tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18612232429265235292024-03-05T13:28:33.949-08:00My PonderosaSuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-31447769240867608642019-07-15T16:05:00.001-07:002019-07-15T16:05:52.481-07:00Looking for a Good MysteryI need some advice for some good summer reading. I've just finished the whole Louise Penny "Inspector Gamache" series, and have started the first in the Tana French mystery series "In the Woods." Do you have any favorites to recommend?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iVNBDZOrZaxTa73IF9jTkaqNnzMKDiZDutI0oZ5SqgDSpHzMPS5YSD9sD5JpMw260U4aaLa2s1xbanrKaDEsu4pLOEEfknA0AKPygy_I3Bf8be-RRq564MlUw8sKLBiIZ1a4Si9zQIxQ/s1600/mystery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iVNBDZOrZaxTa73IF9jTkaqNnzMKDiZDutI0oZ5SqgDSpHzMPS5YSD9sD5JpMw260U4aaLa2s1xbanrKaDEsu4pLOEEfknA0AKPygy_I3Bf8be-RRq564MlUw8sKLBiIZ1a4Si9zQIxQ/s200/mystery.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-79988459070052035822019-07-10T12:40:00.002-07:002019-07-10T12:40:35.878-07:00The Gas-Up and Around the Yard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple of weeks ago, on a perfectly beautiful summer day, we went to the Annual Gas-Up in a town called Gallupville, about an hour and a half from here. We've been before and we always enjoy it, but it's been a couple of years. Basically, it's a big field full of antique steam and gas-fired engines, good food, and nice people. I loved the laundry exhibits - we sure do take a lot for granted!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImzTnaKc6l7rXlLgrwFzwYiHEbcaOwa_uoK1pD0Pc_-PI_0OGI_Pro2fAm2QXRLxG-FYfqUF2zQ1G8-g4HmS7NY-n8NgBR2kUlJOSbguWUCW9wA9Vm6YaJEO4botOxmWG4ETz-Kh6-dXE/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImzTnaKc6l7rXlLgrwFzwYiHEbcaOwa_uoK1pD0Pc_-PI_0OGI_Pro2fAm2QXRLxG-FYfqUF2zQ1G8-g4HmS7NY-n8NgBR2kUlJOSbguWUCW9wA9Vm6YaJEO4botOxmWG4ETz-Kh6-dXE/s320/IMG_3404.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m1i2Prm4exhfawTSs0Lz2UXGPeYLQ6x1KWpHNhyt7Cafgxw4FIo7q6_FmKMwuN6xiutQI80n51yz48LRsUu0YZeWmeCrFzcCuG2r_-5ViFliehkZzSw1NQBlSFRm4NLp_YmAiTsHANdi/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8m1i2Prm4exhfawTSs0Lz2UXGPeYLQ6x1KWpHNhyt7Cafgxw4FIo7q6_FmKMwuN6xiutQI80n51yz48LRsUu0YZeWmeCrFzcCuG2r_-5ViFliehkZzSw1NQBlSFRm4NLp_YmAiTsHANdi/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4jL0GGShkcTzhJEmLuXmkRacHXZ2kVTT9FMdE9deieDKlJoU8IesfJ4va0gnwtvjvF6MHEHdKZvUTNE8PHegDgozC4ne2ZqcjCGcEpMJ10bX4aG0SQYms3ZuzDmG0hysHZ9Dlllb1tJ1/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4jL0GGShkcTzhJEmLuXmkRacHXZ2kVTT9FMdE9deieDKlJoU8IesfJ4va0gnwtvjvF6MHEHdKZvUTNE8PHegDgozC4ne2ZqcjCGcEpMJ10bX4aG0SQYms3ZuzDmG0hysHZ9Dlllb1tJ1/s320/IMG_3398.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Gel-gBSnbGACXjrznsuwBJUx_KEVfPQFg8SSQmyXHK5Vo8gNYmdz1SFSiIyBrlr8qOt9vAQ5NjP3X_SBtESvCrhhNo7mkXVmHi6nIVnBxYja1yqF3kADfk6Ca2AR32CZ3QHPtwr3tac/s1600/IMG_3414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Gel-gBSnbGACXjrznsuwBJUx_KEVfPQFg8SSQmyXHK5Vo8gNYmdz1SFSiIyBrlr8qOt9vAQ5NjP3X_SBtESvCrhhNo7mkXVmHi6nIVnBxYja1yqF3kADfk6Ca2AR32CZ3QHPtwr3tac/s320/IMG_3414.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlYS1qATQgHhrpp4RJ7HML_XYD_qabmTLWO3_O41F0zCW4bMjEvFwmGMRi0-EZG1ID5Dm6DEPfLekFMXMVXN19baHGhBesnFGt8nVfFR4QAI0ui9YpO5jK-ZtPoe3TY_bzmVzB1gPXadC/s1600/IMG_3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlYS1qATQgHhrpp4RJ7HML_XYD_qabmTLWO3_O41F0zCW4bMjEvFwmGMRi0-EZG1ID5Dm6DEPfLekFMXMVXN19baHGhBesnFGt8nVfFR4QAI0ui9YpO5jK-ZtPoe3TY_bzmVzB1gPXadC/s320/IMG_3426.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are old chain saws! Needed two people to operate them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWAS8GUW-PV2xZ15PZx7uWtbGcazjM10pRNSXZnWssV8-yTu8_lyVYE7qOX1AmZG7XKZD1AAsASu3a_6Lyyl0D3WeSTSFfNDXRfDnkmqzhu8QT_RVQC9zWmusKeRGbCs2NfgO3rIFOqUg/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWAS8GUW-PV2xZ15PZx7uWtbGcazjM10pRNSXZnWssV8-yTu8_lyVYE7qOX1AmZG7XKZD1AAsASu3a_6Lyyl0D3WeSTSFfNDXRfDnkmqzhu8QT_RVQC9zWmusKeRGbCs2NfgO3rIFOqUg/s320/IMG_3581.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a steam-powered sawmill. They cut some nice boards while we watched.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKrf8UtI797bU5iv7jeNpsh3Up1NSKfXd_ULfZwI_1X3JbtYz8ily8geE7-2qkbPy3rJraM82MN1RNucsoOLTC9kobnAO6_FTZwmJKjm2m0W4qZgr66fIN_h0QFA06b4y5bkPAthHoHA_/s1600/IMG_3399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKrf8UtI797bU5iv7jeNpsh3Up1NSKfXd_ULfZwI_1X3JbtYz8ily8geE7-2qkbPy3rJraM82MN1RNucsoOLTC9kobnAO6_FTZwmJKjm2m0W4qZgr66fIN_h0QFA06b4y5bkPAthHoHA_/s320/IMG_3399.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCwJeRRQSnflCTigVQz1nqhhlyTSKZTqFFfYk5gg1BSd0ZRuaiqKm_Fk269_qTmoFZN499mnPy3QcMtmfiwrp4lMHYlbywmXQPyZg1eagAqwuRaHLoAIo1XeyRgsU7-amHVHfBpYwJRo1/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCwJeRRQSnflCTigVQz1nqhhlyTSKZTqFFfYk5gg1BSd0ZRuaiqKm_Fk269_qTmoFZN499mnPy3QcMtmfiwrp4lMHYlbywmXQPyZg1eagAqwuRaHLoAIo1XeyRgsU7-amHVHfBpYwJRo1/s320/IMG_3423.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice exhibit of old milk bottles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGAFMW6tLvyst8JA75oYxbQ6nw_Wc_VBwVImHRU9l6UrbDI36t4E57dUN4KFrx86l6YOdPrh4RX_6lr_6iuX5I9N1P3LMESBkdZDQxOM9Zf2-n_huEAeqQfa93ANhPtV8bCNi0bvgmIBs/s1600/IMG_3566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGAFMW6tLvyst8JA75oYxbQ6nw_Wc_VBwVImHRU9l6UrbDI36t4E57dUN4KFrx86l6YOdPrh4RX_6lr_6iuX5I9N1P3LMESBkdZDQxOM9Zf2-n_huEAeqQfa93ANhPtV8bCNi0bvgmIBs/s320/IMG_3566.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy eyed us the whole time we were eating lunch at a picnic table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBuZbwJrmW_MdN8TFn5_mH_cxZh7uuev8XsIyZdxLOBW4Szi74101J4SHZ30EcIWnsH7W5Tp-ZkUVm_n0mNnWpQf3JfWjVvMjlTPSZMJEsUj5FAPg_KsJW3PnTymc6W8D98ngomS5SHc8/s1600/IMG_3570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBuZbwJrmW_MdN8TFn5_mH_cxZh7uuev8XsIyZdxLOBW4Szi74101J4SHZ30EcIWnsH7W5Tp-ZkUVm_n0mNnWpQf3JfWjVvMjlTPSZMJEsUj5FAPg_KsJW3PnTymc6W8D98ngomS5SHc8/s320/IMG_3570.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete smiling and happy after sausage and pepper sandwiches!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We've had some very hot weather here - enough to keep the air conditioning on for days at a time. I remember that happened last summer too. It was so hot we had the air conditioner running all the time and hardly ever had the windows open. It somehow doesn't seem like summer when you can't have the windows open and smell the outdoors. But the plants have all been watered often and are very happy.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGMLL_p2O_tTAW2NoVDd4BtgYHTZLEx_2D1YtSW4zIXNusFyniTkvWGKF4ITMpljMmGYQElXY85ne1uOEQVXEHaB20la3v-SaI8qWsZbfqjpAw1ZHhnssEaFr1FBKC3PWlbampoOu8npj/s1600/IMG_3655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGMLL_p2O_tTAW2NoVDd4BtgYHTZLEx_2D1YtSW4zIXNusFyniTkvWGKF4ITMpljMmGYQElXY85ne1uOEQVXEHaB20la3v-SaI8qWsZbfqjpAw1ZHhnssEaFr1FBKC3PWlbampoOu8npj/s320/IMG_3655.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella D'Oro Lillies around an old wishing well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAfNZcaNCASGWZ_ny-_lUBUq2oNFYmlJiD-dRZ7_FfyU9ePDWvttRrkrNvPgWCDpJb0Kgrz5-tqepmZ1LtBg2JNao7S7-JWww7ETIWvVR8djgRvLTRjcfueXa5FwJOk6mGUHsd5_r0dXP/s1600/petunias.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAfNZcaNCASGWZ_ny-_lUBUq2oNFYmlJiD-dRZ7_FfyU9ePDWvttRrkrNvPgWCDpJb0Kgrz5-tqepmZ1LtBg2JNao7S7-JWww7ETIWvVR8djgRvLTRjcfueXa5FwJOk6mGUHsd5_r0dXP/s320/petunias.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s5l13U_Y6Aw5SatXpIHngM_WOJmiAFTtXqq13RnH7-e0vg8bY-wVAKqhIWDHYuEshx56b49c4sp0nfGYlMjLcSfdvz2-Deez5b7nA7Yt2S-rcmd_d7GhhHvaOEVlUo1rb2nTDgYghs_M/s1600/VeggiePete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-s5l13U_Y6Aw5SatXpIHngM_WOJmiAFTtXqq13RnH7-e0vg8bY-wVAKqhIWDHYuEshx56b49c4sp0nfGYlMjLcSfdvz2-Deez5b7nA7Yt2S-rcmd_d7GhhHvaOEVlUo1rb2nTDgYghs_M/s320/VeggiePete.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Pete watering the vegetable garden this morning. We have flowers on the tomato and pepper plants. The cucumber and zucchini plants are really getting big, but we only saw the first flower on them this morning. But the plants themselves are beautiful - the tomatoes are almost as tall as I am.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QJuCDCTn3m_sA_TRfyajDB0xv-F_OdzsREgx5-Hqbl4PjQzY9TVtswliZI0V_ng3HyS7XSJYDV1oPBPROzRJ8AZUL1ESbegOl9MRQX-pc6n0bxNNpBM5rLqTzTwWvnfTMecuJR6J1juJ/s1600/IMG_3686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1419" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QJuCDCTn3m_sA_TRfyajDB0xv-F_OdzsREgx5-Hqbl4PjQzY9TVtswliZI0V_ng3HyS7XSJYDV1oPBPROzRJ8AZUL1ESbegOl9MRQX-pc6n0bxNNpBM5rLqTzTwWvnfTMecuJR6J1juJ/s320/IMG_3686.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Last but not least, this is a picture of one of the flower stems on my hosta. My front yard is full of hosta - probably close to a hundred plants. I went out one day and found a lot of the stems with this papery white growth on them. I've been told mealy bugs or leaf hoppers. I'm thinking the latter, because when I washed the white stuff off with a blast from the hose, white hairy looking bugs jumped off. On the gardening forum I quickly joined, the advice was to just hose them off with water and hope they get eaten by other bugs or spiders while disrupting the eggs they have laid. And if that doesn't work, use insecticidal soap or Neem Oil spray. After hosing them off twice, I definitely have lots less, but some come back after about 48 hours. I'm thinking I'll hose them off a couple more times and then use the Neem Oil on them. Does anyone have any experience with them? The hostas are such a big part of our landscaping that I would hate to lose them.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Hope you are all having a wonderful, healthy summer!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-81307395698474259092019-06-06T13:37:00.000-07:002019-06-06T13:37:02.387-07:00Some Nice Weather at Last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
June is finally bringing us some good weather. May was very wet and cool and although it hasn't really warmed up much, we're headed in that direction.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUqMNCFIbh28Hj8H3YB79GOIW0IYjKwmpbD75xJRhA4xExzyViMmGBABWb7LeavQtJSb8tATdATdGIK-dcpt9-yDJszDfO9ztTX_oE33XdaYwATu7B83FZp0f4UolNJ17t6517MwHoeWE/s1600/sunflowerhen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1014" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUqMNCFIbh28Hj8H3YB79GOIW0IYjKwmpbD75xJRhA4xExzyViMmGBABWb7LeavQtJSb8tATdATdGIK-dcpt9-yDJszDfO9ztTX_oE33XdaYwATu7B83FZp0f4UolNJ17t6517MwHoeWE/s320/sunflowerhen.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most people in this area open their swimming pools on Memorial Day weekend, which is the last weekend in May. I don't see many pools open when I'm driving around, and I definitely haven't seen anyone swimming. It's just too cool!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwWwf6d39HB6unN71VkKK8hKXG564dMQWHhT-rdO7tW7RLdQa9nN6BjtI8XMAv_m3C5aDN_1Fs_QBGAzp4TxjTE-ExdkcfiFtDeCmyUA-__44RtlZja5vTNhtikwekv31x0bQPg88Ux5o/s1600/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwWwf6d39HB6unN71VkKK8hKXG564dMQWHhT-rdO7tW7RLdQa9nN6BjtI8XMAv_m3C5aDN_1Fs_QBGAzp4TxjTE-ExdkcfiFtDeCmyUA-__44RtlZja5vTNhtikwekv31x0bQPg88Ux5o/s320/garden.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The vegetable garden is planted. We buried the fence about 10 inches this year hoping to keep out the groundhogs. Last year we caught and relocated quite a few, but they left their mark on the garden. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7UCr2zjh2-WhXPbpscdAeb9Pos1FpI3HYuzSOydlAwTT24qrxa64VVzHJ8y6rCCxUkZb07cmcQM7ZyoAYNK7e_vsrEGk8zLhkJYg7tqPX-PW_6qpgeKaUSxiLKDHWavjsPiGfRV6PcE-/s1600/wheelbarrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="788" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7UCr2zjh2-WhXPbpscdAeb9Pos1FpI3HYuzSOydlAwTT24qrxa64VVzHJ8y6rCCxUkZb07cmcQM7ZyoAYNK7e_vsrEGk8zLhkJYg7tqPX-PW_6qpgeKaUSxiLKDHWavjsPiGfRV6PcE-/s320/wheelbarrow.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
