The Double Nickel Life

Still A Problem

2010-08-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

Well, I see that two months later, I still can't access the new post editor. And, after checking the Help (HA!)forums/posts, I see that is still an "outstanding" issue. GRRRRRRRRR............ What to do, what to do.

SO Disappointed

2010-06-25T12:17:00.000-05:00

I was happy here. I really was. I was chugging right along, using that "new and improved" post editor.....really getting the hang of it I thought. About 3 weeks ago, it suddenly disappeared from my blog. I could only use the "old and unimproved" post editor. Which would be fine I guess except that it's missing some stuff. Like the icon to allow me to post pictures. And try though I might, I have been unable to get my "new and improved" tools back. Sigh. I think I'm going to have to move myself somewhere else. One more learning curve coming up.

You Can Quote Me

2010-06-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.

~~~~ Diane Ackerman ~~~~~

You Can Quote Me

2010-06-04T08:27:00.000-05:00

If man is pushing the planet toward extinction, then we should stop doing what we're doing, and if we cannot stop ourselves or tolerate government making us stop or slow down, then I suppose we should enjoy the ride. The condemned man ate a hearty breakfast. I can't think of anything better to do right now than to sit in my backyard and look at the Mississippi and listen to Bach cello suites and enjoy a dish of ice cream with fresh raspberries. As the Gulf turns dark and the polar icecap melts, I intend to listen to Bach more and listen to the news less. It's good to know that, in the midst of vast indifference and mediocrity and narcissism, mankind did manage to produce the St. Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor.

~~~~ Garrison Keillor, writing in The Baltimore Sun ~~~~

Monday Musing: Good Advice from a Soldier

2010-05-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

Since today is Memorial Day, I wanted to share something that I've had for the last 10 years on my bulletin board. Sometimes it gets so covered up by other things that I don't see it for weeks -- maybe months -- at a time. But eventually it always surfaces. These are General Colin Powell's 13 rules to live by. It's reported that he kept these written on a small white card. These rules seem to have worked remarkably well for General Powell. You might want to make up your own card and carry it or post it where you can see it every once in a while.

1. It ain't as bad as you think it is. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that, when your
position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else
make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or nay sayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

Thank you to all the soldiers who have fought and continue to fight for the American way.

You Can Quote Me

2010-05-28T10:51:00.000-05:00

You've reached middle age when all you exercise is caution.

~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~

(I haven't yet reached this and neither have many others I know! "Cautious" would not be a word I would use to describe my "tribe".)

Monday Musing: To Facebook or Not - What a Question

2010-05-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I read an article out of Newsweek about the "high price of Facebook"; namely, that you pay for it through your loss of privacy. It reported that last year when Facebook changed their rules (yet again), the company made it so that your city and profile picture and the names of all your friends were shared with anybody and everybody on the Internet. But (big but), you had the option to change it all back and make it all private again. Now, Newsweek reports that "Facebook is going even further by insisting that unless you agree to make things like your hometown, interests, and friends' names public, then you can't list them at all."

Facebook is fun and I'm glad I signed up for it last year. Although truth to tell, my sister had to talk me in to it. I stay in touch with friends and family and get to see pictures of everybody's kids, etc. etc. But on the other hand, Facebook is the biggest time waster in the universe......much worse than TV. All those little games you get addicted to and the constant checking to see who's doing what and where and with whom.........it's nuts. And not only does it waste time, but I also think it kills any spark of creativity you might have flickering. The whole Facebook exercise is mind-deadening.....you don't have to really think or do much of anything at all to be wrapped up in its very addictive world.

Newsweek reports that many techie-types are jumping the Facebook ship. Of course, there are more than 400 million Facebookers, so I guess it would have to be a LOT of them to make a blip on the FB screen. It does make one stop and think though. I don't know what Facebook knows about me or what it does with the information. I'm not savvy enough to be able to stop them even if I knew. But for right now, I think I'll hang around. Putting myself on a Facebook diet though probably wouldn't be such a bad idea.

