Only Two Days

This may well be my last post of 2011. There are only two days left to the current year before the new one begins.

I guess I'm supposed to look back and reflect on the year, so here goes. We were very blessed and had a very good year. I wish everyone could have had the same, but we know that wasn't the case. My hope is that next year is better for them. My hope is that everyone has a better year than this one that is almost ready for the record books.

One of the happiest things that happened to us this year is that Kenneth and Elicia finally got married. No, I have to say that is the happiest. Dave's job, I don't want to say it because I'm superstitious that way, but let me just say that we had a good year in that regard and I pray it continues.

Another happy thing that happened is that we were able to go back to my hometown for one of my niece's wedding. She made a beautiful bride and while we were there, Dave and I were able to meet up with some friends and spent our last day there having fun. I did make a big mistake and when a friend said that she wanted to come out here, I made it sound as if I didn't want her to come because we need to do some much needed work on the place, which is farthest from the truth. I would love to have her visit. She is a friend who has always been there for me, through good and bad. Those kinds of friends are hard to find and I'm lucky to have found two over 30 years ago and still have them. I am truly blessed to have them in my life and I hope they know it. I am also blessed to have reconnected with other friends, one of who was the other friend that we spent the day with. That was one of the most relaxing days I have ever spent while there. It was great and the weather was perfect. Too bad we had to leave the next day, but two weeks later Dave and I took a business trip to Indy and for me it was like another vacation. I love the hotel we always stay at, it's so relaxing.

The only thing that I didn't like about this year was all of the political ads on TV and political phone calls, especially this last week, even on Christmas Eve and they were all recordings! Only one was an actual person. They couldn't leave us alone even then. I'm surprised they did on Christmas day. Don't they know that the only thing it accomplishes is annoying us? Now whenever an ad comes on TV, I mute it and when we get one of those phone calls, I hang up. Only five more days until the caucus and boy, am I counting the days until it's over! At least we'll have some peace for a little while, that is until someone is nominated to run, then it starts all over and usually gets really nasty with the attack ads.

I'll be glad when that's all over too and hopefully we'll make the right choice when we go to the polls in November, but until then, we have almost an entire year to get through. I pray that it's a good one for everyone, up until November and after. Until then, goodbye 2011 and hello to 2012.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish everyone out there a Very Safe and Merry Christmas. May your day be filled with joy and may all of your Christmas dreams come true.

If you are driving this holiday weekend, please drive safe, don't text and drive or use your cell phone at all while driving. Be cautious and watch out for the other guy/girl because he/she may not be watching out for you.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I Hate Mud!

We had some snow last night, not a lot, around an inch or so. Well today the temps went up to the 40s and the sun's been shining, which means all the snow melted which in turn means,  big messes in places.

Being part Jack Russell, Max loves to dig, you should see our yard, it looks like a mine field so there's a lot of mud right now. I let the dogs out a little while ago and when I went to let them in, not only were Max's front paws caked in mud, but so were his back ones. Needless to say, he got all four paws washed off before being let all the way into the house.

Jake and Rolli were good, no digging from them, so their paws were fine. That was surprising for Rolli because sometimes she'll get out there and challenge Max to a digging contest. Too bad I can't say the same for Angel's paws.

The bad thing about her having muddy paws, she comes screaming into the house without stopping so you can't always catch her. This was one of those times and when she stopped on the doggy bed, whose cover I now have to wash, she got muddy paw prints all over it. But the good thing is that hers weren't as bad as Max's. Maybe she went over to where he was digging and told him that he'd better stop because he would have to get his paws washed when he came in the house. I guess he was having so much fun, he didn't care, well not until he got in the house that is.

I keep telling him that Santa is watching his every step, but I guess just like all naughty little pups, he doesn't think of the aftermath, only the fun he's having at the time. He's lucky he's so cute.

I Officially Have a Daughter-in-Law!

I called Kenneth this morning because I tried to call him last night and couldn't get ahold of him. I couldn't this morning either so I decided to call Elicia, his fiancee after I couldn't get in touch with him again. It was then that I found out that he was home and that they had just gotten back from the courthouse and they tied the knot.

All I can say is that it's about time!

Yeah!

Our dryer is up and running again. Dave put the new belt on it on Tuesday and I used it yesterday to wash the stuff off of the bed. It feels good to have a clean bed to crawl into at night.

I also finished the expense form I have to fill out every year for David's SSDI. I save all of his receipts and put them in a spreadsheet by categories on the sheet so that I can keep track. Every year I say that I'm going to keep up on them and enter them when I get them and every year, there are a ton of them that I never entered, so I have to enter them before I can fill the form out. That took me only two days to enter the receipts and fill out the form and get it in the mail before the 30 day deadline. I think I actually got it done earlier this year than I have in the past. Now I don't have to worry about it and have the stress of it ruin my Christmas.

I also have my Christmas shopping done so I can relax and make some cookies, like I need them. but I do want to make pezzelles this year and a walnut and butter filled bread that my grandmother used to make. I'm dying to see how it comes out in the new oven. I also have a shortbread recipe that a friend gave me that I want to try. I just hope that I can remember where I put the recipe.

I actually feel caught up this year. What an unusual feeling it is. :)

Our Dryer Died

Well, it didn't actually die, let's just say it broke a part, yes a part, not apart.

The belt on it broke yesterday while I was doing laundry. I was on my third load in the washer and of course, one in the dryer, when I noticed that it was making a funny sound. The motor was running and the heat was coming through the hose, but the drum wasn't spinning. I tried calling Dave at work, but he had his cell phone turned off. In fact he forgot to turn it on. Needless to say, I was not happy.

So, off to the laundry mat David and I went. To say the least, it is not on the list of one of my favorite places. David decided that he should go along and get his laundry done too, good idea since we didn't know exactly what was wrong with the dryer at that time and how long it would take for it to either get fixed or for us to get a new one. Actually it would have been quicker to buy a new one.

David had only gotten one roll of quarters and when it came to drying his loads, decided that he would use the quarters I had, BAD idea! There were machines there that you could get quarters from and he had some spare cash on him, so I made him get some more quarters. I wasn't sure if I would have enough to dry my stuff, you only get seven minutes per quarter in the dryers, let alone finance his drying too. Not only did I have two loads to dry, I also had two more to wash and then dry.

David also does not have the most patience in the world, in fact he's worse than I am. He was willing to take his clothes out while they were still damp so that we could leave rather than making sure they were dry. Mine weren't dry yet anyway and as it turned out, they also weren't completely dry when time ran out so they needed more time, and since he wasn't leaving until I was, I made him put some more quarters in. When he got ticked, I just told him, "I don't know why you're getting mad, you can't go anywhere until I do anyway." He hates when reality sneaks up on him like that. ☺

Oh well, at least we both got our laundry done and all in all, it only took us a little over an hour and a half, plus we were able to get some recycling done that he forgot to put in the van last week, so that was good. Next week I do have to take the comforter to the laundry mat to wash and dry it. I wished I had thought about it, I could have gotten that done yesterday too. It's too big for our washer and dryer. Shucks!

Anyway, Dave was also able to give the dryer a thorough cleaning out of all the lint in it. Speaking of which, a word of advise, when you clean out your dryer of lint, make sure you blow out around the motor and inside too, a wet/dry vacuum is best for this. Don't just clean out the hose or where it connects to the dryer. Ours had a lot of lint trapped inside. That's probably why it would smell as if something was burning whenever I went to get the clothes out. Talk about a fire hazzard!

Important Dogfood Recall

Got this from the Paws Posse blog.

Two New Dog Food Recalls

December 7th, 2011 09:20:13 am

On December 6, 2011, two companies issued dog food recalls. Recall 1: Cargill River Run & Marksman Cargill is recalling some packages of dog food under their River Run and Marksman brands due to higher than allowed aflatoxin levels. The foods to watch out for are: Product Size Professional Formula River Run Hi-NRG 24-20 Dog Food 50 lb. bag River Run Professional Formula 27-18 Dog Food 50 lb. bag River Run 21% Protein Dog Food 40 lb. bag & 50 lb. bag River Run Hi-Pro No-Soy Dog Food 40 lb. bag & 50 lb. bag Marksman Dog Food 24% Protein 20% Fat 40 lb. bag Marksman Dog Food 20% Protein 10% Fat 40 lb. bag & 50 lb. bag Marksman 28% Protein 18% Fat 40 lb. bag Bags affected by the recall have Packaging Date Codes (lot numbers) 4K0335 through 4K0365, LL0335 through LL0365, 4K1001 through 4K1335, and LL1001 thorugh LL1335.The affected products were distributed in Arkansas, California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and the US Virgin Islands. If you have any of these bags, stop feeding it to your dog immediately. Return the bags, even if they're opened, to the original place of purchase for a full refund. If you have any questions, contact Cargill directly at 855-460-1532. Keep reading for symptoms of aflatoxin illness you should watch for if you have fed your dog one of these foods. Recall 2: Iams Last week, Iams quietly pulled some dog foods from shelves. The recall is now official, with lots more details for consumers. The food being recalled is their ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry food due to higher than normal aflatoxin levels also. The bags to watch for are: Size Code Date UPC Code 7 lb. bag 12784177I6 1901402305 8 lb. bag 12794177D2 & 12794177D3 1901410208 17.5 lb. bag 12794177K1 & 12794177K2 1901401848 Though Iams has pulled this product from shelves, some may have been purchased already. The affected bags were distributed in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. If you have one of the affected bags, stop feeding it to your dog immediately. Throw it away and call Iams at 866-908-1569 for a replacement voucher. Symptoms of aflatoxin illness Both recalls are due to higher than acceptable aflatoxin levels. No illnesses have been reported connected to either recall. Symptoms of aflatoxin illness are lethargy, reluctance to eat, yellow tint to eyes or gums, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your dog shows these symptoms and has eaten this food, call your vet immediately.