My beautiful new wheelbarrow has come in handy already. I'm mulching the area around the trees Pete planted last month and boy are those bags of mulch heavy! I don't know why I waited so long to get going on this. Pete did all the planting and added lots of nice topsoil. I should have put down the landscape fabric and mulch right away. Oh well. With all the rain, the weeds have had a field day!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre_-GViLLFk3AB4-EjGx1OM2hYJraQwVg2UckbrsgJYde3f4zGrtUURLI3199JDxHLZOEdRUyZ9xZw64ffHlhQtHJNnMOQ66iL26itGpkhdUSpCJOf5jdfTgwLd23QsVNU-lots4jWoJ0/s1600/weeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre_-GViLLFk3AB4-EjGx1OM2hYJraQwVg2UckbrsgJYde3f4zGrtUURLI3199JDxHLZOEdRUyZ9xZw64ffHlhQtHJNnMOQ66iL26itGpkhdUSpCJOf5jdfTgwLd23QsVNU-lots4jWoJ0/s320/weeds.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Before is above and after below. I have one little section left to do and it will be done and ready to admire every time we pull in the driveway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzkhB4M1H6AmfywsPFW4Ykyi0QJzEkee2mKaDUCmv8-igTF5yQuECS_IeCeXDGGR6QHhePBrulU14aX1D4OM2jpUomP68rxu9rmgxmySEh1wukRvxXmNI_LWK9t_366k0uukPsHxCNzci/s1600/treesandmulch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzkhB4M1H6AmfywsPFW4Ykyi0QJzEkee2mKaDUCmv8-igTF5yQuECS_IeCeXDGGR6QHhePBrulU14aX1D4OM2jpUomP68rxu9rmgxmySEh1wukRvxXmNI_LWK9t_366k0uukPsHxCNzci/s320/treesandmulch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Pete had to change some huge tires on a front-end loader, so we used one to make a planter. I think it looks cute! We added a metal chicken we got from a farm store nearby. That's our phone booth nightlight for the back yard in the distance!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiskAzcWuNAa7JENzBVIwAcWZXyQi6o-tktw5FHaL0xJHZ-DxCS9KG5xFpcvvt6DlBbzSRbO8gfh6iFnfq8ZO0yl4-mTQOnEe3O0PSWZHHTrMPLD4CDZEBf2DTKySaIc3QRjrXMSSirC3o/s1600/tire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiskAzcWuNAa7JENzBVIwAcWZXyQi6o-tktw5FHaL0xJHZ-DxCS9KG5xFpcvvt6DlBbzSRbO8gfh6iFnfq8ZO0yl4-mTQOnEe3O0PSWZHHTrMPLD4CDZEBf2DTKySaIc3QRjrXMSSirC3o/s320/tire.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It should look nice when the plants fill in a little. There's some coreopsis and some purple salvia and around the edge some marigolds. I might add something to drift over the sides a bit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H12ZoH3ucBWGlSCVSi-sGjdzNODHZ1zUKlD6t0PK5HFzJe9HHIabdBUa37z3st1qzl6sQyuF_w1IONKO8h4-tAN-xIe5XMe0WBVM51uLTo-glHyY0tgwJaAMFoPX5Y8Y1RV_hJ3tmboS/s1600/petunias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H12ZoH3ucBWGlSCVSi-sGjdzNODHZ1zUKlD6t0PK5HFzJe9HHIabdBUa37z3st1qzl6sQyuF_w1IONKO8h4-tAN-xIe5XMe0WBVM51uLTo-glHyY0tgwJaAMFoPX5Y8Y1RV_hJ3tmboS/s320/petunias.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, here's the beautiful hanging basket of petunias I got this morning. A local hardware store has beautiful, reasonable baskets every year and I always treat myself. That's the kitchen window right over the sink on the right side. It's nice to look out on the plant when I'm washing dishes. We chose the bright pink this year hoping it will draw the hummingbirds. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope you are all enjoying some wonderful early summer weather!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-42074962956273195052019-05-12T12:44:00.001-07:002019-05-12T12:44:17.047-07:00Mother's DayToday is Mother's Day in the United States. As it happens, neither my Mom nor my daughter are close by today. My mother has been on Cape Cod with my sister for the past 2 weeks, and is coming home today. My sister works for a seafood company on the Cape and only gets to see her a couple of times a year. I hear she has been waiting hand and foot on my mother the whole time. My daughter lives in Alameda, California, and works in San Francisco - the other side of the country. She'll be coming home for a quick visit at the end of the month. Sometimes I wish the whole extended family could live in one big commune - but then I come to my senses and realize I'm the only one that would be happy with a situation like that!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09QsB7ml0rgfvFHe2sxF6ZdZ6CYZrFFa38SZau9W3qlY8-gq_BJ-SioOq2xEr9IZokDQbjLQ1bS2-99he6doBQTCkBUSo1n4R4bNgbZeTaOpn69Zv9DrtGf3zMjkhVE5AIgGR-jTbar_N/s1600/Nina_Mom_Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09QsB7ml0rgfvFHe2sxF6ZdZ6CYZrFFa38SZau9W3qlY8-gq_BJ-SioOq2xEr9IZokDQbjLQ1bS2-99he6doBQTCkBUSo1n4R4bNgbZeTaOpn69Zv9DrtGf3zMjkhVE5AIgGR-jTbar_N/s320/Nina_Mom_Me.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The picture above is my daughter, my Mom and I a couple of years ago at the ballet. I remember it was so hot that evening! The next picture is my Mom this past winter at a Mexican restaurant.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR1f48qiyr4FoLNwxpAaXl5bZXtqNDYl30OAhd551286LTHnB0RNhk61478rZ6hIlQvSVMf3V_vfRivBzNaDw204943U-cl7ZT-2cnjU4os3YHJ2iMLFWxIEebecdyJ97KMchsaDWkpZ4/s1600/Mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="745" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR1f48qiyr4FoLNwxpAaXl5bZXtqNDYl30OAhd551286LTHnB0RNhk61478rZ6hIlQvSVMf3V_vfRivBzNaDw204943U-cl7ZT-2cnjU4os3YHJ2iMLFWxIEebecdyJ97KMchsaDWkpZ4/s320/Mom.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />
I honestly couldn't have asked for better parents, and am so fortunate to still have my Mom in my life. Any good that I have in me came from them. My Mom is just a wonderful, special human being, and I'm so glad she's mine!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-75077393643915331292019-05-07T17:44:00.002-07:002019-05-07T17:44:27.769-07:00Marvelous May?I haven't posted in a while, but like everyone else it seems, the only story here is rotten weather and cold temperatures. We've had so much rain and so many cloudy, depressing days. The grass is tall enough to mow, but it's too wet to even try. A few cloudy days are a good excuse for snuggling in with a good book or Netflix, or even getting some cleaning done. But when it stretches on for over two weeks without sunshine...we're craving some nice weather!<br />
<br />
Last fall our neighbors cut down a lot of trees in their yard. We now have a fantastic view of their house and yard and all their comings and goings whenever we are at the kitchen sink. To get back a little privacy, Pete ordered a bunch of quick growing trees. He didn't let the bad weather stop him, and managed to get them all planted. Our ground is all shale and impossible to dig in, but he used a mini excavator and dug all the holes, then filled everything in and added some good topsoil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcw5aW4GwzFmN0CCn7l2jWT7_ERsiys_P3RjmLFNSXvtoUkff8VQzjGveQdWX6cpEq5e1xRi4w-q3nRiXUWmczBfow1E3RSjJ4i0ELb-fQiaSnutECUARm5Z_IF4svwu8cyIbrEsmdIwC/s1600/IMG_3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcw5aW4GwzFmN0CCn7l2jWT7_ERsiys_P3RjmLFNSXvtoUkff8VQzjGveQdWX6cpEq5e1xRi4w-q3nRiXUWmczBfow1E3RSjJ4i0ELb-fQiaSnutECUARm5Z_IF4svwu8cyIbrEsmdIwC/s320/IMG_3240.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hopefully in a couple of years we'll have a nice hedge growing along the fence that runs along our driveway. I did manage to get out during a little sun we had one day and get a couple pictures of the front yard. The hosta are coming up around the flagpole, and some tulips have bloomed, but most are still buds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVcHSmySsHbf-Bei2MKgzxtFgDBLj0_6OZNSejoLERb6RoK9Js_t05ZPeuKiH5EhFQnJ3ZMVy0BhOsdpecwmBPvAp3k8Q3ftjv1KIXqhD9U8py7PS43EjzT_e-drofsmCdIJDNbZuYqpG/s1600/IMG_3261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0j9T1-Ir1VzcQLqjgmzLnfWXr4VPOh_zqj2rPb1J91rH4Wk6zqwhO9m4kOBVsomAuYfBcWFRYIYsymXcyYevGT6kx8pKzIQiuWG7lkPoYPV2QeJcB5R7zAWqHLfs1wLoWW3WAhGWN3ax/s1600/IMG_3264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0j9T1-Ir1VzcQLqjgmzLnfWXr4VPOh_zqj2rPb1J91rH4Wk6zqwhO9m4kOBVsomAuYfBcWFRYIYsymXcyYevGT6kx8pKzIQiuWG7lkPoYPV2QeJcB5R7zAWqHLfs1wLoWW3WAhGWN3ax/s320/IMG_3264.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKb2FKCzDDK7AfukJp_oVxTs1v16VMqYAEVfaGSSetWwq4AR1ZAtO2PUhACFgLrxJH_bwHRllVQJSumL4et4KmGuGJGRmCrqf5KnQKg3TT0_mPR5n5HH7PFcfkhkjcTjYfBsUnaNzNhog/s1600/IMG_3261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKb2FKCzDDK7AfukJp_oVxTs1v16VMqYAEVfaGSSetWwq4AR1ZAtO2PUhACFgLrxJH_bwHRllVQJSumL4et4KmGuGJGRmCrqf5KnQKg3TT0_mPR5n5HH7PFcfkhkjcTjYfBsUnaNzNhog/s320/IMG_3261.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I bought my sister a pot of pansies for her birthday, and couldn't resist getting some for us, too! (This photo was also taken during that brief sunny period!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZKV-ynnGuMqmHWx3d4vvDCuR-ZpiHeTq6CuuA88XxlqHpmdo5lOtCNlamUQGB5vSFbhvr-nGshE_B1ZVm2gmkC7ouFDasbwYfELLoQ55vk7k5SYGeooxLWvq1jPEiPeaXRNwVbotfAlg/s1600/IMG_3260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZKV-ynnGuMqmHWx3d4vvDCuR-ZpiHeTq6CuuA88XxlqHpmdo5lOtCNlamUQGB5vSFbhvr-nGshE_B1ZVm2gmkC7ouFDasbwYfELLoQ55vk7k5SYGeooxLWvq1jPEiPeaXRNwVbotfAlg/s320/IMG_3260.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzgXUxCI7CJMRe_jkWxFQ7vE4hRZmKFraLuZqHeihLjP_afIrERQteAOlYDPmUjGRmOc57L3bOy1Kh5U4H81AHVoz9e_TKzv0vvt_zbqwGiRbrtIQ2gfLH9qk4GSurJ1xI9Uy19EO6trj/s1600/peonies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzgXUxCI7CJMRe_jkWxFQ7vE4hRZmKFraLuZqHeihLjP_afIrERQteAOlYDPmUjGRmOc57L3bOy1Kh5U4H81AHVoz9e_TKzv0vvt_zbqwGiRbrtIQ2gfLH9qk4GSurJ1xI9Uy19EO6trj/s320/peonies.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aren't these flowers beautiful? I've given eggs from our hens to a friend at church a few times, and she surprised me with these beautiful peonies last Sunday. I have them on our breezeway and they smell incredible.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQ-NI3_ixDxQMC-wepGDrcAYL4nZxih7uTEWgJm2NJ6w-D4OruJ57HhdSGFsONbTWoJdnA0xGs4PBJQPqV_Um212AiX0a6Awm28PJ7lgzY394GV-DmePeWtMB8X7uyFijYNjvBnaBmfWv/s1600/me_and_Angelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQ-NI3_ixDxQMC-wepGDrcAYL4nZxih7uTEWgJm2NJ6w-D4OruJ57HhdSGFsONbTWoJdnA0xGs4PBJQPqV_Um212AiX0a6Awm28PJ7lgzY394GV-DmePeWtMB8X7uyFijYNjvBnaBmfWv/s320/me_and_Angelo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One last photo of me and little Angelo, my best friend Donna's new grandson. What a sweet little bundle he is!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We're actually supposed to have a sunny day tomorrow. Fingers crossed!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-41232460320175192972019-04-13T18:20:00.001-07:002019-04-13T19:04:09.590-07:00NYS Missing Persons' Day<div>
What do you do when you graduate from a small, upstate New York college with a degree in Fine Arts? You move to the big city with a good friend to become a struggling and starving artist! I didn't do too well with the struggling and starving part, and got a decent job and after a while met and fell in love with a wonderful man. We got married on September 29th, 1984 and the last time I ever saw him was on December 21st that same year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSr_Ef0MxG7TcWdulmisyKcM_kwaAKadITE7VKVGOs4hcqs0xrOlHhE0m21iIpqRAmKpK9xhCkCvuVpDzXuvs5n25Ki4exEMsGPDBcMJUjoZffwKgRLdKEG-hORLQc6zruo_ZTdMFcY0H/s1600/Frank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSr_Ef0MxG7TcWdulmisyKcM_kwaAKadITE7VKVGOs4hcqs0xrOlHhE0m21iIpqRAmKpK9xhCkCvuVpDzXuvs5n25Ki4exEMsGPDBcMJUjoZffwKgRLdKEG-hORLQc6zruo_ZTdMFcY0H/s320/Frank.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think the photo above was taken the year before we got married. The night Frank went missing, I had to work late, and he was going to meet up with a couple of friends for a holiday drink in a bar near Wall Street in NYC. I was going to take a bus over the bridge from Manhattan to our apartment in Staten Island, and he was going to take the ferry home. We had plans to go Christmas shopping the next day with his brother and sister-in-law. He never came home. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Frank's body was found in the water off Manhattan on March 23rd, 1985. He had been dead the whole time he was missing. We'll never know what happened, but the theory was that he was robbed and pushed into the water during a struggle. We were still newlyweds with our whole life in front of us. For 3 months, each day was filled with fear and panic. Where could he possibly be? Was he in pain? Did he have amnesia? I remember someone saying to me at the time, that if he was dead, wouldn't I want to know it so I could get on with my life? My answer was no; I didn't want to give up hope. </div>
<div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
<div>
