Made it!!

Had a lot going on the last few weeks, but couldn't "spill the beans"....

I have not decorated for Christmas for the last three years. We had just moved in here two weeks before Christmas of 2007. It was our first Christmas without Michael, didn't really want to do much that year. All (and I mean all) our Christmas decorations were in the back of a 5X10 storage unit that was stacked so full, you hoped nothing would hit you in the head when you rolled up the door.

Last year it was overwhelming to even consider trying to get to the Christmas stuff. We did have a small tree that someone was replacing. I picked up a strand of garland at the thrift store, borrowed a string of lights and we had a nice little tree.

I decided that this year I would get the stuff out of storage and decorate once again. Fortunately for me, the storage facility had an empty unit next to ours and they allowed me to borrow that unit to sort thru ours.......so I dug out everything, moved it over to the borrowed unit and out came the Christmas....I knew there was a lot there. I had been decorating to the "max" for years in our 2 previous homes.......if you can imagine this.....we lived on hillside area on the south side of town...the high school sets on a hillside area in the north side of town, it's about a 4 mile drive. Well, our house was so well "lighted" that you could pick it out from across town at night.
So anyway, Pat had to help me load up the boxes to take them to another temporary holding site until closer to Christmas ( this has been a long process). As we began to load up the truck, I found it amusing, he began the "drone"......."all this Christmas!!! I had no idea you had this much stuff". We filled the truck bed and stuffed the rest into the back seat. There was a lot of stuff!

As we begin to put back all the other "stuff" into our storage unit I began my "drone".....all this camping "stuff"??? How many tents do you have anyway? What are you GOING to do with all this "stuff" All these "books"??? What are you going to do with all this "stuff"????

So......back to Christmas......... I did decorate the house, even managed to get a tree lighted outside. Made my traditional Christmas candies to send out, had to do all of it "undercover" so as not spoil the suprise for my family.

Stayton's expression was priceless when he walked in and seen the house, found the peanut butter balls in the fridge. Mischel had just spoken with me on the phone, "Gee mom, that would have been nice to have some of that Christmas candy you use to make"....I said "Oh, yea, I could make some of that".......little did she know it was on it's way to her house that day. She called less than an hour later....."Mom!!! It's so good!! We both had a good laugh. Lisha's box arrived the day after Christmas, but the wait was worth it.

All in all, we had a nice Christmas. I'm reminded that God has never let us down. He has blessed us each year in unique and special ways, our memories are priceless and His love has no measure.

Just for Annalise

Annalise,

Your sweet self,

You have achieved an award for just who you are.....

Caring, loving and sweet.

Congratulations on all your

achievements.

We are so proud of you,

Grandma Patti & Grandpa Pat

Just for Kendall

SUPER JOB KENDALL!!!!

Personal Achievement Award in Writing!

We're so proud of you.

Grandma Patti & Grandpa Pat

Pick'n Cotton, Eat'n Rice

Funny how something will bring back a memory when you least expect it.
Last night I was making Green Chile with Pork, it's one of Pat's favorites. We like to have it over rice. While it was simmering good, Pat put on some water for some instant brown rice, I usually cook up the long grain variety, but just happened to have this on hand. I dished me up a small bowl of the green chile, just sampling it. Put some mexi-cheese on it and had some fritos on hand......well, it was pretty good and I ended up eating a couple "small" bowls....yum....
Pat went to get his shower and I tended to the rice.
As I was stirring it I remembered, growing up and when living with my mom, us kids would cook up rice, cornmeal mush, or oatmeal for breakfast. I liked butter and sugar on mine.
Well, the brown rice brought back a childhood memory, so I couldn't resist and dished me up a bowl with the butter and sugar, just like a kid. It was sooooo good.
Thought about places we lived in New Mexico. I visited a few of those places several years ago while there on a visit with my dad. My brother drove us by a place in the country, I don't know if I would have remembered how to find it. Back then they grew a lot of cotton there. We lived on a "farm" where there were huge cotton fields. I remember when we first moved there we spent a lot of time "picking up rocks", my brother usually drove the tractor that pulled a flatbed trailer and us kids would walk along side and pick up rocks to throw on the trailer, to clean the fields for planting. I remember the hand irrigation, trenching and blocking the direction of the water so the fields could be soaked and watered. There was a "tank" ( in the south they call a large hole for storing water a tank, in Colorado that would be known as a reservoir) that the well would pump water into and from that we would irrigate the fields. Our household water was a large, wooden trough or tank built on a tower ( for water pressure I suppose), the well would pump water into that and that would supply the house with water......I remember that sometimes someone would forget to shut the pump off and that tank would be a waterfall pouring down, always seem to cause commotion with the folks, but it was just a marvel to me to see so much water spilling over the sides.
So, on this farm.....we had the big cotton fields and we learned to pick cotton. My mom was always a hard worker and she instilled that trait in most of her children. We would spend hot days in the sun, dragging a cotton sack, wearing blisters on our hands or hole thru our gloves, pickin' cotton. We picked right along with the black workers. There was one big guy who always had the most "weight" picked. They would weigh your bags from a scale hanging on the side of the wooden cotton trailers, write it down, empty your bag and back to the field you would go.
One particular day stands out in my mind, the day my mom out picked the big guy!!! I guess there was a "competition" going on and momma won it that day.

