I'm sitting in the sunroom tonight, trying to get a pathetic little fire going in the stove. The fire gods seem to be against me. For those of you who use wood stoves regularly, you know how there's a RIGHT way to start a fire as well as a WRONG way? And, yes, sometimes the wrong way actually works. Most of the time, though, it doesn't. You cut some corners: you didn't use enough paper or birchbark or there's not enough kindling. Or the only logs in the woodbox are too big but you don't want to go out to the woodshed to get more. You know the drill. Anyway, that's the point I'm at with this particular fire. I didn't have the energy to build it properly and, so, it is faltering. And I'm blaming low pressure. Or the stupid stove. Or the fact that it's a Wednesday. Certainly not myself.
I've been trying to write the necessary post ever since it all happened on Monday, but I'm just not having any luck. I don't have the will to rehash the whole story right now. But, in brief, for those of you who haven't already found out from Mama Pea's blog or Facebook, I lost Annie Blue (the little cat I'd picked out when she was just 4 weeks old) Monday morning. A big-@ss fisher took her, right in front of me. He had just torn out her throat when I got out the door and fired. There was nothing to do for Annie Blue other than hold her and sob over and over and over, "I'm sorry! Oh, Annie Blue, I'm sorry!"
The irony of it all is that I think I now know what the predator's been this whole time (helped out by an eagle a time or two): this big fisher. (Some call them fisher cats.) That is part of what I want to write about in length some time . . . just not right now.
That and saying goodbye to Annie Blue, burying her, and planting a tree over her grave. But I just don't have it in me at the moment.
To add insult to injury, I got sick last night with what I'm guessing is the 24-hour flu. At first, I thought it was the accumulated stress finally exacting its revenge on my body, but now I know it's more.
After spending an extra hour at my office last night . . . and then another, just 1.5 miles down the road, at my folks' (all on the toilet, thank you very much), I had an excruciatingly miserable hour drive home - inclusive of a visit to Mother Nature's lavatory (thank gawd for dirt roads and no traffic) - followed by a long, painful night of limited sleep. This morning I ate the only banana in the house, a soggy old thing, and that settled properly on my stomach, amazingly enough. The yogurt I tried this afternoon did not. I should have skipped the small bitefuls of rice noodles tonight, too, and stuck to only the two pieces of toast I just had. The 24-hour mark should be cleared any minute, though, and I can't tell you how much I'm counting on that! (I'm not willing to accept that this could be a more-than-just-a-single-day bug.)
Now, the upstairs couch, my heating pad, and a movie are just what this doctor's ordering.
Showing posts with label Annie Blue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Annie Blue. Show all posts
SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod! I was just brushing my teeth and walked out of the bathroom to grab something when WHO BUT ANNIE BLUE should come sauntering in the door?!!!!! Toothpaste flying, I spat, "AHMMY BOO!!!!" I grabbed her up, toothbrush and all, and LUVED her up! I checked all over for injuries. She's FINE! (Twit! Scaring her mother like that!) I ran and got her a JUNKY tin of canned cat food for a special breakfast. Yayyyy! This is one HAPPY Chicken Mama!!!!!!
(I am beaming!!!)
(I am beaming!!!)
An End & A Beginning
Since I have something really sad to share, I'll pair it with something really good so that we don't have to start our Monday on such a sad note.
Annie Blue is gone. I know when it happened, too: it was Friday or Saturday morning when I was outside doing chores before leaving for work. She was by my feet as I turned on the hose for the chicken waterers . . . and then I heard her give a really p*ssed off yowl halfway down the valley below Swamp River Ridge. Since it was the first time I'd seen her out by the woodshed (and the kittens), I figured she'd seen finally discovered them and was giving Number 2 "what for" ('cause Number 1 was right there with me). But, shortly thereafter, Number 2 arrived for breakfast, no worse for wear . . . and still no Annie Blue. And still no Annie Blue. She'd just turned 3 on July 28th, and I still have her birthday present in the shopping bag . . . . :( Tomorrow, the dogs and I will go down the valley to look for her (body). I'm still a little hopeful, but I know it ain't so that she's alive and well.
So, that horrid little bit of Life on the Homestead out of the way, on to the GOOD (whew)! Today is my LAST DAY as manager / assistant manager / clerical worker at the new business in town! 'Course, this is also TERRIFYING 'cause it means that I'm finally gonna dive into my own businesses, but, as one friend said, the ONLY real way to test the waters is to jump in, feet first!!
Happy Monday, y'all!
Annie Blue is gone. I know when it happened, too: it was Friday or Saturday morning when I was outside doing chores before leaving for work. She was by my feet as I turned on the hose for the chicken waterers . . . and then I heard her give a really p*ssed off yowl halfway down the valley below Swamp River Ridge. Since it was the first time I'd seen her out by the woodshed (and the kittens), I figured she'd seen finally discovered them and was giving Number 2 "what for" ('cause Number 1 was right there with me). But, shortly thereafter, Number 2 arrived for breakfast, no worse for wear . . . and still no Annie Blue. And still no Annie Blue. She'd just turned 3 on July 28th, and I still have her birthday present in the shopping bag . . . . :( Tomorrow, the dogs and I will go down the valley to look for her (body). I'm still a little hopeful, but I know it ain't so that she's alive and well.
So, that horrid little bit of Life on the Homestead out of the way, on to the GOOD (whew)! Today is my LAST DAY as manager / assistant manager / clerical worker at the new business in town! 'Course, this is also TERRIFYING 'cause it means that I'm finally gonna dive into my own businesses, but, as one friend said, the ONLY real way to test the waters is to jump in, feet first!!
Happy Monday, y'all!
Cloudy, Grey Wednesday
So. What's been shakin' the past couple o' days?
Well, as I mentioned in one of the Comments sections, the fire danger is HIGH due to the early spring & snow melt. The search plane has been going over Swamp River Ridge twice a day for a week or so now. If the humidity is high and the clouds are heavy, they might miss a day here and there, but it's a sure bet that I'll hear the droning buzz as they approach on a sunny, windy day.
As you can imagine, the worst conditions are when we have thunder and lightning with no precip, but, knock on wood, we haven't had any lightning strikes lately.
The dad of Baby Girl (above & a little grumpy during our walk last weekend) is a highly trained USFS hotshot (you can Google that) who gets sent all over the country . . . at least he did before he was married and had a family, and he was the one who did the hand-off to me last Saturday when I nannied. He'd gotten a call right before I arrived of a fire at the end of the Trail, but it sounded small . . . and, since I haven't heard anything more about it, it must have been.
* * * * * * *
I am a horrible (cat) mother. Geez. I can't believe I did that. Last night, Tom came out to pick up the kayak that he's trying to sell and a few other things. (I can't remember if I've posted that here or not - anyone interested? It's a beautiful, custom-made sea kayak used fewer than 10 times.) He bought some supplies that I needed for this weekend's "Chickens 101" class from the lumber yard, too, and I made us dinner. (Yummy, yummy saute of fresh garlic, marinated mock duck, and fresh veggies over basmati rice!) Anyway, Annie Blue . . . .
Her hair is so long and fine (we thought we were picking out a SHORT-haired cat, ah-hem!) that she gets dreadlocks around her neck and along her belly, and they rat themselves right up to her skin. I asked Tom to bring the hair trimmer that he uses to keep his hair short so that we could try to shave her up a bit. Well, her hair is SO fine that it just kept moving thru the clipper blades and wasn't really getting removed. So, I figure I would trim it up short with scissors, first. (Are you cringing yet?)
While Tom held the oh-so-happy cat (not!) by the armpits so that I could access her soft underbelly (cringe again!), I started cutting (aaaghh!). She gave a good yowl once, but it wasn't that bad. Not enough for either of us to think to stop. Later, after we'd removed a huge pile of the finest fur imaginable and Annie Blue definitely looked the worse for wear (even tho we didn't really make much progress on the knots of hair), Tom was loving on her when I saw something . . . raw . . . on her belly. Oh. My. God. That yelp that she'd given was for a reason.