Years later, when I had moved back to upstate New York with my daughter, I heard about an organization called "The Center for HOPE." Doug and Mary Lyall's daughter, Suzanne, went missing from a college campus in Albany in 1998 and has never been found. They created this non-profit to help other families of missing young adults and adults. Doug died a couple of years ago, but Mary carries on with her mission. They have worked on and helped to pass legislation at both the state and federal levels to protect missing persons. They helped establish New York State's Missing Persons' Day, which is held on the weekend closest to Suzanne's birthday each year, and which is commemorated by a day of education and ceremony. The list of thigs they have done to help others is impressive, and their story is heartbreaking. You can read more about them <a href="http://www.hope4themissing.org/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When Frank was missing, I was fortunate that he had an uncle who was a police lieutenant. He pulled strings to have Frank declared an official Missing Person, and I was able to have the help of both the Staten Island Police and the Manhattan Missing Persons detectives. At the time, and to some extent today, an adult must have a medical reason or have disappeared under highly suspicious circumstances to be declared a missing person right away. Adults are allowed to walk away from their lives. It is not a crime and unless there is good reason, law enforcement isn't always able to do a lot. Back then, no one had really heard of the internet, or even of cell phones. There wasn't a network of good people and organizations to help with advice and information. When I learned about The Center for HOPE, I became a volunteer and now serve on the Board of Directors of the non-profit. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So that is how I came to be at the New York State Missing Persons' Day ceremony last weekend. The photos below are from the ceremony. The woman in red is Mary Lyall. The gentleman is one of our State Senators, Jim Tedisco, who has been a strong supporter of the organization and legislation for missing persons, and who is the MC of the ceremony every year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MDGV4B3msmPjQ4O5Kdb0QoDPAW65WX9iIkD6nIB265fivSx28DoJBgDHhO7msgWTRu37qlcYwO0Z7msuQVMcG_V82F1-rRnDQB-fUNX5BK7o3g4WYjUoFGWWG2cYwUCn-mKk71aAd6T8/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MDGV4B3msmPjQ4O5Kdb0QoDPAW65WX9iIkD6nIB265fivSx28DoJBgDHhO7msgWTRu37qlcYwO0Z7msuQVMcG_V82F1-rRnDQB-fUNX5BK7o3g4WYjUoFGWWG2cYwUCn-mKk71aAd6T8/s320/IMG_3194.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GXgxtxEeUjAym5qkmLqokHE4IfPT00C5A02Pz9x1QtKSu3K0PuPefl_XC3RyD3D9dnmsu7PQly29K_SAJx_4JTD_H6cXnrKFURQqDYrHegbNZj69YfNhShhqyeag4Y87TPhVeRXvAayS/s1600/IMG_3195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GXgxtxEeUjAym5qkmLqokHE4IfPT00C5A02Pz9x1QtKSu3K0PuPefl_XC3RyD3D9dnmsu7PQly29K_SAJx_4JTD_H6cXnrKFURQqDYrHegbNZj69YfNhShhqyeag4Y87TPhVeRXvAayS/s320/IMG_3195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKd3qXOzh5_Da_RLqBn3EKRpM8qHgfPMhjRqM7X9dhiLVeaRNtcGsLeTXe7jyDhYk0NL0QTS6GwITik8qIP5GUPm34sYcutFMx-U-Ts43NIAKkwNpXFO2aFUi_nH6r1zIqSBLv285dc2MS/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKd3qXOzh5_Da_RLqBn3EKRpM8qHgfPMhjRqM7X9dhiLVeaRNtcGsLeTXe7jyDhYk0NL0QTS6GwITik8qIP5GUPm34sYcutFMx-U-Ts43NIAKkwNpXFO2aFUi_nH6r1zIqSBLv285dc2MS/s320/IMG_3196.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qHxUP0kvsoCIe5lVjCCPnD9Wt3xDDByTs1jRFzOG0qibAXu3xq0kct5hvWyGhhDhoHoAzIdAfoVZvZ3eAb5OhVf9VzFwZrtPdP4sMs3SyjtGvPGwB59h9P-PLiD74LFpe-I3Rjxa_oN5/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qHxUP0kvsoCIe5lVjCCPnD9Wt3xDDByTs1jRFzOG0qibAXu3xq0kct5hvWyGhhDhoHoAzIdAfoVZvZ3eAb5OhVf9VzFwZrtPdP4sMs3SyjtGvPGwB59h9P-PLiD74LFpe-I3Rjxa_oN5/s320/IMG_3201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ebwi9u_uNPP0pnpE-MVUpkkfi1ciTA-eHvqg59tgj8MQODVBvL0zKgmVUlmo8xqWhUwopz371bI6Iebx4s32UBdCmUlArvu2VeEi7DPXSYhZ7MTz0khXRSzcQIsiELcYL7nKfRHofJKT/s1600/IMG_3202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ebwi9u_uNPP0pnpE-MVUpkkfi1ciTA-eHvqg59tgj8MQODVBvL0zKgmVUlmo8xqWhUwopz371bI6Iebx4s32UBdCmUlArvu2VeEi7DPXSYhZ7MTz0khXRSzcQIsiELcYL7nKfRHofJKT/s320/IMG_3202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I went through the horror of having a loved one missing for three months. I cannot imagine how people manage for three years, ten years, a lifetime. Below is a photo of the NYS Missing Persons' Remorial (the word is a combination of remembrance and memorial) in Albany, NY. It is a 20 foot granite and stainless steel frame which holds an eternal flame at the top, to light the way home for the missing. My prayer is that they will all find their way home. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="irc_mil i3597" data-ctbtn="2" data-cthref="/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjygqyEsM7hAhURhuAKHZqjBv4QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fempirestateplaza.ny.gov%2Fnew-york-state-missing-persons-remembrance&psig=AOvVaw2Qn1m8RiPokL9rr1H8XetH&ust=1555289768126198" data-noload="" data-ved="2ahUKEwjygqyEsM7hAhURhuAKHZqjBv4QjRx6BAgBEAU" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjygqyEsM7hAhURhuAKHZqjBv4QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fempirestateplaza.ny.gov%2Fnew-york-state-missing-persons-remembrance&psig=AOvVaw2Qn1m8RiPokL9rr1H8XetH&ust=1555289768126198" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;focus:irc.rl" rel="noopener" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: currentColor; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: currentColor; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: medium; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" tabindex="0" target="_blank"><img alt="Image result for NYS missing persons remembrance" class="irc_mi" data-iml="1555203374123" height="370" src="https://empirestateplaza.ny.gov/sites/g/files/oee991/files/media/2018/10/missing-persons-memorial-003.jpg" style="background-color: white; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)), -webkit-linear-gradient(45deg, rgb(239, 239, 239) 25%, transparent 25%, transparent 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 75%, rgb(239, 239, 239)); background-position: 0px 0px, 10px 10px; background-size: 21px 21px; border-image: none; border: 0px; box-shadow: 0px 5px 35px rgba(0,0,0,0.65); margin-top: 0px;" width="557" /></a></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-38298339490023032702019-04-05T18:30:00.001-07:002019-04-05T18:35:46.695-07:00Spring in NYJust a quick post. I've had such a busy week! The most wonderful reason was the arrival of Angelo Joseph, my best friend Donna's newest grandson. I hope he'll call me Grandma Sue like his big brother does.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgob1WNtCsXAWUrWiey7Q2x3XBS04mibjqwWaKL7u_anxEXSqfOzXIYyCiCpihkxCDVUi_2M4iBuvjz4cPA3CoDBZrT6Xi7Iauhl8gt7hsxzqUWN5Z1uQxtqLvZMwKVP8CC2reO9_NNN5YI/s1600/IMG_3178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgob1WNtCsXAWUrWiey7Q2x3XBS04mibjqwWaKL7u_anxEXSqfOzXIYyCiCpihkxCDVUi_2M4iBuvjz4cPA3CoDBZrT6Xi7Iauhl8gt7hsxzqUWN5Z1uQxtqLvZMwKVP8CC2reO9_NNN5YI/s320/IMG_3178.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Today, our spring took a bit of a setback. We had a couple of hours of snow, and it managed to accumulate about an inch or two. Tomorrow it is supposed to warm up again, so it will probably all melt (fingers crossed). There's a cardinal in the tree in the photo below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrVC1Yo3paZYQmvn5qZDV3WV58BVuMP59zLHIlSl_zrH_qb9dt-YqU9q0HEmOq7rs3SqubMc8XwL6KSNwouin3BvZfCRn_ipFe1ljguGTOOJ_BjB5SbZkRRBSDINwDZrx_1CwbeG-Nq2K/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrVC1Yo3paZYQmvn5qZDV3WV58BVuMP59zLHIlSl_zrH_qb9dt-YqU9q0HEmOq7rs3SqubMc8XwL6KSNwouin3BvZfCRn_ipFe1ljguGTOOJ_BjB5SbZkRRBSDINwDZrx_1CwbeG-Nq2K/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
I made a bunch of needle-felted bunnies and my friend Maureen delivered them to the store we sell from in Saratoga Springs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbpm4EgzxkGmFIT3zWYwMctco38xKg5rWbTJGJxtrOD5I6J2ekrXypOvyw2w-N498L65HTAsxe61MKIePwnvDV0LdAKGzdiEu5BICGjbgGlN3vBs0ryWZkI4smVHrh5EPtenq1KReZ-Uv/s1600/felted_bunnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbpm4EgzxkGmFIT3zWYwMctco38xKg5rWbTJGJxtrOD5I6J2ekrXypOvyw2w-N498L65HTAsxe61MKIePwnvDV0LdAKGzdiEu5BICGjbgGlN3vBs0ryWZkI4smVHrh5EPtenq1KReZ-Uv/s320/felted_bunnies.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These little cuties are on the shelf near my kitchen sink so they keep me company when I'm washing the dishes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0p5_rz1JTogu9MxL1e9O6Ldf1xFkao6FZSbWJP-elC9uYNmVCg8MEevcqkJcB4YPnGSmGC2JqpbXslrkyEsUGLhqhIz5oDa9rtslteaiuC5IaugWy7pKLfgBdYB6m3QddwQZXb52Jd4J7/s1600/bunnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1080" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0p5_rz1JTogu9MxL1e9O6Ldf1xFkao6FZSbWJP-elC9uYNmVCg8MEevcqkJcB4YPnGSmGC2JqpbXslrkyEsUGLhqhIz5oDa9rtslteaiuC5IaugWy7pKLfgBdYB6m3QddwQZXb52Jd4J7/s320/bunnies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
This little bunny is the real thing and belongs to Donna and her grandson, Alex. He named her "Sweetheart" and there was no convincing him to choose another name. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe79xq3FxR2W7DBJiKiagENg6w4ENIEyWs-OVnBwLSBTj3fXkI9bQIlz8xR3t5unGQFz4N4up9AeX_4xpE4a6wOkw-mTLcM9IcR-_CBnvPzIORteI_IgyxIpUxYg03zEKbDZIIziWWP0F/s1600/sweetheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe79xq3FxR2W7DBJiKiagENg6w4ENIEyWs-OVnBwLSBTj3fXkI9bQIlz8xR3t5unGQFz4N4up9AeX_4xpE4a6wOkw-mTLcM9IcR-_CBnvPzIORteI_IgyxIpUxYg03zEKbDZIIziWWP0F/s320/sweetheart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
She's the happiest, <strike>most spoiled</strike> bunny I've ever seen. Loves to be held and snuggled. She is litterbox trained and gets along well with Donna's tiny Yorkshire terrier.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I will be spending the day "working" at the New York State Missing Person's Day event held in Albany, NY. I'll write about that soon.<br />
<br />
Hope spring is in full swing in your part of the world!<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-32366170893184892852019-03-28T16:06:00.000-07:002019-03-28T16:06:07.521-07:00A Scare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_597rPATRbu8pR-0xZgcH7Ouuq9DlLWALUTCA4LX70i0Qb3x9fYA8xAz5Eu-LQbM6f-we3ALKVY0N_tb-2kJikdR7RPpeHy_LdPjy2vT1SlptBEcLk4WD20U56p6_QNGdKJ0LubtrAgx4/s1600/breast_cancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="606" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_597rPATRbu8pR-0xZgcH7Ouuq9DlLWALUTCA4LX70i0Qb3x9fYA8xAz5Eu-LQbM6f-we3ALKVY0N_tb-2kJikdR7RPpeHy_LdPjy2vT1SlptBEcLk4WD20U56p6_QNGdKJ0LubtrAgx4/s200/breast_cancer.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>
<br />
I wasn't sure I wanted to write about this on the blog, but I guess anything that is said that could raise awareness is good. About 6 years ago now, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was fortunate that it was found at Stage 1, and after removing the tumor and radiation therapy, she has been cancer free. At the time it was found, she had genetic testing and was told there wasn't a genetic component to her cancer that would increase the probability of me or our younger sister of getting breast cancer. Of course we did all grow up in the same environment, so that is another issue. But I have yearly mammograms, and I felt pretty safe.<br />
<br />
Last week, out of the blue, when I was getting into the shower, I had a little talk with myself. I said, "You have a sister who has had breast cancer, and you don't even take the time to do monthly breast exams. Are you nuts?" So I did an exam and found a small lump. This was a week ago Monday, and I had so many things lined up to do each day last week that I didn't get in to the doctor until Friday. (This is retirement?!) The lump wasn't easy to locate all the time, so before I went I marked the spot with a black permanent sharpie marker. It all got a lot scarier when the doctor felt the lump, too.<br />
<br />
My doctor ordered a diagnostic mammogram and a sonogram, but I couldn't get an appointment until Wednesday. If any of you have been through this, I'm sure you know what it was like waiting for the next step. I knew not to look at any of the forums on the internet, but I did look at many legitimate sites - Susan Komen, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, etc. I found out that lumps are much more likely to be cancerous after menopause, and that by the time women are in their late 70s, one in eight will have had breast cancer. I'm 63, post-menopause, have a sister who has had breast cancer, and am overweight. I check off a lot of the risk factors.<br />
<br />
In the five days I waited for the test, I lost 5 pounds. I had a knot in my stomach almost constantly. I had a hard time concentrating on anything. I'm extremely anxious to begin with, but this really wound me up. Pete was wonderful. He just kept saying that it was probably nothing, but if it was cancer we would do whatever we had to do and we would get through it together.<br />
<br />
The results of the mammogram were looked at immediately by the radiologist, and when he didn't see anything, I started crying with relief. Then I had the sonogram, and the technician did find a lymph node that was what we were feeling. But it is absolutely not a problem and everything else looked good. I had to hug her (after I got dressed!) W hat a tremendous relief!<br />
