Tuesday March 31 2009

I drove down the back way to Melta's street and

saw these two big moose napping in the willows.

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This was a small pastel I started today.

Still unfinished.

Charm, Kay and Melita working in Melita's kitchen.
She baked us cookies this morning to have with coffee.
There were just the four of us today.

Spanikopita!! Yum!!

Charm and Melita.

Tomato basil soup and cesar salad.
Melita also made fresh baked french bread.
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A pair of red tailed hawks was building a nest
in Melita's cottonwood trees.

Wow End of another month. Where does the time go! It started off sunny, gradually clouded up and is lightly snowing at 8:30 p.m. The dogs just came in with snow all over their backs. Don't think it ever got above freezing again, and was a little breezy.

It was a great day. We had our small painting group meeting at Melita's today. I really enjoyed it. Melita made us another of her wonderful lunches. She is going to visit her home in Switzerland to see her sister and family, leaving on Sunday. She'll be gone I think six weeks? and they will spend two weeks of the time on the island of Tenerife. Tenerife, a Spanish island, is the largest of the seven Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. Her sister has a house there not far from the beach. They go to the ocean to swim every day. ..... Anyway, its a good time to get away from Wyoming. Her sister is coming back home with her for a week or so. And on the way back they are stopping by Las Vegas for a couple of days. Melita, I hope you have a wonderful vacation and be safe. And thank you again for the special day at your home.

I took a variety of photos today so am sticking several of them in the blog.

On the way home I stopped at Obo's meat market for some of their meat and filled the car up with gas - $2.05 a gallon now. Made us chicken fried steak for dinner. Remember I sent out on email with a link to a video on how to boil potatoes with the skin on, then put them in ice water and just squeeze off the peels? I tried that tonight and it works great.

Monday March 30 2009

Last Night's Fresh Blackberry Pie.

It did turn out Good - was super simple.

I've never made one with fresh fruit before, just frozen.

Backyard Drift Again

Potty Time - Then Quick Back in the House! - Sparky

Joe went out to the ranch with the dogs this morning. He got back before 11 and said he was still able to drive in, that there's about an inch of snow there. The sun is shining. And the wind is blowing hard today making ground blizzards. The power went out several times, once for about an hour. No way of telling how much snow has fallen. More storms are supposed to be coming all through the week. Not sure what he will find in the way of drifts in the road out there. It sure piled them up here again. You can see in the picture of Sparky that the wind has just piled all this snow in our back yard. Beyond the fence the snow isn't very deep and the brush is sticking out. The front yard is scoured down to the dirt, with another big drift hulking beyond there too.

Am feeling pretty rested this morning. Am going to vacuum while Joe's gone. This afternoon I have to go to the clinic for the protime (coumadin) test and will probably get some groceries and fill the car with gas while I'm out. Joe's up in the attic again, and apparently building that safety platform around the furnace. No comment.

"Laughter is wine for the soul — laugh soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness. Comedy and tragedy step through life together, arm in arm. ... Once we can laugh, we can live." Sean O'Casey.

Sunday March 29 2009

This new LDS Temple was dedicated last week in Draper Utah. Beverly might have sent me this photo of elk in front of the new Draper Temple.

Yesterday afternoon, as I was mopping the floor, Joe asked if I wanted to go up to The Place and have prime rib. I said yes as soon as I finished mopping. It was like he could hardly wait. It was only 4 p.m.! So I did get the mopping done, and we got ourselves ready and drove up to the Upper Green for dinner. It was very good and not nearly as expensive as going to the (near to us) Lakeside Lodge - by less than half as much. Even though it had been storming the drive was fine. It was like going back in to winter though as there is still quite a bit of snow up there and it was showering snow. Kind of pretty. We were home before dark.

As usual was late getting myself going, but got a skirt on and went to church. Beverly's email I read after I got home said this was a fasting Sunday, but I didn't know it. So I ate a small breakfast before I went. The lessons were interesting and I got a whole bunch of postcard sized scriptures to read and study. Before I can do that I need to get my books I left at the ranch. I loved seeing the little children. They are so beautiful and shining. One of my most favorite things about the church is how important the family is. It's also fun to say hi to people that I know there.

We got a skiff of snow during the night but it really started to come down about 10 a.m. So it stormed with maybe 3 inches of heavy wet snow while we were in church. Covered the car and the roads with wet dirty slush, but it was o.k. getting home. The prediction is 100% for snow today, wind about 15 mph. I had let the dogs go along with me - they slept in the car. I've been letting them out at the corner to run home - it's about a short block and gives them a little exercise. Today the labrador retreivers from up the street all three came out to meet Sparky and Raven. They are acquainted so I'm being optimistic that they are going to get along o.k. Now they are napping and I'm thinking that I also want to have a nap.

Later: I did take a nap. Don't know how I sleep that way any more, except know it's part of the illness progressing. Tonight I made us a small steak with baked potato which was quite simple and made a fresh blackberry pie. Joe's anxiously waiting for it to come out of the oven. There's ice cream too.