I NEVER would have guessed that an animal's (like that) skin would be so thin. She had a clean little, 1/4" long (coulda been 2", I felt so bad) V-cut in her belly. Geez, geez, geez, I am a HORRIBLE mother! I ran to grab some ointment and liberally dabbed. I haven't dared look at it today (I don't want the reminder), but she's just fine . . . as she was last night, too. But, gawd, I feel awful.
Well, I have written long enough that the sun is starting to peek through, and the clouds are moving out! Yayyy! The two-day class I'm teaching this weekend needs a good deal of prep, so guess what I'll be doing today?
Make it a good day, wherever you are!
Well, as I mentioned in one of the Comments sections, the fire danger is HIGH due to the early spring & snow melt. The search plane has been going over Swamp River Ridge twice a day for a week or so now. If the humidity is high and the clouds are heavy, they might miss a day here and there, but it's a sure bet that I'll hear the droning buzz as they approach on a sunny, windy day.
As you can imagine, the worst conditions are when we have thunder and lightning with no precip, but, knock on wood, we haven't had any lightning strikes lately.
The dad of Baby Girl (above & a little grumpy during our walk last weekend) is a highly trained USFS hotshot (you can Google that) who gets sent all over the country . . . at least he did before he was married and had a family, and he was the one who did the hand-off to me last Saturday when I nannied. He'd gotten a call right before I arrived of a fire at the end of the Trail, but it sounded small . . . and, since I haven't heard anything more about it, it must have been.
Photo Courtesy of MN DNR
As you can see from this map, most of Minnesota is in a state of fire awareness. The circle represents the area I'm in.
Here's a link to another good map that shows what & where fires are currently burning. Let's hope that this particular county in Minnesota isn't displayed there anytime soon!
* * * * * * *
I am a horrible (cat) mother. Geez. I can't believe I did that. Last night, Tom came out to pick up the kayak that he's trying to sell and a few other things. (I can't remember if I've posted that here or not - anyone interested? It's a beautiful, custom-made sea kayak used fewer than 10 times.) He bought some supplies that I needed for this weekend's "Chickens 101" class from the lumber yard, too, and I made us dinner. (Yummy, yummy saute of fresh garlic, marinated mock duck, and fresh veggies over basmati rice!) Anyway, Annie Blue . . . .
Her hair is so long and fine (we thought we were picking out a SHORT-haired cat, ah-hem!) that she gets dreadlocks around her neck and along her belly, and they rat themselves right up to her skin. I asked Tom to bring the hair trimmer that he uses to keep his hair short so that we could try to shave her up a bit. Well, her hair is SO fine that it just kept moving thru the clipper blades and wasn't really getting removed. So, I figure I would trim it up short with scissors, first. (Are you cringing yet?)
While Tom held the oh-so-happy cat (not!) by the armpits so that I could access her soft underbelly (cringe again!), I started cutting (aaaghh!). She gave a good yowl once, but it wasn't that bad. Not enough for either of us to think to stop. Later, after we'd removed a huge pile of the finest fur imaginable and Annie Blue definitely looked the worse for wear (even tho we didn't really make much progress on the knots of hair), Tom was loving on her when I saw something . . . raw . . . on her belly. Oh. My. God. That yelp that she'd given was for a reason.
I NEVER would have guessed that an animal's (like that) skin would be so thin. She had a clean little, 1/4" long (coulda been 2", I felt so bad) V-cut in her belly. Geez, geez, geez, I am a HORRIBLE mother! I ran to grab some ointment and liberally dabbed. I haven't dared look at it today (I don't want the reminder), but she's just fine . . . as she was last night, too. But, gawd, I feel awful.
Well, I have written long enough that the sun is starting to peek through, and the clouds are moving out! Yayyy! The two-day class I'm teaching this weekend needs a good deal of prep, so guess what I'll be doing today?
Make it a good day, wherever you are!
Time
When I was a child, I had a fairly accurate sense of time. Time was something concrete, something stationary. A day was this BIG chunk of time to work ones way through. I remember sitting in Mrs. K's 6th grade classroom, watching the clock (starting at about 2:20) make that PAINFULLY slower-than-a-slug trek towards the 3:05 dismissal bell. It . . . took . . . F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
Oh, how I wish time ticked by that slowly now.
I no longer have a handle on Time. Time is elusive. Time is slippery. Time is gone in the blink of an eye. Nothing delineates one too-busy day from the next but a few hours (certainly never enough) of sleep in between.
(Sigh.)
Last night as I was driving home, I passed the little crick where I photograph Blue Flag Irises each spring. I automatically thought, "I wonder how long it will be until things green up and they're in bloom?" WAIT A MINUTE! It's already early winter! You MISSED it!
(Sigh.)
That said, yes, it is early winter! We've been in the single digits at night lately, and last night the temperature bottomed out at 0°. Going out to do chores this morning in the 14° weather felt positively balmy!
And, speaking of balmy (ohh, my segues are GOOD this morning!) . . . I have some balmy chickens. As in daft. Stupid. Dumb. Not the brightest birds in the coop. A group of 6-8 of this spring's pullets have decided that flying up to the top of the chicken house - and from there into the trees on the OUTSIDE of the fence - and roosting there for the night is the way to go. The only way. (Yeah, they're gonna "go" alright . . . as soon as an owl figures out where the buffet is!)
Anyway, dummy me finally figured out that they were getting up to the top of the chicken house via the half of an old wooden ladder than I had propped against the side. (Yes, chickens can climb ladders.) So, I took that down. And, just to be on the safe side (after Tucker's plucker attack on Tom the Turkey and that hen), I had Tom (the Husband) trim the branches of the little tree that were overhanging the chicken house roof.
The results? See for yourself:
Yeah. Not exactly a blazing success.
Annie Blue came out to help me with chores. (Who forgot to paint the inside of the gate?!)
Lastly, although it's a bit blurry, here is a close-up of the White Crested Black Polish pictured above (on the top of the chicken house). I think it's a rooster although I've never heard him crow. It's very hard to tell with these crested birds since you can't see their combs. Anyway, heavily crested birds tend to be a little daft by virtue of the fact that they can't SEE a thing! And that problem is only exacerbated by drinking . . . and then not going inside to warm up, melt, and dry off at night. See, when this dummy drinks, his crest falls into the water. Then, it freezes. And then, since he doesn't sleep inside, the frozen crest never thaws . . . and more and more ice accumulates! As I said: Dummy!
Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!
(Note: the above post title must be sung to the tune of the 'Oklahoma' song.)
The leaves are nearly ALL gone! I'll have to take a picture. There's still enough woodland duff and green grass that we're not into 'Bleak November' yet. That will come with the killing frosts, I suppose.
The full Hunter's Moon has filled the valley below our bedroom window these past couple of nights, making the birch trunks glow! Last night, it was bright enough for me to momentarily turn off my headlights on the drive home.
Just as I was falling asleep Monday (?) night, I heard the wolves far off . . . . But the sound was different, causing me to raise up in bed to strain my ears. Next to me, Tom did the same. The wolves were yipping, yapping, yelling, chat-chat-chattering . . . really carrying on! We've not heard them sound like that before. We're assuming they'd just made a kill and were getting ready to feast. I dunno - anyone out there know wolf behavior? Anyway, it was incredibly cool and reminded us HOW FORTUNATE we are to live out here!
I had a great - but exhausting - trip to Canada with a wonderful girlfriend yesterday. I needed to get all the critters (Maisy, Tucker, and Annie Blue) to the vet for their annual check-ups and vaccinations, and she was willing (glutton for punishment?!) to go along for that long haul. After the vet, we got in our Starbuck's fix as well as stops at Home Depot and the Superstore (a combined Target & massive international grocery store). Dinner at Tom's and my favorite sushi restaurant up there, Wasabi, followed. Yum-meee! (Although dummy me forgot - for the SECOND time in only four weeks - that I can no longer eat avocado unless I want to experience excruciating gall bladder attacks. Thank gawd for pain pills. And, yes, I THINK I've FINALLY learned my lesson! Duh . . . .)