A Lot of Rain, Fog, and Little Snow

Yesterday it rained and boy did it rain, plus it was foggy. Not a good combination, especially when it's dark and you're trying to drive on a road not well marked or lit.

That's the way it was for me when I went to pick David up from work yesterday. The road we drive on isn't well lit, because on either side is mostly farm land. Worse than that though is the fact that the lines need to be repainted very badly. There were times I felt like I was drifting into the other lane so I started trying to stay more to the right which caused me to hug that side of the road. It made it difficult when a car would be coming in the opposite direction. Because the lines are in such bad shape, I almost went off the side of the road a few times. It made for a very wheel clutching drive to and from his work. I was glad when I finally got on the back roads and it felt so good to finally pull into the driveway.

Yesterday was also the first day of shotgun deer season. Thankfully the hunters had enough sense to call it a day when the fog started setting in. Today they're back out there, but at least the sun is shining and the winds are down which is good, considering it's not supposed to make it out of the lower 30s, if that. There is a little snow on the ground, but only a dusting.

They got more snow than rain north of Des Moines yesterday and colder temps, maybe the 20s if they're lucky. It looks as if winter has decided to make its appearance after all. Even the geese have decided that it's time to fly south. They waited later this year than they normally do. We should be seeing bald eagles soon too. I love seeing the eagles every year, one of the perks of living here. It's also my favorite part of winter.

BAH HUMBUG!

Got the outside decorated, got the wreaths in the windows, and yesterday I put up the tree. It of course, turned out gorgeous again this year. Even changed the backgrounds on my computer, phone, but still have to on my IPod, but I did change the ringer on my cell phone. Even got most of my shopping done, but yet I don't feel all that much in the Christmas spirit right now. I think it's because I gave Dave one of his presents early, a new coat that I got for a really great price at Old Navy and he said that he didn't like it. He said it wasn't his style.

He needed a new winter coat, plus I wanted to get him one that he could wear when we went out somewhere nice. The one he had he's had for ages and the zipper on it was broken, or worse, he would wear his barn jacket. He'd leave it in the car, but I still knew it was there. Now he has a nice wool coat to wear and he doesn't like it.

I was going to do some alterations to the coat to make it look more like his style, but I was afraid of messing it up so instead I just ordered him what he really wanted, a pea coat. I got a brand new one by Calvin Klein for under $100 and the best thing is that the seller is here in Iowa. So if he ships it tomorrow, it should be here by Saturday or Monday at the latest.

My day has not been going very well. I went to change watchbands on one of my watches and lost not one, but both little bars that hold the band on. The one should have been right here on the couch but I still couldn't find it. The other shot across the room somewhere. It's not a big room, but no luck, so I gave up. The ones that came with the band don't fit it, so I've decided that the thing is going back. I'll look for a different band. The bad thing is that it's a brand new watch, but I didn't like the band that was on it.

Just now the washer decided to go off balance. Luckily all that was needed for that were a couple pairs of Dave's jeans to be readjusted. That was no big deal, it happens all the time. Earlier though, it took me three spins to dry one flannel sheet. I've already decided that I'm going to hold off until tomorrow to do towels. I also have a couple rugs to do.

Anyway, I'm going to relax and hope that nothing else goes wrong. I just looked at the clock and it read 3:15. It seems a lot later.

The stupid washer decided to go off balance again, plus my finger hurts, another story. I need some spiked eggnog! Anyone have any real strong stuff?

UPDATE: As if it couldn't get any better! I just went to pull a runner out of one of the sideboards in the dining room when with it, a bottle of lamp oil fell out and shattered on the floor. It was a plastic bottle, but it hit just right and now we have the smell of it all over the house. Dave spread some cat litter, don't worry it was clean, over the spot to absorb the oil. So much for hoping huh?

UPDATE ON UPDATE: The spill has been cleaned up, thanks to Dave!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone is having a Happy Thanksgiving.

Hello, My Name is Michelle and...

I am a Vera Bradley purse addict.

There, I said it. Why did I say it, because in the last month, I have bought five Vera Bradley purses. I found most of them on eBay and one at Vera Bradley.com. That one so far is my favorite. It's in the Stephanie style, which apparently is being retired, which is a shame, because it's the perfect size and it was on sale. They can be a little pricey, but since I bought most of them on eBay, I was able to look for the lowest price.

"How did this happen," you might ask. Well it all started one day when on the one message board I post to, one of the other posters posted about a new purse she bought and that was all she wrote, I was up on eBay looking for a new purse. At first I was looking for a nice leather one, but couldn't find one. I even went to jcp.com where I bought my last two leather purses, but no luck, so I went back to eBay. Then I saw them and I liked what I saw, so I started looking more.

I saw one I really seriously thought of getting and then I saw another that was up for bid and the auction was almost over so I took a chance and bid on it. In the meantime I saw another that I really liked so I bought it rather than the one I had been considering. The one I bought on the Vera Bradley site was the same purse style I had been seriously considering before, but on the site it was actually cheaper, because, now repeat after me, "It was on sale." From there on, I was hooked. Well, to tell the truth, after the first one I was hooked.

After that, I decided that I needed one to match the purple stripe in my winter coat, so I went searching again and saw a couple really cute patterns, but I wasn't thrilled about them, so I kept looking. And then I saw it, a pattern I loved and it looked as if it would match that stripe in my coat. I bought one, but a week later got an email from the person I bought it from telling me that it had been returned by the post office because it had been damaged in shipping. I thought to myself, "Wow! I wonder how well she packed it before it got shipped because it didn't happen to the others I had bought and received from the post office." I received a refund from her the same day as her email and proceeded to buy another purse, but not in that pattern. That one is due to be delivered today.

I did find that same purse in the same pattern a couple days ago and bought it. It should be here next week. Now that I found that one, I keep telling myself that I am not going to buy any more.

I still find myself up on eBay looking at Vera Bradley purses. I reluctantly pull myself away, telling myself, "No more!" in a very stern voice. Lets see how long it is until I tell myself to, "Shut up!" and start the search for another Vera Bradley purse.

Thank You

Thank you to our Veterans.

No Naps for You!

Everyday this week I have told myself that I was going to take a nap sometime during the day and so far, I have not taken one. I tended to get wrapped in something else and never got around to one. Yesterday besides laundry, it was a good book I had been reading on my Kindle that I finished. Today I need to go up on Amazon and get the last in the series. There are three books in the series, I've read two so far.

Maybe today I'll finally get around to taking that nap, I didn't sleep too well last night. If I do, it's got to be before 3:00. I want to watch "The Doctors" then. Barry Manilow is going to be on. I've always liked him, but hate to say, when I saw a preview of the show yesterday, he didn't look as if he was aging that well, but maybe it has to do with what he's going to talk about on today's show.

The pups are all taking naps now. I'm sure the cats are too. Max is laying close enough to me here on the couch so that I can scratch the top of his head when I want. He doesn't seem to mind either. The other three are in various parts of the living room. All are snoozing away, oblivious to what is going on around them. All look so content, even Max here on the couch.

We people can sure learn a lot from dogs. Most of us are so busy running around like chickens with our heads cut off, worrying about how things are going in our lives, sometimes not showing enough attention and affection to the people we hold dear. We need to  learn, like dogs, it's okay to let life just slow down for awhile, let the people we love know that we love them, and to take a nap once in awhile. I think we'd all be happier for it and so will our loved ones. Don't you agree?

Hope you all have a great day and are able to slow down and maybe take a nap too. If you have a dog or cat, take a little time to scratch the top of their head too. You'll both feel happier for it.

Hey Man, What's That Sound?

Dude #1: Hey man, did you hear that?
Dude #2: Yeah man, what was it?
Dude #1: I don't know man, but I know I've heard it before, a long time ago.
Dude #3: I think it was thunder.
Dudes #1, 2: Yeah, that was it man, thunder, cool!
Dude #1: Makes sense now man, with it raining and all.
Dude #2: Hey, what's that bright light?
Dudes #1, 3: That's lightning, man.
Dude #2: Oh yeah, cool!