You Can Quote Me

2010-05-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

You would not exit if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.

~~~~ Herbie Hancock ~~~~

Monday Musing: And the Winner Is....

2010-05-17T08:04:00.008-05:00

Okay, I have to admit: I have a soft spot for beauty pageants. I know that's not P.C. these days. So, sue me. Yes, in my (much) younger years, I was a beauty pageant contestant, so I kind of understand the landscape. And, I had family members who were beauty queens. I think maybe it's a Southern thing.

On Sunday night for the first time in a very long time, I watched a pageant: the Miss USA pageant. To say that these things have changed since my day would be a vast understatement. But I guess they are still good entertainment. (Although I can remember watching a Miss America pageant one year when I was in the 9th or 10th grade and writing a short story for English while I watched......one eye on the swimsuits and one on how many more pages I had to come up with. As I recall, I got an A for that paper. So, I guess I wasn't as "entertained" as I thought....just had my imagination fired up!)

I was happy to see the South well-represented..... as usual. Hey, say what you will. Down here, we know how to turn out a queen. Miss Alabama came up with the Miss Photogenic trophy. My pick for the win didn't even make the top 10: Miss Mississippi. What a knockout she was! And Miss Maine..... wow... all 6 feet of her. The judges I wasn't so enthralled with. What in the world could Paula Deen have to offer as a judge? Except, of course, she's Southern.........LOL. Mrs. Donald Trump? Johnny Weir? Come on, y'all. If you're going to have a pageant, have a PAGEANT....get some folks who know what to look for. Not Donald Trump's ex-employees.

It strikes me that the Miss USA pageant has become a venue for "professionals"....girls who are looking for a job. At least, the Miss America and America's Junior Miss pageants have been holding on to their scholarship base as a reason for being. Lots of the girls last night looked a trifle "shopworn" to me -- kind of that "rode hard, put up wet" look. Miss Colorado was the most fresh-faced. Every other contestant had the same sprayed-on tan, the same Barbie-doll hair-do and the same set of implants. Ladies, could you not be just a little bit more individual? Although,there were a couple of fairly good answers to the questions presented to the Top 5 contestants. (Shout out to Miss Oklahoma and Miss Virginia!)

I know..........times have changed and I need to change with them. (I'm not even going to bring up the Victoria Secret-type photo shoots.) Guess that's why I haven't watched many pageants in the last 20 years. I knew they'd be a disappointment. Boy, I'd hate to think I had to be in one now.

You Can Quote Me

2010-05-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

~~~~ Arthur Ashe ~~~~

Monday Musing: A Long Mother's Day Weekend

2010-05-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Talk about peaks and valleys. It's Sunday afternoon and I'm pretty much exhausted.

Friday delivered the kick in the head with Dosi's passing. And even though she wasn't a human child, I "mothered" her for almost 14 years nonetheless. So, in a sense, I lost a child of the fur variety. I don't think that's really sunk in yet.

On Saturday, my wonderful neice graduated from college. It was a full day of celebration. She looked lovely and has a grand future ahead of her. I couldn't help but think about what my future might hold in the coming years. New beginnings and all that........... Her life is changing and I think so is mine. She has no idea what she's going to be doing (like all new grads) and basically, neither do I. I just have this feeling.

Today, we celebrated Mother's Day with the MOTH's family which was nice as we just don't do it that often. On the drive home, I catnapped. The rollercoaster of emotions has caught up with me and I feel a hundred years old.

I think I feel a reassessment coming on..............

Requiem for an Airedale Queen of Hearts

2010-05-07T17:48:00.000-05:00

Today, for the first time in almost 16 years, there is no Airedale in my house. It's a very odd and sad feeling. Somehow I just thought this day would never come. DJ's Highland Dosido Girl was helped to the Bridge today. She would have been 14 on July 19th. She had a long, wonderful life -- full of adventures -- and I am thankful to have had her be such a major part of mine.

