Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Jack

We have a new English Shepherd pup who is about the cutest thing ever and of course he's a big hit with the grandkids. Nate, who's almost 17, has already borrowed him to act as a chick magnet at a local soccer game. Several of his guy friends wanted to borrow him as well so they could also impress the girls.




Jack is actually Roxie's half brother. She wasn't too sure what to think of him at first and let him know on the ride home that she didn't want him accidentally, or on purpose either, sitting on her tail. She quickly drew a line in the sand and informed him that he needed to stay on his side of the backseat. But after the long ride home, and a much needed nap for both of them, Roxie decided he wasn't so bad after all. I mean, how many times in your life do Mom and Dad get you a friend who already knows how to play tug-o-war?

Of course, now I'm seriously outnumbered. Today while I was working on my laptop and munching on cheerios, 2 heads peaked around the computer screen to try and convince me to share. Now how could I refuse those faces?


Don't forget to leave a comment below so I know who stopped by. I'll come visit you as well.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Farmers Will Drive Lamborghinis

Jim Rogers predicts that farming is the vocation of the future. I don't know if we'll ever be rich but surviving better than most would be nice for a change. Besides, most farmers I know are way too practical to drive a Lamborghini even if they could afford one. Maybe a souped up tractor though.....




Please leave a comment below so I know you've visited. I'll come visit your blog as well.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Got Corn?

Not only does this farm sell fantastic corn, they have quite a sense of humor, as evidenced by their series of roadside signs.









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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Hint of Autumn

Up here in the north country summer is all too brief. Even now a chill can be felt in the night air and the crisp, cool stillness of early morning sends a message that a change of seasons will soon be upon us. Bright summer greens are starting to fade and get a yellowish tinge, there's lots of yellow in the fields as the ragweed is in full bloom. Even some trees are showing their eagerness to begin the change by trying on part of their new wardrobe just to see how it will look when they're in full color. We are quickly approaching my favorite season of the year. Autumn has so many wonders from the bright reds and yellows of the leaves to the smell of apples ripe on the trees begging to be picked. It's a season when I enjoy scuffing through the fallen leaves with the delight of a small child, and basking in the warm sunshine during the day and relaxing in the refreshing, crisp coolness of a fall evening. I've heard some people say they don't like Autumn because they know winter comes next. To me that's like saying you can't enjoy your vacation because you know you'll have to go back to work when it's over. Each day of our lives is a wonder. That summer and fall are so short makes them even more precious.


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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Some Days Are Just Like That

Indy, our older Weimaraner (picture in sidebar), started limping yesterday and his right front foot began to swell. He'd had a foot infection in one of his other feet last year so I figured it's probably the same thing. Had to get up at 5:00 a.m. to take my grandson to work so I could have the truck to take him (Indy, not the grandson) to the vet. Got home and went back to bed for a little while.

Tried calling the vet about 8:00 and got their answering machine that says their office hours are between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. I've learned from past experiences not to leave a message because they won't return it. Tried every 15 minutes, finally reaching them about 9:00. I was told to bring him in about 9:45 and they'd squeeze me in. The vet's office is a little more than 45 min. away and I hadn't completed all my barn chores yet. I hurriedly finished up and scooted out of here, arriving there about 9:55. Waited about 40 min. in the waiting room with a VERY talkative teenage girl and her boyfriend who was taking cellphone pictures (the girl, not the boyfriend) of all the animals that came in, and showing me all the pictures she's taken of her pets for the past 10 years (well, probably not that long but it seemed like it). Then in comes a woman with a young daughter and a large and VERY unruly young boxer named Junior who she was about choking to death trying to keep him off everyone. "Junior, come back here. Junior just wants to play. Junior, don't jump on the lady. Junior, don't eat that cat." To top off the whole experience, the vet's office has a couple of resident cats, one of which loves to parade around in the hallway in full view of all the dogs. Now to Indy this is like someone waving a juicy steak in front of a starving man. But other than his whole body being as rigid as a steel girder and trembling uncontrollably in anticipation that the cat might get close enough for him to scoff it down, he laid obediently at my feet. Finally got to see the vet for 5 min. who agreed it was probably the same cellulitis problem as last time and gave me a prescription - $58.

Put Indy in the truck, went back in to pay. By this time the unruly boxer was about climbing the walls, choking on his collar so hard he was hacking up all over the place. He even tried to eat one of my shoes - while it was still on my foot! Finished paying, went back out to the truck, started backing out of my very crowded spot in a very small parking lot and BANG! Turned a little too sharp and ended up clipping the fender of a gray car parked next to me. Nothing major, just a small dent and a scratch as you can see in the photo.

I went back into the vet's waiting room and asked "Who owns the gray car parked on the end with the license plate 'Big Gun'?" (Yeah, I know - never hit a gunmetal gray car that says Big Gun on the plate. LOL) Guess who - Ms. Boxer! She became as anxious as her nutty dog, and began fretting about needing to leave on vacation for FL tomorrow and not knowing what to do. I tried explaining to her it was just a little scratch, nothing major. But if she'd had a collar on I swear she'd have been choking herself like her dog did.

Out she comes, dragging her obnoxious dog who, by this time, has his tongue hanging out one side, eyes bulging, and is covered in drool, her daughter following behind. She surveys the slight damage to her car, grabs her cellphone and calls her insurance company right there on the spot, all the while worried about her vacation, and the unruly dog trying his best to dislocate her shoulder. I give her and her insurance agent all my information. And because of my DIL and her example of taking pictures of everything so she can put it on her blog I happened to have my camera with me. I took pictures of her car and the bumper of my truck, which had no damage, only a little paint from her car rubbed on it. I sincerely hope the woman, her daughter, and her crazy dog have a great vacation. And most definitely an uneventful one.