Annie Blue came through her rabies vaccine and exam with flying colors, although her needs to . . . "eliminate" over-road her confinement in a travelling kennel. :( On the up side, I DID have a stool sample to present at the vet's! (Ah-hem.)
Our since-we-picked-her-up-at-eight-weeks-old ongoing skin problems in Maisy have finally culminated in a planned visit to a dermatological specialist in Minneapolis. Maybe she'll FINALLY get some relief in the near future. Stay tuned.
Tucker is now on a 600 calories-a-day new diet / lifestyle change. He's 7 lbs. overweight (which ain't bad, certainly, but still . . . ). Also, there are some concerns that he has hypothyroidism (common, unfortunately, in Corgis). A blood test in a couple of weeks will reveal that. And, the poor pooper has yet another bladder infection (another indication of the hypothyroidism). So, we have to trick him into swallowing a pink horse pill every 12 hours. Pill Pockets (great for Annie Blue) don't work for him, but peanut butter does . . . as long as Maisy gets an "empty" glop of PB at the same time. (Psychological trickery works every time! Otherwise, he'd suck the PB off - as he does the soft Pill Pockets - and spit out the clean pill.)
Tom had a really productive day yesterday - although he worked here at home instead of at his "weekday job" doing Trapper Cabin Handyman projects (the previously-promised yards of rock he needs were not delivered). He's been studying to take his CDL test (Commercial Driver's License) so he can drive "the big rigs" . . . or dumptrucks! No, he's not going to become an OTR trucker, but it's a great asset to have tucked away in your back pocket up here. So, in addition to more studying for that, he got the stonework on the entire northeast (driveway) side of the long front entryway structure done! That makes the top, ends, and one whole side of that one done, for those of you keeping track. I'll get a picture of that progress later today.
The leaves are nearly ALL gone! I'll have to take a picture. There's still enough woodland duff and green grass that we're not into 'Bleak November' yet. That will come with the killing frosts, I suppose.
The full Hunter's Moon has filled the valley below our bedroom window these past couple of nights, making the birch trunks glow! Last night, it was bright enough for me to momentarily turn off my headlights on the drive home.
Just as I was falling asleep Monday (?) night, I heard the wolves far off . . . . But the sound was different, causing me to raise up in bed to strain my ears. Next to me, Tom did the same. The wolves were yipping, yapping, yelling, chat-chat-chattering . . . really carrying on! We've not heard them sound like that before. We're assuming they'd just made a kill and were getting ready to feast. I dunno - anyone out there know wolf behavior? Anyway, it was incredibly cool and reminded us HOW FORTUNATE we are to live out here!
I had a great - but exhausting - trip to Canada with a wonderful girlfriend yesterday. I needed to get all the critters (Maisy, Tucker, and Annie Blue) to the vet for their annual check-ups and vaccinations, and she was willing (glutton for punishment?!) to go along for that long haul. After the vet, we got in our Starbuck's fix as well as stops at Home Depot and the Superstore (a combined Target & massive international grocery store). Dinner at Tom's and my favorite sushi restaurant up there, Wasabi, followed. Yum-meee! (Although dummy me forgot - for the SECOND time in only four weeks - that I can no longer eat avocado unless I want to experience excruciating gall bladder attacks. Thank gawd for pain pills. And, yes, I THINK I've FINALLY learned my lesson! Duh . . . .)
Annie Blue came through her rabies vaccine and exam with flying colors, although her needs to . . . "eliminate" over-road her confinement in a travelling kennel. :( On the up side, I DID have a stool sample to present at the vet's! (Ah-hem.)
Our since-we-picked-her-up-at-eight-weeks-old ongoing skin problems in Maisy have finally culminated in a planned visit to a dermatological specialist in Minneapolis. Maybe she'll FINALLY get some relief in the near future. Stay tuned.
Tucker is now on a 600 calories-a-day new diet / lifestyle change. He's 7 lbs. overweight (which ain't bad, certainly, but still . . . ). Also, there are some concerns that he has hypothyroidism (common, unfortunately, in Corgis). A blood test in a couple of weeks will reveal that. And, the poor pooper has yet another bladder infection (another indication of the hypothyroidism). So, we have to trick him into swallowing a pink horse pill every 12 hours. Pill Pockets (great for Annie Blue) don't work for him, but peanut butter does . . . as long as Maisy gets an "empty" glop of PB at the same time. (Psychological trickery works every time! Otherwise, he'd suck the PB off - as he does the soft Pill Pockets - and spit out the clean pill.)
Tom had a really productive day yesterday - although he worked here at home instead of at his "weekday job" doing Trapper Cabin Handyman projects (the previously-promised yards of rock he needs were not delivered). He's been studying to take his CDL test (Commercial Driver's License) so he can drive "the big rigs" . . . or dumptrucks! No, he's not going to become an OTR trucker, but it's a great asset to have tucked away in your back pocket up here. So, in addition to more studying for that, he got the stonework on the entire northeast (driveway) side of the long front entryway structure done! That makes the top, ends, and one whole side of that one done, for those of you keeping track. I'll get a picture of that progress later today.
My Kind of Weather
We . . . FINALLY . . . experienced a 30° temperature drop within the last 24 hours. It was 64 degrees yesterday - WAY too warm for this time of year. It . . . just . . . didn't . . . feel . . . right. (Fortunately, the 34° we had this morning DID feel completely apropos for this time of year!) And, any of you menopausal / hot-flashing women out there can appreciate it when I say, "I thought the hot weather was OVER for the year!" ;) Now, if we could just get that killing frost to get rid of the bugs . . . .
The warm weather did allow for some late season warm weather projects, though: I got the 2nd half of the front entrance double door painted on Sunday (now all three of the front/side doors have, at least, the first coat on them), and Tom got more stonework done on the front entry way. (We really don't have a good "name" for those stone . . . gates. Anyone? OTHER than 'bomb-proof barriers' that P . . . or was it L . . . suggested when we all visited a couple of weeks ago?) Tom also did maintenance on the electrical system's generator and all four of the (currently running of the six we have) vehicles: oil and fluid levels, filling up with gas, etc.
I continued the electrical system maintenance yesterday by tending to my duty of checking and refilling the water/acid level in the 24 deep-cycle batteries. It's a job that usually takes a couple of hours of slightly painstaking attention and physical positions reminiscent of the childhood game 'Twister'. (The NEXT electrical system we build - [Ha!] - will include batteries mounted VERTICALLY on the wall instead of on the floor.) But, the generator kicked on (scaring the heck out of me) just as I was in the middle of the 3rd to the last battery. So, that project was postponed until today . . . when the generator WON'T be running!
The calendar between now and the end of the year is rapidly filling . . . which also fills me with (even more) anxiety! I'm going to try to do two more Christmas-season sales this year (vs. the one I've participated in at our local town hall 2x a year). These are both in town: one at the Free Church, and the other at the community center. I'm in the process of finding out about dates and entry fees right now. Which reminds me . . . the information for the town hall Christmas sale is starting to come in, so I need to start updating the website! Always so much to do . . . !
I don't know how many of you peek at our YouTube channel, but for those of you who do, you already know that our one remaining turkey, Shy Jenny, has turned out to be . . . a tom! Whoops! But, no harm, no fowl (har dee har har). Now we have "Shy Tommy".
Other news: after being fairly free-and-easy regarding any sort of set schedule over the summer, Tom and I have reconnoitered and set forth a solid plan. Living with "Pioneer Purpose", we call it. ;) Each Sunday evening - with a quick follow-up each night Monday thru Thursday - we plan the week. And then, we get up with the 7:00 AM alarm for a set weekday morning routine (late for some of you, early for others - early for us!). That alarm is conflicting with my past-midnight bedtime, though! I really need to work on changing my night-owl tendencies!