Dosi is the last of the Dosido Farm Triumvirate: Walker and Lola were the other two. All were distinctly different; all completely and absolutely loved. But Dosi was the hub of the wheel, the heart that pumped Airedaleness throughout our days. She came to us with a sweet and loving personality (thank you, Lawrence) and she left us in the same way. Mischievous, fun-loving, smart ... she had all the best Airedale characteristics and very few of the worst ones. She loved every person she ever met and almost every dog. And for the ones she didn't "like", she tolerated with Dosi grace. We often referred to her as the Social Secretary for her charming ways. She was a superior Airedale Ambassadoress, as every person she met wanted "one just like her".

Dosi and I learned dog showing together. We dabbled in agility. We fooled around with a little obedience. We worked as a therapy dog team. She helped to raise Lola. In her older years, she brought up both Scotties to be proper little black Airedales. She was a wonderful mother and nanny even though she never had a litter of her own. Dosi was also an Airedale Amazon. Her hunting instincts made certain that no mole, chipmunk, squirrel or bird was safe while in her immediate vicinity. (And she even managed to catch a few over the years.) We enjoyed life together. She learned a lot; she taught me more.

It is the end of an era. Dosi will be missed dreadfully but memories of her will live on in my heart till the day I die. The kennel name we chose was hers; we named our property for her. There are pictures of her scattered throughout the house. I asked her to carry many hopes and dreams for me and she did with utter cheerfulness. In the words of my mother, "Dosi's the best dog you ever had. She was just a good ole dog." I don't think you can get any better than that.

Dosi babysits the new weird Airedale puppy: all black and those short legs!

Donna , Dosi & Blue from 2008

July 2009.......she looks rather put out. Must have been the fact she had to have a hair cut and "sprucing up".

Out and about greeting her adoring public. June 2007

The most typical of Dosi pictures. The girl sure knew how to nap.

You Can Quote Me

2010-05-07T07:39:00.000-05:00

An Airedale, erect beside the chauffeur of a Rolls-Royce, often gives you the impression she's there from choice.

~~~~~ E. B. White ~~~~

You Can Quote Me

2010-04-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly ... to listen to stars and buds, to babes and sages, with open heart; await occasions, hurry never ... this is my symphony.

~~~ William Henry Channing ~~~

Clutter: The Movie

2010-04-28T14:04:00.000-05:00

Y'all need to run right over to http://www.storyofstuff.com/ and watch this very cool 20-minute video on how all of our "stuff" is effecting us and our world. It's been watched by over 8 million people since December 2007 if that tells you anything.

The woman behind it is Annie Leonard, the author of the book The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities and Our Health -- and a Vision for Change. (Whew......long title for a big subject.) Miss Leonard is definitely a dyed-in-the-wool environmentalist, but she also isn't anti-stuff. She just wishes everybody would acquire MINDFULLY. You know the question: do I really need this? In other words, don't let those Mad Men ad men control your buying: you control it.

One of Annie's main tips for corralling your "work-watch-spend" treadmill (as she calls it) is to watch less TV. I would add to that to stop buying and reading lifestyle magazines. Not that I am able to do that you understand. But it is good advice and maybe I will give it a stab. Sometime. In the future. Maybe.

I better go look at this video again.

Monday Musing: The Country Life

2010-04-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I get really caught up in bitching, moaning and complaining about where I live. It's "out in the country", but not so far that it takes half a day to get to anywhere else. It just seems that way quite often. It's inconvenient if you want to just "dash out", "run by" or "run down to ___". Planning is much more meaningful -- and necessary -- when you live "out in the country". And there's WAY too much yard work. I could keep a yard crew busy with no problems at all. Alas, I AM the yard crew (with help from the MOTH).

Yesterday morning though was one of those times that I remember why "city people" yearn to be where I am. I was kind of glad I was here, too. I took a nice walk. The sky was blue, blue, blue. The breeze was fresh, fresh, fresh. And I was smilin', smilin', smilin'. I was on my way back towards the house when about 100 feet in front of me, a momma 'possum walked across the road. She was waddling for all she was worth and for a second I couldn't figure out why or why she looked so odd. Then it dawned on me: she had a back full of babies! She walked parallel to the road along a hedgerow, so I crossed the road and walked with her about 30 feet out. She didn't seem too concerned that I was there. I got a really good look at all these 5 pairs of beady black eyes looking at me from her back. It was just way cool, I have to say. After a few minutes, she disappeared into the underbrush headed out across a pasture. That's the first time in my life I've seen a live 'possum (not even counting the baby thing) that wasn't in a zoo. Usually, I see the aftermath of run-ins with cars on the road.