Please leave your comment below. I really enjoy reading them.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Go Ahead, Make Our Day!

Dirty Harry has nothing on these men who enjoyed some much earned "man time" target shooting in the back yard. Jim's oldest son James paid us a visit over the weekend with granddaughter Riley. Left to right in the picture are 16 yr old grandson Nate who lives with us, James, and husband Jim. And where was Riley while the guys were being macho, you might ask? Inside where it was much cooler, relaxing on the couch. What a gal!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Hairdos for Dogs


Here's a new hairdo for a dog that has fuzzy hair on the top of her head. If I used a little gel maybe I could give her a punk rock look.



Of course, I can't roam around with a camera without having lots of help from the girls. Brownie, my favorite Nubian doe, is always the first one to offer assistance.

Monday, August 10, 2009

We Have Not Forgotten

I received this very thought provoking e-mail today. It's one of those you're supposed to forward to your friends. Not only did I forward it, I think it's worth posting on my blog as well. I can't imagine myself in their shoes. I like relaxing on our nice comfy couch, watching a movie on our big-screen TV, taking a shower with hot water, my nice soft bed. Thanks to all you service men and women who live the hardships and put yourselves in harm's way to protect our freedoms. Here's the forwarded e-mail:


This came from a Marine unit over in Iraq . Their wish is to send it to as many people in the country as possible. (Be sure to read their note at the end of the e-mail). Hopefully we can help them achieve their goal.

SLEEP LAST NIGHT?
Bed a little lumpy? Toss and turn any? Wish the heat was higher? Maybe the a/c wasn't on? Had to go to the john? Need a drink of water? Scroll down:





Yes.. It is like that!
Count your blessings, pray for them, and the next time when the other car cuts you off and you must hit the brakes, or you have to park a little further from Walmart than you want to be, or you're served slightly warm food at the restaurant, or you're sitting and cursing the traffic in front of you, or the shower runs out of hot water, think of them...
Protecting your freedom!


The proud warriors of Baker Company wanted to do
Something to pay tribute
To our fallen comrades So since we are part of the only
Marine Infantry Battalion left in Iraq the one way that we could
Think of doing that is by taking a picture of
Baker Company saying the way we feel.
It would be awesome if you could find a way to share
This with our fellow countrymen.
I was wondering if there was any way to
Get this into your
Papers to let the world know that
'WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN'
And are proud to serve our country.
' Semper Fi 1st Sgt Dave Jobe .'

The attached photo was forwarded from one of the last U.S Marine companies in Iraq. They would like to have it passed to as many people as possible, to let the folks back home know that they remember why they're there and that they remember those who've been lost.
Send this to 13 people in the next 15 minutes. Go.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Don't You Just Hate Spammers?

I got hit early this morning from a spammer. Some person named Susana commented on about 10 posts. She does have a blogspot account but you can't view her profile or I would have contacted her directly. Maybe she'll view this post and get the hint? Underneath her signature line was a link to some type of payday loan of whom she's obviously an affiliate. The way that works is that if you were to click on her link, then use their services she would get a commission for referring you. I have no problem with affiliate programs per se, but when people comment on posts just to give you the link - well, them's fightin' words. So I've spent the better part of an hour deleting her comments and making sure she can't comment on any others. Comments are now on moderation, but I check my email several times a day and will approve my REAL friend's comments within a short time. You know, she might have gotten away with it if her comments had made any sense. But I could tell from what she said that she hadn't really read the posts. I've heard about a website entitled "Masterminds need not apply" that features dumb stunts pulled by would-be crooks. She might want to register with them. Just saying.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Oh, So-o-o Good!

I had a major "snack attack" this afternoon. Wandered around the house wondering what would satisfy the cravings. No, it wasn't PMS - I'm well beyond that age. But it was a craving none-the-less. I found this recipe on the back of the Baker's unsweetened baking chocolate package, which is the only chocolate I can keep in the house. I already ate all the sweetened and semi-sweetened stuff. Oh my! They are just sinful. You're gonna love them. The hardest part was putting the dough in the fridge for an hour while it got to a workable consistency. I speeded that up a bit by setting the bowl in a pan of ice water. Okay, so I was really in a hurry. But they are definitely worth the wait.

Soft & Chewy Chocolate Drops
4 squares Baker's Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks butter)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2-1/2 cups flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Microwave unsweetened chocolate and butter in large microwavable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; mix well. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; place 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. Bake 8 min. or just until set. Do not overbake. Let stand on baking sheet 1 min.; transfer to wire racks (I just put them on a dish). Cool completely. Makes 5 doz. or 30 servings, two cookies each. (Bet you can't each just 2!)

They suggest a glaze which is made by placing 1 tub (8 oz.) frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip and 6 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate in a microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is shiny and smooth, stirring after 1 min. Let stand 15 min. to thicken. Spread over cookies. Let stand until glaze is set. I didn't use the glaze for several reasons. 1) I didn't have any Cool Whip, 2) I didn't have any semi-sweet chocolate (see aforementioned reason), 3) I didn't want to wait that long to eat them, and 4) I figured with 6 squares of chocolate added to the already 4 squares in the cookie recipe I'd have such a chocolate high I'd have to be rushed to the hospital for an injection of Narcan!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Trying Not to Laugh

I try not to be cynical about our government, more specifically our elected government officials. But I just can't resist this.

President Obama has just made good on his campaign promise to cut $100 million of government spending. On the surface this may sound good but... (Bet you knew there'd be a 'but', didn't you?) Check out this video to see some of the areas where they've decided they can sacrifice.


And that $100 million? It amounts to only .006% of the estimated federal deficit. That what we country folk call "closing the barn door after the horse is out." Here's the Wall Street Journal for the full story. But try not to laugh.