So there you have it, a memory of "pick'n cotton and eat'n rice.

Ya'll have a nice day

It's been so cold here, like in the single digits. Today was snowy, overcast and just plumb cold.
Had to make a trip to the Walmart, I think I go there about every day, sometimes I'm in there several times in the same day.......most of the greeters know my name. I've lived here "most of my married" life, it's still a small town so of course I know a lot of people, some by name and some just by "familiarity".
So today, headed into Walmart, I see one of those sites you'd probably never see in your town. Tall, gangley "cowboy" type. Cowboy hat, tight jeans ( I still notice those things), leather vest, bandanna.....got the look going on......down to the spurs.....oh... come... on ...now..., it's below freezing, still spitting snow, miserable. Has he "really" been on a horse today????
I was relating this story to Pat and remembered back a few years ago, there I was sitting in the local Burger King, grabbing a bite to eat with a friend and "yep" I had spurs on.........got pretty tickled about the whole thing......but I had just come from a riding clinic and was on a lunch break.
And then there's the emails with the photos of people in Walmart and some of the "outfits" are so unreal, you wonder if it's been staged, but I've seen a few myself and my first question.....DO THESE PEOPLE NOT OWN A MIRROR???
I just can't bring myself to post the pictures or forward the emails. I did have a "naked cowboy" picture for a while, now hold your horses........it was not what you think.....it was only the "rear view". He was wearing a hat, had a saddle slung over his shoulder and had his boots on........my thought......so that's what's in those "wranglers"........
Lost the cowboy picture but someone sent me a "fly fisher", same view but with the vest and wader's on.........can't post that either. I kind of think my son Michael would have posed so such a photo. :-)
OK, so maybe I was just desperate for something to "blog" about today.
But, I bet you're all smilin' with me.

Life is a Gift

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.
He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:
'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift Today.
Before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

Thanksgiving Fun

We could have taken photos of the dinner and all the trimmins" but we chose these instead.
This is my daughter Mischel and her new "do"......loved it and the coloring, so we decided to have our own little "streakin' party". She fixed me up pretty good.
Mischel is an RN, but does great hair!
























This is my oldest granddaughter, Emily. She liked the bolder look in streaks. We spent Friday evening snackin' and watching movies. I told her I turned into a pumpkin at midnight, so I really should go home by then, otherwise they would find my car along the highway with just a big orange blob in it.

These are my youngest grandbabies.
That's Grayson on the left and Jeriah on the right......they missed the streaks, but gave us the "V" for victory anyway.

It was a fun weekend!!!

Thanksgiving

As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend I want to wish each of you a blessed time with family and friends.

I haven't even started my shopping for dinner, but that's pretty routine so I'll do it today. I'm sure the dinner will be wonderful, especially shared with part of my children and grandchildren.

Everybody enjoy and remember, you can stuff the turkey and yourself :-)

Emily is coming to "Hicksville"

This is our granddaughter, Emily.

She really loves the city life of Denver, but isn't too crazy about small town boredom.....no malls, limited cell phone service, no "hustle and bustle"

She's coming for Thanksgiving!!! And granny has her a room with great cell phone service :-).....Hope that makes her visit a little better. She gets a private room!

She's great help in the kitchen and I'm looking forward to seeing her "smilin" face.

Dean's List

Stayton Mosbey was named to the Dean's List at Westwood College...

Good Job Stayton!

Winter in my backyard

We finally got some serious snow. This is a little birdhouse I set on the railing of the deck...unless we get some heat installed I doubt we will have any occupants for a while.