I thought this article in the paper was interesting - about a living facility at the gas fields for the workers. http://www.sublette.com/examiner/v9n1/v9n1s1.htm

Jackie sent this one - Forging a Hot Link to the Farmer Who Grows the Food

Saturday March 29 20909

Breakfast - one of Sue's cinnamon rolls.

It was a pretty nice looking day out this morning with the sun shining, but another storm is on the way. Not above freezing and a stiff breeze. I feel so sorry for the people in North Dakota having such terrible flooding. If you check Judi's blog you will see a letter to her from friends in Fargo who are fighting to keep the river from flooding homes and businesses. It really shows us the desparation of the situation. Click on Judi's blog on the top right of my blog to read the letter. Awful Awful!!

A more fun one to check out is Gina's blog and she has given us some pictures of her family at the hill climb in Jackson. There's a cute picture of Charm and Jim there too. Jim didn't make it to the second round, so felt sorry for him not to go on. He's one of the Master's (the older group of guys to ride). Other's from Pinedale are doing well though. Good luck to them.

Housecleaning and laundry going on here today, so not much interesting to write about. Three loads of laundry are finished and folded - YEAAAA!!!! and ready to vacuum, mop and dust. Joe will probably help me with the vacuuming. Perhaps this evening I'll get a much needed manicure and pedicure done. So ..... WOW, really interesting reading today. Which reminds me I still need to read the emails.

Sandra has been writing again. She is a dedicated and wonderful pet and animal advocate. http://www.helium.com/knowledge/218189-controlling-pet-overpopulation

My short-term memory is not as sharp as it used to be.

Also, my short-term memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

Friday March 27 2009

Kay and Jo - Kay works on her painting at left upside down.

Ruth doing a watercolor.

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Ruth and Kay discussion.

Jo painting a goldfinch and yellow monkeyflowers.

Dee's beginning.

Dee painting. She drives all the way from Jackson.

What a mess we have.

Mixed Media at lunch.

The wonderful cooks.

We had a great time at the Mixed Media meeting today. It's always such fun to be with the friends. I went down to the post office first and then got to Rendezvous Pointe about 8:40 and got the coffee going and my snacks set up. Brought cinnamon strusel muffins, chocolate covered strawberries and some pecan halves. Took me a while to figure out the danged coffee maker. Finally got it opened where you put the coffee in. Jo measured in the coffee - it seemed to be a 2 or 3 person job. There were seven who attended and we all worked hard. There was some discussion about our state artists convention which is coming up in about two weeks- who's going, who's driving, where we're staying, talk about the convention agenda, etc. It's in Cody this year, a beautiful location. Today I did get some photos so will post a photo essay. Sue the fabulous cook made cinnamon rolls today which the seniors can buy, and I brought three of them home.

Quite a few people are having illness, surgeries and such. Justine had what sounds like an extensive back surgery and then got staph infection. Just can't imagine what she must be going through. She is clear down somewhere out of Denver recovering. I am sending my best wishes that she will get through this and be back with us soon.

Most of us stayed until about 3:30 p.m. and then packed up all our stuff and went on home. Zonked out..... I took a nap for about an hour and a half. Our plan for dinner here was spaghetti - already had the sauce made, so added some salad and garlic toast. Then looked at my 60 emails which came since yesterday and just went on to bed.

Although I wake up numerous times in the night anymore - I see every hour on the clock through the night - still don't have much trouble sleeping pretty soundly in between especially in the early morning hours, usually waking up about 8 or 9. If I get wide awake at 2 a.m. I watch whatever movie is on til I fall asleep again. I'm just letting that be the way it is and not worrying about it.

It was spitting snow off and on this morning, and colder than it has been, maybe 5 this morning. Really funny that the wind wasn't blowing in town but coming home as soon as I drove up the hill to our place, there was the wind blowing snow and drifts across the road. It seems to blow all the time up here. It moved the snow across the landscape at least until dark, then seemed to die down a little bit.

Bonnie and her sister are going on a little trip this weekend. I hope they have a nice time and look forward to hearing about their adventures.

"Choice by choice, moment by moment, I build the necklace of my day, stringing together the choices that form artful living." (Julia Cameron - The Artist's Way)

Wyoming closed it's government offices in Cheyenne 2 hours early due to the blizzard. This is the first time I've heard of this happening. http://www.pinedaleonline.com/#closures

Thursday March 26 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CURTIS

Debbie's Husband. I'm his mother-in-law.

.

Another 2 or 3 inches of snow. Joe says half an inch. It's predicted to have about 80% chance of snow for a day or so, then get sunny. Sun would be nice. All this gray and white gets ugly. Doesn't look like it will get above freezing today. It's noon and I've just eaten my breakfast.