<br />
I haven't stopped feeling thankful yet. I loved just sitting in the living room watching TV with Pete and reading last night. I woke up this morning and absolutely enjoyed feeding cats, dogs, bird, cleaning cat boxes, taking the dogs out and cleaning up after them - all the normal morning chores were a pleasure! I loved taking my Mom to the audiologist today and then to do a little shopping. Loved every minute.<br />
<br />
I know how fortunate I am. I hope I remember each day to be more thankful for what I have and all the blessings I have been given. And I'm definitely going to do a breast self exam each and every month.<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-18096308836501289172019-03-17T13:08:00.001-07:002019-03-17T13:08:44.639-07:00Retirement<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I don't know quite what I expected from retirement, but I didn't really think I'd be quite so busy! Not that I'm complaining by any means. I like to get out and tend to get very morose if I can't. It has also allowed me to be able to be "the wheels" for my Mom since she gave up driving last year. I usually spend part of two or three days a week with her, as well as taking her to church on Sunday mornings. Last week I was busy every day. Taking my Mom shopping and doing all the usual things, plus some fun! My best friend, Donna, has a beautiful 3-year-old grandson named Alex, who calls me Grandma Sue. His baby brother is due to be born in the next couple of weeks! Guess where we took Alex last week? </div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBgSOjOgwe3OlhNjC7WP-esIyJkb2ZTKRQRty29rzAlvJ-z7RIK1K0LvvEJ4Iwxe0gxg-fUHvZs1ostyHjkO4dPTKtJlfTaE0NiAcsY4yMdxNoCcUa7iAUp-JbArACM9bJS7BtLfgFFt4/s1600/thecount.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBgSOjOgwe3OlhNjC7WP-esIyJkb2ZTKRQRty29rzAlvJ-z7RIK1K0LvvEJ4Iwxe0gxg-fUHvZs1ostyHjkO4dPTKtJlfTaE0NiAcsY4yMdxNoCcUa7iAUp-JbArACM9bJS7BtLfgFFt4/s320/thecount.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="226" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Yes, that's the Count! We saw Sesame Street Live in Albany, NY. We let his mom come too! He enjoyed it and we enjoyed watching him. We couldn't believe the prices of the things they were selling. A plastic wand that lights up and blows bubbles was $30! A little plastic Cookie Monster basket with tasteless chocolate chip cookies inside was $15. Of course price was no object to the "Grannies," but it really was ridiculous. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9ugWPXyYSCPBnaqInuKODXahpXf91AP1xUx-gw_E0LUFMNM-8yrVTWvj7UCkfBNEknf_JsSx62PrEBGqs41e3aMTB3VTPPk4W5_3CffaY3wny81uUPbfS8iOmLLQTD_jdu55EVSLb11A/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9ugWPXyYSCPBnaqInuKODXahpXf91AP1xUx-gw_E0LUFMNM-8yrVTWvj7UCkfBNEknf_JsSx62PrEBGqs41e3aMTB3VTPPk4W5_3CffaY3wny81uUPbfS8iOmLLQTD_jdu55EVSLb11A/s320/IMG_3040.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk2pkgH1kbT-wdrA62rn7MHtcbn7lPUuk6emlgatGy4FwL51VUfTUT26qWQ-ZNKU67JyGUDksptq0GhdkzxFghYykFxyatfLCI7hYEUbMIqL_UIKenOu0qVkoBhRLDrBS1XywynYbKSPe/s1600/IMG_3039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsk2pkgH1kbT-wdrA62rn7MHtcbn7lPUuk6emlgatGy4FwL51VUfTUT26qWQ-ZNKU67JyGUDksptq0GhdkzxFghYykFxyatfLCI7hYEUbMIqL_UIKenOu0qVkoBhRLDrBS1XywynYbKSPe/s320/IMG_3039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC44LxWyQ0thCfGSIHX3RyfbDhT3E76dSize8F-Q8xYHtn9MIw_4ueLxE-KXQ0xUwIYOWh9lBBCQAYG9U0wN6D5j3lXgK2oTfyqZyGw7eB34lt6KipTtu-7rW0XD3cuxCXS8RGAoa2Ugon/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC44LxWyQ0thCfGSIHX3RyfbDhT3E76dSize8F-Q8xYHtn9MIw_4ueLxE-KXQ0xUwIYOWh9lBBCQAYG9U0wN6D5j3lXgK2oTfyqZyGw7eB34lt6KipTtu-7rW0XD3cuxCXS8RGAoa2Ugon/s320/IMG_3044.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="197" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Another day, Alex decorated the tree at his grandmother's house for Easter. Never too early to get ready! Since he's expecting a new brother, they've been reading a lot of books about big brotherly behavior and about families. So when he put the eggs on the branches he insisted on making an egg family on the branch. That certainly wasn't going over well with Donna's interior decorating, so we had to convince him to spread them out. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0diBN4X-0_-dJcCdv6colo-6XqbUGOErZ0BBB8hGcBUZHZCILxd3Jj3bUPMC4z9H6CNNVUT3iBhFyxsYoaaqsZX4hFf7XHR0vJ0VYDNDX4pB2S1x3cRzEbVCq8peGSBYxRAJxy3hqCrg/s1600/eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0diBN4X-0_-dJcCdv6colo-6XqbUGOErZ0BBB8hGcBUZHZCILxd3Jj3bUPMC4z9H6CNNVUT3iBhFyxsYoaaqsZX4hFf7XHR0vJ0VYDNDX4pB2S1x3cRzEbVCq8peGSBYxRAJxy3hqCrg/s320/eggs.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Speaking of eggs, our hens are the best egg-layers! I wish we had an outlet for them, as we are getting between 16-18 per day. So far we've been able to give all the extras to friends and family, but it would be nice to get a dollar or two a dozen just to put the money back into chicken feed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbYJtUEeoEtlakollTGagkbPTbkOT7pQJLE3cxbfcpu6YxAWi285Qzh3hSEjhotBVy9kCn8izkTxPlxQvxnDQaufdFAJs2MHpSPkk0OhcC4a6Ve9QjtY8rs1xOkoZKITRNWamxMuIBUPF/s1600/buds2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbYJtUEeoEtlakollTGagkbPTbkOT7pQJLE3cxbfcpu6YxAWi285Qzh3hSEjhotBVy9kCn8izkTxPlxQvxnDQaufdFAJs2MHpSPkk0OhcC4a6Ve9QjtY8rs1xOkoZKITRNWamxMuIBUPF/s320/buds2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNOeGWvB23fRHujXbFICumJuBdVvuMb9geZaODK32_UrhgydR-hYRVHmD_Y-li-CMQAQBNS1d58YjJ_Xrp-ANqAVqRnqeUmOk9jcpXHitd2TDsG29COIfqXgtmRMZLxvNJBtbgscYr8nL/s1600/green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNOeGWvB23fRHujXbFICumJuBdVvuMb9geZaODK32_UrhgydR-hYRVHmD_Y-li-CMQAQBNS1d58YjJ_Xrp-ANqAVqRnqeUmOk9jcpXHitd2TDsG29COIfqXgtmRMZLxvNJBtbgscYr8nL/s320/green.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />Finally, we have some green poking up through the ground! After all that snow and ice this year, this couldn't be a more welcome sight. Daffodils and tulips!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This will be another busy week. I've got plans for every day but Friday - but there are a couple of fun options for Friday, too. What do you have planned?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-7583699635765589582019-03-09T12:20:00.002-08:002019-03-09T12:20:58.081-08:00A Little of This...<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
It's absolutely beautiful out today! The sky is a beautiful color blue without a cloud in sight. It's not really warm - only 40 degrees for the high temperature - but some snow is melting and the sun feels warm on my shoulders. I went in to Saratoga to take my Mom to the grocery store and even opened the window in the car on the way home to get some fresh air. Tonight the clocks move an hour ahead. Unfortunately, we're supposed to wake up to 1-3 inches of wet snow, but it won't last long I hope! Pete's daughter, Donna, saw a red-winged blackbird on her feeder this week. That's the definite sign of spring that we all need. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHr0cxCkSBl3m-Fd8TWKlZfTyKas5OQEL51un3Yoa4fh942QRtLjxJdmg9LeCz79pg_FsM8lBpeZIEvtQ__yro34Qvtrl0ZkFJAlclgGJOPuVAGIoWU0ojR50sAG1AuC9Oa1pHbK5SjTef/s1600/IMG_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHr0cxCkSBl3m-Fd8TWKlZfTyKas5OQEL51un3Yoa4fh942QRtLjxJdmg9LeCz79pg_FsM8lBpeZIEvtQ__yro34Qvtrl0ZkFJAlclgGJOPuVAGIoWU0ojR50sAG1AuC9Oa1pHbK5SjTef/s320/IMG_0912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Only one cat missing from the above photo. I think there were some birds in tree outside the window.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1p40GuSRAxjbv_INYPBQTAi4cK_ARDnEIwfjQwDNcGKIqSZ4F2I-Ivr__EE4NhLOXJtMbDJ69hjyi4FcVOBNLzAXXdZk_kL1S8X2foXeJqS_iqT-M5qiane72VAnrjPffbdE6NAB24SSW/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1160" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1p40GuSRAxjbv_INYPBQTAi4cK_ARDnEIwfjQwDNcGKIqSZ4F2I-Ivr__EE4NhLOXJtMbDJ69hjyi4FcVOBNLzAXXdZk_kL1S8X2foXeJqS_iqT-M5qiane72VAnrjPffbdE6NAB24SSW/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This is one of our two aquatic African side-neck turtles. They get their name because they can't withdraw their head and neck into their shell when threatened, but lay it along the side of the shell instead. We got them free from our vet when another client didn't want them any more. They were only free for about 24 hours. They needed a new, much larger tank. The tank needed a large stand to sit on, and a large heater and canister filter. Don't want to even write what it all cost. But they are so cute and fun to watch. They even like to chase a laser light around the tank trying to catch it. Turtles are a lot of work though and I would caution most people who want to keep them inside. Even with a large canister filtration system, the tank needs to be cleaned often. Isn't that a cute little face though? They always look like they're smiling.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Majmx9zaIuFrSSQRwnKvmDDYskQbA8j-k3py8-8CM5pbWX0NGAeju5fIgDwmllWMPaqDH2VaGW4ZEk5UdDKxqr1z_6kQdV5iIX9OHhFOaPiYTQKcCWAuW_5dHVPsEBij9lt_MhiHZNoS/s1600/bigmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Majmx9zaIuFrSSQRwnKvmDDYskQbA8j-k3py8-8CM5pbWX0NGAeju5fIgDwmllWMPaqDH2VaGW4ZEk5UdDKxqr1z_6kQdV5iIX9OHhFOaPiYTQKcCWAuW_5dHVPsEBij9lt_MhiHZNoS/s320/bigmouth.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /><div>
Do any of you have aquariums? They are one of Pete's hobbies, and we have 5 tanks. This guy is in a big tank we have in our bedroom. He's a Plecostomus and about 10 inches long. He's sucking algae off the side of the tank and keeping everything clean. We've had him about 11 years now.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GoyBtjaI_NoMIBZEPDeBeuB4y36rcWAtPuwY5X92REhYCsakKs9_hLzyFAD_YWYEOvXRndJIyFxPQrPCAo1nEx9XN0xkqhM_4ky5Z4inQVj9uU1ncEa0KxZh1l-7Kdt7TEtkiFOMxDfh/s1600/on_jukebox2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GoyBtjaI_NoMIBZEPDeBeuB4y36rcWAtPuwY5X92REhYCsakKs9_hLzyFAD_YWYEOvXRndJIyFxPQrPCAo1nEx9XN0xkqhM_4ky5Z4inQVj9uU1ncEa0KxZh1l-7Kdt7TEtkiFOMxDfh/s320/on_jukebox2.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
One final picture today of Dixie. We prefer to play the songs on the jukebox in the living room - she prefers sitting on it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're on our way now to our regular Saturday dinner date! A buffet - hope I can control myself.</div>
<div>
Have a safe and happy weekend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-25649086949044378342019-03-02T12:06:00.001-08:002019-03-02T12:06:45.969-08:00Changing the BedSuch a simple task - changing the sheets on the bed - turns into a circus and takes twice the time it should at my house. I just throw up my hands and laugh! Every time I move a sheet it gets attacked.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPAKSyo1gyA5VqY3fMOi8toN5vYTgoPPRFkPB5cdMbzVPsFubJ_OYbRvC6ryWLzF_gaYbuekPX7420VII1Jjza_f7E17PkJZm48a58js_uqJOsj40nC-Wjgggpf-IiTbtpu1OgDDPO52l/s1600/bedmaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1080" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPAKSyo1gyA5VqY3fMOi8toN5vYTgoPPRFkPB5cdMbzVPsFubJ_OYbRvC6ryWLzF_gaYbuekPX7420VII1Jjza_f7E17PkJZm48a58js_uqJOsj40nC-Wjgggpf-IiTbtpu1OgDDPO52l/s320/bedmaking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2ZxfuMoxooIeyINbefpuDveUP1rhDkYxVCb9AKDm9vF2TdeHOeo48bKKh3cvTVXjI6lWPFrvT1eQj0h-IA3WC-7mf8TEME1hs-DJFkos_oRfo4Oz6D1HCKKALNUm_an4r525fWFlEh3M/s1600/IMG_2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2ZxfuMoxooIeyINbefpuDveUP1rhDkYxVCb9AKDm9vF2TdeHOeo48bKKh3cvTVXjI6lWPFrvT1eQj0h-IA3WC-7mf8TEME1hs-DJFkos_oRfo4Oz6D1HCKKALNUm_an4r525fWFlEh3M/s320/IMG_2982.JPG" width="306" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIOofb4Dsn2tjvcddJopujASCB_6MNfaEGC5iyCIcrDMn1l6_q7H1PlhVkzdWYkD3eLo2vdXtZ6GBKIu50jVEc2sbO1jLTYE-pdvM-UD1DyWL5Ck7ULTagbftLBzecl27XJSl2_3XKEhE/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIOofb4Dsn2tjvcddJopujASCB_6MNfaEGC5iyCIcrDMn1l6_q7H1PlhVkzdWYkD3eLo2vdXtZ6GBKIu50jVEc2sbO1jLTYE-pdvM-UD1DyWL5Ck7ULTagbftLBzecl27XJSl2_3XKEhE/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYYeP2xScZeSd-Ifrf8T8ddwbrXwKnaXSspZeKD2a3LdVWJr0xw7rHjCuAxPwcNIPPv1AK0wIh2Rqa1DDjiaB9xdrCsziXpwK-u_HXE6Y0ANwwO0su_BSPeo1f-D1PvMT6z7C6mlZRQsZ/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYYeP2xScZeSd-Ifrf8T8ddwbrXwKnaXSspZeKD2a3LdVWJr0xw7rHjCuAxPwcNIPPv1AK0wIh2Rqa1DDjiaB9xdrCsziXpwK-u_HXE6Y0ANwwO0su_BSPeo1f-D1PvMT6z7C6mlZRQsZ/s320/IMG_2992.JPG" width="177" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-dP3Zz0d96YT3R4siCVzLvMbiULhjMZnGqutjIl8MpUkS2463JiwjEesR9UEhUhYUFGElXGSRQSJAR_MGMN4Q9kGh6s1w5jcYwKg7KzQelqArwxZoiT81kKppzMPMmN4aI6U2ht9_uFF/s1600/IMG_3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-dP3Zz0d96YT3R4siCVzLvMbiULhjMZnGqutjIl8MpUkS2463JiwjEesR9UEhUhYUFGElXGSRQSJAR_MGMN4Q9kGh6s1w5jcYwKg7KzQelqArwxZoiT81kKppzMPMmN4aI6U2ht9_uFF/s320/IMG_3001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