After this storm our temperatures took a dive, 6 degrees this am.

The woodburner sure feels good.

Really makes me miss Stayton. He always did my shoveling and seemed to enjoy it. I'm not suppose to shovel now and Pat doesn't enjoy it.....ugh.

I do clear off a path so the dogs can get off the porch, snow was at least 6" deep and Bubby isn't much more than that.

Tribute to My Veteran

U.S. Marine Corps 1968 - 1970

Pat served his country in the Marine Corps. He did his basic training in San Diego and then was stationed at Camp Pendelton Oceanside California

Lisha and I joined him in January 1969. We lived in a small cottage type apt just across the highway from the ocean in Carlsbad California.

We had no vehicle and depended on others to help around to the base, grocery stores, church. We were a young family. Our faith in God and His love to us sustained us through many things. I received $130 month for family pay and Pat received about $30......we paid rent, utilities and bought groceries with that. We had each other and we were in love. So yes, you can live on love :-)

This was taken at Pat's mom's house while he was on leave November 1968, after he had completed his basic training. We were married April 26, 1968 and Pat reported for active duty July 1, 1968.

He was proud to be an American and still proud to have been a Marine.

America is still looking for a few good men........thank God.......I found mine!!!!

Don't "mock" your granny

While talking to my good friend Cheryl and discussing her painful incidents of falling lately, once off the kitchen counter top, ugh, and then smack down on her face downtown on the sidewalk, in front of people and God :-).....she is now laughing about the latter incident. Anyway, it reminded me of a certain "bike" incident with the grandsons.
This picture was taken about summer '99. That's Pat, Stayton, Kyle, Kody and myself. We had taken the boys to ride the Glenwood Canyon bike trail.....it's 18 miles? or so. Beautiful day, great ride, so fun.
Anyway.....we spent a lot of time biking with these boys. One day while riding, right downtown, as we were crossing an intersection the boys were yipping at each other and I was tired of hearing it. As we made it to the other side of the street, I stopped, put my feet down and turned to tell them to "shut it up"!!! Well, Kody, not expecting me to make a sudden stop bumped into my bike and there I went, bike and all, flopped over on the sidewalk, right in front of traffic that was stopped for the light. I was trapped under the bike and squirming, trying to free myself before all the world could see. I looked up at Kody (who was smiling at the whole thing anyway) and demanded he help me up. He looked down at me and says "Grandma, you look ridiculous!"
Those boys were fighting back the laughter as I managed to pull myself out of the whole mess.
I mentioned the incident to Stayton last night (now some 10 years later) and he's still laughing and admitting that they laughed about it for days, hysterically no doubt (out of my sight).

So boys, here's a lesson for you......"Don't mock your granny" I have pictures, lots of pictures and yes......I'm now on Facebook too! :-)

So much for this weekend

Swoosh--------That's been my weekend. My part time job at the cabins was pretty busy this weekend. We had several checkouts with new checkins arriving this week......so had to get them cleaned and back in order. Pat came and helped me today with the biggest one, a 3 bedroom unit. We do pretty good as a team on this, he does the vacuuming, dusting and anything that requires windex......that really helps. It takes about 45 minutes just to vacuum this unit. But since I worked all three days of what would have been my weekend, I'm pretty "swooshed out". Also got a 35 ft. camper that I need to finish for my friend........her husband bought 5 of these "jewels" for rentals on oilrig sites......well, the oilfield business is pretty slow and the campers are sitting empty, so she's hoping to get them cleaned up and sold. They originally cost $35 grand, they are offering them at a great reduced price if any of you need a "super" camper.

I'll be busy like this for another week or so, and then it will all slow down.

Mischel and her kids may be coming over for Thanksgiving......that would be so fun. I'll probably have use of the large house for them and dinner there too. Lots of room for everyone. I do enjoy cooking "with a purpose"....lots of people, etc.

I started my day, early this morning, preparing "Chicken Cordon Bleu'" for 3 familys in the church. One couple, new baby this week, one couple - new baby soon, mom is suppose to be "off her feet" for the next couple weeks and yes, Pat got to enjoy some too! It was a "double whammy". But I timed it perfect for both couples.

