:)

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

The one fairly good shot from the boat when we went out.  It was pretty, even if I was turning blue...

(And I lost .2 of a pound...)

Short blog.

I woke up to hear Husband trimming his beard. And this poem came into my head, such as it is.

Husband's beard trimmer,
sounding like a drunken bumblebee,
grazing on salt.

And Pepper.

:)

(And I think this would be free form poetry, I don't think it fits haiku.)
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In other news, Mother Nature has lost her mind, or her calendar, or both...
Yes, Dear Readers, that is SNOW on my pear tree blossoms. This is April 20th, and there is SNOW on the ground, about an inch or so. We aren't supposed to have SNOW this time of year.

Sheesh...

9,8,7....

Yesterday had sort of an interesting start. I got up. Still snow. In fact, I think it had snowed just a bit more than before, maybe another inch or so. No freeze, however, so I went out to feed.

I walked out to the barn where we store the hay. Husband has made a little "kitty cave", setting the bales in such a way as to make a hole for the cats to be warm. I had to get a new bale down, so I moved a bale in no way connected to the "kitty cave".

Or so I thought.

I am about 5 and 1/2 feet tall. The bales are stacked about 7 foot high. So, getting one from the top, I basically yard on the bale, get it to the tipping point, and let it fall. This works fine. Usually. However, for some unknown reason, it snagged another bale. Which pushed over another bale. Which fell in the "kitty cave". With Mama Cat in it.

My first thought. Oh G*d, I just killed Mama Cat!

I lunged for that bale, tried to lift. There are differences between men and women... One being upper body strength. I was in an awkward position, and couldn't lift the bale. I started digging. That only made the bale shift. Various swear words ensued. I then decided to call Husband, he could at least lift the bale, so I could get her crushed little body out. I called Husband on the cell, (for once, actually an item useful, I find it only useful as a flashlight in the chicken house. Otherwise, eh...), and through my blubbering and snotty nose, he gathered something was wrong, and I needed help with the hay bales.

I tried, and then slipped on the hay. This gave me just enough twist to shift the bale over AND up some. I look under the bale, and there's Mama Cat. Looking at me, and sniffing the bale over her head. After some blurbled coaxing, she came out.

Husband was highly confused when he came out, I called needing help with hay and a cat, he came out to see me holding Mama Cat, and blurbling only slightly more coherently. I explained what happened, and he just nodded, with the slightly glazed expression he gets when he knows his wife has gone into the coo-coo zone, and he needs to just "listen to the crazy lady." I was busy checking that Mama Cat didn't have any torn up spots or broken anything, when husband pointed out the bale had fallen in such a way, as to leave a nice large triangle for her. She probably was only confused about why the lights went out, not about being crushed...

I finally settled down to get the rest of the feeding finished, and I noticed Husband was pulling down some bales from on top. He's not stupid, bales on the ground= less crazy lady.

This isn't the first time I almost, or thought it was almost, an end game for Mama Cat. I am thinking she is down at least 4 or 5 lives at this point. (Being that she is around 17 years old, I guess this isn't too bad.)

Mama Cat has been looking at me funny today, can't imagine why. I just have been giving her extra hugs, and talk every second I see her. I think I recognize the expression, however. Looks sort of like Husband's.

Can't imagine why...

SNOW DAY!!

We had about 6 inches of snow. I had Husband take a measurement, it reads 4 here, we had a lot more snow after...


So what does an otherwise semi-lazy, housebound woman do when confronted with snow like this? Make a snow man! And I didn't notice the "fig leaf", where I made the snow man, there were prodigious amounts of oak leaves. Sadly, he didn't last too long, but, I did get a picture.



Then, just because, I also did up a snow rooster. This one seems to have a bit more staying power.





I hope that the weather guessers aren't right, they are talking like a big freeze tonight, and that could make it a really, really nasty day tomorrow. So, I will enjoy my chicken while it lasts... And go pick up defunct snowman clothes...