I've about got my new address book finished. It's been kind of a chore, but just one of those things you sit there until its done whether its fun or not. Then I've been looking for a good recipe to present itself. Want to make something to take for a snack to the Mixed Media meeting at Rendezvous Pointe in the morning. We like to have something with coffee. Settled on Little Bear cookies perhaps, with some chocolate covered strawberries. I never made chocolate covered strawberries before but they look pretty easy. And are yummy. It says you can use the leftover melted chocolate to coat banana pieces so I might do that too. Streusel top banana nut muffins sound good too. One or the other. We'll do our artwork and have lunch there. It will last from about 9 to 4.

So far it doesn't look like there will be many at the meeting this time, maybe six or so. Some of our members are sick and some have family getting surgery etc. So prayers go out to them. Gina and Charm are going up to Jackson to the big snow machine hill climb starting today. To watch family and husbands, not to ride. It's a crazy "winter sport" around here. People take their souped up machines, travel to meets all over the country, and see who can ride their macine up a steep hill the highest. In this case, if you know it, the hill is the Snow King ski area. It gets a little wild sometimes because the machines are prone to flip over backwards or roll back down the hill, taking the riders with them. Maybe Gina or Charm will send us a picture.

That's all I have to report today ..... so far.

Wednesday March 25 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN

My Grandson

Woke up to a couple inches of new snow this morning, and about 20 degrees, no wind so far. "They" say another storm is coming this weekend. The last one has been bad east of here. With two to four feet of snow the ranchers are having a very bad time because it is calving season. I heard there are drifts 12 feet high.

Joe went to coffee and I took my watercolors (big mistake) and went to the Wednesday art group at Rendezvous Pointe. This isn't the usual art group I meet with. This was the first time I have met with them, although I already knew everyone but one lady. Duene whose blog you might have read, goes there every week. And I especially enjoyed seeing Vicky because I seldom see her. She is so nice. I've wanted to try it going to their meeting all winter and can't believe I haven't until now - the time just goes by too fast. The watercolors were difficult. I made five starts and made a mess out of every one. They will all be trash. Finally got a small sketch of a tipi and quit before I messed it up too. Joe met me there at Rendezvous Pointe for lunch, and we sat with his coffee buddy Ed, and James and Kathy. It was fun to get to see them. So it was a nice morning.

Joe wanted to go out for dinner so we went down to the Mexican place and had tacos and enchaladas. I didn't have to cook all day.

My neighbor friend Sandra has been writing some articles on this website. She's written on four topics so far. I don't have the link for all of them, but you can do "search". She's doing a great job. (Helium is the face of the publishing revolution! Helium is also a knowledge co-operative where our writers are also our editors who read and rate every article on the site. At Helium, we believe that everyone can contribute what they know to share with millions of readers around the globe.)

Victoria Stilwell or Cesar Millan: Who would you call? - by Sandra Goodwin

Volunteering at The Elephant Nature Park in Thailand - by Sandra Goodwin http://www.helium.com/items/1389036-volunteer-elephants-thailand

Should you take a free horse? - by Sandra Goodwin

Pets and emotion: Do animals have a sense of humor? - by Sandra Goodwin

http://www.helium.com/items/1387807-animal-humor

Tuesday March 24 2009

Charm and Lynn at Lunch Today

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIEND JOAN!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day.

And don't do anything I would to.

Oh well..... go ahead if you want to have that kind of fun!

P.S. So sorry I couldn't find any card with the moon on it.

Today Joe has gone out to the ranch to feed the cats. It is a nice looking day out for the drive anyway except a stiff wind is bending the trees. Yesterday was terrible with wind and a blizzard. Despite that he was able to drive in again - since we had those warm days. This has to be the earliest ever. He's been real busy watching basketball lately. Dogs are on the deck, and not asking to come in.

Charm and I went to lunch at the Brew Pub today. We were going to the Wind River Pizza, but they are remodeling until the 30th. Neither of us has eaten there for many years, so we're going to try it out later. People say the food is good.

I went down to Dale's hardware store and got a sheet of acrylic to protect the top of this desk before it gets all ruined. Should have done that long ago. This morning noticed the finish has a rough water spot and possibly I just did it today because my sweater sleeve was damp from washing up and water running down my arm. That makes me feel so bad because I love this little desk. It was a little more of a job than I thought by the time I got the whole thing unloaded, cleaned and acrylic on. It does look nice. I know that won't last because the acrylic always gets so scratched up in time.

While I was at Dale's I got a screwdriver set. A couple of my screwdrivers are missing and Joe says he doesn't have them - so that's what happens when something of mine disappears - I buy ten more. And a new wrench too. (Sally, that's a wrench not a wench.)

Also stopped at the store again. Forgot to get my activia yogurt yesterday. I got to say hi to Carrie there. She is looking really good as usual. Swept up about a half a cup of mud clumps and dirt from the dining room floor. Will wait a few more days before I mop.