We are currently attending a Mennonite Church here in Craig.....new experience for us. We have attended and been involved in several different "churches" in our 40+ years together. This particular group is very conservative, ladies still wear the head coverings (I don't and they don't expect me too :-). Women sit on one side of the church ( and keep silent in church) and men on the other side. And for those who know me.......can you believe I could keep silent anywhere? But, we are really enjoying the people and the experience. I visited with one of the ladies for a couple hours last week and find she is as interested in me as I am with her. It's been good!

Hope this is a good week for ya'll too!

Lap Dogs

Bubby refuses to be "squeezed" out of his space, so here he decides to just "stack up" on Turbo, but at least he's still on Pat's lap. He's the only one Turbo really tolerates sharing with.

Pre-School Test

Which way is the bus traveling? To the left or to the right?

Can't make up your mind? Look carefully at the picture again. Still don't know?

Pre-schoolers all over the United States were shown this picture asked the same question. 90% of the pre-schooler's gave this answer.

'The bus is traveling to the left.'

When asked, 'Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?' They answered:




'Because you can't see the door to get on the bus.'

Memory Lane

Thought this would be a good time to share some old photos and memories. This was probably taken about 1969. Pat was in the Marine Corps and we were living in Vista California. That's Lisha on my lap. We were young, so young. Pat still had hair and oh so handsome!!!

Trick or Treat?

Happy Birthday Annalise!!!

Holding you for the first time was so precious!

Discovering your every mood, charm and personality! Cute Baby!

One of my favorite photos........how precious your are.

Hope you have a Happy, Happy Day........Dance your day away!!!!

We love you and send our blessings to you today and always

Grandma and Grandpa

A special thanks to my "blogger" buddy, Patty Lincoln for the " One Lovely Blog "award!

And a special Get Well to you too!!!

Elk Calf at Play

This is so fun. Got it thru my email so I have no idea who's video it is.

Where does all my time go??? Yes, I remember fondly those "lazy daisy days" of rest and rehab. But, life is good....I got to spend time with Stayton on Friday, my friend Andrea on Saturday (4 hours at the Village Inn) thought they may ask for booth rent before we left there. And we had friends over for Sunday dinner, after church, 3 hours just wasn't enought time, so hope we get together again soon.
I'm sure my girls remember fondly, those after church Sunday dinners we use to have several times a month........sure was fun. Tomorrow is a church fellowship dinner, I'm pouring thru the recipes to see what I'll make.........got to make a good impression, it's my first time cooking up something for this group.
Have the rest of a wonderful weekend!!!!

P.S. I decided on Chicken, Brocolli & Rice Casserole and a Pea Salad too.

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

This rock formation reminded me of this scripture. Isn't is just amazing how these rocks are cut as if placed upright there like a choir to sing His praises.

Drive to Black Mountain

The colors were about gone, some had never happened, due to a "blight" on the aspen trees. They lost their leaves before they changed color. I like this picture with the on the hill in the background.

The aspens here are just getting some color.

As we got higher on the mountain, into the thick trees, snow. Before long it will be deep enough that only 4-wheel drives will be able to get in here. The hunters were already setting up camp for this weekend season.

Happy Birthday Kody #20

You're still beautiful!!! We love you, Grandma & Grandpa

Rural America! Still part of the "Old West" I still get excited about driving thru a herd of cattle, or sheep and in May we can drive thru the biggest horse drive in America. Mother's Day weekend is traditional for moving the Sombrero Ranch horses from their winter range to the ranch to prepare for summer horse rentals and then into hunting season. They usually move over 300 head, right thru the small town of Maybell Colorado. Dudes pay lots of money to participate in a real horse drive. It's getting more attention each year and is becoming a great spectator event. It's pretty breathtaking seeing that many horses streaming down Hwy 40.

Anyhow, here's a few pictures I got this weekend as we drove up to Black Mountain to catch some colors, most of that we missed, but this was still fun. You don't realize how big these bulls are till your right next to them.

And I had to get the cowboy. That's pretty western and rural, and yes you see locals still dressed just like this, sitting in the coffee shop with all the answers on how to "fix" this country.

A few years ago while waiting in line to vote I heard someone come in wearing spurs....yes, spurs, those apparatus we wear when we ride, should we have a horse that needs a little more encouragement. Before I turned around I had a pretty good idea who it was. We have one eccentric old cowboy dude that still dresses the part and usually wears spurs, although he probably hasn't been on his horse for weeks. Anyway, I turned around and it wasn't him, but our local "Brand Inspector"....in this part of the country we still have Brand Inspector who check livestock to insure it's been legally obtained.

I'll post the "fall" colors later.