I've really been working on getting our backlog of videos posted on YouTube (see earlier link). If you become a subscriber, you'll be alerted when new ones are posted.
Finally (my segue here is thinking about YouTube), I sure would encourage each and every one of you readers out there (okay, so all 10 of you) to CREATE A BLOG to keep everyone else (me!) updated on your life! Hey, if my 65-year old (shhh!) mom can do it, so can YOU! (And, yes, Mom, JB, and TJ - you are excluded from my little rant since you all HAVE jumped on the modern communication bandwagon. L, you are NOT excluded since your blog posts CONTAIN NOT ONE IOTA OF ANYTHING EVEN MINUTELY RESEMBLING PERSONAL NEWS!)
Rant over.
I'll end with a cute picture of Annie Blue taken yesterday when I was working upstairs in the library. Her body is like a slinky. She's so skinny, and if you hold her up in the air under her "armpits", you can wave her back and forth . . . like a slinky!
The warm weather did allow for some late season warm weather projects, though: I got the 2nd half of the front entrance double door painted on Sunday (now all three of the front/side doors have, at least, the first coat on them), and Tom got more stonework done on the front entry way. (We really don't have a good "name" for those stone . . . gates. Anyone? OTHER than 'bomb-proof barriers' that P . . . or was it L . . . suggested when we all visited a couple of weeks ago?) Tom also did maintenance on the electrical system's generator and all four of the (currently running of the six we have) vehicles: oil and fluid levels, filling up with gas, etc.
I continued the electrical system maintenance yesterday by tending to my duty of checking and refilling the water/acid level in the 24 deep-cycle batteries. It's a job that usually takes a couple of hours of slightly painstaking attention and physical positions reminiscent of the childhood game 'Twister'. (The NEXT electrical system we build - [Ha!] - will include batteries mounted VERTICALLY on the wall instead of on the floor.) But, the generator kicked on (scaring the heck out of me) just as I was in the middle of the 3rd to the last battery. So, that project was postponed until today . . . when the generator WON'T be running!
The calendar between now and the end of the year is rapidly filling . . . which also fills me with (even more) anxiety! I'm going to try to do two more Christmas-season sales this year (vs. the one I've participated in at our local town hall 2x a year). These are both in town: one at the Free Church, and the other at the community center. I'm in the process of finding out about dates and entry fees right now. Which reminds me . . . the information for the town hall Christmas sale is starting to come in, so I need to start updating the website! Always so much to do . . . !
I don't know how many of you peek at our YouTube channel, but for those of you who do, you already know that our one remaining turkey, Shy Jenny, has turned out to be . . . a tom! Whoops! But, no harm, no fowl (har dee har har). Now we have "Shy Tommy".
Other news: after being fairly free-and-easy regarding any sort of set schedule over the summer, Tom and I have reconnoitered and set forth a solid plan. Living with "Pioneer Purpose", we call it. ;) Each Sunday evening - with a quick follow-up each night Monday thru Thursday - we plan the week. And then, we get up with the 7:00 AM alarm for a set weekday morning routine (late for some of you, early for others - early for us!). That alarm is conflicting with my past-midnight bedtime, though! I really need to work on changing my night-owl tendencies!
I've really been working on getting our backlog of videos posted on YouTube (see earlier link). If you become a subscriber, you'll be alerted when new ones are posted.
Finally (my segue here is thinking about YouTube), I sure would encourage each and every one of you readers out there (okay, so all 10 of you) to CREATE A BLOG to keep everyone else (me!) updated on your life! Hey, if my 65-year old (shhh!) mom can do it, so can YOU! (And, yes, Mom, JB, and TJ - you are excluded from my little rant since you all HAVE jumped on the modern communication bandwagon. L, you are NOT excluded since your blog posts CONTAIN NOT ONE IOTA OF ANYTHING EVEN MINUTELY RESEMBLING PERSONAL NEWS!)
Rant over.
I'll end with a cute picture of Annie Blue taken yesterday when I was working upstairs in the library. Her body is like a slinky. She's so skinny, and if you hold her up in the air under her "armpits", you can wave her back and forth . . . like a slinky!
Annie Blue
I took this cute picture of Annie Blue on Wednesday.
Since we lost Miss Kitty, Annie Blue has definitely become more of an outside cat than an inside cat. Maybe it's just her age, too, now that she's just over 1 year old. Maybe she's gaining confidence. Anyway, she spends much more time outside than she's in now, and I'm trying to change her schedule to suit OUR needs . . . but I don't know how much luck we'll have. Now that the seasons have changed and it's too cold outside to leave the door(s) open, she can no longer come and go as she pleases. And, her schedule seemed to be 'inside during the day and outside at night' . . . but then she meows for us to let her in in the MIDDLE of the night. (Not exactly our favorite time to have to wake up and pad downstairs.) So, I'm trying to get her to come in when I (the last one to bed) go to sleep at night. Some time it works, some times it doesn't. I'm hoping / assuming that once the snow falls, though, the problem will remedy itself and she'll choose to spend more time inside. Darn 'kids'! ;)
Since we lost Miss Kitty, Annie Blue has definitely become more of an outside cat than an inside cat. Maybe it's just her age, too, now that she's just over 1 year old. Maybe she's gaining confidence. Anyway, she spends much more time outside than she's in now, and I'm trying to change her schedule to suit OUR needs . . . but I don't know how much luck we'll have. Now that the seasons have changed and it's too cold outside to leave the door(s) open, she can no longer come and go as she pleases. And, her schedule seemed to be 'inside during the day and outside at night' . . . but then she meows for us to let her in in the MIDDLE of the night. (Not exactly our favorite time to have to wake up and pad downstairs.) So, I'm trying to get her to come in when I (the last one to bed) go to sleep at night. Some time it works, some times it doesn't. I'm hoping / assuming that once the snow falls, though, the problem will remedy itself and she'll choose to spend more time inside. Darn 'kids'! ;)
The Not-So-Elusive Masked Shrew
Okay, I'm gonna take a break for a few minutes from deskwork to tell you about the itty-bitty Masked Shrew.For the last week or two and with regularity, we've been finding these little critters inside the house (prominently deposited on a rug) or outside on the deck(s) or walkway(s). Each time, though, they are untouched (oh, and dead). We know they are "gifts" from the cats (now just Annie Blue), but we didn't know what they were . . . nor why there were untouched and not eaten.
A little research in 'Mammals of Minnesota' (one in the series of many useful & easy-to-read field guides by Stan Tekiela) identified the little guy, and here are some interesting facts:
- Weighing in at just 1/4 of an ounce and spending the majority of its life in tunnels underground, this shrew is "rarely, if ever, seen". (Lucky for us, then, that the cats have been leaving them for us in plain sight!)
- They don't hibernate - they are active underneath the snow in the wintertime.
- It's also called the Cinereus Shrew, and it's one of the smallest mammals in Minnesota. Cinereus means 'ash-colored' in Latin.
- Explanations for why we find them unscathed seem to be two-fold: they give off a "strong musky odor [although we've never noticed this] which makes it unattractive" to predatory mammals (i.e, cats). AND, they can "die from fright when captured"! Given the number of them that have been left for us, they must be fun for the cat(s) to hunt!
- And, finally, they are "a desirable animal to have around your home and yard" - killing mice and eating many harmful insects (like . . . ?). They do not transmit rabies and are not harmful to humans!
No Time for Anything
Well, I should be doing deskwork right now . . . or sleeping. It's 11:31 PM as I start this. But, instead, I'm listening to Annie Blue growl at Tucker (she's just caught what I think is her very first mouse and is feeling very protective of her prey . . . soon to become a late night snack, I think), Tucker bark back at Annie Blue (all of this going on in living room, mind you), and drinking a sub-par Chocolatini (I don't have the recipe down right, obviously) while waiting for Tom to return home from a guys'-night . . . from which he said he'd be home no later than 11:00 (did I mention that it's 11:31? . . . 11:34, now).