Yesterday along with a bunch of errands, I got a haircut and she really got it short this time. I didn't help anything by telling her the top was too long for the length she had the sides. Anyway it had gotten pretty long since the last cut three months ago and I told her I wanted it cut for the spiky "do" again. Spiky may be ALL I can do with it - I don't think it's even an inch long. Might have to wear big earrings or something.

I received the new Dish TV receiver smart cards, and have to install them. Guess I'm capable of doing that..... I hope. Yesterday I bought a new address/phone number book. Tried to get refill pages for the nice cover I have, but no luck. So have started the job of redoing the book. The old one is in very sad shape and outdated. Probably it's 30 years old. My birthday book is also tattered and torn, lists such a mess, but that one will probably stay that way. Mostly because I've never seen another one I like as well with pockets for the cards.

Monday March 23 2009

Skulls seemed like a good subject for today.

Perhaps March is going to roar out like a lion. We got some snow yesterday and today it is snowing and blowing. Both the state's freeways I-80 and I-25 - are closed further east. Rollie is stuck down in Laramie because of the blizzard - coming back to Pinedale from meeting Judi in New Mexico for a week. Certainly not unusual for this time of year. And not as cold as it could be, at 27. Joe's back from coffee. Sitting and listening to NPR. Until something comes on he doesn't like or agree with and there's the muffled swear words and he turns it off. He wasn't gone as long today and leaves me to wonder if no one else showed up - maybe they are all sitting home by the stove.

Peggy called from Atlanta, I'd emailed her a message since I couldn't get her on the phone (she'd left it on her son's washer last week) and told her I wasn't going to come to Atlanta in April. It just seems like a kind of stupid thing to do, in case I got sick that far away from home. They might come up here instead.

I have a lot of errands to do this afternoon, but not much else to write about. So I put an interesting poem in for you to read instead. I thought it was interesting anyway. Because I'm an organ donor. I doubt they will harvest mine though, here in Pinedale WY. I don't know how that works, especially if you're going to be cremated because that has to be done in a certain number of hours. Would Dr. K do the "harvesting"? And put them in a playboy ice chest and give them to the man I see go in and out every afternoon when I'm at the clinic, carrying the ice chests to his van. Surely those are just vials for blood tests. We always smile at each other and I hold the door open for him.

Good story here: http://www.offthepavedroad.com/

Article and 17 photos of the program we went to last Wednesday night:

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2009/03/TheDallasBrass1.htm


The White Museum
by George Bilgere


My aunt was an organ donor

and so, the day she died,

her organs were harvested

for medical science.

I suppose there must be people

who list, under "Occupation,"

"Organ Harvester," people for whom

it is always harvest season,

each death bringing its bounty.

They spend their days

loading wagonloads of kidneys,

whole cornucopias of corneas,

burlap sacks groaning with hearts and lungs

and the pale green sprouts of gall bladders,

and even, from time to time,

the weighty cauliflower of a brain.

And perhaps today,

as I sit in this café, watching the snow

and thinking about my aunt,

a young medical student somewhere

is moving through the white museum

of her brain, making his way slowly

from one great room to the next.

Here is the gallery of her girlhood,

with that great canvas depicting her father

holding her on his lap in the backyard

of their bungalow in St. Louis.

And here is a sketch of her

the summer after her mother died,

walking down a street in Berlin

when the broken city was itself

a museum. And here

is a small, vivid oil of the two of us

sitting in a café in London

arguing over the work of Constable

or Turner, or Francis Bacon

after a visit to the Tate.

I want you to know, as you sit there

with your microscope and your slides,

there's no need to be reverent before these images.

That's the last thing she would have wanted.

But do be respectful. Speak quietly.

No flash photography. Tell your friends

you saw something beautiful.


"The White Museum" by George Bilgere. Reprinted with the permission of the author.

Sunday March 22 2009

Another Utah Mountain further north.

Hank's photo of Pine Mountain made me want to show

this one we got when we were there coming home through

Utah from Vegas. I've always loved Pine Mountain.

The blog is jumping right onto the page this morning so guess I better take advantage of it and write something. This morning we had a fast storm go through putting down about and inch or two of new snow. It's already melting and the sun is shining - about 50 degrees out already! I was surprised when I got up late and saw it all white and clean out on the deck with no dog prints in it - so knew it had to have come in a hurry. Gina has a really neat picture on her blog of it snowing at her house if you want to check it out. See horseback41 in my sidebar and click on that.

In case you were wondering how the delima of whether to have noodles or dumplings with the chicken stew came out, we had dumplings.

Sunday - so I was to have gone to church but have had an upset stomach since last night and didn't want to have to rush to find the rest room in the middle of Sacrament meeting. Am finding that I'm kind of missing going. To tell the truth I do have some issues, and interestingly the same ones I've always had with the teachings, but have a very strong inclination or urging to be figuring this all out. One interesting thing was that the very first lesson I attended at Sunday School involved perhaps my biggest concern, that of the position of women in the scheme of things. I have to say, seeing the young women in the church that things have changed a lot on that subject since I was young.