"Snow" is a four letter word!!!

I watered the yard on Monday and Tuesday, it's been so dry and warm. We are just starting to get "color" on the trees around town, my cottonwoods have a few yellow leaves, the elms will last for quite a while still. And today, rainy, nice rain.....tonight it's already down to 36 degrees and I heard the "four letter" "S" word today.....I even plugged in the electric blanket!!

Just last week I gave into rearranging the den, that's where our wood burning stove is. In the summer I like to put plants in there, my pretty water fountain and just "dress it up". That all comes out for winter prep....and firewood is stacked along the rock wall, the chopping block is set out for chopping up the kindling and winter will be underway.... it will no doubt warm up in few days and we'll enjoy those last fall days, but this is the warning that time is short and get to those final jobs of putting away the summer stuff and set the snow shovels out, let's see, I think I put those away in the hay shed.

We enjoyed a nice relaxing in the hot tub in the early evening yesterday. My first time since in about 3 months, due to the surgery, etc. It was so nice, we had deer wandering on the hill behind the house and caught a glimpse of the fox. I like to kick the water temp. up to about 102 and just soak up the heat. We really do have a "red neck" set up, but what the heck, we have a hot tub!!!

Oh yes!!! How 'bout those Broncos "kickin butt" in the Raiders own house!!! I don't get too excited about football, since we lost Elway it just hasn't been the same, but I do enjoy a good Raider thump!

Ya'll take care, I'll get a photo if it snows.

Wild Horses at Sandwash

This is a beautiful site. Part of our American History. We can drive just 90 miles west of us and see this treasure, today..... in a few years even this herd could be gone. The BLM is slowly removing more and more herds, reducing not managing our wild horse herds. It's all so political and I'm really not wanting to get into all of that. Too bad they are not as valued at the "spotted owl", the "humpback" fish or whatever creature some special interest group has deemed "valuable" to our society, just don't get in the way of the cattle rancher and sheep men, afterall , they all have a stake in Washington.

Wild Horse Adventures

This is Scooter. He was a little "wild horse" rescue. I got the call from the BLM that they needed a home for this little guy, so sight unseen I said I would take him. Hooked up the horse trailer and headed out, 90 miles away, to pick up a colt I had never seen. It turned out to be a wonderful adventure. Scooter now lives with permanent family in Steamboat Springs Colorado.
I haven't seen him for a few years now, I do get a Christmas card and he has grown quite a bit.

I bring this up to tell you that my "wild horses" have given me a lot of adventures, and now even after a few years of being out of the wild horse program, I'm still having adventures. The week after my surgery I received a call from Margo in California. I had never met her, but thru our involvement with wild horses she had obtained my name and number and called to get some information on the adoption program and the plight of the wild horses. 99 minutes, we had such a visit and both hoped to do it again. Well, she and her husband are in Steamboat Springs for the week and we will meet with them for dinner tomorrow and more "horse" stories.

Pat and I were very involved with the wild horse program for about 5 years. We were instrumental in creating a Tri-State Wild Horse Event, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming included.
In order to win the larger prizes, contestants had to participate in each state to accumulate points. It was a great adventure and we met wonderful people.

Just last week I received a call from Grand Junction Colorado, a lady who now owns a horse I had given to her 84 year old father about five years ago. I met him at a wild horse roundup, he wanted a horse and I had just recently had "Rambo" returned to me. It was a wonderful match, he had Rambo about three years and decided he was just to old to ride so he gave Rambo to his daughter. We spent 2 hours on the phone, told her the story of when we adopted Rambo, how he came to have his name, how I met her father (Leonard) and gave him the horse. It brought back some great "wild horse" memories. I hope to get down there and see him again now that he's all grown up.

One of my funnest memories was making NBC News with Lester Holt!!!Yep, they sent a full camera crew ( 5 NBC vehicles) to our house and taped an interview with me and my mustang mare Trinket. It was a blast! We made national television, my and my little mustang. We were part of a larger story they were doing on the wild horses, our actual "air time" was limited, but we made it. I had a good laugh with a friend when I asked her where her quarterhorse had taken her lately, my mustang took me all the way to New York!

It will be fun to tell the stories and relive the memories. We have owned 29 horses in the last 9 years and helped place at least 8 more that were rescues and just needed new homes. Our herd is reduced to just 4 now, two of which are "mustangs" and we love them!

German Pancake

This in one of the prettiest German Pancakes I ever baked.