So, today I'm celebrating being "out in the country" where you never know what fun surprise might be right around the corner. From now on, I think I better remember to take a camera.

You Can Quote Me

2010-04-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

We lovers of dogs are a tolerant lot, finding greater value in the unabashed affection of our friend than immaculate sofas.

~~~ Author Unknown ~~~

Book Report: Bookswim

2010-04-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

This isn't exactly a book report. It's more a "WOW.....look at this site related to books" report. Check out http://www.bookswim.com/ if you love to read. It works just like Netflix does for movies. You create your to-read list and sign up for one of the plans they offer. For $24 per month, you can get 3 books at a time with no late fees, no due dates and no shipping charges. Pretty nifty, huh? If you can spring for $30 a month, you can get 5 books at a time. A prepaid return bag is supplied for you, too. No more trying to find shelf space for all the tomes you buy and lug home.

I browsed their offerings a little bit and found that they offer lots of the newest titles. They have a listing of the NY Times bestsellers and an "Oprah's List". You can choose from biographies, cooking, mystery, children's, fiction (of course).......... all the usual suspects.

I love my Nook e-reader, so I'm not sure that I would use this service much. But I like having it as a choice. You might, too. I'll never give up actually buying books. There are too many I need to actually touch, savor and make notes in the margins. But this could definitely whittle down my stash.

Monday Musing: It's All Good

2010-04-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

That's what I keep telling myself anyway. Today, I'm tired and the mullygrubbies have me in their grip. You know how it is: a day that you just can't get enthused about nuthin'. So, what to do? Nothing came to mind that sounded like it would pull me out of the doldrums, so I just cleaned house. (I was sort of hoping that those pesky mullygrubbies would be whisked down the toilet bowl during the cleaning process, but they stubbornly refused to go.)

When the world seems to take on a rather gray tint, I just put my head down and watch my feet take one step and then another. Right now I believe they are attempting to pilot me to the ironing board. Sigh.

In the words of that brilliant Southern lady, Miss Scarlett, "Tomorrow IS another day."

See y'all then............

You Can Quote Me

2010-04-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.

~~~ Jane Austen ~~~

Spring Snaps

2010-04-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

The marvel that is spring defies word descriptions. So, today I'm not even going to try. I'm just going to share a few pictures I've taken around the farm lately as buds and leaves and bees and birds begin the rites of Spring.

Hope everyone's spring is starting out in a delightful way. Get out and get some dirt under your nails.......it's good for what ails you!

Monday Musing: Busy as a Bee

2010-04-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

The past ten days or so has been chock full of "doings". I had a birthday. It was Easter. But most importantly, it's just SPRING. There is so much that has to be done at this time of year. At least there is if you live where yards and growing things are important. The grass starts growing about an inch a day. The lawn mower needs to be tuned up. All the pots that didn't get emptied in the fall require that now. Bedding plants start calling your name at Lowe's and Home Depot and other nurseries. And the pollen starts clogging up the air -- not to mention your lungs -- and making everything golden yellow. It's at this time of the year that I just start turning circles in the floor, not knowing where in the hell to start first. So, here I am; this is where I started:

Another Lowe's visit.

Aren't I just the picture of garden chic? I swear, just once I'd like to look like those ladies who do yard work looking like they stepped out of the latest Better Homes & Gardens instead of something the dogs dragged in. Never mind. I got a couple of Knock Out roses which I"m hoping will bloom like crazy all summer...........as advertised!