Yep, we had thunder showers this morning. In fact it's supposed to rain all day with a possibility of some snowflakes mixing in. It's not supposed to get out of the 40s. Thankfully I don't have to be anywhere.

The dogs aren't fond of the rain. This morning Max was all in a hurry to run outside. Once out there, he stopped on the patio, turned around and ran right back into the house. I think he's afraid he might melt. I don't know where he got the idea from, I don't think he's ever seen "The Wizard of Oz."

And to think, yesterday it was sunny, breezy, and in the 70s. But we need the rain. We haven't had any for a few months, so it was pretty dry. However, today is one of those days where you just want to curl up in a fleece throw and just chill out and relax with a good book.

Me? I'm doing laundry and messing around on my computer. Unfortunately I can't get on Facebook from it because for some reason, it got blocked and when Dave tried to unblock it, it still didn't work, so I have to use either my IPod or phone to get up on it.

I think I might lay down and take a nap later. I feel like all my energy has been drained for some reason. It just came on all of a sudden earlier when I was making the bed.

Anyway, I need to go and check on the laundry and such, so I'll see you all later. Have a great day.

OH, OH!

I cut my hair this morning and I accidentally cut it a little too short. Luckily it will grow out, but until then I'm stuck with it. At least it won't blow into my face anymore, especially with the high winds we've been having.

It's needed cut for awhile, but I had been debating on whether I wanted to spend the money to have someone else cut it or do it myself, which I've done in the past. This time however, I guess I got a little carried away. It doesn't look bad, just a little short. It's happened before and it took only about a month for it to grow out to the length that I had originally wanted to cut it.

This is actually a post that I wrote on the 21st, but forgot to publish.

I'm Lovin' It!

I have been as snug as a bug in a rug these past few nights. I have kept the one window in our room opened just a little and closed the liners to keep out the light a bit. Those are great if you don't want to close the curtains. With the comforter on the bed and having the down mattress topper, it's been so easy for me to snuggle under the covers and zonk out.

I love the cooler weather for sleeping. I sleep so much better on nights when the heater isn't kicking on and the window is opened a bit and a nice cool breeze is coming in.

This is also my favorite time of the year. I love fall, the fall colors on the trees, even though most have come to peak and lost their leaves, there are still a few that are just coming to peak now. Our maple trees in the back are doing that. These are silver maples and not the ones, I guess they're sugar maples that turn that bright orange-red. Silver maples turn a bright yellow that on a sunny morning with the morning sun just coming up and shining just right on them, are just gorgeous. I've tried taking pictures, but I just couldn't capture that beauty. Here's a picture that comes the closest so that you get an idea. I wish I had a picture of when the rest of the trees were at peak, but unfortunately a lot of the leaves were blown off the trees before then, thanks to the high winds we were having at the time.

 

Anyway, I am in the middle of doing laundry. I held off for a few days. I guess I can see what other trouble I can get myself into, so I will see you all later. Have a great day.  Oh, if you happen to see Kenneth tomorrow are are a friend of his on Facebook, make sure you wish him a Happy Birthday. ☺

Baby, it's Cold Outside...

But it's not as cold as it could get. Looks like we're out of the 70s for awhile and possibly even the 60s. Plus it's been windy. It's the wind that cuts right through you. It's not supposed to get out of the 50s all week with lows in the 30s. That's not the record though, we've already had snow by now in the past few years. Last year though I don't think it snowed here until December. I do remember that we did have a white Christmas.

I can't believe that it's the middle of October already. Some stores are also putting out their Christmas stuff and it's not Halloween yet, but they do that more often now. No wonder time seems to be speeding by.

Now one state has even moved their primary to December 6th. That's ridiculous and the candidates are saying that they'll boycott it because Iowa has been traditionally first and they have already moved theirs to January 3rd to keep that status. I'll be glad when the election is over, but moving your primary to the year before, that's just dragging it out more than it already is. Give us a break people!

Yea, it's raining, not a lot, but any little bit will help. I planted more bulbs last week, I hope it wasn't too late because we hadn't had a hard freeze yet, so I hope they come up in the spring. I planted different colored irises and really pretty double tulips in the round flower bed around the flagpole. I need to get a new spotlight to light it at night. I noticed last night that the one that's out there wasn't working. Dave said that it just might be the battery, so I'll check that first. I didn't know that solar lights had batteries. I guess they would need one. It's a cheap one from Harbor Freights that I paid only $10.00 for. It's lasted pretty well considering the weather it had to endure.

My computer is acting up again. I really am starting to dislike this thing. Oh well, it has given me about four or five years of no problems, so that's about normal for a laptop. Anyway, hope your day turns out great.

♫Monday, Monday...♫

Well, we got the trees planted yesterday that needed to be. I'm glad that's done. I also took out the irises where two of them went. That was a job in itself. Those things multiply worse than rabbits. I may transplant some of them elsewhere and mix them with other color ones, all of the ones I took out were yellow, but most I'll give away.

Patches is living up to her reputation as a good mouser. She caught another mouse this morning and left it where someone was bound to see it. Thankfully she left it in one piece this time, good girl! I hate cleaning them up when she doesn't.

David did a nice thing this morning. Usually I'm the one who goes and feeds the horses in the morning if Dave doesn't feed them before he leaves for the office. This morning he didn't and left a note asking that they be fed. David got out of bed a little before I did, so he went out to feed them for me, without my even having to ask. I'll feed them this afternoon since he did this morning.

It's cloudy today and a little cooler than it was yesterday, but still above average and still no rain. Apparently we have a better chance by the end of the week.

I'm not sure if there's mail delivery or not today due to Columbus Day, which is actually tomorrow. I was thinking not, but it looks like the stock market is open (and the price of gasoline and oil are up ☹), so I'm not too sure. The stock market is usually closed on federal holidays. Maybe it isn't on this one though. Looks like the price of gasoline at the pump will be right back up to where it was before sooner than we thought, thrills, NOT! And the "experts" predicted that it would go down a lot more, yeah right. That's why I don't listen to the so called "experts."

I should cut this short, plus my computer is acting up again, so I will see you all later. Have a great day.

♫Lord, I Was Born a Rambling Man.♫ Wait, That Ain't Right!

Okay, I'll admit it, I was wrong by saying I wasn't going to watch "The Chew." Not only did I watch a full episode today, Friday. I liked it. I will watch it again. I should have given it a chance before saying that I wasn't going to watch it. They have some really good recipes and I like the chemistry between the people on it. I still don't like the name of the show, but they didn't ask my opinion, so my opinion doesn't matter on that.

Dave and I went to Lake Rathburn near Albia yesterday, Saturday. We wanted to check out the lodge they built there several years ago called, The Honeycreek Lodge. It was really nice. We're planning on going there for our anniversary in February. There are also cabins there that you can rent. They were so cute and the way they were set up, it looked like a little neighborhood. They all have wrap around porches and are fully stocked with everything you would need for a cozy little weekend. But I told Dave that if we go, I want a room at the lodge overlooking the lake.

Last night we were watching the movie, "Tangled" and kept wondering why Max kept coming into the room as if he were being called. As it turned out, the horse in the movie was also named Max and every time he heard the horse being called, Max thought he was being called. Right now he's sleeping and so are the other three. He's so funny.

The weather we've been having is more like late spring and early summer, minus the rain, than fall. We've had highs near or at 80 and sunny days. Next week is supposed to be more like normal for this time of year, but still little or no rain. We're really starting to see the results of it with the lakes down and peoples' ponds on their properties down. I never realized just how much rain we were lacking until we were driving yesterday and saw the marches along the 34 dried up. The last time we went that route, in late May, they were full. Lake Rathburn's level had dropped too. We were walking on a part of the beach that would normally be under water. We're not as bad as Texas is though and for that, I'm grateful but I'm also hoping that those of us who need it, get some rain soon.

Today Dave and I have some trees to plant that should have been planted a while back, but for some reason or other, we just kept putting it off and we're running out of time. Our good weather will come to an end eventually.

Did you all have perogies for dinner last night? It was after all, National Perogi Day. We stopped at the store on our way home and picked some up. We didn't fry them the way they're supposed to be though, we just boiled them and ate them like that. They weren't as good, but we were also hungry. The next time I make them, I'll do them the correct way or maybe I'll buy some alfredo sauce to pour over them. I did that once and they were good that way.