I took the picture and use it with my recipe album that sets on my counter. I took an acrylic photo stand, added my most used recipes and it sits on my counter. The pages flip over and stand upright for me to read them as I'm preparing them. It's so handy, keeps the recipes clean and with a few photos included it's decorative.

About the German Pancake. The Village Inn Restaurants use to serve it with hot apple filling. It was delivered to your table looking like this, a bowl of hot apple filling was poured in, the pancake folded over in four quick moves, flipped and set in front of you. It was one of my favorites ever. A friend gave me the recipe and now and again I have to bake one, it takes a while. It was a favorite of Michael's and Stayton really likes it too. It was just one of those things I thought about as I was wiping the plastic pages, looking out the window, watching the deer and a few birds who came to enjoy the fresh water in the birdbath.

Recipe: 3 Eggs * 1/2 Cup Milk * 1/2 Cup Flour * 1/4 tsp Salt
Preheat oven @425. Melt 2 T. butter in large cast iron skillet
Mix other ingredients well, pour into skillet on top of stove, let mixture heat for just a minute on top of stove before placing into oven. Bake 15 minutes or til golden brown. Pancake should rise around edges, forming a "bowl"
Serve with hot fruit, yogurt, cream cheese, fruit sauce, powdered sugar, etc. ENJOY!

Season of Change

It's not only a change of seasons, but a "season of change" in my life.

This has been a good week. I had opportunities to renew friendships, reconcile and forgive old wounds and begin some new friendships. Today I received a card from a very special friend, who I've had a falling out with for over a year, now it all seems so trivial, but maybe we needed a break from each other. I hope to call her this evening and visit til the cell phone goes dead!

My horses are home!!! Pat brought them back from pasture on Sunday. KAnn didn't really want to "talk" to me when I finally made it down to the corrals to check them out. She was much more receptive the next morning when I returned with carrots. Amore' is up to her usual "tricks". We had to store extra hay in her shelter shed to get it all out of the weather. She had managed to pull the fence panels down and her and Ginger spent the night feasting away. I re-rigged the panels this morning and she was looking at me like "aren't you going to feed me?" Fat chance!!! I gave them fresh water and they had to wait for supper. Penny, the old mare, shares corral with KAnn. She's 26 this year and showing her age.

I realized as I was gazing out the window that the bird bath was empty. The birds have been scarce lately, however we did have a group of Spotted Towhees come thru. Their pumpkin orange bodies with the black and white spotted wings are easy to spot. The Pine Siskins are back and I think a few yellow finches with them. We emptied the pond and delivered the goldfish to a friend who will keep them in her large horse tank thru the winter. I need to get someone to help me pull out all the old flower stalks and ready the yard for winter. I have even surrendered to letting the dogs venture into "my yard". Turbo finds it a great adventure and for some reason always makes quick use to leave a deposit there.

I love the fall of the year! We have not had our first frost yet, so the grasshoppers are still a menace, but soon....... I'm thinking I'll have to bring in a couple of geraniums and the only petunia that was worth a dang, so I can get my $$ worth out of them for at least a few more months. I want to take a drive and enjoy the fall colors this year.

It was a good week, back to work. I was really tired on Monday & Tuesday. Wednesday I came home, put my relaxing clothes on and took a rest before returning to take care of my last client in the afternoon. Thursday I had "late start" and only 2 clients and today was my a day off.

It was a good week. And yes, I'm looking forward to the change of seasons and a "season of change".

Hi Ho, Hi Ho..............

Well, it didn't happen! I've been off work for actually 7 weeks, all those "projects" that I thought I'd get done, the photo albums, recipe books, cleaning out paperwork......just didn't get to them.

Most of my time was spent horizontally, reading, watching TV, reading, did make it back and forth to the refrigerator (ugh). Due to my surgery I was limited to sitting for long periods, standing or walking.

Except for the excess weight (ugh), my quiet time was great. For the first time in my life, God was able to keep me still long enough to "speak" to me. I'll be returning to work tomorrow, rested, refreshed and renewed in my spirit. I do homemaking services for clients with the Visiting Nurses Association, sometimes I'm the only one they see for days. Just being there and visiting with them can be more healing than cleaning their floors, dusting or shopping for them.

In this time off, I've had 2 visitors ( not complaining) but gives me a good understanding of how important my position can be. I have really been "out of the loop" socially and spiritually and am ready to circulate again.