I intended to go grocery shopping after church, but now will wait until tomorrow when I have to go out for a couple of other things. I'll pay the bills online. And work more on my photos.

Saturday Night Note

So weird that all you guys' blogs say my last blog was posted four days ago, but I have blogged every day. Wonder what that is about. If you go there, are those days all there up until today?? I'm going to edit posts, and click publish on them all again and see if that works. - no it didn't - still says four days ago.

Saturday March 22 2009

Some of the old photos I came across yesterday.

Nothing on the calender. Another warm breezy day, about 55 out. Warm for this time of year. You can almost see the snow melting and the brush and grasses showing more each time you look out. The dogs are laying on the deck sleeping in the sun. Have done some interesting reading on "Lilith", which I quite enjoyed learning. I got a big pot of chicken stew going in the slow cooker. Now to decide whether to have home made noodles or dumplings. I like the noodles, which Joe doesn't like and he likes the dumplings which I don't care for. In any case, it's way too much for the two of us, but the chicken needed to be used. I took the dogs for a walk this afternoon and water was running down the ditches. It took a minute to recognize that old sound. Tonight its very still out and when I opened the back door I could hear Pine Creek over in the distance rushing down to town. That's my news for today.

Friday March 20 2009

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING

'

Believe me .... all you southerners and californios

can quit telling me all about your flowers and birds

and grass and green leaves as long as I'm still

wallowing in slush!!!!!!

Dorito Dog - No Wonder She Weighs 90 Pounds

My internet has pooped out again this afternoon, and I couldn't get the blog to go. Again.
Been trying off and on all day to write the blog but guess the centurytel connection is giving me fits, so here I am at almost 11 p.m. getting it written. Maybe I just wasn't patient enough.

It was another beautiful warmer day. No sooner get the wood floors mopped or cleaned and there's a thousand little muddy footprints all over it again!

Called Joan over in "paradise" and we talked for a while. I always enjoy visiting with her. Sounds like we're both having troubles with our arthritis. She said she is laying tile by bending over. I can't get down on the floor or my hands and knees hardly at all either. Besides needing new knees, she sounds pretty good. Joan, have you tried one of those little gardening benches with wheels that you just scoot along on, low enough to bend over and work on the ground? I used to just sit on my rubbermaid step stool and that worked pretty good too.

Today I had been TRYING to work on getting all those duplicate photos in my external hard drive in some semblance of beginning to organize them. So have been working on photos all day long, except when I needed to do some kind of house work. I spent a few other days on doing sieges of it too. The big file in there looks a lot better now as I got thousands of photos into a couple of folders and essentially out of sight, and separate from the regular files. It’s a beginning. So it was good to go looking in the files and seeing what’s where. Next, if I ever go back, will be to start weeding out duplicates and making sure I don’t get rid of things I want to keep by mass deleting. I finally found my Yellowstone pictures with my sister and the kids from last year!! Hard to believe looking at thousands of pictures that I have trouble finding something I want to put on the blog.

For the past several days, Joe has been going up the ladder into the attic and doing something, I know not what, on the furnace. He's asked me for stools, but none of the four I have suited him. Today I asked him what he was doing and he said he was going to put that platform around the furnace, but I told him he didn't have to do that because the builder is supposed to come and do it. So he quit and took the ladder down, grumbling all the while. But not before getting marks on the wall and ceiling. But first I have to call the builder. Yes, I'll do it right away.

Sheral and I had a good visit on the phone this afternoon. We got most of the world's problems solved at last. Sounds like she's really getting her house in order, purging and sorting and painting and cleaning. It's been going on for quite some time now. Anyway it was good she called, because I sure needed a break from sorting photos.

I saw two bluebirds out on the deck railing this morning. I think they just send out scouts periodically to see if there's anything to eat here yet, and then they go back south for another couple of months.

Only those who dare, truly live.

Thursday March 19 2009

Walking the dogs around the block in our neighborhood.

Sure not like at the ranch, is it!

The Boys love going anyway.

Another day without much happening, same-o same-0. I got a couple loads of laundry done. Seems like I was puttering at something all day. More work getting the photos on the blog, then for a while they wouldn't post - that centurytel connection I suppose.

Judi called me from Tumacacori - Timbuctu - Tucomcari - who knows! somewhere in New Mexico this morning and I sure always enjoy hearing her voice. They were in a second hand store and saw a piece of artwork (a framed print) by an artist she recognized and wondered if it was a bargain or not. I told her I thought not, and suggested she see what they are going for on ebay, and she did and it wasn't, so no treasure found this time. Anyway it gives us a chance to feel a little closer when she's so far away all winter.