You Can Quote Me

2010-04-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

I could not, at any age, be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.

~~~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~~~

In the Library: Dog Days - Dispatches from Bedlam Farm

2010-04-01T14:39:00.000-05:00

I got finished with this book by Jon Katz a few days ago. Just wanted to share that it's a nice, mellow read. You may be familiar with Katz's other books, among them A Good Dog and The Dogs of Bedlam Farm. I haven't read those, but I have read his New Work of Dogs which I thought was really good.

Bedlam Farm is in upstate New York and Katz tells little stories about the foibles and adventures of his relationships with all his animals, including a couple of Border Collies, a Lab, his four donkeys, Elvis the steer and his rooster, Winston......oh, and the barn cat, Mother.

It's very entertaining. One of the most intriguing things to me is the fact that he lives at the farm almost all the time and his wife still maintains and lives in their home in New Jersey. She drops in for occasional visits, but apparently isn't much of a "farm girl". That arrangement seems to work out well for everybody concerned. Maybe more marriages should try it out :))

If you like dogs, you'll like Dog Days.

Monday Musing - Facebook Games

2010-03-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hello, my name is Donna and I'm a Facebook games addict. I really don't know how it happened. A friend invited me to play Farm Town and that was kind of neat. A few weeks later I got an invitation (from the same "friend" whose neck I would cheerfully wring right about now) to participate in FarmVille. Okay, why not? The merry-go-round got faster. YoVille. PetVille. Country Life. Zoo Something. All of those invitations I managed to turn down.

Then, I discovered My Town on my own. I was simply lost.

What makes reasonably intelligent people sit down in front of a computer and spend HOURS farming virtual fields and building little cities? It's crazy. I've been late for appointments because I just had to do "one more thing" on my farm. Is it the control factor? Is it some latent autistic bent.....mindlessly clicking that mouse? I have no idea. Surely my life can't be THAT boring, can it?

What I do know is this: I have a REAL house with a REAL yard that REAL people live in with our REAL animals. And all of that requires REAL work to maintain. True, it's a lot more messy to manage than anything on Facebook. Real things tend to be sort of messy in my experience. But I think I should remember that it's a lot more satisfying to go smell a REAL flower growing in REAL dirt, even if I can't control how well it grows or how much it blooms.

There's a place and time for games, just not every day. And maybe not even on a computer. Anyone for a game of Hearts?

You Can Quote Me

2010-03-26T08:00:00.001-05:00

There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind.

~~~ Annie Dillard ~~~

I'm Eating Quesadilla Casserole

2010-03-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

YUM. YUM. YUM. I am smacking my lips. Do ya hear 'em?

Found this really great receipe. It's a Rachael Ray concoction. No meat, so it's cheap. But VERY filling. And, it only takes about 30 minutes to put together and another 30 in the oven to heat through. Not bad, huh? Feeds 4. And yes, it really feeds 4.....we had plenty of leftovers. Which will be eaten. So here it is. Hope you like it.

3 Tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 15 oz cans black beans, drained, 1/2 cup liquid reserved
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
5 10-inch flour tortillas
8 oz shredded Monterey jack cheese (I used a Mexican blend)
1 cup store-bought green enchilada sauce (I couldn't find any, so used regular)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and then add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the beans and mash into a chunky paste. Stir in the reserved bean liquid.
2. Grease a heavy, ovenproof skillet (or use Corningware like I did). In a bowl, combine the corn, parsley and remaining black beans. Place a tortilla in the skillet and spread with 1/3 cup mashed black bean mixture. Top with 2/3 cup corn-bean mixture and 1/2 cup cheese. Press to compress the layers. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, mashed black beans, corn-bean mixture and cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, about 30 minutes. Transfer to the broiler and cook for 1 minute. Serve with enchilada sauce.

I have to tell you.....I ate mine with salsa verde and it was scrumptious. So, if you like your food on the spicy side, try that.

Rover Ramble: Paws in the Garden

2010-03-23T15:41:00.000-05:00

The Little Black Dogs, I and the MOTH (Man of the House) decided to get out for a breath of fresh spring air and a little sunshine this past weekend. One of the botanical gardens opened to dog people -- and dogs -- as a fundraiser for a local shelter. We got there about noon and had to wait in the parking lot for a space to come open so we could park. People certainly love getting out with their dogs.