Oops, my battery is running low and will soon give me a warning that it is going into hibernation and when that happens, whether I try to stop it or not, it does it anyway. I don't know why when I also plug it in, sometimes it still shows that warning and goes into hibernation, but it's very frustrating. I've even bought a new charger to no avail, it still does it. If anyone knows why it all of a sudden within the last couple months started doing this, please fill free to let me know. I'm thinking it's the plug on the computer, but I could be wrong. All I know is that it's causing the new battery I bought for it not to be getting charged properly and so it doesn't last as long as it should. Maybe it just decided that it was going to hibernate this year. I don't know, but maybe I just need a new computer. Maybe Santa will bring me one for Christmas.

Little Miss Mickey, Sat on Her Tushy, Sewing the Day Away

Had a busy day on Saturday. Yesterday I was feeling like I may be coming down with something, so I didn't do much of anything.

Got the valances for our bedroom made on Saturday. They look really nice too and the best thing is that I don't have to change the curtains to match. I also paid as much to make two of them as it would have cost me to buy (two), correction:one made in the same pattern. Pretty good, huh? I was able to find a two and a half yard remnant of Ralph Lauren fabric in the complimentary pattern to the comforter I bought last year. I even have enough left over to make two pillow cases.

I also took the curtains and liners down to wash them, so now the only ones that need cleaning are the ones in the dining room. I asked Dave to hang up the ones in the one bedroom while I hung the ones in ours and put up the valances. It was funny, but when I went in later, I noticed that he had hung them upside down. They're the pocket rod kind, so you just have to skip the rod through the pocket. I guess he thought the lower pocket where they were hemmed was the pocket for the rod. That was okay though because I had to take them back down yesterday to attach the liners to the back of them since I only have one rod in that room, unlike the others, where I can hang them on a separate rod. Now all the windows, except the bathroom have liners behind the curtains, yep, even the one over the kitchen sink. I also made new curtains for it out of a cloth shower curtain. They turned out good too and the grommets were already in the top so that I was able to hang them without having to sew a pocket for the rod.

I guess next I'll sew the pillow cases out of the extra fabric I have left over from the valances. Those won't be too hard to do. I found a couple pillow shams on eBay that match the comforter that weren't an arm and a leg. Now I'm thinking of either buying or making a duvet cover for the comforter so that I won't have to take it to the laundry mat as often. Hopefully I'll be able to find one.

I need to get a move on here, so I'll see you all later. Have a great day. Oh yeah, I have a cute video that should bring a smile to your face, it's of Max doing his "Butt Scratch Boogie." :)

First Day Without All My Children

Well, it's official, All My Children is off the air after 41 years. To tell the truth, I got to where I hardly watched it. I was so sick of Erica Cane. She just grated on my nerves. I'm sure Susan Lucci is a very nice person, but I really could not stand her character. I loved when Jackson finally told her that he didn't give a damn what she did, or something to that affect. I don't recall his exact words, but I do remember him saying, "Frankly Erica, I don't give a damn..." It was about time they gave him a backbone as far as she was concerned. Too bad it took so long.

That was one thing I didn't like about Jackson, no backbone. He even put her before his own daughter, Greenlee because Erica didn't like her. He should have left her then, but no, he let her make a fool out of him time and time again, especially when she thought Mike Roy was alive. Instead he waited until she told him that she didn't want to get married. What a doofus.

I'm glad that Greenlee and Ryan got married. She was pretty devious when it came to the girl he got pregnant, but I could see why she didn't want him to find out about her being pregnant with his kid since he might have married her instead.

Another character I couldn't stand was David Hayward. What a narcissist. But I guess a soap wouldn't be a soap without characters we all love to hate, right?

My favorite character was Tad Martin. Yes, he was a cad way back when, but he turned out to be a really nice guy. Even when he was a cad, he was still my favorite. I actually didn't like him with Dixie at the end there. I liked him much better with the girl he was married to before Dixie showed up.

They're supposed to be taking All My Children to the internet. I don't know how well that will work out. Who knows, maybe they'll end up bringing it back to TV and cancel that talk show they put in its place. The last thing we need is another talk show. I won't be watching it, the talk show that is. The Chew, who the heck came up with that name?

I've Been Pretty Neglectful, Haven't I?

I haven't written anything for awhile. I guess it's because nothing exciting has happened. I live a pretty boring life. I think even the dogs are bored because they're sleeping. Of course we have had perfect sleeping weather.

So far, we've had perfect fall weather, nice during the day and nice and cool at night, perfect for keeping the windows opened and snuggled up under the comforter. I decided to put that on the bed a couple weeks ago because the quilt I had on it just wasn't warm enough anymore. We have a nice thick comforter that I bought last year on eBay. I love it because although it's an oversized king comforter, it fits our Cal. king perfectly. Cal. king comforters are hard to come by, just like Cal. king sheets. I should look on ebay for those sometime.

Between eBay and the ReStore, we've found some real bargains. Dave and I just bought a new refrigerator at the ReStore last week. Our other was getting old and like our stove, was getting to where it was going to need replacing soon. Our stove is original to the house.

Dave's busy converting the new stove we bought there to accept propane, so we're still using the old one for now. He had to change some parts out because unbeknown to us when we bought it, unless we switched out those parts, we wouldn't be able to use it. It was the model that they said couldn't be converted, so he ordered parts for the one that could, to switch them for the ones that couldn't. Luckily it was only a couple and they weren't too expensive. I'll be glad when it's here in the house.

Yesterday we took out the air conditioners, so now we can open both windows here in the living room and in the bedroom. David took his out today. I hate when they're in, especially here in the living room because it tends to block a lot of light and when we have a nice day where the windows can be opened, which does happen in the summer here, we can't open that window to let the fresh air in. They are in the need of cleaning, however, thanks to the dogs being able to reach them and leaving their marks on them, all except Rolli that is. I don't think Max can either, but they can stand with their front paws on the arm of their chair and look out that way, so not all is lost as far as they're concerned.

You can tell that our house centers around the dogs' comforts and not ours or even the cats'. The cats find their own comfort spots, which at night is usually on David's bed. At least the three girls sleep there both during the day and at night. Well to tell the truth, Patches doesn't during the day and at night, I think she sleeps either under or behind our bed, if Rolli isn't there already. At night Oreo may sleep on our bed for all I know. He is there sometimes in the morning when I wake up and sleeps there during the day, sometimes with Patches. He's also the only one that Max doesn't pick on. Don't ask me why, but for some reason he doesn't like the girls.

Hmmm, it looks like we might get some sprinkles, maybe not. I think I'll go out and see how Dave is coming along with the stove in his workshop, so I will see you all later.

9/11/01

Parade

We had a parade going down our road this morning. It wasn't your average parade, but a parade of tractors, mostly restored older ones.

This isn't the first time we had a parade of tractors coming down our road, there was one a few years ago only that one was going in the opposite direction. They were going somewhere back then, this time they were coming back. Dave and I stood out on our front porch and waved to the drivers.

One thing you won't see in the city, someone talking on their cell phone while driving a tractor. One of the drivers was doing just that. He was probably talking to his wife telling her that he would be home soon.

I didn't get any pictures this morning, but I did take some the last time. I'd have to search for them though and right now I'm really not feeling up to searching. Maybe I'll do it later.

Farmer's Market

I guess I should go and fill the bird feeders. A cardinal just showed up, saw that they were empty and looked in the window. I could have sworn he gave me a dirty look before he flew off. I wouldn't have blamed him, I haven't filled them in awhile. I was so good all winter long and even this spring, but come summer, I slacked off.

Dave and I are going to the farmers' market this afternoon. It's sad, but this will be the first time we've gone. I kept meaning to before this, but haven't made it, mainly because I just plain forgot. Watch, today they won't have it because of the holiday.

Just got back from the farmers' market. It was small, but we still bought tons of stuff. There were the biggest green peppers at one table. I bought six to make stuffed peppers this weekend. Can't get them at the store that big or for that price; they were 50¢ each. We also got quite a few more vegetables, some zucchini,  radishes, string beans, some sweet breads such as pumpkin nut, zucchini nut, banana peanut butter, and apple caramel. We also bought an Amish made pecan pie. I also bought some fresh flowers for the dining room table. Oh, and I got some miniature cookies for the pups. I admit, I did go a little overboard on the baked goods, but it was really fun. Dave says that he wants to go back every Monday until it's over for the year. I'm all for that.

It was a beautiful day for a farmers' market too. It was sunny with very few clouds in the sky with a high in the mid 60s. It really felt like a fall day. It's hard to believe that it's still summer, for a couple more weeks anyway.

Not much more was done today since I didn't wake up until 9:00 this morning. I did get the bed stripped and the quilts washed and dried and it remade. I love getting into a freshly made bed at night. Now I need to go and eat some dinner. See you all later. Hope everyone had a nice and safe Labor Day.

A Dog has the Soul of a Philosopher

A dog has the soul of a philosopher

 Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:  

 When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 
 Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 
 Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

 Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily.
 Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
  Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

 On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
 On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
  When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
 Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

 Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
 Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
 If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
 When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
 Being always grateful for each new day and for the blessing of you.

 ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

JUST A DOG
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"
Or "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the
Distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a
Dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I
Did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been spent with "just a dog," and in
Those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me
Comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably
Understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise" or "just a
Promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship,
Trust, and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a
Better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long
Walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and the folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an
Embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond
Memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts
Away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog"
But the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a
Person."

Copied from Useless Graphics.com

Scratch + Scratch + Scratch = 3 Miserable Dogs

It's allergy season again. Max is now on medication for them. He had been scratching something awful and given our experience with Jake, we knew that it was allergies. The weird thing is that they usually show up when they're a little over a year old, like with Jake, but Max is four. So now we have two allergic pups. Thankfully they are only seasonal. Jake's don't seem to be as bad this year though as they have in the past. Max on the other hand, was really scratching. Poor pup was miserable. He's a much happier puppy now, especially because he gets his pills wrapped in cheese, same with Jake. Rolli and Angel get a piece too so that they won't feel left out. Don't worry, it's actually one slice divided into four.

On top of those two having allergies, Angel has a yeast infection in her ears in which I have to put drops in for 10 days. She's not happy about it but her ears seem to be feeling better already. She hasn't scratched them since the drops were started.

Thankfully this weekend is supposed to be cooler. In fact next week is supposed to be in the low 70s to the low 80s. Fall is definitely letting us know that it's knocking on the door. Perfect weather for the Labor Day weekend.

Happy Belated Anniversary to Me

I just realized now that I had my one year anniversary coming up for starting this blog, or so I thought. It was actually August 7th. Let's just say that I'm a little late in celebrating.

So let the celebrations begin! Don't ask me what I plan to do because I haven't thought about it. After all, the actual date was 20 days ago, so it is a little late to be celebrating. But I should still do something to commemorate the occasion, right? Maybe I'll go out and get a small cake and put a candle on it. But that would totally eat up my points for the day, so that's not a good idea. It's gotta be something that doesn't involve food, or at least high calorie and fat food. I'll think of something.

Meanwhile, I just heard thunder, so I looked at the radar. We have this big blob of rain and thundershowers coming at us from the northwest. They said that there was a slight chance, but I guess the fact that Irene came on shore weaker than they expected helped let the rain move in. They had been saying that Irene would slow up our weather pattern out here, but I guess not. Oh well, so goes life. No use complaining about it because it will change when it wants to. Make sure to remind me that I said that come winter, when I'm sure I'll be doing plenty of complaining.

For those in the path of Irene, stay safe and for those already affected by her, I hope things turned out not to be as bad as you feared they would.

Have a great day everyone and may the good Lord shine down upon you today and everyday.

There we go, how's that for celebrating?

This is Too Cool!

I just recently found out that they put a transmitter on one of the juvenile Decorah eagles and that they have a map on their site so that all of us, if we want can track her travels. Oh yea, I forgot to tell you all that it is a female. They apparently did it last month. Here is the link in case you don't have it. Just click on the words The Decorah Eagles. The map is at the bottom of the page. So far she's traveled quite a distance north. It'll be interesting to see where she goes this winter.

There was also an episode of a show on PBS here in Iowa called, "Outdoors Iowa" that covered them catching and putting the transmitter on the young eagle. One reason they gave for putting the transmitter on her was because they have never been able to know if the past juveniles have survived. I hope she survives and goes on to raise her own eaglets.

So Appropriate that Dog is God Spelled Backwards and The Tenth Anniversary of 9/11

I'm sure by now a lot of you have seen the picture or video of the lab at its master's funeral, a SEAL who was killed recently in Afghanastan. If you didn't find it heartbreaking, then I mean it when I say this, you must be very cold hearted.

That picture and video remind me of the movie I watched recently, "Hachy, A Dog's Story." I'm not sure I spelled the name correctly, but it's the story about an Akita that would go to a train station each day to meet his master after he returned from work. The dog returned to that same spot every day, even after his master died. It's based on a true story that happened in Japan back in the 20s. The dog had the same name. It was so sad, I cried seeing his dedication to his master to the end. This is why it's so appropriate that dog is God spelled backwards.

Another sad story, actually it makes me mad. Apparently the mayor of New York has dis-invited the NYFD, NYPD, and the EMTs to the ceremony for the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The mayor said that the ceremony is for the families of those lost and that there isn't enough room. Some of their own lost their lives that day too and we all know what a tight knit community the NYFD, NYPD, and the EMTs are. They are like a family.

I don't know how many politicians were invited besides the president and former president George Bush, but they should be the ones dis-invited, not those groups. I hope they show up anyway.

What Should I Write About?

August 15,
I don't know, I'm coming up blank. The fair is going on, but we haven't gone yet. Dave and I are going on Friday. David has to work, so he won't be able to go. I'll bring a funnel cake home for him. My thoughts and prayers to those at the Indiana state fair that were killed and injured in that stage collapse.

Dave and I have started watching M*A*S*H reruns at night instead of regular programs. I always liked that show. I am curious as to what new shows will be coming on that I might like to watch. I also can't wait until some of the old ones come back.

August 16,
Couldn't figure out what more to talk about last night, so I shut down for the night and watched TV. Last night Rolli and Jake got into a fight because Jake was in her spot by the bathroom door and she didn't like it. He was there because I was in the bathroom. Dave tried to boot her out of the room, but she went behind the bed instead. Poor Jake has been getting picked on by her and Max on pretty much a regular basis lately. Max probably sees Rolli do it and thinks it's okay for him to too. Plus from what I've read about Jack Russells, they tend to boss other dogs around. Even though he's not purebred, he's got enough of JR blood in him to be. He tries to be with Rolli too, but she doesn't put up with it.

This morning I woke up to Max having Peanut cornered behind our bedroom door. Thankfully she wasn't hurt, just shaken up and possibly a little sore. She's pretty much back to herself now, playing with a string in the cats' room. It looks like she might have gotten a few good swipes in herself.

Max knows that he's in the dog house and is sleeping in Dave's chair. He knows I'm really ticked at him. I'm ashamed to admit this, but part of me even thought about getting rid of him, but I know I won't because I promised him and all of them for that matter, that this is his forever home. He was dumped before, I'm not about to do it again. I'm just thankful that Peanut wasn't injured or even worse. I'm not sure if I could have kept that promise if she was. I hate myself for having even thought of it, that's not me. Thankfully it's a decision I didn't have to make, hopefully I never will.

Thankfully we made it safe for them to be in the bedrooms and not be bothered by any of the dogs by putting baby gates on the doorways of each room. This morning the one to our room was open though and she wandered in, something she normally doesn't do especially if he's in the room, at least not that I have seen.

Hopefully something like this will never happen again, but I will have to be really diligent to make sure it never does. I don't want to lose either one of them.

One of My Many Obsessions

What a beautiful morning. The windows are open and so are the doors and a nice breeze is blowing in. The temperature is cool compared to what it has been in days past. I'm sitting here drinking my coffee out of one of my Mickey Mouse mugs.

Did I ever tell you that I collect Mickey Mouse mugs? I can't remember when it all started but whenever we see a Disney Store when we go out of town, they closed the one here; Dave and I always go in and see if we can find a mug we like. He collects Tigger mugs, which unfortunately have become rarer than Mickey Mouse ones.

I also have a Mickey Mouse case on my IPod, unfortunately I couldn't find one for my phone. I was surprised I could find the one for my IPod, since the 4th generation ones are out and I have a 3rd generation one and the 4th generation cases don't fit the 3rd generation IPods. I also have a little pouch for it because I have a habit of sitting it on the table here next to the couch and it fell off this past week. It also protects it better when it's in my purse.

I found the case on eBay for under $10.00. I found one on the Disney Store website that I liked better, but they wanted $29.95 for it. Actually it was for an IPhone not IPod which would probably fit my Ipod anyway, but I didn't want to spend that much. The one I have is just fine and it got here really fast too.

Unfortunately it's getting to the point of running out of room in the cabinet we keep the cups in, but I just saw a mug on the Disney website that is a must have. I even found a Tigger one for Dave. I guess I'm going to have to do some clearing out the cabinet of old not Mickey Mouse mugs to make room. I can do that.

My IPod case and pouch

It's Amazing...

How one little dog can have so much fur that when I comb her she still has plenty left.

I just got finished combing out the dogs again. They needed it. They don't like when I use their Furminator on them. They don't mind too much when I use their undercoat comb on them and to tell the truth, it works better.

I combed out Rolli first. For a little dog, she sure has a lot of fur. I know it goes with her breed, or rather breeds, but dang, it's amazing how much fur a little dog can shed. Not only does she have a long overcoat, but a very thick undercoat. She sheds enough to cover several hairless dogs. And she doesn't shed like most dogs, she molts, she and Angel both. She's another one who can cover several hairless dogs with her shedded fur.