But I finally got the fresh sheets on and the bed all made up. It's like this every time I change the sheets.<br />
<br />
I took a walk around the yard today looking for bear tracks and didn't find any fresh ones. Thank goodness! Did find lots of rabbit and squirrel tracks, as well as what are probably coyote tracks, and tracks from a cat that Pete has seen a couple of times. I don't know if it's someone's cat that lives in the neighborhood or a feral cat, so we've put out some dry cat food just in case it's hungry. We have an old dog house in the yard that hasn't been used for many years, and I have wood chips in it and a blanket and an old dog bed, but it doesn't look like anything has used it.<br />
<br />
On Saturday afternoons Pete and I always go out for an early dinner. We have 5 or 6 places we like all within 20 minutes or so of the house. Then tomorrow morning I'll take my Mom to church in the next town over, Saratoga Springs. On Monday, if we don't get too much snow overnight, I have plans to go out to breakfast with a few women I used to work with who are very close friends. We'll eat and then do some shopping.<br />
<br />
Hope you have a great weekend whatever you are doing.<br />
<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-55652313100422788012019-02-24T15:20:00.000-08:002019-02-24T15:20:02.809-08:00Unwelcome VisitorThe other night our sweet beagle Max had a very unsettled couple of hours. I kept turning on the light in the backyard and didn't see anything. I was worried a fox was trying to get close to the chickens so I was shining a flashlight around the hen house and trying to make a lot of noise. The next morning I went out back and found these bear tracks!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4SkiiBWBJIytySmRaC2VSsLJEtQBEbX8lc6s77p-W4tMu3aQCv59al4uARFsxCzX-8jel5-21AXfqLKBDBxMthANz32N1ekMYtF_PHQPUVyWXKsqrM4LlOeIlOgJwk-7uRnPLkbgfXj2/s1600/bear1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4SkiiBWBJIytySmRaC2VSsLJEtQBEbX8lc6s77p-W4tMu3aQCv59al4uARFsxCzX-8jel5-21AXfqLKBDBxMthANz32N1ekMYtF_PHQPUVyWXKsqrM4LlOeIlOgJwk-7uRnPLkbgfXj2/s320/bear1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTznYNXowuTLLzAAw47416fBbyGlk6EuvX0qxamfKu1y_thlCbqmsTotIoIdBLgvefkacgsEYMCiJdggT1yYsjBNtuqWU_bxKKqIhuO5LHoCeiQMiBh-eA-tQ5qVZfu5teiJoyIKAXuin/s1600/bear2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTznYNXowuTLLzAAw47416fBbyGlk6EuvX0qxamfKu1y_thlCbqmsTotIoIdBLgvefkacgsEYMCiJdggT1yYsjBNtuqWU_bxKKqIhuO5LHoCeiQMiBh-eA-tQ5qVZfu5teiJoyIKAXuin/s320/bear2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpB-mOJ7NPJc0SVEmHs9cS1VORr64vjdaMgcETlBR3ArAYXSw4ZJN29Z6qcmnBczfMpIfpBamk5Ix4yyNIzLvONDcM8YBees5jgCaw4QFzRw-wMwjwoFslG32p8ePSbfM0wkScAYH363q/s1600/bear3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpB-mOJ7NPJc0SVEmHs9cS1VORr64vjdaMgcETlBR3ArAYXSw4ZJN29Z6qcmnBczfMpIfpBamk5Ix4yyNIzLvONDcM8YBees5jgCaw4QFzRw-wMwjwoFslG32p8ePSbfM0wkScAYH363q/s320/bear3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pete set the trail cam out last night to try to catch a photo, but the bear didn't come back, thank goodness. The people down the road had a bear in their backyard a few years ago, so they aren't unknown in this area. It's just a little unsettling having them so close when they've probably just come out of hibernation and are hungry!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A little north of us they were having a problem with them in the fall and were warning people to take down their bird feeders as the bear were going after the seed. Poor things - we're building all over and pushing them out of their territory. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbnpYm00hYSRG9W74TMh2IDOz3aBiuL0kAAWZnvsDGkiQoN4OWYa0iPKti7c4jL8mAFC-l36ChdVQ603l7BGDQAoMWhkrYROPXSB7WpHc3bAjNJ-BJWwUkwa3wlY2kGeiYUevNoDZRYBN/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbnpYm00hYSRG9W74TMh2IDOz3aBiuL0kAAWZnvsDGkiQoN4OWYa0iPKti7c4jL8mAFC-l36ChdVQ603l7BGDQAoMWhkrYROPXSB7WpHc3bAjNJ-BJWwUkwa3wlY2kGeiYUevNoDZRYBN/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sweet Max out by the pond in nicer weather!<br />He knew there was something in the yard that shouldn't be there!<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-78206770223538401172019-02-18T18:00:00.000-08:002019-02-18T18:27:37.632-08:00For Cat Owners/LoversThis post is only for cat owners!<br />
<br />
We have 5 sweet (mostly) cats, and that means we have, excuse the language, 5 cats' poop and pee. I've had cats for many, many years and have used all kinds of litter and all kinds of litter containers. I've found the ultimate solution! This is just my opinion that I would like to share with other cat owners. The company is not paying me and will never know that I've written this!<br />
<br />
I never smell cats when I come in our door, but I thought maybe I had become "nose blind" as the commercial says. But within the past month, I got the same compliment from 3 people on 3 separate occasions. Honest! Each said that they never would have known that we have cats because there is absolutely no smell in the house. Two of the people were Hospice nurses that were here to help my mother-in-law, and they both said they are in many homes with cats and they can usually tell as soon as they walk in the door. The other person was here to buy a piece of furniture we sold on Craigslist, and she said the exact same thing.<br />
<br />
We use the Breeze system made by Tidy Cats. It's a little expensive to start, but there is a $7 coupon on their website: https://www.tidycats.com/breeze-systems<br />
I also noticed when I googled it that chewy.com has it for 30% off at the moment.<br />
<br />
<img alt="pdp-breeze-nonnew.jpg" height="321" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 580px, (min-width:768px) calc(50vw - 20px), calc(100vw - 20px)" src="https://www.tidycats.com/sites/g/files/auxxlc226/files/styles/kraken_generic_max_width_600/public/PDP_Breeze_1.png?itok=hcOW0PT0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; display: block; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 321.48px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 535.8px; object-fit: cover&quot; object-fit: cover; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; width: 535.8px; word-spacing: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" width="536" /><br />
We use the open design box - the covered box didn't exist when we started using them, but the uncovered one is so simple to clean. The pellets are ceramic-like. Poop sits on the top or gets buried in the pellets and you need to scoop it. The urine goes through the pellets to a pad below. It is kind of like a diaper in that it soaks it up and becomes gel-like. If you don't slide out the door to check it, you will never smell the urine! We have 5 cats and I use 4 boxes. That's adequate for us, although Tidy-Cat and veterinarians say a box for each cat plus 1 extra. I also go through and quickly check the boxes each morning. I scoop the poop and make sure the pad isn't full because it's not fun to change the pad if it overflows! Since you can't smell it, you need to figure out how long you can go normally without checking the pad. They say that if you have 1 cat it should last a week.<br />
<br />
One wonderful feature is that the pellets don't get tracked around the house. Some of the pellets may end up on the floor due to over-zealous scratching, but they're easy to pick up and put back in the box.<br />
<br />
There are other companies that make cheaper pads for the Breeze system. I've tried a few and they just weren't worth it. They were thinner and didn't last as long. But Amazon now makes their own brand which are cheaper and work great. They're called AmazonBasics Cat Litter Pads. That's all I buy now.<br />
<br />
The web site gives instructions on how to introduce the system to your cats. I had no trouble at all with any of our cats - including our little feral cat who had never seen a litter box in her life.<br />
<br />
One last thing to know. If you have a cat that "sits" on the edge of the box to pee - usually a male - occasionally you could get urine on the floor in front of the box. That can happen with traditional boxes too. I solve that by putting one of the pads on the floor just under the edge of the front of the box. If it gets urine on it, I just reuse it in the "drawer" of the system.<br />
<br />
That's it! Just wanted to share something that has made our house a more enjoyable place to be!<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-995144791891655062019-02-16T12:20:00.001-08:002019-02-16T12:20:48.740-08:00Ruby'sOnce a month, I spend the day working at Ruby's Marketplace. It's a little shop in a nearby town, Greenwich, NY. Half of the store, the Marketplace, is rented by crafters and craft retailers. The other half is operated as Ruby's Nimble Thimble by owner Terry. She does repairs and alterations, sells fabrics and notions, and gives sewing lessons in a big studio at the back of the shop.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OwlrOnUkEoertuqbVCSt9D04pc50yT9Ihy6HAbOE-LoPdMNYnpEPKwO2mngaqJ6JRXZNJS2ykWXEysijr_xqVPuuyP_6tAmOVG3Dphiu1vH7D6l2WgFO5I2ADiXEtNM-wI65kn3ZmnYR/s1600/IMG_2893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OwlrOnUkEoertuqbVCSt9D04pc50yT9Ihy6HAbOE-LoPdMNYnpEPKwO2mngaqJ6JRXZNJS2ykWXEysijr_xqVPuuyP_6tAmOVG3Dphiu1vH7D6l2WgFO5I2ADiXEtNM-wI65kn3ZmnYR/s320/IMG_2893.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Notice all the snow in front of the shop! I stood on the nice, cleared sidewalk to take the photo. Greenwich used to have a great little shopping area. My sisters and I and our kids often would take a drive over on the weekend and browse through all the sweet shops. Unfortunately, after a very popular restaurant, Wally's, closed some years ago, several shops closed and there aren't as many customers anymore. But someone has bought the restaurant and is slowly fixing it up, and several new shops are opening, so we're optimistic for the future.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLRQ4y1ADiA7dAhxXA07USttqEjOvdE0Y4lygoCJssQRZXToOOxLFF2Fz-muW2siu2bFcEGe3eLM6kNRzkIknIdZwYaqO-4YJRVRdpTJelW9TtVQeOqdGSX5a0FcT3gK-c0DNcqs6XnWz/s1600/IMG_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLRQ4y1ADiA7dAhxXA07USttqEjOvdE0Y4lygoCJssQRZXToOOxLFF2Fz-muW2siu2bFcEGe3eLM6kNRzkIknIdZwYaqO-4YJRVRdpTJelW9TtVQeOqdGSX5a0FcT3gK-c0DNcqs6XnWz/s320/IMG_2900.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The shop is really nice, and the first thing I do when I get there is take a stroll through to see what's new. More often than not, I find something to buy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0Oe9FHiJusRmTWA1EzDNzn4gltg2eSo-HTXN4t1djwBXvzs6U7YFVRJIzjTeBFeJknmjg8tRuWJ6ep17eBg1e1znQfi1SyypbIO-2TLLu6sHnZiGfqG6LyOosn6TdwspHVL4Ty7xmc40/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0Oe9FHiJusRmTWA1EzDNzn4gltg2eSo-HTXN4t1djwBXvzs6U7YFVRJIzjTeBFeJknmjg8tRuWJ6ep17eBg1e1znQfi1SyypbIO-2TLLu6sHnZiGfqG6LyOosn6TdwspHVL4Ty7xmc40/s320/IMG_2897.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
It's an old building with a lot of country character and squeaky old floors. That's my friend Maureen's and my space on the right. Maureen is a very accomplished knitter, and sells mostly children's items: hats, sweaters, mittens, etc. She also is a needle-felter, as am I, and we both sell our needle felting there. I have a few paintings for sale also, and a couple of crocheted blankets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSU3xRpRqfTu_THiBEYq2D5waY3yYneUr3xz4aD39OzdnQ6a1_MhMqSXaBi66gNEqZzCIAqzh7W1PB-NxZYV3e6wciDkZDMnVd-jkM1yCsaYGVVGlNgv64dF7cTS4hLTiIeWOB9ZT35Gb/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSU3xRpRqfTu_THiBEYq2D5waY3yYneUr3xz4aD39OzdnQ6a1_MhMqSXaBi66gNEqZzCIAqzh7W1PB-NxZYV3e6wciDkZDMnVd-jkM1yCsaYGVVGlNgv64dF7cTS4hLTiIeWOB9ZT35Gb/s320/IMG_2890.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a close-up of part of our little section. A sale is going on! Hope it entices some buyers! I look forward to working there once a month - it's a nice place to be, and I always meet some nice shoppers.<br />
<br />