This afternoon I took the dogs for a walk. They had a great time, and Raven is still practicing on not ignoring me when I tell her to come out of the neighbor's yard. She ignores about three of my calls, and then comes to me grinning, like it's some kind of game she's invented, so happy with herself. The streets were completely clear of snow and ice for the first time. The berms are still waist to arm pit high, but going fast. It probably was about 50 most of the day. Went on the walk with only a sweater and vest instead of down coat, hat and gloves. Made us a steak dinner tonight.

Today was my Mother's birthday. She would have been 108.

.

Three Generations

Granny with daughters and grandkids, Justin is missing.

Tayler, Debbie, Clayton, Shane, Me, Beverly

Wednesday March 18 2009

Dear Deer

Sure enjoyed Gina and Bob coming over to have dinner with us last night. They are a lot of fun. Yesterday we got the house cleaned and Joe helped by doing the vacuuming. Got that meeting invitation finally printed and stuffed in the envelopes, but not to the post office.

This morning events went about as usual. But didn't feel so great, headachey and woozy perhaps from the sinus problem. I worked in the morning on organizing and sizing photos and getting them into the blog. As of today have about another week of blogs to put some photos with the text.

After fixing Joe some nachos for lunch, I took a benedryl for the purpose of clearing up the nose, but which really zonks me out. So took a nap for a couple of hours. Debbie called and we talked for a while but I could hardly stay awake. I stayed layed down watching a movie until there was just time to heat up the leftover corned beef and cabbage for dinner.

Pondered on whether to go to the PFAC Dallas Brass musical program tonight, but got myself presentable and met Bonnie down at the auditorium. I was so glad I went because it was just a great presentation. There were six men who were in the band, drums, two trumpets, a trombone, tuba and a french horn. They were excellent - versital, and very entertaining. The program was named American Musical Journey, and they played everything from marches to opera and symphonies to jazz. O.K. marches and big band, but violins? It was fun to see all the kids in the school bands get to perform with the Dallas Brass. Learned that "Over the Rainbow" is the No. 1 song of the 20th century. I was in awe that lots of little grade school girls were wearing high heels. We sat next to James and Kathy so had a chance to visit a little with them. In the meantime I had gotten back to feeling pretty normal by the end of the evening. Bonnie came home with me and we had a piece of cake and talked which I really enjoyed.

Robert Genn Says, Squeeze out your paint before your coffee is cold.

"I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed--you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men, and, alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a man. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin--it makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Who am I? I am a habit!"

Tuesday March 17 2009

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

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Boring! So far nothing is happening. Don'tcha wish you could join those 2 million people watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City?? NOT!! The corned beef is sitting on the counter to put in the slow cooker. Sent Joe to the store for carrots. We don't have any green beer, but we do have a Green River. HA! I called Gina and she and Bob are going to come over for dinner.

At least someone is having adventures, Charm got to go skiing with some of our other friends over to Targhee this weekend.The weather wasn't good. It was so stormy they didn't ski at all the second day. Raining in Jackson on the way home. When she got back the county had plowed her road - here's her story: "Reached the parking area where my snowmachine and cargo sled were waiting. One of the county guys was coming down the Boulder Lake road in a grader. I visited with him a few minutes. He said they had plowed the road as far as the boatdock turnoff and it had been tough going. I put my suitcase in the sled, took off, and had to ride mostly on dirt for probably five miles. Got to the top of the hill where you can first see the lake to discover that the guys had left a big snowberm all the way across the road and I couldn't get over it or around it. Called Jim on the cell phone. No answer. I figured he was out plowing ranch roads, which he was. Left a message that I was walking home and if he received it, maybe he would try to come and get me. I walked about two and a half miles when here he came. I climbed on behind him and we rode double near to where I had left my machine. He was able to negotiate all the rough stuff; then made a track down a little draw to the lake, came back, put me on his machine, and he rode mine, pulling the sled. We cut across the (still frozen) lake and made it to the house."

" Am always so amazed how Jim can ride a snowmobile in such horrible "stuff". I couldn't begin to attempt it, even without the sled. I tipped the machine over on the berm Sunday morning as we were riding out so I could go to Targhee. Jim was ahead of me with the cargo sled, came back, and tipped me upright again. Well, it's all about experience, a little finesse and "know-how", some strength, and some weight. The county crews plowed us out and the Boulder Lake Road looks like the Autobahn! What a great job they did, considering all the snow and the fact it was so packed down. Jim took me to the parking area this afternoon in the Bronco (which has been up here all winter) to get the Durango. ".

A sure sign of spring when they start driving in and out!

Due to a certain FRIEND'S endless prodding, I'm working on getting the photos on the back blogs. Got a few days done. I'll let you know when that project is finished up and you can go back and check if you want. Somehow there's a month of blogs sitting there with no photos. Not sure how that happened. The worst was getting them organized and into folders so then could find them and go to them by the date. I’m amazed how many I’ve lost. What a waste of a good trip not to have any of those pictures. Nearly everything before the new camera was lost. I’m also beginning to wonder if this laptop is arbitrarily “saving” them somewhere I don’t know about. Or backing them up. Seems like I don’t have enough pictures in here. And I don’t have a clue where they are.