Jake has a long coat too, but he doesn't shed nearly as much as Rolli. Rolli sheds more than all of them combined. She also tends to sit while I'm combing her and I have to keep lifting her butt up and then hold it up. It tends to take me longer to comb her than the others for that reason. She tends to become inpatient concerning things like that. But if it keeps those little gremlins out of the house, I don't mind. Some do tend to sneak in though.

Ever Have One of Those Days

When you feel restless and want to do something, but you don't have a clue as to what you want to do? That's me right now.

Actually, what I ought to do is go and take a nap because I was up most of the night because I wasn't feeling well and I'm really not feeling that great now either, but I'm bored. I had planned on going to the farmer's market this morning, but because I was up most of the night, I slept in and by the time I got up and ate and did everything else, it was too late to go. Oh well, there's another one on Monday in the town west of here. If I remember, David and I can go to that one. I've been wanting to, but kept forgetting. I need to put a reminder on my phone so I won't forget, the same with the other one.

What I really want to do is buy something, but again I really don't know what. I don't need anything at the moment, but my palm is itching to buy something, just what to buy is the question. I don't need any shoes or clothes, that's for sure. I need to clean out my closets, not try to jam more stuff in them.

Oh well, I'll think of something, but for now, the nap is calling my name. I'll catch you all later.

Pre-Election Year Rant

The football lockout is finally over, that's good, Go Steelers! We're getting political calls, seeing political ads on TV and having politicians who hope to become president next year coming here to Iowa already; that's bad.

It goes along with the territory of being "first in the nation," meaning that we are the first to hold a caucus or primary in the country during a presidential election year. It's the only time anyone in Washington ever really cares about Iowa. After that, we return to being "fly over country," being flown over and forgotten. I wonder if any of them are going to show up at the state fair next month. I can't imagine that they would miss that opportunity.

We are at a crisis point in D.C. right now and they're out campaigning. Get back to Washington those who are in the House and Senate and do the job you were elected to do, especially now. Don't sit there and bad mouth the other guys when you're not doing your job, but are out traveling around the countryside. If you want to campaign, do it after the crisis has passed, not during. You're not helping the situation. Dumb, dumb, dumb! There is one person in particular, but I'm not going to mention names.

I say this every election year, in this case since ours starts the year before the actual election year, I'll be glad when it's over. But it won't be long until it starts up all over again. We can't win!

Rambles, Rambles, and More Rambles

I was thinking of dying my hair, but decided not to. I figure that I might as well embrace the gray, I mean I've been doing it for years now. My hair doesn't look that bad the color it is anyway. The gray blends in well with the blond. I was also thinking about when the roots start growing out, I don't want to have to keep dying it just to hide the gray; been there, done that.

For those who tell you that you can't lose weight after you reach a certain age, don't believe them, it just isn't true. Yes it may be more difficult, but it can still be done. Getting into shape too, it can be done too.

Oh, I didn't tell you, Dave's project was approved! I am so thrilled for him. That's why we had to go to Indy and why he had a meeting there. One of the senior partners said that he was very impressed with his presentation. Every day he impresses me as to how intelligent he is. He has turned out to be such a good husband. I'm lucky to have found him. Thank you Eric. If you want, I'll tell you the story later, but if it weren't for him, Dave and I never would have met.

A commercial for Vision for Less just reminded me that I need to make an appointment for an eye exam. I want to get a new pair of frames anyway. I never did like these ones. I need to have my hearing checked too, I've noticed that it's gotten worse. I can barely understand people when they speak unless they are in the same room and it's a very small room. No one else knows except Dave and the kids.

Max is shaking his paw in his sleep. I wonder what he's dreaming about. :)

This morning I was scolding Rolli and she started giving me her "poor little puppy" look, you know the one, where she looks at you with those big brown "puppy dog" eyes, she's a pro at that look and it cracks me up every time. I can never stay mad at her for very long.

It's actually not as hot as it has been all week. It's still hot, but not as hot as it was before. All this week it's been in the high 90s and even hit 100 in a couple places. Today it got up to only 93. I know, only, but it feels better than 98 with heat indexes of 105 to 115. The ponies have been staying in the stable where it's a little cooler. They also have plenty of water.

I think I've done enough rambling for one day, so I will spare you guys any more. Try to stay cool out there.

Home, Home on the Ranch

A truck went down the road and naturally the dogs all went outside to bark at it.

They bark at almost anything. It's funny though because Max will get out there and bark a little and then come running back to the door as if to tell me, "See what we did Mom, we chased them away." If the guy who owns the property east and south of us is there, Max will bark, but from the safety of the landing in front of the door so he can make a quick retreat inside. The ones who will stay out there and bark the most, Rolli and Angel. Actually Angel will mostly stand out there and keep watch, making sure the person doesn't do anything he's not supposed to. Jake will bark, come in, and if Rolli and Angel are still outside, will bark from inside the house until he's kicked back outside again. It's become a ritual with them.

All of them have now resumed their spots here in the living room and are probably going to snooze out. It is after all, still as hot as Haties out there, what better place to be than in front of the air conditioner or fan keeping cool?

We're Having a Heatwave, a Tropical Heatwave

The temperature is rising but it isn't exciting, it's hot, just plain hot! It may hit 100 on Monday and Tuesday of next week and this weekend is supposed to be in the mid 90s. It looks like we're not the only ones either.

All I can say is thank God for air conditioning. It's such a lovely invention. We have window units and even they're better than not having any air conditioning at all. I gotta tell ya, keeping the curtains closed, we have thermal curtains on all the windows, helps too. I hate how dark it is in the house, but it keeps things cool and comfortable.

You know, there are STILL dumb people out there that are taking their dogs with them and leaving them in hot cars while they go shopping. I love my dogs too much to put them through that. People, you wouldn't intentionally do that to your kids, why are you doing it to your pets?!

It would be nice if we had a pool, but we don't. We had one when we were kids and we spent a lot of time in it. When we no longer had one, we would go swimming in our neighbor's pool when they invited us or go to the public pool. I remember it cost a dime for people under the line at the public pool and my sister was over the line, but still paid only a dime. That pool is no longer there. It was replaced by a skate boarding park and a new "wave" pool was built in another location. I've never seen it, but then I do live out of state and when we did go back to visit, never had a reason to go to it.

We had a pool for our kids when they were little but we had to take it down because all the neighborhood kids thought that they were entitled to use it too, coming to our door and asking if they could go swimming and not just the little kids either but their older siblings. We would let them swim in it until they started taking advantage of it and expected to be able to swim in it even when we weren't using it. One family was especially bad at doing that. Things went down hill in the neighborhood after that.

Some of our neighbors put up pools of their own, but our kids were never invited to swim in them. But by that time, we had the boat, so we spent the weekends going boating or Dave would take the kids and go boating and fishing while I was working. That was fun.

Unfortunately there's not many places close to here where you can go boating. We don't have the boat anymore anyway, so it doesn't matter, but we do have other adventures in mind. We're thinking of getting a camper trailer. We haven't decided definitely yet, Dave wants to see how things go with the economy and such. But if we get one, the soonest we would get it would be this fall. But it'll be one way to beat the heat, plus the pets can join in the fun. I guess they could if we had a pool too.

Back From Another Adventure

Okay, not really an adventure, but a nice relaxing trip; for me anyway, Dave had a business meeting.

So, where did we go, we went to Indianapolis and stayed at my favorite hotel, the Homewood Suites at the Crossing. It's on 86th Street in case you might be interested.

I love that place. It looks like an apartment complex, but is a hotel. Dave said that it was indeed once an apartment complex, but I don't know how true that is. I think they built it to look that way to blend in with the area. But that is one reason I like staying there. Each suite is like a little apartment with a separate bedroom and some with a separate kitchen. We stayed in one of those the last time, it even had a fireplace. I liked that one the best, but the others are nice too.

What did we do in Indy, not much. We did go to the grocery store our first night there to get me something for breakfast and lunch the next day since Dave didn't know what time he would be back. We ate dinner at the hotel rather than going out to eat. It was free and pretty good. We did venture out to find a Radio Shack too, but that was it. After all the running around we did in Pittsburgh, it was nice  just being lazy.

I actually didn't really want to go anywhere, I was fine with just relaxing. Good thing too because when Dave got back from his meeting and after we ate dinner, he zonked out for a good couple of hours. He needed the rest after being up early and having to drive the day before and then having to drive back home yesterday. He won't let me drive, so I don't even ask anymore, even though I have driven to Pittsburgh and back three times before, one with a detour to Kentucky. I did have plenty to occupy my time, so it wasn't a boring drive.

Well, that was my adventure this week. It's now back to the same old routine, well except for today, I need to go and pick Dave up from work this afternoon because he had to take the rental car back. He got a free upgrade on Sunday when he went to pick it up. He had reserved a Ford Focus but got a Chevy Impala instead. What a nice car. I can't believe that I'm saying that about a Chevy, I'm a Ford girl, but it was. Dave said that he would actually consider buying one. It was a flex fuel too, so it got really good mileage. We were both impressed.

