Let Us Always Remember

Between the barbeques and whatever you have planned for today, make sure to take some time to stop to remember what this day is about and to give thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. For without them and those who proudly served and are serving in our military today, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy. Let us never take those freedoms for granted.

It's Rambling Time Again

I know I've sounded really depressing this past month and I do thank you for your patience in me. I'm doing much better.

I have gotten a lot of uncluttering done. Yesterday I managed to reorganize the shelf in my closet and get rid of a lot of stuff that I really don't need that has been taking a lot of space.

I had one of those space bag cubes that I had stored bedding in. I bought another and was able to fit our oversized king comforter, another comforter and I can't remember what else in it, but it all fit and after I sucked the air out, I was able to fit it on the shelf next to the other, which I redid by getting rid of some things out of it and putting other stuff in. I also bought two plastic containers to put my shoes in and was able to separate them into dress and casual shoes. I was also able to put those on the shelf on top of the cubes. It felt good to get the other stuff out of there.

I refinished the box I have Jake's ashes in. It was one I bought at Hobby Lobby some time ago and realized I had after Dave and I went looking for another. It turned out really nice. I am really pleased.

I don't now why, but I have seemed to have lost my love for chocolate. The other day, I was in the mood for chocolate so I called Dave at work and asked him to stop on his way home and pick some up. He picked up my favorite, Hershey's but the miniature kisses instead of the regular size. The miniatures aren't wrapped like the others, so maybe that's the problem. They don't seem to taste as good as the wrapped ones. Maybe it's just me. I guess I'm just so used to getting the others and these ones just threw me off a little.

I gotta tell you, I love my new car. It is so fun to drive and I love the features it has. I'm really glad that I went with a Soul+ and our salesperson was the same one who sold us Dave's. I like mine better. :)

I did one of those mixed breed DNA tests on Angel and found out that she is Australian Cattle Dog on one side with Basenji mix on the other. We already knew that there was ACD in her, but it was a real surprise to find out the other. That side it turned out was a real Heinz 57 variety. I sent in Rolli's on Friday, so if it turns out, I forgot to let one of the swabs sit to dry, that should be an interesting combination as well. I'm sorry now that I didn't get one more test and did Jake's before he passed away. We always thought that he was part Brittany, it would have been fun to find out if he was. I might get one and do Max's though. I should, shouldn't I?

It was so funny right now, Max is being a brat as far as the cats go and Oreo just came up behind him and swatted at him. Max turned around at that point and saw Oreo and he took off running and Max took off after him.  So much for finally being a brave kitty.

Rolli is still trying to get her way as far as the cheese, but I have since put my foot down and cut it down to just in the mornings after their vitamins. I know she'll try again though. One thing about Rolli, she is one little stubborn dog. The word "no" is not in her vocabulary.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those in Moore, Oklahoma who were affected by and lost their lives from the horrific tornado on Monday.

Healing

Just wanted to let you all know that I have been doing fine. I still miss Jake terribly. I picked up his cremains on my birthday, I could have waited until the following Monday since Rolli was going in for shots, but decided that I didn't want them sitting there all weekend. I wanted him home, even though he was not his physical self anymore. Know what I mean? I still find myself tearing up when something reminds me of him, but he was my dog for a very long time. His loss is one that I can't get over in a day or two. Even now it's hard to fully accept that he's gone, that instead of four, there are now only three. He definitely took a piece of my heart.

I have gone on with living and have been letting the other three know that they are loved and very important to us. They still bring so much laughter and joy with their separate personalities. I'm so thankful that they were guided to us and not someone else. Just this morning, Rolli had to have her one ear flushed out and as soon as I was done, she headed for the kitchen and sat in her spot for a piece of cheese. When I told her that it wasn't time, she laid down and stayed there until I gave in. But, I got the last laugh and got a few pictures of her. She hates getting her picture taken.

Rolli having a "lay-in" in protest of not getting cheese.

Rolli in the toy box after my giving in to her protest. 

Don't ask me why she went to lay in there, but she does that sometimes.

Some good news, I got a new car. It's a 2013 Soul +. This one has some really cool options in it such as a sunroof, speakers that light up to the music on the radio, and a backup camera. I also like that I was able to sync my phone to it and use its voice command. I can call someone by just the push of a button or change the station on the radio. I can even switch to Syrius satellite radio. It has that too, free for three months unless I decided to subscribe to it.

We couldn't have gotten it at a better time either since gas prices shot up to over $4.00 in what seems like overnight. The Soul gets around 30 mpg, whereas the van I had got about 20. Also, it's nice not having gas spit out of the gas tank when I'm trying to put gas in it like the van did. Yesterday I put gas in the Soul for the first time and I kept expecting it to do that, but of course it didn't. It's also nice not having a 26 gallon tank to fill. I do miss the roominess of the van, but I love driving the Soul. It is the most fun I have had driving a car in a long time, maybe since I had my Chevette, remember those? :)

The Snow is Gone!

And we are back to spring!

It didn't last too long, most of it was gone by Saturday, but all that melting did result in fog. Today the sun is shining and it's supposed to get up to or into the 70s.

Hopefully that was the last of the snow we'll see until next winter.

Snow?!!

Yep, you heard right. Here it is May 3rd and we have snow on the ground. This picture was taken this morning.

Absolutely amazing, isn't it? Actually the latest there has been snow here in Iowa was May 28. Let's hope that this is the last we'll see of the white stuff until it's actually winter again.

Since it's wet, heavy snow and the temperature has risen a little above freezing, some of it has melted and there were areas that didn't stay covered at all because either they were covered by trees or blocked from the north, which was the way the snow was falling and blowing. But still, I feel like I should be singing Christmas carols.

My daffodils have already bloomed and my tulips were starting to bloom too and I have buds on my lilac bushes. I hope those didn't get damaged.

I would say that it looks pretty, but this is May! This shouldn't be happening. Just three days ago it was around 80 and now this. And to top it off, it's my birthday. What a nice birthday present, not! Where did summer and fall go?

Thankfully spring will be back by the beginning of the week.

All I can say is that this has not been a typical week all around, so why not end it with snow on the ground? Hopefully things will start getting better again.