Last night the temperature never got below freezing all night - stayed right around 34 degrees. It's the first time all winter that happened. It's been pretty cloudy, but the sun is shining at the moment. Maybe I should say "momentarily". The weather report is for at least an inch of snow today. Right now its 45 degrees - yesterday nearly 50. Each time I go downtown the snowbanks by the streets are smaller. Wow! Awakening Spring!

Oncology called and changed my coumadin dose just a little. My reading was a little better yesterday, 1.9, and they want it between 2 and 3, so we're getting closer. Today I'll print the invitation for our Mixed Media meeting on the 27th, and stuff the envelopes and get them mailed. I might just run out of ink in the midst of the project, so am prepared to go buy more ink if necessary.
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Monday March 16 2009

Snowmachine Trail to Ranch

Cats

Joe at Ranch Gate

Joe started out to the ranch this morning and then came back in a few minutes and said it looked too much like a storm. He waited about an hour or so and then took the dogs and left again to give it another try. It is very cloudy, but bright around the edges to the southeast. It was 33 degrees a while ago, so not very cold right now. The wind might blow.

Saturday I told Melita and Charm I wouldn't be to the Tuesday painting group - since I was going to Arizona - which was to have been at Melita's either today or Wednesday, so have been debating to check to see if they were having it. Called Melita and nearly everyone couldn't come this week so she said they will have it next week. She's baking 12 dozen cookies today for her catering "job". There is plenty to be done here anyway so will just stick to chores and drudgery.

I updated my phone number list. Called Beverly. Tried to call Peggy to tell her I'm not coming to Atlanta. She wasn't home though so will try again later. Just feel like I'm not up to that big of a trip right now and will try something simpler when the weather gets nice. The middle of April is our Wyoming Artists Association convention which I would have missed by going to Atlanta. It's in Cody this year and I'll plan for that and hope it works out for me. Bonnie said she has never been to Cody so she might like to go along. Now I'm working on getting the birthday cards finished, then will mail them and go get my protime test at the clinic. Can't believe it's already noon.

I had emailed a powerpoint presentation on the Brunos Gardens to my "email list" , about this sculpture garden in the rain forest in Australia which burned up in their wildfires this year, as well as many of their neighbors and animals burned too. Then my cousin Maryann found this website and it is so much better than the powerpoint. It describes their gardens and what happened in the fires. And shows a great slide show of the artwork - many more and better pictures than on the powerpoint. Beautiful website. http://www.brunosart.com/

Sunday March 15 2005

Jackie and Grandson Brandon on Calboy with

Mollie her Rotweiller

Jackie

Jackie's Place with Mollie
Their wheatfields on all the hills -
They and their family help to feed the USA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIEND JACKIE

HOPE YOU HAD A SPECIAL DAY

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Just some background - Yesterday when I thought we were going traveling, I wrote Saturday's blog and posted it - it was there for a couple of hours and then I took it back off. Then a while ago thought "well that's what happened yesterday so I'll just keep it on", and reposted it. So it does explain what happened about as well as if I'd rewritten it.

Oh My. What a quandary. After getting the bills paid and doing some thoughtful introspection, I called Bonnie yesterday evening after they got back from snow machining and told her that I didn't think I should go off on the trip this time. Lots of excuses, not very good reasons probably. I do need to get my protime test tomorrow. Anyway she said then she wouldn't go either. So we both stayed home. It gave me the idea she was trying to do something nice for me and I was so grateful.

If I'd gone on the trip, I thought I might be able to enice my sister Gloria who lives in Green Valley Arizona south of Tucson to come up where we were going to be, but she had to work and then was going on Wednesday to Prescott for the long weekend. So we had a long phone visit instead. Maybe we'll be able to make some plan for time together later. An old friend lives nearby Mesa in Apache Junction too. Also talked to Beverly and Betty, so was on the phone for a long time.

I met Bonnie and Craig at church this morning. The lessons were good and I noticed that Beverly and I had just been talking about some of the very same things, which was pretty interesting. Then she wrote this evening and said the same thing. So I guess all the churches have the same lessons each week. Bonnie gave me a book to help with the lessons, which was very kind of her. I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it, because its got a lot of history in it. As I drove out of the parking lot after church a bald eagle flew right over the car. I always say that is a good omen.

If you stay for all the meetings church lasts three hours. Right after church I went to the store and got the groceries we were out of. Got home and put them away and Joe had already eaten his lunch - cereal I'm sure. Then I ate a sandwich and wasn't feeling the greatest today so took a nap almost until dinner time. Made us tacos and refried beans for dinner. Joe seemed pretty hungry, poor guy.