This last photo is of my Valentine when we were out for a Valentine's dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11Si5raZqEOYhmLHbCUjLBZsZwbjNiZngrX4FRYLlqQoURVeiS-KhJ3lsOWpICh2lnyCWXzNHgyFiqqntQAyyIZZa65VyPxC5JPa48pbhIgx8Vz3hGZ5bKhpOiFgVhT7EkfLKhoIJpcbV/s1600/IMG_2905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11Si5raZqEOYhmLHbCUjLBZsZwbjNiZngrX4FRYLlqQoURVeiS-KhJ3lsOWpICh2lnyCWXzNHgyFiqqntQAyyIZZa65VyPxC5JPa48pbhIgx8Vz3hGZ5bKhpOiFgVhT7EkfLKhoIJpcbV/s320/IMG_2905.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I love the heart shaped sign over his shoulder. It says "Burnin' Love!"<br />
<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-67882613700024143212019-02-08T19:11:00.000-08:002019-02-08T19:11:13.220-08:00Hobbies<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
First of all, thank you for all of the kind thoughts and comments following Pete's Mom, Anne's passing last week. The funeral was yesterday and we are trying to adjust to a new normal. The house is so quiet! Anne was very hard of hearing and loved game shows on TV. There were always a lot of bells, whistles, yelling and laughter coming from her room. She never missed The Price is Right in the morning, or The Wheel of Fortune at night. We had The Game Show channel on cable TV for her and she watched endless hours of Family Feud. She loved Steve Harvey. Pete misses her horribly, but we will get through this. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I thought I'd show you some of Pete's hobbies tonight. He's a collector and a fixer upper. We both like things that remind us of our childhood in the late 50's and early 60's. </div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NnzSuUHxAYvHWINf7WXZAVckOO7iqdbSWwW9uSEhlv_-3FEIeXbDGGgYyH4BQ2crjoIvq2WdxINpNH7UWZswH7J2PsIOINci50sr9lETCt21zYVUPhsy1hp0bMZEQTVf1spf2SniYxjj/s1600/IMG_2686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="922" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NnzSuUHxAYvHWINf7WXZAVckOO7iqdbSWwW9uSEhlv_-3FEIeXbDGGgYyH4BQ2crjoIvq2WdxINpNH7UWZswH7J2PsIOINci50sr9lETCt21zYVUPhsy1hp0bMZEQTVf1spf2SniYxjj/s320/IMG_2686.JPG" width="184" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmbmaSViqOqlO-aHtGGRflF6hG7snjd9M0s-1RaXOIlXvPm1UKHsawyDQDt0CMvaTtaaD9eaoItJqvkrPjfebrfmTmqfaslFyYMVqDjdnqwoo31T_51CH55TDSGBDq1VZxhB8jKcmMm0S/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1387" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmbmaSViqOqlO-aHtGGRflF6hG7snjd9M0s-1RaXOIlXvPm1UKHsawyDQDt0CMvaTtaaD9eaoItJqvkrPjfebrfmTmqfaslFyYMVqDjdnqwoo31T_51CH55TDSGBDq1VZxhB8jKcmMm0S/s320/IMG_2685.JPG" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
Aren't these great? The pump has a reproduction globe on top, but the rest is original. The tractor in the second photo usually has a big pot of geraniums on the seat in the warmer weather. That's the chicken coop behind it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaFZWCRxbk-xFWA8X1jPE6xB1KG4kKbXpARfMb3NtRFB3HWhUbHJIL5lHxk4tcbGsdouMzX-BMbMKjU5TwEk9JFuW8GyPHUF-fhxTVJxMBChGkEps91Q6n6Yb554o6W2Kq9wr-P4BrKjF/s1600/wheelhorse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="699" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaFZWCRxbk-xFWA8X1jPE6xB1KG4kKbXpARfMb3NtRFB3HWhUbHJIL5lHxk4tcbGsdouMzX-BMbMKjU5TwEk9JFuW8GyPHUF-fhxTVJxMBChGkEps91Q6n6Yb554o6W2Kq9wr-P4BrKjF/s320/wheelhorse.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
These are some more of the Wheel Horse garden tractors he collects. He finds them in all conditions. Some are just used for parts, others are complete and he just needs to tinker with the motor, the carburetor, or the brake lines to get them working. There are some that stay inside the barn, too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGpHMTzNSNc7sMOKAyPTGErUAt80KFA6hxJcOUUHc3OOfkcDx0ZYAPs1N732EcYsGxjeAo4GCmgkStLnMP0p8Cd6AtP6_QAXw4pM48QlkTedl_-0clEwU3Ev3kLPiJhqLzHuU6sS33qSH/s1600/IMG_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGpHMTzNSNc7sMOKAyPTGErUAt80KFA6hxJcOUUHc3OOfkcDx0ZYAPs1N732EcYsGxjeAo4GCmgkStLnMP0p8Cd6AtP6_QAXw4pM48QlkTedl_-0clEwU3Ev3kLPiJhqLzHuU6sS33qSH/s320/IMG_1078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
He has a few cars, but some are going to be sold this spring (I don't think he'll sell this one though!) Again, he likes the mechanical restoration - everything under the hood. When everything is running well, he often loses interest. Then it's time to sell and use the money for a new project.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8E_2gp8zHgQXJ86v9HBHpIs4VG-pA2PyCIjEpuO_xMwjk3Wgnzn6xQSzwWv7hTYqnq6bu065Gd82C_mHVlgCEoJcZnopk3StLuSaHHjiJDeoFB8AhgaodhtpPjW-V8pRQxCBgqLrnvx9n/s1600/IMG_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8E_2gp8zHgQXJ86v9HBHpIs4VG-pA2PyCIjEpuO_xMwjk3Wgnzn6xQSzwWv7hTYqnq6bu065Gd82C_mHVlgCEoJcZnopk3StLuSaHHjiJDeoFB8AhgaodhtpPjW-V8pRQxCBgqLrnvx9n/s320/IMG_0191.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCeCCBnTJ85s7efYSOUqiUGVY7tQWsxIG9K4RrVtNaJiywoE_105RwFMbJl0Ecq1NbpsgJnTxOsBuSv_K6xFgaBY_hrrfRKyEg-rYxAcjOzZ85jArBFP1elkxeN40AJ-7Mm1aBpvxAwJJ/s1600/basement_pinball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCeCCBnTJ85s7efYSOUqiUGVY7tQWsxIG9K4RrVtNaJiywoE_105RwFMbJl0Ecq1NbpsgJnTxOsBuSv_K6xFgaBY_hrrfRKyEg-rYxAcjOzZ85jArBFP1elkxeN40AJ-7Mm1aBpvxAwJJ/s320/basement_pinball.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Above are two photos of our basement pinball room. He has found these in all conditions, too, and has taught himself to fix them. They are quite sensitive and seem to need a lot of TLC to keep them running. I love this hobby! During summers when I was in high school and college I worked at a small local amusement park. It had a good sized arcade, and after hours the staff honed their pinball skills.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEyWxGtPj4PiRXxpMOHltzUsFG9TRXxSwCbrWtWVs1oL7PloBQHubr0W0hDtYB-freEysE38Och67Zo3SWrfrk4qy0olg_sE_sGE1MLR2q5iQUbEihzANfjndThovEPdPboK3rutLbhVz/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEyWxGtPj4PiRXxpMOHltzUsFG9TRXxSwCbrWtWVs1oL7PloBQHubr0W0hDtYB-freEysE38Och67Zo3SWrfrk4qy0olg_sE_sGE1MLR2q5iQUbEihzANfjndThovEPdPboK3rutLbhVz/s320/IMG_2696.JPG" width="261" /></a></div>
Jukeboxes are a natural extension of the pinball machines. Same thing here. Most of them don't work when he gets them and he works his miracles. I found a program on the internet that lets you type in the titles of the music and the artist and then you can print out the old-fashioned labels so everything looks legit. Some come with old 45's, some with cd's. We find songs we like on ebay, but also have a huge collection of 45's and of cd's that we bought very cheaply.<br />
<br />
We used to go all over New York State and even to surrounding states to track down "projects" and parts. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We would make a day of it - always searching out a fun local diner for lunch. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We weren't able to travel any distance when Anne was with us, and that was fine. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span>But now I'm hoping that we can start taking our little trips again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-1443770304240712992019-01-29T13:11:00.000-08:002019-01-29T13:11:09.262-08:00Eggs!Yesterday, Pete found the first 2 eggs our new chickens have laid. We figured it wouldn't be long, as they're the same age as the rooster who began crowing not too long ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV7naZJK2ysjkpbHUk-HLqakzz71qDost1oh0eWhh_I3epfCj7SyClIgn9Lda41m-B3qOnKhe8eHz7JhH-kIowZPYoLnx3Hp_-uFxBoEHpvzk-_80dYjb5MxXitXquriN1Qf019qrXGqa/s1600/IMG_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV7naZJK2ysjkpbHUk-HLqakzz71qDost1oh0eWhh_I3epfCj7SyClIgn9Lda41m-B3qOnKhe8eHz7JhH-kIowZPYoLnx3Hp_-uFxBoEHpvzk-_80dYjb5MxXitXquriN1Qf019qrXGqa/s320/IMG_2833.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />I'm thinking before long there will be no room for anything else in the refrigerator. We'll be giving away a lot of eggs! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The weather is nasty again here today. Very, very cold, with snow off and on which is supposed to really pick up tonight. We're supposed to have 4"-9" by early tomorrow morning. Wednesday is Bible Study and the housewarming shower for our pastor with my Mom, so I'm hoping I'll be able to get her there tomorrow. It is very important for her to get out and be around other people and interacting with others - it makes a big difference both mentally and physically. Last week I didn't get to see her as much because I was sick, but yesterday I took her to an appointment with her neurologist (she got a very good report), then to Target to buy a gift, and then to do some grocery shopping.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7xgAavg_w42CP8K-Vu6GCPYEtn-ZfUEFUnN2mI7wVMtD9-EcRjjRaxLiEehGUsWbvpXZr2LOxXJt62WXksehxLhvfpVuawRV-0fJSAKo2mPWaYdb2P9EaA6lFCV4oHMh_W4LadSWXzaU/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7xgAavg_w42CP8K-Vu6GCPYEtn-ZfUEFUnN2mI7wVMtD9-EcRjjRaxLiEehGUsWbvpXZr2LOxXJt62WXksehxLhvfpVuawRV-0fJSAKo2mPWaYdb2P9EaA6lFCV4oHMh_W4LadSWXzaU/s320/IMG_2814.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love the ears sticking up in the photo above! We have a big feeder in the front of the house and then we just put seed on the ground on this side. There's usually at least one cat at the window. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfAEOk3ZngV7-v1EeRsX3NHSxD8r2C9wV-aqHMsVboL2eM4hUnD1OcYB0ZkwGop9kirNj2zLCjSizUeoWFc9AH0Hl3N6LXdqSQWVRHf4HOY8vNNTw4U2dIcSd_K3YXtSJX_SBQBrHRl6A/s1600/IMG_2835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlIy03eOJqOyjKuBMqajruKEIwz_nS-2eLFPxG0WlTdK9L6eCW5-zvtVJeYfapoNJhEBX8PAdQvJUU5j3y0qXd-Vt1wFi0bUC5P_-VxFVpZJatthJxiSoCJYqM-95dOU8FUeEB_nuEpnP/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1053" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlIy03eOJqOyjKuBMqajruKEIwz_nS-2eLFPxG0WlTdK9L6eCW5-zvtVJeYfapoNJhEBX8PAdQvJUU5j3y0qXd-Vt1wFi0bUC5P_-VxFVpZJatthJxiSoCJYqM-95dOU8FUeEB_nuEpnP/s320/IMG_2827.JPG" width="210" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfAEOk3ZngV7-v1EeRsX3NHSxD8r2C9wV-aqHMsVboL2eM4hUnD1OcYB0ZkwGop9kirNj2zLCjSizUeoWFc9AH0Hl3N6LXdqSQWVRHf4HOY8vNNTw4U2dIcSd_K3YXtSJX_SBQBrHRl6A/s1600/IMG_2835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1106" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfAEOk3ZngV7-v1EeRsX3NHSxD8r2C9wV-aqHMsVboL2eM4hUnD1OcYB0ZkwGop9kirNj2zLCjSizUeoWFc9AH0Hl3N6LXdqSQWVRHf4HOY8vNNTw4U2dIcSd_K3YXtSJX_SBQBrHRl6A/s320/IMG_2835.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="221" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Noah, on the left, and Roscoe and Rosie on the right - at the beginning of our current snowstorm.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uFsqFfVlm4DJ68ZRl1dY_4e89m-A3J2mibFUlrb-RPN9bjl7s0u6_xXuMaJvLYD0jBtOWtmx9KLXLG-86LB8bJFCnqDodx6IcWDpTfMsv4Kkf4hSWgktiD497MgMgjj_TMZ2uUHqcxQX/s1600/IMG_2816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uFsqFfVlm4DJ68ZRl1dY_4e89m-A3J2mibFUlrb-RPN9bjl7s0u6_xXuMaJvLYD0jBtOWtmx9KLXLG-86LB8bJFCnqDodx6IcWDpTfMsv4Kkf4hSWgktiD497MgMgjj_TMZ2uUHqcxQX/s320/IMG_2816.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is my handsome partner, Pete, relaxing with Rosie. His mother, who lives with us, isn't doing as well and as of yesterday she is on Hospice care. We will hopefully be able to keep her home with us, where she wants to be. She has started having some very long seizures. We had a nurse here yesterday to confirm she was ready to enter Hospice, and the nurse she will be seeing regularly was here today. They have already been such a help to me mentally and emotionally. I have a lot of questions and want to be sure morally and ethically we are doing the right thing and doing our best to be true to Anne's wishes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, the cats are all here making their presence known, so it must be their dinnertime. I want to show you our back yard "night light" - Pete wired in a photo cell so the light comes on automatically at night. I just love it. It gives a nice little glow!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM86YU_faJN5OQNv-LATqXepeNgDKJ1_62j3645ckNdCgIg2NqGEY44qFLLZzl0HRr0EpKTTzJvoufEVnx8gZo9sUsdkaPbIsoIWMH2mNs2qBAE7t71sn7iJVKl9mkeHpWy5tfkRuyD_RN/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM86YU_faJN5OQNv-LATqXepeNgDKJ1_62j3645ckNdCgIg2NqGEY44qFLLZzl0HRr0EpKTTzJvoufEVnx8gZo9sUsdkaPbIsoIWMH2mNs2qBAE7t71sn7iJVKl9mkeHpWy5tfkRuyD_RN/s320/IMG_2823.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Stay warm and dry if you're in the path of this newest storm!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-8447858170780659612019-01-25T10:50:00.000-08:002019-01-25T10:50:54.325-08:00<div>