I have rediscovered the pleasure of reading, meditating and prayer. Hey, I learned to "Blog" and joined Facebook!!! That was a crack-up for some of my family..."Granny got her Face On!"

I have lots to share, and when I'm standing at the kitchen window I compose awesome tales and stories. I'm brilliant!!! But somehow once I make it to the computer......where did that "brilliance" go. So, I will just go day by day, somedays I'm great, somedays, it's a wash......but I'm enjoying the trip.

Hope you all have a great week! If you get a chance, check out Old Lady Lincoln's blog. She has some awesome stuff.

Barefoot, Bareback and Footloose

It's a quiet fall evening, no wind, peaceful. I've been reading, got to the place where one of my favorite characters had died, so decided to put the book aside.

Started thinking of days gone by, seems like decades ago now. It was an evening much like this, before we had adopted the boys. I had purchased a beautiful palomino mare for 4-H horse for Stayton, he never really got to know her. She was a well trained and trusted mare. I had gone out and saddled her and rode off across the road onto a neighbor's wheat field. I've had few horses who could be ridden off by themselves without a fuss. I really enjoyed my time riding alone, feeling the movement of the horse, her smell, bobbing of her head with each stride. It was a part of my childhood, a good memory that came back to me. It took about an hour to make the loop, around the edge of the field, down the backside where there was a gully and some water. Usually seen deer and maybe a fox or rabbit. Shannon (the mare) was pretty good about keeping her cool. She didn't care much for antelope, really brought a snort out of her. Most of her riding days had been in arenas and fairgrounds.

As I was thinking about her, my early teen years and my beloved horse, Lady Kay, came to mind. My dad bought her for me for Christmas, paid $68 at a sale barn. She was worth a million to me....all my life I had wanted a horse of my own. To me she was the most beautiful horse ever. I spent every spare moment I could with her, fortunately the winters where we lived at that time were not so severe, so I could get some riding in. I rode mostly bareback, probably didn't have a saddle for awhile. I could swing myself up by just holding on to her mane.

As the weather warmed up, the days getting longer, me and Lady Kay had lots of time together.

Eventually another girl in our rural area became friends (Betty) and we rode like heathens all summer. There was a gravel pit close by, lots of beat out trails from the heavy trucks and equipment and great "seep" holes to swim in with and without our horses. The seep holes were deep pits where the gravel had been extracted and water had seeped in, it was crystal clear and on a hot summer day it was just the ticket for cooling off.

One hot summer day, me and Betty had rode off, down to the gravel pits, and that particular day, we weren't wearing our usual attire, swimsuits under our cutoffs, but boy did that water look great.....no one else around but us, why not? We dropped the reins of our horses, peeled our clothes off, and dove off into the water. We were laughing and whooping it up, felt pretty brazen in our freedom.

I just barely heard the car drive up, grabbed my clothes and was climbing up the embankment to see my stepmom standing there with my horse, demanding what I thought I was doing, leaving my horse wandering around......I don't think she noticed that I had buttoned my shirt inside out. She told me to "get to the house" and drove off.

Betty and I climbed on our horses and headed home, "Barefoot, Bareback and Footloose"

Boy did we ever laugh about that!

Ready for a change

It's been a quiet Labor Day for me. Pat headed off early this morning to meet Stayton in the mountains for some fishing. I finished reading the YadaYada Prayer Group for the second time. That's a record for me, I usually don't watch movies twice unless it's been a long while. ( I did watch The Sound of Music again this weekend! At least parts of it. )This book is fiction, but so real to life. I enjoyed it more the second time around. I'll be waiting the sequel from daughter Lisha, until then I'm on my third sequel of At Home in Mitford.

This weeks marks six weeks of rest and recovery from my surgery. I see my Dr. in Denver, tomorrow, I guess. Had thought it was scheduled for Wednesday, so if that can't be changed I'm off across the mountains by myself tomorrow. Depending on what she tells me, I may be back to work next week, light duty. This is the longest period of time, in my life, that I have been "shut down".

Fall is definitely around the corner. The cottonwood trees are dropping yellow leaves, which the deer are eating up just outside the fence, however, one of the does did come over the fence this morning and had managed to prune my flowering plum bush before I chased her back across. We have a short section that is a little lower, on a hillside, and she finally got up the nerve to come across. There's not much in the yard now, but don't want her to chew the branches back.