Blue & Vivi did me proud. They didn't go nuts. They didn't bark their fool heads off. Vivi didn't play-growl at any other dog. Blue didn't snap at impertinent puppies that got too much in his face. They were on best Scottie behavior. This made me happy for two reasons. One, they didn't embarrass me to death by acting like some rabid dogs I had picked up off the street. Two, they comported themselves in a wonderful "ambassadorial" style, letting strangers know that Scotties can be very mannerly and wonderful little dogs. I know there are many people who have a poor opinion of Scotties because the ones they've seen in the past acted like lunatics. I blame this primarily on the owners for not teaching appropriate manners to their dogs. It's kind of like people who let their small children run up and down the aisles and crawl under the tables at restaurants. Nobody blames the kid. Nope; those nasty looks are reserved for the parents. Same thing with dogs and owners. Dogs can learn if owners will teach.

Now that the weather is getting better, we'll be getting out and about more and more. All will be excellent learning opportunities for them.... and for me.

Blue & Vivi

Vivi did have to throw a little growly fit about all these turtles. But it was mainly under her breath. Good thing she was leashed; she would have been swimming out to get them.

Team Dosido: Donna, Blue & Vivi

Monday Musing - New Year's First Report

2010-03-22T08:00:00.002-05:00

So, it's almost the end of March. How am I doing on those hopeful New Year's Resolutions from January? I thought I'd better check in with myself to see.

More Adventures: hmmmm.....I guess walking the dogs through the pastures a few times doesn't qualify. I hate to be whiney about the whole thing, but damn.....the weather just hasn't been conducive to many outings. That's going to get better though soon. So, I better have a couple of places in mind. And no; I don't have my "See Alabama First" list on the refrigerator yet. Oh dear....guess that should be the first thing I get done.

No More Recipes: can I just say that I've been BETTER? It's hard to resist those yummy looking magazine layouts. But I have cut back. Really, truly.

Becoming More Techie: boy, I'm thinking I'm about to get a failing grade on Resolutions 101. I have gotten the computer and it works (and the printer, too, finally). I am working on figuring out how to get the pictures from the camera (that I really don't know how to use yet) to the computer. I've put Windows 7 on the back burner for now--way too much information to take in all at once. Haven't done one damn thing with this blog. BAD BLOGGER.

National Park Visit: I've identified the one I want to go to first. That would be Hot Springs, Arkansas. It's fairly close and I've never been to Arkansas before. Now to research the whens, hows, wheres.

Support for Responsible Dog Owners: AH HA.........now I see where the bulk of the time has gone. These first 3 months have been filled with writing letters, runs to the state capitol, the day-to-day details of being an officer of the state federation, web research. More balance, Donna. More balance.

Okay. So maybe the first quarter report ain't so hot. Let's see what April, May & June hold.

A Friday Addendum

2010-03-19T08:57:00.000-05:00

Glory Halleluiah!! The sun is shining. It's supposed to be 70 degrees today. And the ##!!?*#! flagstone patio is DONE. Well, he does have to come back and do the final cleaning of the stone on Monday. But that's it. And I've turned the adding machine in my head off.

There is a God........... Am I shining brightly (see today's quote)? Yes ma'am, I am. Do you see this big smile on my face?

Crowing with delight!