Ah, well, life on the ol' frontier.
No segue here, but . . . .
I feel that a public apology is in order to my oldest and very pregnant friend. Why? I have been a lousy blister lately. She's largely pregnant (did I mention that?), and I have had no time to respond to her phone calls or e-mails. Nor did I call her yesterday. On her birthday. Her 37th birthday. I'm a poop. A big, ol' poop. I over-extended for the month of June (well, through the 4th of July weekend, really), and I'm paying the price with my (lack of) attentiveness to friends . . . and family, for that matter.
Enter the fact that it's Father's Day, and I didn't see mine today. Why? I wasn't organized enough to host the afternoon-of-fun-followed-by-a-luscious-dinner that I'd been planning on. Instead, we've rescheduled for Monday, the 23rd. Which reminds me . . . I don't think we've celebrated his August '07 birthday yet. Hmph. Something's wrong with this picture.
So, sinking into a true PIT of guilt now, I'll share what we did on Friday. We bought a car. A brand new car. A car with only 5 (yes, that's f-i-v-e) miles on it. Did we need a new car? Well, in the sense of "new" being defined as aNOTHER car, yes, we kinda did. The Subaru Outback needs a new head gasket. That's $1300. And, it has a million miles on it. (Well, not quite, but you get the idea.) The Subaru Forester just GOT a new head gasket but then revealed that it's burning oil. Prognosis? New engine. Finally, gas is up to $4.11, locally. Answer? A new, fairly-energy-efficient vehicle. Enter the red (ummm, we're SO not red people?!) '08 Toyota Yaris that we bought on Friday. It's a clown car. Literally. Teeny. No, it's not like the Le Car (well, that's redundant: the the car), but it's small. Fortunately, the inside is comfortable, and there is room for two humans and two dogs . . . although we have yet to actually experience this travel combination.
But, the fact of the matter remains that I was raised to understand that you never, N-E-V-E-R buy a BRAND NEW CAR because of the depreciation it experiences the second you sign the papers and drive it off the lot. On the flip side, fuel-efficient cars (and especially this one) are not losing their value. And, we could buy a used one for pretty much what we paid on Friday . . . without the warranty. So, there ya have it: we have a new . . . a brand new . . . car. (Although it still seems like the horn should toot out Barnum & Bailey's theme music every time it blows!)
Ah, well, life on the ol' frontier.
No segue here, but . . . .
I feel that a public apology is in order to my oldest and very pregnant friend. Why? I have been a lousy blister lately. She's largely pregnant (did I mention that?), and I have had no time to respond to her phone calls or e-mails. Nor did I call her yesterday. On her birthday. Her 37th birthday. I'm a poop. A big, ol' poop. I over-extended for the month of June (well, through the 4th of July weekend, really), and I'm paying the price with my (lack of) attentiveness to friends . . . and family, for that matter.
Enter the fact that it's Father's Day, and I didn't see mine today. Why? I wasn't organized enough to host the afternoon-of-fun-followed-by-a-luscious-dinner that I'd been planning on. Instead, we've rescheduled for Monday, the 23rd. Which reminds me . . . I don't think we've celebrated his August '07 birthday yet. Hmph. Something's wrong with this picture.
So, sinking into a true PIT of guilt now, I'll share what we did on Friday. We bought a car. A brand new car. A car with only 5 (yes, that's f-i-v-e) miles on it. Did we need a new car? Well, in the sense of "new" being defined as aNOTHER car, yes, we kinda did. The Subaru Outback needs a new head gasket. That's $1300. And, it has a million miles on it. (Well, not quite, but you get the idea.) The Subaru Forester just GOT a new head gasket but then revealed that it's burning oil. Prognosis? New engine. Finally, gas is up to $4.11, locally. Answer? A new, fairly-energy-efficient vehicle. Enter the red (ummm, we're SO not red people?!) '08 Toyota Yaris that we bought on Friday. It's a clown car. Literally. Teeny. No, it's not like the Le Car (well, that's redundant: the the car), but it's small. Fortunately, the inside is comfortable, and there is room for two humans and two dogs . . . although we have yet to actually experience this travel combination.
But, the fact of the matter remains that I was raised to understand that you never, N-E-V-E-R buy a BRAND NEW CAR because of the depreciation it experiences the second you sign the papers and drive it off the lot. On the flip side, fuel-efficient cars (and especially this one) are not losing their value. And, we could buy a used one for pretty much what we paid on Friday . . . without the warranty. So, there ya have it: we have a new . . . a brand new . . . car. (Although it still seems like the horn should toot out Barnum & Bailey's theme music every time it blows!)
Two Days from Spring
While most people in the country (state?) are thinking SPRING, we are still very much in winter. We're still in the single digits to teens at night . . . although the days are getting up to the low 30s. And, that sun is so warm that there are melting drips even when the mercury stays below freezing. We've been getting a little snow yesterday, last night, and this morning - everything's coated and very wintery looking.
The loggers cleared out of their site across from the end of our driveway yesterday and moved just a mile or two down the road to their new cut. On their way home, they snuck in and left the pie plate in Tom's workshop. "The pie plate," you ask? You betcha! I made the dear, sweet loggers an apple pie last week and left it for them because . . . .
Tom was in Orlando for a Microsoft convention/meeting/thingie last week. But, with him gone and me still not supposed to lift anything heavy, how was the wood furnace going to get filled? (I was planning on doing it myself, anyway, thank you very much!) Well, much to my chagrin, Tom asked the loggers if they would mind doing it each morning. He would pay them, of course. And, of course, they, in turn, refused the very suggestion of payment! So, the upshot is that my "wood elves" (okay, I'm sure loggers wouldn't appreciate being referred to as elves, but you get the idea) tiptoed in under the cover of dark each morning (remember, they rise-and-shine at 3:15 AM!) . . . parking up on the driveway and walking down so as not to wake the dogs and then, in turn, me with the sound of their truck engine . . . and STOKED the fire. I mean, they put so much wood in there I didn't even need to feed it in the evenings! What sweet, wonderful men. And, hence the apple pie, paper plates, and plastic forks I left out in the garage for them one night to find in the AM. It was - quite literally - the LEAST I could do!
Road restrictions go into effect on Thursday . . . meaning that the loggers (or anyone with heavy loads) can't drive on the roads for a minimum of 8 weeks during spring thaw. When the ban is removed, it's usually road by road with the more major (relatively speaking!) ones first. So, it's at this time of year that all the logs cut during the winter are hauled to the ends of the roads that the bans will remain on longest . . . like our little 4-mile road leading out to the main road. I took this photo last week (each log is 8' long), and there is even more wood now. The end of our road definitely looks like a massive lumber staging area (which, I guess, it has become)!
For those of you wondering, I think I'm finally starting to make some forward progress in the post-surgery recovery department. I felt like last Thursday was my "turn-around" day (last Friday was 4 weeks). And, until Sunday afternoon, I hadn't had to take a pain pill in 4 days (and I haven't had to take one since) - a major coup! Although, even though I feel like I'm somewhat getting back to a "normal" schedule, it's still one step forward and 2 steps back in the sense that I get pooped out and my tummy gets sore and swollen VERY easily. But, it's still progress!
Now, absolutely no segue here, but . . . .