Tonight I felt a little depressed, and I usually don't feel that way at all. So I've been trying to figure exactly what that's about. Trying to address the reason(s) why and I'm already better. Still have a bunch of the birthday cards to get addressed which I'll do in the morning. That was about the only job I had for today and it didn't get done. I'm usually late with my cards any more, so why should this month be different. I will need to get another invitation out for our March Mixed Media meeting but can't work on it until I get a date for reserving the art room at Rendezvous Pointe. Can do that tomorrow too. After that the paperwork should be caught up.

Well, I'm off to use the neti pot and then watch a movie or six.

Saturday March 14 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER IN LAW BOB

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Yikes: Yesterday Bonnie asked me if I’d like to go to Mesa AZ. on a trip with her family, going again in her brother’s OTHER plane to his other home in Mesa AZ. I’m a little frazzled with this prospect. It will be fast, leaving tomorrow morning and driving to Vernal where Bonnie’s sister lives. And the plane will pick us up there. We’ll be back home Wednesday night, or if we get back to Vernal toward evening, maybe will then leave Thursday morning and be home by noon Thursday. Bonnie says it is a 3 1/2 hour drive to Vernal where her sister lives. We will go down past Flaming Gorge Reservoir to get there. So have to get packed and ready to go and leave at 8 a.m. Sunday (tomorrow - YIKES) morning. I'm a little in awe of just packing a suitcase and going like that, but figure I might as well.

I emailed my sister who lives in Green Valley south of Tucson to see if she could come that far so we could get together maybe Monday or Tuesday. It would be a wonderful opportunity for us to see each other, something that seldom happens. She's working today and going to Prescott next week so it may not be possible for her. We will have to get a better plan somehow that coordinates with Bonnie's plans. I have a friend in Apache Junction too - Haven't seen Diane for a long time.

Bonnie says Scott the pilot is going to a school of some kind down there that week. That's the main reason they are going. He will be staying at the house too. Her sister, Susan is going and Marc and his wife Debbie. There is room for us all. They have a hot tub. We may or may not soak so will want to throw in a suit. She will pick me up at our house Sunday morning around 8 am. So..... I'm off into a whirlwind. I won't blog or email while I'm gone and will talk to you when I get back.

Judi has a picture on her blog of snow in Texas as she is driving to New Mexico to meet Rollie for spring break. Paid the bills, filled out the questionnaire for jury duty I got yesterday, called Centurytel about that refund for bad Internet service (nope have to wait until weekdays 8-5), fix something to leave for Joe to eat. Got the floors mopped and laundry done. Also I can’t find my cell phone cord to charge it with so..... That’s the way my day’s going.

Spent time last night organizing all my newer photos into folders. Glad to have that done - a prelude to getting pictures back on to the blog. The old ones are still in a horrendous mess. Slept pretty good. It's beautiful here today, although still cold.

Deer at the Pinedale High School. This is the way I see them all over town. http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2009/03/PinedaleHighSchoolDe.htm

Friday March 13 2007

View of Fremont Lake

Another Friday the 13th. Isn't that two in a row? This is my 800th blog post. I probably could have written a book with all these paragraphs.

Very early Thursday morning there was a house fire downtown and a man in the house died of smoke inhalation. http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2009/03/HouseFire.htm I didn't know it at first, but he is the step son of one of my artist friends. My most sincere sympathy goes to Glenn and Josie for their loss.

Sherene sent me a nice family letter with a picture of her two boys. They are sure nice looking kids. They live in Texas. Also in the mail I got a letter saying I'd been chosen for jury duty. Not sure what to do about that but I better call someone and see. Today I'll get the bills paid using online banking. Joe went to breakfast today. The group goes every Friday. He must enjoy it as he always goes. A little before 11 a.m. I showed up at the church to help them with the dinner for a lady's funeral. I didn't go to the funeral because I didn't know her. People brought the food and we set it up and cleaned up later. Got to eat some lunch too and it was very good. It was nice to visit again with the members who came to help.

After that I took my down coat down to the quilt shop to have the zipper put in. I drove on Lake Street to look at the deer again and there were a lot of them. Many were laid down in the willows and it is really pretty to see them that way, but it doesn't make good photos because of all the willow branches in front of them. One of the ladies helping with the funeral dinner said they had a big bull moose staying in a yard or field near their house right now. I should go look for it for a photo.

This evening Joe asked if I'd like to go to Lakeside Lodge for dinner, so I said sure! We had rib steaks and they were wonderful, the whole dinner was especially nice. We went up there at 5 p.m. so there was plenty of daylight to enjoy the scenery out over the frozen lake.

WHY I LOVE WYOMING
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When it's Springtime in Wyoming
And the gentle breezes blow
At about seventy miles per hour
And it's fifty two below
You can tell you're in Wyoming
Cuz the snow's up to your butt
And you take a breath of Springtime air
And your nose holes both freeze shut.
The weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave Wyoming
Cuz my feet are frozen to the ground.