So Relieved!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Poor Pete and I both came down with either the stomach bug or food poisoning on Tuesday within an hour of each other. Nice to share everything with your significant other! It was horrible, but finally over. Thank goodness for Justine, who comes in to give Pete's Mom a bath each morning. She came in multiple times to take care of her toileting, and came to put her to bed at night and get her up in the morning. I just didn't want to get near her to keep her from catching it. So far, so good. But I don't know what we would have done without the extra help. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our yard and driveway are an icy mess. We had that huge snowfall, then the temperature soared for a day and we had over 2 inches of rain, then it all froze again. Our town has a big pile of dirt that residents can take if needed, and Pete went and got 8 five-gallon buckets full this morning. At least we'll be able to stop at the end of the driveway instead of sliding onto the road. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I found this picture of Jack from a while ago. I had been cleaning in one of the bedrooms and left a roll of paper towels out - last time I'll make that mistake. We never heard a thing, but when we rounded the corner to head in to bed, this is what we found:<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeQWTvIwm_edGJwzCMgFQ6Nubu_JAkc1Xe40XGlURzG8HIyGlDdqOXrgt3J-ZjoZFAi0dHZydhmbiqhW4hI24NMqsCD2ZQcxc82JiyEj8muDAdM6GP9xeHTP9PUFRJop-DogUxpEPzxsj/s1600/mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeQWTvIwm_edGJwzCMgFQ6Nubu_JAkc1Xe40XGlURzG8HIyGlDdqOXrgt3J-ZjoZFAi0dHZydhmbiqhW4hI24NMqsCD2ZQcxc82JiyEj8muDAdM6GP9xeHTP9PUFRJop-DogUxpEPzxsj/s320/mess.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />Couldn't get mad. He just looked so proud of himself! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next week we're having a lunchtime housewarming for our associate pastor who is getting divorced and moving to a new home. Her wife owned almost everything going into the marriage, and apparently she is taking almost everything. We're giving her a gift card so she can buy what she wants/needs, and a few kitchen things so she'll have something more tangible to open. We're having hors d'oeuvres and cake, and I'm trying to think of a good hors d'oeuvre to take. Does anyone have any ideas?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-14547738395616810562019-01-21T15:12:00.000-08:002019-01-21T15:12:21.087-08:00"What a Difference a Day Makes!"Well, the dreaded storm arrived and we got about 15 inches of snow. It started out nice and light, but we had a period of sleet, then more snow, and it ended up being very heavy to shovel. Thank goodness for the snow blower and tractor with plow. Here's the old view and the new view:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_-dbHbZB7bl_7_iIyEdbp9Y6WMuPf5-ElvLafR3zfOOqcQimQIVJvDvI3wvPrJYjReJbOqEkh2oFw88TiNYKnUPJm1_d_RwxRQTSc2VLAtAMyzigSpiImaY7mjjLPggL2s78VmhM8lg2/s1600/backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_-dbHbZB7bl_7_iIyEdbp9Y6WMuPf5-ElvLafR3zfOOqcQimQIVJvDvI3wvPrJYjReJbOqEkh2oFw88TiNYKnUPJm1_d_RwxRQTSc2VLAtAMyzigSpiImaY7mjjLPggL2s78VmhM8lg2/s320/backyard.jpg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsSbGGC0eKUDvmooGqIRrPQDwCNzO4ReXDFD0xkEzLYiL5BqVxEmMBAAuKrvOzT9Wu3-ikKV0jZKi9E4RQ1tvpgj01WNURW73XyswG99DPHk6Xj9MIpUS6Mm6md-qgR6IxSGiZnvI7QXp/s1600/IMG_2801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsSbGGC0eKUDvmooGqIRrPQDwCNzO4ReXDFD0xkEzLYiL5BqVxEmMBAAuKrvOzT9Wu3-ikKV0jZKi9E4RQ1tvpgj01WNURW73XyswG99DPHk6Xj9MIpUS6Mm6md-qgR6IxSGiZnvI7QXp/s320/IMG_2801.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I have the area the dogs use pretty well scraped down, but their paws are still freezing after just a few minutes. Poor little things. I tell them to just do what they have to do and stop exploring when they go out, but they don't listen to their mama. The high was only 5 degrees today and the wind chill was way below zero.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGTJ6IlgUY5OXZTEF1dD6YB93-B45IkiGSguf_zLgBwXT_YJpC1nob0rRq6vRXFqR-GO71ZaPcacys5UX_G2NzX49pzg016onfY3kUPUptRJhoON2iPtNJYqx5NXFXAyo2qry4IGaGKbT/s1600/IMG_2800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGTJ6IlgUY5OXZTEF1dD6YB93-B45IkiGSguf_zLgBwXT_YJpC1nob0rRq6vRXFqR-GO71ZaPcacys5UX_G2NzX49pzg016onfY3kUPUptRJhoON2iPtNJYqx5NXFXAyo2qry4IGaGKbT/s320/IMG_2800.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Pete plowed out to the bird feeder in the front yard, and had to refill it today. We had noticed a lack of birds at the feeder this year, but they're all back with this snowfall. I had listened to a radio call in show with a bird expert, and he said many in this area were noticing the same thing, and he did promise they'd be back when the weather changed. We're seeing lots of juncos. sparrows, nuthatches, a pair of cardinals, blue jays, mourning doves, and a beautiful red-headed flicker eating the suet. We had goldfinches on our bags of niger seed until a couple of days ago, but I haven't seen any since the snowfall.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's a photo of our little sweetie Rosie. She was brought up to a rescue group here in the north from an overcrowded shelter in Kentucky. She is my sidekick, and sleeps between us under the covers every night. (Wish she would sleep through the night though - she often has to get up and take a quick trip outside around 2 or 3 am.) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs48UzVxVVtvpJrkxiKn-mE9TJk3rGpGovurROS-woCSEzDYEEetpfribH8Q5LHSOHUh8_BLebBGPQvLUwm4ewfS6mVFSawhBtSTZgp7HzzIp89xcrGQZhFSf3wG7WiUUbtcWQB5_bmuV/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs48UzVxVVtvpJrkxiKn-mE9TJk3rGpGovurROS-woCSEzDYEEetpfribH8Q5LHSOHUh8_BLebBGPQvLUwm4ewfS6mVFSawhBtSTZgp7HzzIp89xcrGQZhFSf3wG7WiUUbtcWQB5_bmuV/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I notice she's sitting on Pete's lap in this photo. His lap is fine when I'm not around. Her only bad habit is that she's a barker. But to put a spin on that, she's a great watchdog!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hope everyone is staying warm and dry in this frigid weather.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-57480651122765530732019-01-19T10:48:00.000-08:002019-01-31T06:12:17.813-08:00Being a Caregiver<br />
<br />
Are any of you a long-term caregiver for an elderly or ill person? Pete's 95-year-old mother has lived with us for almost 3-1/2 years now. It was a well thought out decision, we thought. His Mom had a couple of falls living at her home and ended up in a rehab facility each time. She has a "bad" knee, which resulted from a fall 25 years ago, and that contributed to the falls. She has always been adamant that she didn't want to go to a nursing home, so we had her come here. Although she was able to stand and transfer to a chair, commode, etc. when she left rehab, within 2 weeks of living here she was afraid to even try. We ordered a hydraulic patient lift to move her, and have used it ever since. She now can't put any weight on her legs. So we need to get her up and dress her each day, put her on the commode every 3 hours, then get her undressed and into bed each night. To say that has made a huge difference in our lives is an understatement. We do have an LPN come in during the week in the morning to give her a sponge bath each day, so that gives us a little leeway to go out to breakfast or do a little shopping together. And Pete's daughter comes 3 nights a week and puts her to bed. However, she really doesn't want anyone to take care of her but us, and after a full year now, still isn't very happy with having her LPN come in. She can be an extremely difficult person - nothing new brought on by her age - she has always been the same. One daughter hasn't spoken to her for over 30 years, and she's burned her bridges with her sister, nieces and nephews and all but 2 grandchildren. She has 3 great-grandchildren she has never met due to her treatment of other family members. At the same time, she can sometimes be so very sweet. I can be feeling upset, and if she calls me "Sweetie" I just melt. It's a difficult situation, but we do our best.<br />
<br />
On a different note, we're expecting a huge snowstorm starting late this afternoon and not finishing until tomorrow. Our area is expecting 14"-20". Tomorrow afternoon we'll be busy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzagjLJoZPiO4oerFG50_mHq8BPmqPt6JFJauWwisCS0bwbxCanR8h7-5GBt1AyB71VMZLusYUVRGdawiRAtuBSZ0bA_PICOTQWD1AxWYuqinCRcrzVpc3P1nEjx8UafiCa61WdyWtoG0E/s1600/backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzagjLJoZPiO4oerFG50_mHq8BPmqPt6JFJauWwisCS0bwbxCanR8h7-5GBt1AyB71VMZLusYUVRGdawiRAtuBSZ0bA_PICOTQWD1AxWYuqinCRcrzVpc3P1nEjx8UafiCa61WdyWtoG0E/s320/backyard.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<br />
We have a huge area to plow out, and Pete does the majority of it in his heated tractor. I'm responsible for the dog pen and the chicken pen, which I do with a walk-behind snow blower and a shovel. We have a big penned in area which you're standing in when you go out our back door. Makes it easy to let all our dogs out to do their business at once and keep them safe. This is the view looking out through the dog pen towards the chicken coop and pen. Looks cold and drab and wintery!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVVyh7tNRzN4IKX07rQ-XVsypgu0D6RWs4gNhEnrrXv68s7tiAN4w0erY44r6bpCwENf3QopcQbkhefJ9Oh1eU28xzVT3TiBvziFodnn1Xpmsd4DGUHfHs_je5pYq1CEaZHBtBh4gJPkE/s1600/boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVVyh7tNRzN4IKX07rQ-XVsypgu0D6RWs4gNhEnrrXv68s7tiAN4w0erY44r6bpCwENf3QopcQbkhefJ9Oh1eU28xzVT3TiBvziFodnn1Xpmsd4DGUHfHs_je5pYq1CEaZHBtBh4gJPkE/s320/boxes.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's a cute photo to leave you with. These are 2 sisters, Nellie and Dixie. Pete's daughter took in their stray mom when she was pregnant and we adopted 2 of the 4 babies. We always have a cardboard box or two around and they're very popular! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Stay safe if you're getting this storm in your area! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-50892712659949689672019-01-14T15:10:00.000-08:002019-01-14T15:10:13.958-08:00<div>
Another Monday</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The weather here in upstate New York is absolutely freezing. But on the bright side, it hasn't been windy, which makes a huge difference. This morning, Pete and I had to stop at a store for some paintbrushes right next to one of our favorite breakfast spots, so of course we indulged. Then for some reason, we took a little drive to the back of the property we just bought. We haven't walked most of it yet because we didn't have the deed until November and it was already cold. About one third of it is cleared and open, and that I have walked all over many times with our beagle, Max. On this freezing morning, for some reason we decided to walk some of the land at the other end, which borders a housing development. That portion of the property is protected freshwater wetlands, and has a nice pond with a cleared area around the edges which looks to get regular use from 4-wheelers. Don't know quite how we'll deal with this. We don't want to or have the capability of being policemen of the property. We have just received a box of no trespassing signs which we have to put up to protect ourselves. And if people walk their dogs through the property we really don't care. But we don't want 4-wheelers riding around ripping up the land or scaring off the deer and other wildlife, and we don't want people dumping their lawn debris or Christmas trees (which I saw a few weeks ago.) We bought this property at a tax sale because the builders who owned it hadn't paid their taxes in 4 years. We got it very cheaply and just wanted to keep it wild and prevent another housing development from being built right behind us. Well, we'll have to figure it out as we move forward. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just a cute picture here of our littlest dog, Pixie. She's a very tiny, 5 pound, long-haired chihuahua and likes to tunnel under the blankets at every opportunity. Today is certainly a very good day to tunnel!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_PyUU8T5wTHZzYjteFzca_EEdYm6vfub2QUQJUU4RZ6Ll1Y9MWSAeMaNz2PMjWSZZvi5M5JlTKZl0BuoeSoMFwgLLfG9NjoRywYP_pekXi8N31gnpS2HdcsyrZDflMSGzElOjQtG6deG/s1600/cozyII.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_PyUU8T5wTHZzYjteFzca_EEdYm6vfub2QUQJUU4RZ6Ll1Y9MWSAeMaNz2PMjWSZZvi5M5JlTKZl0BuoeSoMFwgLLfG9NjoRywYP_pekXi8N31gnpS2HdcsyrZDflMSGzElOjQtG6deG/s320/cozyII.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-47890459986846972922019-01-10T15:21:00.001-08:002019-01-10T15:21:31.474-08:00Needle Felting<br />
<br />