Do you remember "Heloise's Hints" in Good Housekeeping? (Or am I dating myself?) Anyway, here is my version of that: Chicken Mama's 'Tips from a Modern-Day Old-Fashioned Housewife'. I discovered this wonderful "trick" this winter. If there's a (fairly quiet) job that you particularly dislike or that takes a long, boring time (think doing the dishes or ironing), get thee to the library and check out a book on tape/CD! It's AMAZING how a good book turns those jobs into something you LOOK FORWARD TO! As I was ripping through the Harry Potter books-on-tape this winter, I would try to actually arrange my day around doing the dishes . . . just so I could listen! It's great for when you're holed up in the kitchen making dinner, too . . . as long as the mixer or sautéing veggies don't drown out the sound! :)
After just barely 6 months of cohabitation, Miss Kitty and Annie Blue have f-i-n-a-l-l-y gotten to the point of "play fighting". Mind you, Annie Blue's been attempting this for ages, but she was always - and very quickly - "shut down" by the Madam of the House. But now, just in this last week or two, we've seen them batting each other and APPEARING to have fun . . . although I did have to admonish Miss Kitty to "be careful of Annie Blue's eyes!" one day as the claws did seem rather precisely poised for a blow. ;)
Speaking of cats, Tom saw our first "big cat" on his way to work yesterday morning . . . just down on the main road after he turned onto it. It was too far away to tell if it was a bobcat or lynx. But, either way . . . pretty cool!
Here are a couple of cute Annie Blue pictures. In the first, we had some bedding & padding stacked by the front door ready to go out to the trapper cabin, and Annie Blue thought the rolled padding made the most PURRFECT hideout! Then, now that the house has been warming and the half-dead flies have been waking up (ugh!), one of her new favorite spots is atop the file folders on my desk . . . avidly watching as they drunkenly buzz around the light of my desk lamp.
The loggers cleared out of their site across from the end of our driveway yesterday and moved just a mile or two down the road to their new cut. On their way home, they snuck in and left the pie plate in Tom's workshop. "The pie plate," you ask? You betcha! I made the dear, sweet loggers an apple pie last week and left it for them because . . . .
Tom was in Orlando for a Microsoft convention/meeting/thingie last week. But, with him gone and me still not supposed to lift anything heavy, how was the wood furnace going to get filled? (I was planning on doing it myself, anyway, thank you very much!) Well, much to my chagrin, Tom asked the loggers if they would mind doing it each morning. He would pay them, of course. And, of course, they, in turn, refused the very suggestion of payment! So, the upshot is that my "wood elves" (okay, I'm sure loggers wouldn't appreciate being referred to as elves, but you get the idea) tiptoed in under the cover of dark each morning (remember, they rise-and-shine at 3:15 AM!) . . . parking up on the driveway and walking down so as not to wake the dogs and then, in turn, me with the sound of their truck engine . . . and STOKED the fire. I mean, they put so much wood in there I didn't even need to feed it in the evenings! What sweet, wonderful men. And, hence the apple pie, paper plates, and plastic forks I left out in the garage for them one night to find in the AM. It was - quite literally - the LEAST I could do!
Road restrictions go into effect on Thursday . . . meaning that the loggers (or anyone with heavy loads) can't drive on the roads for a minimum of 8 weeks during spring thaw. When the ban is removed, it's usually road by road with the more major (relatively speaking!) ones first. So, it's at this time of year that all the logs cut during the winter are hauled to the ends of the roads that the bans will remain on longest . . . like our little 4-mile road leading out to the main road. I took this photo last week (each log is 8' long), and there is even more wood now. The end of our road definitely looks like a massive lumber staging area (which, I guess, it has become)!For those of you wondering, I think I'm finally starting to make some forward progress in the post-surgery recovery department. I felt like last Thursday was my "turn-around" day (last Friday was 4 weeks). And, until Sunday afternoon, I hadn't had to take a pain pill in 4 days (and I haven't had to take one since) - a major coup! Although, even though I feel like I'm somewhat getting back to a "normal" schedule, it's still one step forward and 2 steps back in the sense that I get pooped out and my tummy gets sore and swollen VERY easily. But, it's still progress!
Now, absolutely no segue here, but . . . .
Do you remember "Heloise's Hints" in Good Housekeeping? (Or am I dating myself?) Anyway, here is my version of that: Chicken Mama's 'Tips from a Modern-Day Old-Fashioned Housewife'. I discovered this wonderful "trick" this winter. If there's a (fairly quiet) job that you particularly dislike or that takes a long, boring time (think doing the dishes or ironing), get thee to the library and check out a book on tape/CD! It's AMAZING how a good book turns those jobs into something you LOOK FORWARD TO! As I was ripping through the Harry Potter books-on-tape this winter, I would try to actually arrange my day around doing the dishes . . . just so I could listen! It's great for when you're holed up in the kitchen making dinner, too . . . as long as the mixer or sautéing veggies don't drown out the sound! :)
After just barely 6 months of cohabitation, Miss Kitty and Annie Blue have f-i-n-a-l-l-y gotten to the point of "play fighting". Mind you, Annie Blue's been attempting this for ages, but she was always - and very quickly - "shut down" by the Madam of the House. But now, just in this last week or two, we've seen them batting each other and APPEARING to have fun . . . although I did have to admonish Miss Kitty to "be careful of Annie Blue's eyes!" one day as the claws did seem rather precisely poised for a blow. ;)
Speaking of cats, Tom saw our first "big cat" on his way to work yesterday morning . . . just down on the main road after he turned onto it. It was too far away to tell if it was a bobcat or lynx. But, either way . . . pretty cool!
Here are a couple of cute Annie Blue pictures. In the first, we had some bedding & padding stacked by the front door ready to go out to the trapper cabin, and Annie Blue thought the rolled padding made the most PURRFECT hideout! Then, now that the house has been warming and the half-dead flies have been waking up (ugh!), one of her new favorite spots is atop the file folders on my desk . . . avidly watching as they drunkenly buzz around the light of my desk lamp.What Could Be Better . . . ?
Fully Recovered
Annie Blue had her spay surgery last Friday, the 18th. Since I'm scheduled to get "spayed", as well, I asked the vet if she'd be willing to do a "two fer" special, but she politely declined! Hmph!Anyway, here's the sweet girl on Saturday after I'd picked her up. She's crashed out on her favorite spot on the downstairs bathroom rug . . . showing off her little scar. The surgery / recovery didn't slow her down for an instant, though. "Keep her quiet", the vet said. Riiiiiight.
Tuesday-Feels-Like-Monday
Good morning!It's been cold lately. It finally got above zero yesterday, but not by much: 7/10s of a degree to 0.7 above. The coldest we had was -18 on Saturday, but my folks in town beat us (an unusual happenstance). I think they had -20 or -22.
The picture I've posted here of the thermometer outside the kitchen window is from Saturday morning. I think we were up to -16 or so. Tom was heading out to log, and I was heading up to Canada. Then, check out the picture of the tuber I've been trying to root. It sits in the kitchen window, too, and you can see how the frost was working its way inside the window frame. If you look closely (or enlarge the photo), notice how ice is starting to form in the water . . . spreading almost horizontally from the window side of the vase inwards!
As I said, Tom went out to log on Saturday but the ATV wouldn't start, so he had to haul the cut wood the old-fashioned way . . . by toboggan. Believe me, working like that, he stayed PLENTY warm!
And, back-tracking, I spent the day in Canada on Friday. Annie Blue had her spay/surgery appointment and had to be left overnight. I also got Maisy - whose been having more skin/itching problems than usual - in to the vet. Turns out, she's allergic to her food! She'd been losing a bit of weight a couple of months ago and had been sick for a couple of weeks, so we upped her food. Yes, that being the very stuff that was making her sick. (Of course, she never complained and gobbled it up as usual). But, can you say GUILT? So, yeah, we've basically been poisoning one of our dogs. Or, at the very least, making her life very uncomfortable. So now, she's on medicine, salmon and Vitamin E oils, and a different, very healthy food (herring). Oy vey.
Now for a few comments about Canada and Canadians. They are tough, and I absolutely love that. I was back up on Saturday again (to retrieve Annie Blue and finish the shopping that I didn't get done on Friday), and the high was -8. Yes, the high - that's not a typo. The SuperStore parking lot was just as packed as ever. On the drive up, the highway did seem less busy, but in no way shape or form was town less busy. Cold, schmold. Bundle up and get on with it! I love that!