Okay, this is really the end of this post now, I promise. Oh wait, I forgot one more thing...just kidding. :)

Max and the Dreaded Visit to the Vet

Had to take Max to the vet yesterday for his shots. He hates going to the vet and he especially hates going for car rides.

To calm him down, the vet gave us some pills that help a lot. He gets one of those about two hours or no sooner than an hour and a half before his appointment. Yesterday was no exception.

Ever see a stoned pup, well that was Max. Believe me, the only time he gets one of those pills is when he's going to the vet or in the van for some other reason. We don't do it often either. The pills also keep him from getting sick in the van, which is far better than the other alternative.

Max wasn't fully stoned, he knew what was going on around him and even plopped his little butt down and wouldn't move when it was time for his exam. I had to pick him up and carry him in. He can also be a stubborn pup when he wants to be. He did well during the exam, but wasn't a happy pup about getting his nails trimmed beforehand, but he did okay. He was sure glad to break out of the joint when it was all over.

When we got home, he ran straight for the gate and after I opened it, the door. Of course the other three were there to greet him when he walked into the house. He was a happy little camper again and was even back to his little goofy self, meaning tormenting the other three. He plays the role of "pesky little brother" well, sometimes too well.

At about 7:00 he crashed and crashed hard. One minute he was scratching his back, the next he was zonked out in that same spot. He just wore his little butt out. Of course he does that pretty much on a normal basis, but not like this. He was scratching his back on the side of the chest we use as a coffee table here in the living room, when he slid down it and was sound asleep on the floor next to it. It was so funny to watch. I think he stayed there until we went to bed. This morning he was up early with Dave and back to his pesky little self with the other three. He wouldn't be him if he was any other way. :)

I Hope for You all...

What a gorgeous day. Too bad the rest of the summer can't be this perfect. The sun is shining, the birds are singing. It's not too hot or too cold, just perfect.

I hope your day is just as gorgeous. Have a great day.

A Disaster Avoided by Some Smart Thinking

I bought a couple of those mirror screen protectors for my phone last week only to find out that I couldn't operate the tabs on the bottom of it. I also, don't ask me why I thought it would, but I thought that it would cut down on the glare from the sun. It didn't.

The worse part is that I couldn't use the tab buttons on the bottom, you know the ones that let you go back to your home screen, go back one screen, or search, oh yeah, and the one that lets you do other things, like changing your wallpaper or other options. I guess we can call that one the options tab. But to get around it, I would have to turn off my phone and start all over again, which couldn't be good for the phone.

I luckily had some left over screen protectors from my old phone, you know the one that got drowned at Kennywood. So, to solve the problem at least temporarily, the one for my old phone was slightly larger, so I cut it down a little to fit this phone as best I could. I did find out that they were also a great substitute for the one that fit my IPod. They almost fit it perfectly. I forget why I had to change that one. Oh yeah, I thought the mirrored ones were for the IPod, so I took the old one off of it to replace it only to find out that it was a dumb move. I have since ordered new ones for my phone, but not for the IPod, I think I still have one or two left of the others to use if I need to. I ordered a couple for the phone that are supposed to be non-glare and some regular ones in case I have the same problem with the non-glare ones that I had with the mirrored ones, and that being they were too thick.

Oh, you're probably wondering where I got the IPod. David wanted the latest one and one with more memory, so I told him he could buy one if I got his older one. Yes, I am becoming a real geek, but I promise that this will be the last electronic gadget that I will get, that is until my computer needs replacing, I can't live without my computer. Actually it's becoming that way with the phone and IPod too. Oh oh!

Old Clocks

We have an alarm clock that has two alarms on it, one for Dave and one for me.  At most times I don't hear it, even though it's on my side of the bed. It's there because there used to be a time where I would hear it and Dave wouldn't. To tell the truth, I'm surprised that it still works considering we bought it when we first moved into our house back in Virginia back in 1984.

Why don't we move it to his side of the bed? Well, to tell the truth, I don't know, just habit I guess. But if we both have to wake up early, after he's crawled over me to get to it, if I'm not awake already, he can wake me up.

On days where he goes into the office, I can count on Angel being my alarm clock because as soon as I move, she's right there licking my face and nudging me to get out of bed. Jake and Max will lick my face, but then they'll roll over onto their backs in wussy mode. Rolli can't get on the bed or she'd probably be trying to nudge me out too.

But back to that alarm clock. Our appliances are old too. Our stove is original to the house, which was built in 1979-80. We just recently bought a new one, but Dave has to convert it to propane. Our refrigerator is at least 16, but that alarm clock has them beat, well not the stove because it still works. But it's the only original clock we have that still works. We have other clocks in the house that work, but they're those battery wall clocks that I bought at Walmart. I think I even had to replace one of those. They do come in handy when the electricity goes out and we want to know what time it is.

I can't remember where we bought the alarm clock, probably KMart because I don't remember a Walmart being anywhere near back then, but I know there was a KMart.

Dave collects mantle clocks and we have some really nice ones. One, which does work now that I think of it, has the prettiest chimes that go off. He doesn't have it plugged in though. After awhile, the chimes got to be annoying and boy were they loud. We also have the mantle clock that my grandmother gave to my parents as a wedding gift. My mom gave it to Dave. He has since stripped off the old paint or varnish to reveal a gorgeous grain and two inlays in the front that we didn't know were there until he stripped all the other stuff off. It still needs a new crystal, the original one broke years ago before we got it. He also just bought another one on our return trip from Pittsburgh when we stopped at a big antique mall in Ohio. I'm not sure if that one works or not.

The ones he bought he didn't pay much for, probably less than $30.00 each at antique stores around here, but once he's redone them, they look great. He has gotten most of them running again, but since we don't want to hear clocks ticking all day and don't have the plug capacity for them, they stay unplugged. They're displayed in the dining room, but the one my mom gave him is prominently displayed in the living room on a shelf. I wish I had a mantle to put it on, maybe someday. I'm still looking for the perfect one.

"Gremlins!"

We have gremlins in our house, you know those little things that pop off if you feed one after midnight, only ours aren't from those gremlins we saw in the movies, they're from the pups.

Every year at this time little puffs of fur start popping off the pups, except Jake, he just sheds, but the others get these little gremlin things that we find all around the house. Believe me, we don't feed them after midnight, but these gremlin things still show up. I won't say that these gremlins are cute either and they are a real nuisance. Thank goodness they're not like the "real" gremlins, or we'd be in BIG trouble and thank goodness we have a vacuum that can handle the extra fur.

I do have several combs and even a furminator to take care of the pups' coats and when I comb them outside, the birds really like the soft fur for their nests. It's funny seeing those little puffs of fur flying in the breeze. See, I bet you didn't know that gremlins can fly. I do try catching most of them in a bag, but some do escape.

So if you're ever in this area and see a little furry thing floating in the air, it just might be one of those gremlins that got away. So be careful, but don't say that I didn't warn you.

My New Phone and the ReStore Bargain of the Day!

Isn't it funny that before you get something, you can't imagine yourself having it, but after you get it, you can't imagine yourself not having it?

That's the way it's been with my phone. Before I had it, I thought that my plain regular cell phone was fine and then I got my android. I never realized how attached I was to it until one day at Walmart, I went to call Dave and I didn't have it. I knew it had been in my purse, or I thought so, actually it fell out in the van. I almost went into a panic. I usually call David in the store when we go together so that I can tell him when I'm leaving, but that day I couldn't even do that. Boy did I miss my phone.

This past week of not having it has been pure torture, I hated it. Now it looks like the end is near and within the next few hours, I will have my phone back. I checked its shipping status and it's out for delivery!

They sent me a different phone, which I kind of had a feeling they would. This one's a LP Apex. I looked it up on the cell company's website. I also read the little booklet that came with it. I like it, it's slightly smaller, but thicker than the other one but still has the pull out keyboard. It's not activated yet. I'll get that done tomorrow. It'll feel good to have a phone again.

Oh, we bought a new stove today, at the ReStore no less. It's brand new, just has a few dings in it, but it's one we had looked at before. It's the one Dave really wanted because it has the long burner in the center with a griddle. It's also stainless steel. We went to Lowes afterwards and saw the same stove, for $450 more than what we paid for it. Now that's a bargain. This fall we'll be getting a new refrigerator to match. Maybe we'll get that at the ReStore too.

Sore Toes, Broken Phone, and Getting Lost in Pittsburgh

We are back from our trip. We got in late yesterday afternoon. The trip was a complete success, minus some minor setbacks.

Okay, they weren't so minor, but we still had a good time. It was rather relaxing even though we felt like chickens with our heads cut off a couple times, but it was our own faults for not giving ourselves enough time, but it all worked out in the end.