The birdwatching is pretty mundane, the last of the orioles have left. The Redwing Blackbirds are gone, pretty much down to sparrows and doves for now. There's a lot of natural feed with the sunflowers all seeded out. I'm in no hurry to see the snow, so I'll just enjoy what we have.

The Sharp Shinned Hawk made a visit a few days ago, as luck would have it, my camera batteries were low. Would have been a great photo too! I was just watching him as he was rotating his head almost 360, when I got a chill........Bubby was out there rolling in the grass. Now I don't know if that would have been a little too big for the hawk, but I quietly called Bubby inside. Can't imagine seeing him soaring over the fence in the grips of that hawk!

Got a few more minutes til Pat gets home, so guess I'll settle down and read some more.

Resident Deer Herd

I took lots of pictures, wish I knew how to do the slide show thing, but here's a preview. There's about a dozen of these deer that "hang" around here.

This might be "Bambi" from earlier this summer. They almost all look alike. However their spots are fading, interesting to see some with all their spots, some with spots on the hips and some are already turned gray.

This photo shows some great comparions to the "spot "change.

Doe and her two fawns. If a fawn who doesn't belong to her approaches, she will strike out with front leg to push them away.

This doe is sheding her summer coat, turning gray for the winter. I think she is a "dry doe", one who has no fawns.

This is "Bucky" The does are starting to tolerate him more these days and with cooler weather just around the corner, the mating season will be on.

Footprints

Truly today, I know that God has carried me when I could not walk.

Written Instructions

There's a wonderful dog story on Old Lady Lincoln's Blog. She's on my follower list, just click on her photo and check it out.....it's worth the time!!!

It reminded me of something similar with our son Michael and his dog, Huck. Michael was going somewhere that he couldn't take the young dog, so we were fortunate to be his caregivers. He came with complete instructions:

Huck: AKC name: Huck's Fishin On

Instructions for Huck

Pet and love regularly. Only puppy food in 5 gal bucket. All that he wants water, fresh and clean. He sometimes wants 5 ice cubes, but 3 usually work.

Sleeping Arrangements:

Wherever he wants!!! At night next to the bed on his bed (use puppy gate)

Treats come regularly, only unbreakable bones, no bread items such as chips, crackers, bread,pretzels, ect.

Waking up:Slow and easy, quiet - dim lights - soft voices.

Commands: Sit, come, stay, down, settle down, be nice! bedtime, agghhtt!!, Huck, Good boy.

Dislikes: Running vehicles, sanders, air nozzles, horse hooves, mean cats.

Have Fun!

Huck was officially our first "grand dog" and we loved him like our own.

I also have complete instructions on taking care of 1st grandson Kody, from his mom Mischel.

That's a whole nuther post!!

GPS - Gramma's Personal Service

It's a good feeling to know our children still "need" us from time to time.
This is Stayton and I at Greystone last year. He has left for college, but we are fortunate to have him close by. He was home for the weekend, got some "home cookin" and some fishing in with Grandpa. Badger (the dog) slept in his room, which was a nice break for me. We all went to church together Sunday and out to lunch. It really does something to my heart to see him "growing up" and finding his place in life.
When my girls left home they frequently called for recipes or directions. I often got calls from Kelley (Stayton's mom) asking me advise on multiple subjects, gardening, canning, flowers, bugs, all sorts of stuff, goats! That was an episode when Kelley and her mom decided to get a goat to keep their stud horse company. It was nice to know I had something to offer. She just happened to call one day needing a zip code for a nearby community and luck would have it I had just needed the same zip code so I rattled it off like it was common knowledge. She was amazed! I looked smart and it was fun.

Well, Stayton is a "gadget" kind of guy. He researches and knows all the particulars. He served as the lighting technician for his high school for the last 4 years, ran programs for concerts, assemblies and mutiple outside interests as well. He was good at what he did and I am frequently reminded by someone in the community of a job well done.

Stayton's most recent "gadget" is his new GPS. Well, since he is a small town guy in a big city now, I guess a GPS is a good thing. While on the phone with him recently I could hear the "gadget" talking to him. He probably drives around just so he can use the thing.

He was headed back to Denver on Sunday and called me to ask directions on an alternate route, I started in with details and stopped mid-sentence...."What about your GPS?".......well, not all the "gadgets" have all the knowledge and yes, I stll felt "needed".

He even called me for a recipe this last week.......I need to know I'm still needed! I still have a few answers for life.

Love you Stayton!!!