Canadians are also smart. Large stores keep their shopping carts outside under year-round awnings, placed throughout the parking lot. But, shopping carts aren't free. They cost a loonie - a buck. A loonie is a coin about the size of our quarters but gold in color with 8 - I'm guessing - sides. So, when you need a cart, you go to the cart corral, stick your loonie into this little box on your cart and then insert a key that's attached to the box. That key pushes your loonie all the way into the box and releases another key on the back side of the box . . . which is on the end of a short chain attached to the cart behind it (and so on and so on) . . . thereby releasing your cart. (I'll have to take a picture sometime to help the illustration.) So, why do they do this? To make money? Nope - and this is the really brilliant part - it's to eliminate unreturned carts! After you're done shopping and have loaded your stash into your car, you return your cart to the corral. You push it into the cart behind it, grab that cart's dangling key and push that key into the back of your little box. Out pops the front key AND your loonie! You didn't lose any money, they didn't make any money. What they DID do was eliminate the bother from those unsavory characters who leave their carts right next to where they parked! Smart, eh?!
I'll sign off for now but try to get more up later today or tomorrow.
A New Year - And Still Tired
Sweet little girl! Maybe we'll have to rename her Annie GREEN now that her eyes have changed from their baby blue status!Anyway . . . good morning!
And, oh, I am fighting - with every fiber in my body - the massive urge to curl up on the couch with the heating pad this morning. Just a l-i-t-t-l-e bit more sleep . . . . My six hours last night just didn't cut it. Ugh.
Maybe more coffee will help. Hang on . . . .
The replacement part for the generator finally arrived, and so we drove in to town last night to pick it up. An hour on the road back home again, and, by 8:15, Tom had it installed and the beast put back together. Next, I stepped in to do the tweaks to the settings of the inverter (which had been changed to accommodate the limping along we did with the small, portable gasoline generator). Finally, we held our breath and fired the system up. Yes . . . yes . . . yes . . . ?! We were cautiously optimistic. No error lights flashing (anymore) on the generator . . . . Then, that lovely "click-click-hummmmmm" as the inverter began feeding the battery bank with the generator's energy! Yayyy! We ran the system manually last night until I went to bed at which point I switched it over to automatic. The true test will come when I go out this morning to take all the voltage & amps readings. Keep your fingers crossed for us! The big energy-suckers (laundry, ironing, and vacuuming) have been falling to the back burner since we've had to be limping along (for two weeks now). I'm eager to work on getting caught up!
Tom's birthday is coming up on Sunday. On Saturday, he and my dad and some other manly men are going to find something fun to do to pass the time. Then, we'll celebrate with my folks that night. (He's asked for Meat Loaf with all the fixins for his birthday meal plus Crème Brûlée for dessert.)
And, speaking of birthdays, Maisy Grace's was January 1st . . . her fourth. And, true to all birthdays that occur around Christmas: she got shafted. I.e., we didn't get her a thing - not even a special meal of "junky" (canned) dog food. But, there were promises made of a gift the next time we visit the pet store! :)
Looking back in time a bit, Mom and I held our annual cookie bake on December 8th. This has been a yearly event since I was a wee lass when Mom and I and the neighbors (all homesteaders) did it without the benefits of electricity or running water! It's always a long, exhausting, rewarding day. We used to take turns hosting: the benefits to the hostess being that she didn't have to haul anything and was in her own kitchen. But, on the flip side, she needed to make the food for the day plus suffer the clean-up. The benefit to the "hauler" was that she had a clean, quiet house to return to . . . but her "flip-side" was that EVERY SINGLE supply and ingredient she would need during the course of the day had to be packed up and hauled to the appointed house. I got away with hosting this year (ultimately the better of the options, I think) due to the claim that we have a bigger house (more room to work) and that I can't bake anything anymore without my handy-dandy, nifty convection oven. Unfortunately, while I've grown to L-O-V-E my new oven's feature, Mom wasn't used to it and, so, a couple of her cookies came out a little "toastier" than she would have preferred! I suspect that next year, I'll have to suck it up and be "the hauler".Speaking of hauling . . . . (Logs, that is.) A logger and his crew have been working almost directly across from the end of our driveway this winter. And, while it does result in some noise pollution from the cutting down, splintering, and throwing around of massive trees, it produces one FANTASTIC benefit! They have been doing the plowing on "our" four miles of the road! And, when they plow, they PLOW! To allow enough room for a loaded logging truck and a potentially passing vehicle, they must plow WIDE! And, they have the equipment to do it. So, that has been one massive time-saver for us this season. Gotta love those loggers!
Okay, I feel like I've written a short book here. Time to sign off and get on to the rest of the day's chores.
The "Kids".
No time for a proper update, but here's a picture of 3/4 of "our kids" stretched out for an afternoon nap. I'm sure Miss Kitty was asleep - quite independently - on the bed upstairs. (Meanwhile, Annie Blue seems to think she's a dog.)
Animal Shenanigans
Annie Blue has climbed a tree out of fear (more times just for the heck of it) twice
now . . . and required a ladder rescue each time. When she climbs them just for fun, she comes down of her own accord. But, Thursday night, we were sure she was in deep, deep trouble. It had been my town day, and she'd scooted outside when Tom was helping me unload the car and carry groceries, etc. into the house. Once we realized she was still outside when it was so dark and there were more critters (owls) out and about to get her, we went searching. The bell on her collar and the f-a-i-n-t-e-s-t of pitiful "mew"s REALLY worried us because they were coming from deep within the huge boulders off the deck. (Little did we know she was a ventriloquist.) Anyway, fast forward past a frantic 5 minutes or so (it seemed more like 15) of searching in the rocks to no avail . . . and, out of desperation, we started shining our flashlights up into the surrounding trees. There she was . . . WAYYYY up in a cedar. So, off Tom trudged to the garage to get an extension ladder for the 2nd of two such rescues. (Mind you, had it been daytime, we would have let her find her own way down!)
Miss Kitty - just this week - has finally let us see a glimpse of her old self (6 weeks into the addition of Annie Blue) by playing with her organic catnip banana . . . but she still growls at the new fur ball every chance she gets. And, yes, she did get locked in the garage one night until we wondered where she was at 1:30 AM . . . when we saw (or, more accurately, felt) that she wasn't in her usual place at the foot of our bed!
Tucker has had to go back to sleeping in his kennel (or, more to the point, being locked in his kennel) at night because otherwise we'd continue to find him happily nestled into the corner of the couch each morning as if he'd slept there every night of his life! Darn hairy little dust mop!
And, finishing out the most recent poll: yes, "all the above" was the correct answer because Annie Blue does tackle Tucker at every possible opportunity. Actually, Tom and I were commenting just last night that the animal combination we have now seems to be just right. With the addition of the kitten, Tucker is no longer constantly pestering Maisy, so Maisy and Miss Kitty can live a life of comfort - for the most part. And, Tucker's finally getting a taste of his own medicine from Annie Blue! ;)
Planning for the perfect moment to ambush . . . .
(Good gawd, somebody needs to dust that furniture!)
And I will ATTACK that fuzzy tail!
Then . . . the FACE! (Watch those eyes, please!)
A little up-close-and-personal now (on top of Mom's legs).
Darn! He's starting to figure it out!
Fun's over for the night.
now . . . and required a ladder rescue each time. When she climbs them just for fun, she comes down of her own accord. But, Thursday night, we were sure she was in deep, deep trouble. It had been my town day, and she'd scooted outside when Tom was helping me unload the car and carry groceries, etc. into the house. Once we realized she was still outside when it was so dark and there were more critters (owls) out and about to get her, we went searching. The bell on her collar and the f-a-i-n-t-e-s-t of pitiful "mew"s REALLY worried us because they were coming from deep within the huge boulders off the deck. (Little did we know she was a ventriloquist.) Anyway, fast forward past a frantic 5 minutes or so (it seemed more like 15) of searching in the rocks to no avail . . . and, out of desperation, we started shining our flashlights up into the surrounding trees. There she was . . . WAYYYY up in a cedar. So, off Tom trudged to the garage to get an extension ladder for the 2nd of two such rescues. (Mind you, had it been daytime, we would have let her find her own way down!)
