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.

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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.