Today I took my turn working at one of the shops where I sell my needle felting. It's a small store called Ruby's Nimble Thimble, in a town about 1/2 hour away named Greenwich. The shop is divided into 2 sections. The owner is a seamstress and has a shop with some fabric, her sewing area, and a room in the back full of sewing machines where she gives sewing lessons. The other section of the shop is divided into booths which she rents to a few crafters and a couple of people who sell retail decorative items. Each crafter/salesperson has to work at least 1 day per month. I have a booth with my very good friend, Maureen. She knits beautiful children's sweaters, hats and mittens, and also does needle felting. I concentrate mostly on needle felting, but I do have a couple of pieces of artwork and a couple of baby blankets for sale also. Here's a sampling of what I have been making lately.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5NUS_KEpGOB0l83C-wv-o9joameiSvq9mlANIaOm_a0Gd43X1keD8-6632d0FJx8tRTutKisLNBkcdXhDwsF8fWhyTiuycZ-OsLdXfBBqeQM6qFg6knyfRisXzx2p6Vhle-Wd-ZlPzcN/s1600/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp5NUS_KEpGOB0l83C-wv-o9joameiSvq9mlANIaOm_a0Gd43X1keD8-6632d0FJx8tRTutKisLNBkcdXhDwsF8fWhyTiuycZ-OsLdXfBBqeQM6qFg6knyfRisXzx2p6Vhle-Wd-ZlPzcN/s320/heart.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVx80bK_oY4_pLSu0dHRAQ3a_FZt75cqU1pX71C22m8P3-_ODjBzFIhjDBBrAQqJbfQSKV1sMsBJnXX-55zAv0Z9X5yHuPXRifrlWS-wRI3RJfMNYLmAehDv7i9Xbx2Oy-iSmqY_-4vNI/s1600/mice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVx80bK_oY4_pLSu0dHRAQ3a_FZt75cqU1pX71C22m8P3-_ODjBzFIhjDBBrAQqJbfQSKV1sMsBJnXX-55zAv0Z9X5yHuPXRifrlWS-wRI3RJfMNYLmAehDv7i9Xbx2Oy-iSmqY_-4vNI/s320/mice.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnbaoL5jQ1EdBrZw5PAG3oM83otLsyIn1MmMWTUATG07zbdAlA4fCVTesFVzKr4ark7tg02gjLe_vmpsJziY9M_7exj48cZQ0U9eQNuE-FPeGBpUPYCqG00yds-9SkTd_-hfRFSPG_F31/s1600/mouse_face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnbaoL5jQ1EdBrZw5PAG3oM83otLsyIn1MmMWTUATG07zbdAlA4fCVTesFVzKr4ark7tg02gjLe_vmpsJziY9M_7exj48cZQ0U9eQNuE-FPeGBpUPYCqG00yds-9SkTd_-hfRFSPG_F31/s320/mouse_face.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAaseDqve34qKDotruFQGQIRQHTyikAWIPxlbGkiAkp64BwefTKtM1to0Lczp2bL3UQyLTU0VtgTZoFd0xGfyn6p9Hzt9NRlvm2VGVbM7VIuRy3xZrObyqYsdAHslcm5ltu9vkmv28R4f/s1600/racoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1087" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAaseDqve34qKDotruFQGQIRQHTyikAWIPxlbGkiAkp64BwefTKtM1to0Lczp2bL3UQyLTU0VtgTZoFd0xGfyn6p9Hzt9NRlvm2VGVbM7VIuRy3xZrObyqYsdAHslcm5ltu9vkmv28R4f/s320/racoon.JPG" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgH69tpDtnoSb8TFvE0_bF2edGEefYYgKuYmGLExoaZw9pV0__fB66tq9C696I_PVEPNwdxHQAbepHO0tsgC7XrYSxzuX_mG3RKyiGbz46G6H0L9o2bo2a8lM0zyxZyoCbWRrqb1zqaLe/s1600/fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgH69tpDtnoSb8TFvE0_bF2edGEefYYgKuYmGLExoaZw9pV0__fB66tq9C696I_PVEPNwdxHQAbepHO0tsgC7XrYSxzuX_mG3RKyiGbz46G6H0L9o2bo2a8lM0zyxZyoCbWRrqb1zqaLe/s320/fox.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc_i3Z9B6y66WKSiqlhcpY6cLmFd3DMoA3ls_teSQvZ97w8Qre2pdqTxJR2VV-vcLQbTSaFsbnW4-uuKZRcXnIg33rdZWPKiEDFvTWXVH4v07ymDHBi3nf81IJPeeIkxFuHZBIXbNFP62/s1600/bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipc_i3Z9B6y66WKSiqlhcpY6cLmFd3DMoA3ls_teSQvZ97w8Qre2pdqTxJR2VV-vcLQbTSaFsbnW4-uuKZRcXnIg33rdZWPKiEDFvTWXVH4v07ymDHBi3nf81IJPeeIkxFuHZBIXbNFP62/s320/bunny.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a craft I really enjoy. I have a hard time just sitting in the evening and watching tv - always need something to keep my hands busy so I can relax. If you'd like to know more about needle felting, this link explains it pretty well: <a href="http://www.lauraleeburch.com/2012/05/needle-felting-101-history-wool-tools/" target="_blank">LauraLeeBurch</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-52053281836838027282019-01-05T15:18:00.002-08:002019-01-05T15:18:54.025-08:00<div>
Our Four-Legged Family</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pete and I are both animal lovers. We get so much joy and love from our animal family. We now have 6 dogs and 5 cats. All of the cats and 5 of the dogs are rescued or adopted. I vacuum often and clean 4 litter boxes a day but I don't think I've ever complained. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNHk_mx1IpPCYtJr69blY6mmkZjvYRJfHKPhGIDnSzkqM7Y3infszc57rFEngQrvGx3bKPGg1Jibkr189G_0dYDSrkwUvyNb953NdWQHtCWveOdpz-K6VECAU1VSaC17mwkGpm-qhn3Sx/s1600/Jack_in_the_drawer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNHk_mx1IpPCYtJr69blY6mmkZjvYRJfHKPhGIDnSzkqM7Y3infszc57rFEngQrvGx3bKPGg1Jibkr189G_0dYDSrkwUvyNb953NdWQHtCWveOdpz-K6VECAU1VSaC17mwkGpm-qhn3Sx/s1600/Jack_in_the_drawer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNHk_mx1IpPCYtJr69blY6mmkZjvYRJfHKPhGIDnSzkqM7Y3infszc57rFEngQrvGx3bKPGg1Jibkr189G_0dYDSrkwUvyNb953NdWQHtCWveOdpz-K6VECAU1VSaC17mwkGpm-qhn3Sx/s320/Jack_in_the_drawer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This is Jack, short for Jack Sparrow (from Pirates of the Caribbean). He is half Siamese and half tabby cat - probably. Our vet fostered his pregnant mother from the animal shelter until she had her babies, and then was able to place the mother and all of the kittens except this one. The mother had feline herpes and Jack has a few issues from that, but doesn't have herpes himself. He is blind in his left eye. It's hard to tell but it is very cloudy. He has no cilia in his nasal passages to keep out dust, so he sneezes often - many times in a row. When we hear him, we go running with a paper towel as it can make quite a mess! He is quite a character. In this photo he jumped into the bread drawer when I was cleaning it out. Cats just love anything box shaped, don't they? </span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here he is in the sink after I did the dishes last night. He loves water - I've heard that's true about many Siamese cats. His tabby heritage would be more obvious is you could see his feet!</div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNHk_mx1IpPCYtJr69blY6mmkZjvYRJfHKPhGIDnSzkqM7Y3infszc57rFEngQrvGx3bKPGg1Jibkr189G_0dYDSrkwUvyNb953NdWQHtCWveOdpz-K6VECAU1VSaC17mwkGpm-qhn3Sx/s1600/Jack_in_the_drawer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qDVxaJB_PEokz9RSTrB-fKm325kqStVzG8KUGQPaxn5CtpjukLew8nP6Ool3UnpbPg4J6NA3RcMUIktXLlTdfAFXH6oOOpO7AUAiZZYGdFqZryQr7LF1Jytc2fjc2c2iHcLW4YwxTgd/s1600/jack_in_the_sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6qDVxaJB_PEokz9RSTrB-fKm325kqStVzG8KUGQPaxn5CtpjukLew8nP6Ool3UnpbPg4J6NA3RcMUIktXLlTdfAFXH6oOOpO7AUAiZZYGdFqZryQr7LF1Jytc2fjc2c2iHcLW4YwxTgd/s320/jack_in_the_sink.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Boy, he really fills that sink!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>
</div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-18426467141502924862019-01-03T15:20:00.002-08:002019-01-03T15:20:29.359-08:00Big day today - our young rooster crowed for the first time! Don't quite know why I felt so proud!<br />
When we bought the chicks, we didn't know how many of each sex we would end up with. But this seems to be the only rooster out of the 20 chicks. Amazing! Last time we bought chicks, quite a few years ago, we had 18 roosters out of 20. Most went to live on Pete's uncle's farm. Hoping this one stays friendly.<br />
<br />
This morning we did a job we've been putting off for a while. I'm not sure why we picked such a cold day to do it, but when the inspiration hits you have to run with it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGy0HYxJ2umz0810gl1i5i1YnK4oD4TYpqN39LYXxnpGb6byzAYOoVJfNaQCRWa0ZGABB7bdz416TZZZw1SSCJRDB8gCvlIqenBUmLmlJCxPnjhtnE1T5dHsDxNekVSJfjon4HNhjY_ux/s1600/chipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1794SPB-TUrJ6hvzMk0n_DIugzrXHKY6sSpjkQ2u54FdIFkURPfZQQcxRXtQk56ba63JDnujT-MeAyzokEn-R1w87QF7ETbns4nvmXNsBLTatbD2ZlX4qS2e-3-95XD6LtIqs8ZCgIhS/s1600/cedars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1794SPB-TUrJ6hvzMk0n_DIugzrXHKY6sSpjkQ2u54FdIFkURPfZQQcxRXtQk56ba63JDnujT-MeAyzokEn-R1w87QF7ETbns4nvmXNsBLTatbD2ZlX4qS2e-3-95XD6LtIqs8ZCgIhS/s320/cedars.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGy0HYxJ2umz0810gl1i5i1YnK4oD4TYpqN39LYXxnpGb6byzAYOoVJfNaQCRWa0ZGABB7bdz416TZZZw1SSCJRDB8gCvlIqenBUmLmlJCxPnjhtnE1T5dHsDxNekVSJfjon4HNhjY_ux/s1600/chipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGy0HYxJ2umz0810gl1i5i1YnK4oD4TYpqN39LYXxnpGb6byzAYOoVJfNaQCRWa0ZGABB7bdz416TZZZw1SSCJRDB8gCvlIqenBUmLmlJCxPnjhtnE1T5dHsDxNekVSJfjon4HNhjY_ux/s320/chipper.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
We had some very overgrown cedar shrubs along the back of the house. They were mostly twigs with greenery just at the very tips, and they were blocking the windows at one end of the basement and not letting in any light. So Pete cut them all down with the chainsaw and we fed them through the chipper. You can see him in the second picture up on a ladder clearing the chipper when it got clogged up because we weren't taking our time!<br />
<br />
The whole thing took longer than we expected and I was absolutely frozen when we finished. We had planned to clean out the hen house too, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-68566797793606146542019-01-01T10:44:00.000-08:002019-01-01T10:44:11.631-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No, we didn't make it until midnight, but that comes as no surprise. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIifjX-lZ81ydyqiZQ9-DwYTbpI8kztK86gwrRA7Aodl5zbbyZd_pQZBT9iOlRZTcTg-EakKG7Q_eel9ZXG4phS9Vv_NgyhxmtbGZr3mwqXiGkJSO6LJF74KMNFDOyqSvB8Oqbnedx0B9c/s1600/snowmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIifjX-lZ81ydyqiZQ9-DwYTbpI8kztK86gwrRA7Aodl5zbbyZd_pQZBT9iOlRZTcTg-EakKG7Q_eel9ZXG4phS9Vv_NgyhxmtbGZr3mwqXiGkJSO6LJF74KMNFDOyqSvB8Oqbnedx0B9c/s320/snowmen.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I took down the outdoor decorations today, but I guess snowmen can be used to decorate all winter. These are needle-felted. I took a couple of one day classes at a yarn shop in a nearby town with a friend, and we make and sell items at two stores in the area. She is a very talented knitter, so she also sells knitted sweaters, hats and mittens for children. I'm a not-so-talented knitter, so I add a baby blanket once in a while. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1861223242926523529.post-85875424873366377992018-12-31T12:07:00.000-08:002018-12-31T12:07:08.605-08:00I was walking out back the other day and found this little "terrarium" buried in the ground. Can you see the little green leaves inside? They're difficult to see in the photo but they're on the bottom left of the jar. Hard to believe a little plant could still be alive in there after the ground is frozen!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGouMbS4lISmgxn1oolKQPlYo81gyVtZclOm_wC00kuY4clmZrGxiUpcp5ZVoIZwyolVnVULyx3MyT9AT-0yMUGK-2rkd4ESUvF-xLtCNquDCzYozI149TPG7coeLaeB9YS-RzP8ChBHbJ/s1600/terrarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFJklJJwuGgNRp1VRgg2B2pu-vT6bciNcAHE6kipOfiBBFwX4TBAqvy1-8pIJVgowLs_9K3a6VW4Zp-OnSBlHGVIMWZymlykY0uBU8V1v7L53LE7Zs29U7S-HsC2ynPuVKA4y79pybrWW/s1600/terrarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGouMbS4lISmgxn1oolKQPlYo81gyVtZclOm_wC00kuY4clmZrGxiUpcp5ZVoIZwyolVnVULyx3MyT9AT-0yMUGK-2rkd4ESUvF-xLtCNquDCzYozI149TPG7coeLaeB9YS-RzP8ChBHbJ/s1600/terrarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGouMbS4lISmgxn1oolKQPlYo81gyVtZclOm_wC00kuY4clmZrGxiUpcp5ZVoIZwyolVnVULyx3MyT9AT-0yMUGK-2rkd4ESUvF-xLtCNquDCzYozI149TPG7coeLaeB9YS-RzP8ChBHbJ/s320/terrarium.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
<br />Our house was build on a portion of what was once a huge farm, and apparently their garbage dump was in what is now our back yard. We've found lots of nice old bottles, many unbroken. I have some on the mantle and have been swapping out seasonal greenery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqY-PEBN4CJrivPd6etYz8GaJXAm1t1Jht6qLptu2mL5W9fJAO5QknNxZs7tdKXfb7sfbsg6EEvwc5DVUbiMhcYh3m3bywgsIn7yWTx5WvZfBT8YJZZRZy8uOSme5Y9LQax-iP88GjI8w/s1600/bottles_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1079" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqY-PEBN4CJrivPd6etYz8GaJXAm1t1Jht6qLptu2mL5W9fJAO5QknNxZs7tdKXfb7sfbsg6EEvwc5DVUbiMhcYh3m3bywgsIn7yWTx5WvZfBT8YJZZRZy8uOSme5Y9LQax-iP88GjI8w/s400/bottles_original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've just been able to purchase 24 more acres at the back of our property at a tax sale. We got it very cheaply and are thrilled that no one will be building a housing development behind us. About a third is heavily wooded, another third is protected wetlands (birds!), and the last third is partially cleared. Who knows what wonderful treasures we'll find!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107838233635613580noreply@blogger.com2