Miss Kitty - just this week - has finally let us see a glimpse of her old self (6 weeks into the addition of Annie Blue) by playing with her organic catnip banana . . . but she still growls at the new fur ball every chance she gets. And, yes, she did get locked in the garage one night until we wondered where she was at 1:30 AM . . . when we saw (or, more accurately, felt) that she wasn't in her usual place at the foot of our bed!
Tucker has had to go back to sleeping in his kennel (or, more to the point, being locked in his kennel) at night because otherwise we'd continue to find him happily nestled into the corner of the couch each morning as if he'd slept there every night of his life! Darn hairy little dust mop!
And, finishing out the most recent poll: yes, "all the above" was the correct answer because Annie Blue does tackle Tucker at every possible opportunity. Actually, Tom and I were commenting just last night that the animal combination we have now seems to be just right. With the addition of the kitten, Tucker is no longer constantly pestering Maisy, so Maisy and Miss Kitty can live a life of comfort - for the most part. And, Tucker's finally getting a taste of his own medicine from Annie Blue! ;)
Planning for the perfect moment to ambush . . . .(Good gawd, somebody needs to dust that furniture!)
And I will ATTACK that fuzzy tail!
Then . . . the FACE! (Watch those eyes, please!)
A little up-close-and-personal now (on top of Mom's legs). 
Darn! He's starting to figure it out! Fun's over for the night.
Not Much
Not much to report since we're in the middle of a work week. The rain has been continue, continue, continuing, and we're contemplating building an ark. At least we won't go into winter dry. BUT, if this precipitation CONTINUES into winter, I'm not going to get anything done 'cause I'll be out plowing every single day!
Evening projects have included Tom getting the door that goes between his workshop and the battery room (out in the garage) installed. Then, last night we got the last light mounted in the bathroom (our "reading light" - ha ha - over the toilet). We'd had it forever but just hadn't gotten around to actually hanging it. Then, while I made dinner (tacos with some of the 50 lbs. of bison I have in the freezer), he moved his office area that is in the master bedroom upstairs. His desk had been sitting directly over the space where the stovepipe will go from the woodstove downstairs (until we get the fireplace built) through the upstairs and out through the roof.
On the docket today is both cats to the vet - a first for Annie Blue. She's not the problem, though: Miss Kitty always makes the drive a MISERABLE one because she HATES riding in cars. So, I'm anticipating a very "loud" trip. But, it's gotta be done once a year, one way or t' other.
In closing, here's a shot of Annie Blue from Monday night - trying to "get" one of those pesky flies buzzing around the lightbulb. Everybody all together now, "Awwwww!"
Evening projects have included Tom getting the door that goes between his workshop and the battery room (out in the garage) installed. Then, last night we got the last light mounted in the bathroom (our "reading light" - ha ha - over the toilet). We'd had it forever but just hadn't gotten around to actually hanging it. Then, while I made dinner (tacos with some of the 50 lbs. of bison I have in the freezer), he moved his office area that is in the master bedroom upstairs. His desk had been sitting directly over the space where the stovepipe will go from the woodstove downstairs (until we get the fireplace built) through the upstairs and out through the roof.
On the docket today is both cats to the vet - a first for Annie Blue. She's not the problem, though: Miss Kitty always makes the drive a MISERABLE one because she HATES riding in cars. So, I'm anticipating a very "loud" trip. But, it's gotta be done once a year, one way or t' other.
In closing, here's a shot of Annie Blue from Monday night - trying to "get" one of those pesky flies buzzing around the lightbulb. Everybody all together now, "Awwwww!"
Getting Back to "Normal"
Well, we're trying to get back into the swing of things . . . whatever that means.
Yesterday was Tom's first day back to work after nearly 2 weeks (he'd only been back that Monday when we got the call about Ernie's final hours). I got hit with a bit of the flu bug Sunday night and had a HORRIBLE night that night which lasted well into yesterday morning. So, I was in no shape to get his lunch ready and properly send him off on his "first day back". Felt bad about that. :(
Then, with the cellphone service still being sketchy (apparently our local Verizon towers had a big outage last week), I couldn't get Tom's message last night that he was in a late meeting and wouldn't be home at his usual time. So, I waited until 7:20 before I loaded the dogs into the car and headed out to look for him. FORTUNATELY, I met him only 1.3 miles away from the house! Yayy!
And, regarding the phone service, all I can suggest is that you give it a try (but don't expect much). You might be routed immediately to the voicemail instead of our answering machine (confusing, I know). And, if that's the case, I won't get the message until I'm able to call into voicemail (which has been a problem). E-mail continues to be the surest way to contact us until things are flowing smoothly again.
The bad blood between Miss Kitty and Annie Blue isn't quite as bad as I'd feared. Yesterday, while Miss Kitty was on my lap, Annie Blue decided to jump up for some lovin', too. She did it before I could stop her, and I tensed my entire body and shut my eyes for the bloodshed (to me, too, since it was all taking place - as I said - on . . . my . . . lap!) that was sure to follow. Fortunately, a ferocious hiss and growl from Miss Kitty was enough to send the kitten scurrying, and we all remain unscathed. Whew!
Anybody want to buy a really cute, clean little house in southwestern Minnesota? Corner lot! Lots of closets and a dry attic! Quiet, easy-access back alley! Workshop and extra storage room in the garage! The price is right! ;) Anyway, if you have any interest (or know someone who might), here is a link to Ernie and Jennie's little house. (This is not the one the boys grew up in - Tom and his brother helped them moved out of that house - only about 2 blocks down - in the late 90s.)
Yesterday was Tom's first day back to work after nearly 2 weeks (he'd only been back that Monday when we got the call about Ernie's final hours). I got hit with a bit of the flu bug Sunday night and had a HORRIBLE night that night which lasted well into yesterday morning. So, I was in no shape to get his lunch ready and properly send him off on his "first day back". Felt bad about that. :(
Then, with the cellphone service still being sketchy (apparently our local Verizon towers had a big outage last week), I couldn't get Tom's message last night that he was in a late meeting and wouldn't be home at his usual time. So, I waited until 7:20 before I loaded the dogs into the car and headed out to look for him. FORTUNATELY, I met him only 1.3 miles away from the house! Yayy!
And, regarding the phone service, all I can suggest is that you give it a try (but don't expect much). You might be routed immediately to the voicemail instead of our answering machine (confusing, I know). And, if that's the case, I won't get the message until I'm able to call into voicemail (which has been a problem). E-mail continues to be the surest way to contact us until things are flowing smoothly again.
The bad blood between Miss Kitty and Annie Blue isn't quite as bad as I'd feared. Yesterday, while Miss Kitty was on my lap, Annie Blue decided to jump up for some lovin', too. She did it before I could stop her, and I tensed my entire body and shut my eyes for the bloodshed (to me, too, since it was all taking place - as I said - on . . . my . . . lap!) that was sure to follow. Fortunately, a ferocious hiss and growl from Miss Kitty was enough to send the kitten scurrying, and we all remain unscathed. Whew!
Anybody want to buy a really cute, clean little house in southwestern Minnesota? Corner lot! Lots of closets and a dry attic! Quiet, easy-access back alley! Workshop and extra storage room in the garage! The price is right! ;) Anyway, if you have any interest (or know someone who might), here is a link to Ernie and Jennie's little house. (This is not the one the boys grew up in - Tom and his brother helped them moved out of that house - only about 2 blocks down - in the late 90s.)
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