As you might know, we left last Wednesday and got into Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon. I called my sister Jackie to let her know when we were leaving the hotel in Columbus, Ohio, which is where we spent the first night on the road and what time we expected to arrive in Pittsburgh. The hotel was great and the people super nice. Our waiter for breakfast was really nice, so nice that Dave left him a super nice tip.

On the way to Pittsburgh, we stopped at the Zanesville Pottery Factory. We picked up a few, okay, more than a few pieces of pottery and then checked out some antique stores close by. I couldn't believe all of the really early pieces of the Johnson Brothers Friendly Village pattern I was seeing. Only problem though, there was no Johnson Brother's mark. It just said, "Made in England." I had never seen any without the Johnson Brothers mark before. I couldn't find any information about it on line either, so I guess I'll have to try to find a book on the marks.

While in Pittsburgh, we had dinner with one friend, breakfast with another, and then the rehearsal dinner and wedding. The bride looked beautiful by the way and her dress was absolutely gorgeous. With the things we had going on, we didn't see my sisters or mother until Saturday. No, I take that back, we did stop by Jackie's work to see her on Friday morning and to give her the mug I found at one of the shops we stopped at in Ohio. The saying on it was perfect for her. I'm not one who ordinarily wears heels, but decided to wear three inch heels to the rehearsal dinner and wedding the next day. Luckily the reception was held at the hotel we stayed at, so I was able to run up to our room and change shoes. I went back to the reception with my tennis shoes on. Yes, they looked odd, but my feet loved me for it. Sunday to round out the trip, we decided that a day of shear fun was in order, so we went to Kennywood with friends of ours.

We started the day off by meeting at a local Denny's for breakfast. There was our friend Judy, the one we had dinner with, her niece, and another high school friend and his wife, named Rich and Dollie. We followed Judy to Kennywood because the rest of us had no idea where we were going. Judy said that she just followed the signs. We had a lot of fun making like we were youngsters again. We went on the roller coasters, and got drenched on the Wild Rapids ride. Unfortunately my cell phone bit the dust when it got water logged. I was without it for the rest of the trip, but it was my own fault. I put the claim in for it today. It should be here by Friday, I hope. We stayed until about 6:30. Rich and Dollie left about an hour earlier because they had to drive back home to West Virginia because they both had to work the next day. Judy and her niece stayed for one more ride, or so that's what her niece said she would leave after. :) Judy also had to work the next day. We were leaving the next day.

On the way back to the hotel, we had no idea where we were going, but did end up finding our way. Since we hadn't driven through the county park yet, we decided to do that before heading back to the room. It was perfect weather for it. In fact for the whole trip we had perfect weather.

When we got back to the hotel, I had my hands full with stuff, one of them being my Pittsburgh Steeler gnome, which I named Hienz, when all of a sudden, he slipped out of my arms and went crashing to the ground. I was devastated. I picked up as much of him as I could and Dave put him in a plastic bag. I'll eventually find another and possibly get him a wife too.

Monday morning came too soon and I had to drag myself out of bed. We got off to a late start so decided to eat breakfast at the hotel and then we headed over to my mom's to say goodbye to her and my sister. My mom didn't recognize me at the wedding, but she did then, so that was a relief. She has her good days and bad days and I guess Monday was a good day.

On the way back home, we stopped by this huge antique mall called, "The Heart of Ohio." We unfortunately didn't have time to really check it out, but we did the best we could given the time we had. We made it to Indy to spend the night and were lucky to get the last room at our favorite hotel there. The room even had a fireplace which pleased the dickens out of me because I had always wanted to stay in a room there that had a fireplace. I felt bad for the citizens of Indy though, theirs was the highest price for gasoline of anywhere else we stopped. All the others were a comparable price to what we pay here in Iowa.

It felt good to get home. Luckily it didn't take long for me to unpack, but did I ever have the laundry to do today! Thankfully that's now done. Tomorrow I'll do the other things I need to do, like watch my soaps. I wonder what's been happening on One Life to Live while I was gone.

What a Beautiful Memorial Day

It's a bit breezy, but the sun is out and it's a warm day. It's a good day to reflect on those who gave their lives for our country and all it stands for.

I had an uncle who was killed in WWII. His name was Freddie. He was my mother's brother. I never knew him, but I do know that he was killed at Totowa, I think that's the way it's spelled, in the Pacific. He was only 21. He was also a Marine.

He's the only one I knew of from the family who died in any war. I know that several were veterans. Dave is a veteran.

Do you remember the POW bracelets we all wore during the Vietnam war? I had one and still remember the name. It was Capt. Frederick Wozniak. He never made it home. As far as I know, he was never found. My heart goes out to his family and others like it who never knew what happened to their loved ones.

Vietnam was a shameful time for the way this country treated our returning soldiers. May none of our returning soldiers now and in the future ever be treated with such disrespect again.

Let us all remember those who have fallen and now serving with gratitude and pride. And may we all, whenever we see a soldier, thank him or her for their service. After all, they are choosing to do so, to serve our country and to protect everything we hold dear. Freedom does not come free and our soldiers who have passed and those who are living, deserve our respect, no matter how you feel about the war they may be serving in. May God Bless America.

The Rules for Having Our Dogs in the Van

Did I tell you that we took Jake and Rolli to the vet on Thursday for their shots and a nail trim. I gave them their pills earlier before we left, They get pills to calm them down, but they still did not want to cooperate when their nails were being trimmed. They were being down right little brats. But the vet got it done after almost, or it looked as, Jake was going to bite him. Luckily he didn't. Rolli fought too, but she just didn't want to cooperate. I think they were too excited because Dave was along for the drive. Usually they're pretty good.

Dave is usually up at the office on Thursdays, but he had to go in on Wednesday instead, so he worked at home on Thursday. Rolli loves going for car rides anyway, but she is even more excited when Dave decides to come along. She was so cute, even trying to sit on the storage thing between the seats. I usually have one of those little travel pillows sitting there for when she's in the car, but they were in the back. The only time that she's a lap dog is in the van. It's getting harder for her to jump up front though. I also had to help her get into the van. That's when I really notice how old she's getting.

I need to get them new harnesses. Jake's is too small for him and so is Rolli's. I don't like having to use their collars. They both get strapped in initially, but Rolli usually tries to move around the van, so I let her off of hers. We do have to keep her away from the front windows though since she has a tendency for stepping on the button for the window and having it go all the way down. She even jumped out once, but we were parked in the vet's parking lot. She just ran up to the door and then back to the van. Jake however, does stay strapped in, the same with Angel and Max when they're in the van.

The one thing we never do is stop somewhere when they're in the car unless there are two of us and one of us can stay in the car with them, especially on warm days so that the air conditioning can remain on. I see so many people leave their dogs in cars when it's in the 70s, 80s, and sometimes higher without a second thought. It really ticks me off. I have even gone to customer service or someone who can announce it and told them that there was a dog in a car that was in distress. It doesn't take long for that to happen. When it's warm, these guys stay home. After Monday they'll even have air conditioning after we put the units in the windows. It's supposed to get hot next week. They love the air conditioning.

Gotta Give Him Credit, He Was Only Trying to Help

Jake has had for the past day what we refer to as the "runs." it's not bad and he's acting like his old self otherwise, but because of it, we've had to clean him up a few times. For that very purpose, I had an old rag and towel in the bathroom. I had to do it early this morning, like at 2:00 and I guess Dave had to do it again after he let the dogs out this morning when he got up for work. Well, instead of using the old rag, I made the mistake of not moving the good one, so it is partially my fault, but anyway, he used the good one to clean up Jake.

In his defense, we do have an old green rag that looks similar to the good rag, so he might have mistaken the good rag for that one. I'm almost always the one who takes care of the dogs in situations like this, so I know which rag is to be used. I didn't say anything to Dave about him using the wrong rag, even though the old one was was sitting right next to the new one and you could tell the difference. I just went about doing what I was doing and after he left for work, threw both rags in the wash, with other things of course.

Also this morning, Dave went to give Jake a quarter of a Pepto Bismol pill (yes, you can give dogs Pepto Bismol, just make sure it's in pill form), but instead of putting it down his throat or wrapping it in something like cheese, he just gave it to him then got mad when Jake spit it out. He brought in another one and I gave it to Jake. Since my hands are also a lot smaller, it's also easier for me to do it. I'm also usually the one who gives all the dogs their pills anyway, so I'm used to it. All was good with the world, at least the Jake situation after that. It really doesn't take a whole lot to please him, but in all honesty, he hates when he has to get cleaned off in these situations. I don't blame him.

What I really need to do is to cut the hair back there so it's not so long. I keep telling myself that I will, but I never do. Rolli needs the same thing done. She's also has long hair back there. She doesn't like getting cleaned back there either. Maybe I'll buy a pair of clippers. That would probably be a lot easier than scissors. I'll have to give that some serious thought. After all, I'm the one in charge of grooming too.