You Can Quote Me

2010-03-19T07:30:00.001-05:00

The gem is not polished without grit, nor man perfected without trial.

~~~Author Unknown~~~

Life Lessons

2010-03-17T07:27:00.000-05:00

I know that I'm supposed to be learning something from all this aggravation over the backyard redo. But I'll be damned if I can figure out exactly what it is. My guess is probably more "patience" lessons. Or, maybe how to not cuss under duress. Possibly it could be to smile in the face of adversity. Whatever. All I know is that the weather has been gray, gloomy and cold to match my mood. So untypical of mid-March here. We usually get at least a few days that hint at the April spring days to come.

So, with hope in my heart I am looking forward to the weekend, believing that the majority of construction will be over and the great cleanup can begin. Oh....and that the clouds will clear and the sun will shine.

Monday Musing - Remodeling Blues

2010-03-15T07:28:00.000-05:00

I stayed angry pretty much the whole entire week last week. I'm trying to get over it, but it's taking a whole lot of effort......and I'm not there yet.

I contracted with a man -- supposedly a professional landscape architect, but now I'm wondering -- to lay a flagstone patio for me. In my mind, it started out as a smallish job, but sort of grew. I agreed to that based on the estimate he gave me. He started on Monday. The weather has been uncooperative which hasn't helped. It still isn't finished and the cost is now double his estimate. Plus, my yard has sand piles where we usually walk and ruts where some imbecile tried to drive their truck out of the "big" backyard, forgetting that it has rained off and on for days and the ground is SOFT. To their credit, they did attempt to fill the ruts with MORE SAND.

As you might imagine, I am fed up with the whole process and cannot wait for them to finish and leave. All week I've wondered one thing: do I just attract incompetent help or are there really no workman left who can be trusted to do a good job and stand by their word?

There were a couple of bright spots to the week. I managed to have lunch with two friends on two different days..... one I hadn't seen in quite a while. I am hoping for a much more peaceful week; in my heart, anyway.

Monday Musing - Scottie Kisses

2010-03-08T09:59:00.000-06:00

Last week was pretty busy, so no notes from me. I'm not exactly sure WHY it was so busy except for two things: one was a lot of emailing/phoning/conversation back and forth for the Alabama Canine Coalition and the other was Jake.

At the beginning of the week, I was notified by a friend that there was a Scottie boy still in our county shelter for the second week. I didn't know who the Alabama Scottie rescue person was, but I quickly found out. After a flurry of phone calls from her to me to the shelter to my vet's office, I pulled the poor boy on Thursday and took him for vetting. And what a wonderful little guy he is! He, along with 2 or 3 other dog sidekicks, were abandoned by their family -- another foreclosure casualty. I'm not pointing fingers, because I don't know the particulars. All I know is that I would be very hardpressed to just walk off and leave my dogs in the backyard. Especially if they were all like Jake. We found out he's full of worms (but heartworm negative, thank goodness) but actually in pretty good shape. We also found out that he loves EVERYBODY.....kids, other dogs, people of all shapes and sizes. Thankfully, he already has a home eagerly waiting for his release from the vet's.

I like busy weeks like this past one. Especially when they are accompanied by lots of very sweet Scottie boy kisses.

Monday Musing - Just a Small Tremor

2010-03-01T09:54:00.000-06:00

Earthquakes seem to be going on everywhere. First, Haiti; now Chile. And now.....me. Obviously, my measly little shake-rattle-and-rolls aren't a drop in the bucket to the utter devastation and misery in those countries. I can't even imagine....words fail to do those tragedies justice.

But yes, the earth under my feet is perceptibly shifting. Last week was a busy one. This week looks to be similar in activity level. But the focus is changing. Things that were once so terribly important seem to be losing their immediacy in my life.

Over the weekend, I attended a function with a group that I have been a part of for quite some time. I always felt comfortable there up until now. A part of me is saddened by the alteration in ambiance; a part of me feels a lifting of a burden that I really didn't know I was carrying.

Spring in the world is around the corner.....evidence of new beginnings will be appearing all around. Spring in my heart is pushing toward the sun.

Monday Musing - The Disappearance of Days

2010-02-22T07:37:00.000-06:00

What happened to last week? Somehow, I lost it. It's always a mystery to me that chunks of days can somehow just evaporate, or at least seem to.

Thursday before last, all was well. There were some political dog issues on the horizon and some work to do with the Alabama Canine Coalition with those. By Friday afternoon, that had blown up in to a major "event". Phone calls flying back and forth all day Friday.....Monday.... Tuesday I was on my way to the state capitol for a meeting. Wednesday I was back. Friday I left for a grooming seminar in Nashville for the weekend. Home yesterday afternoon.

It sounds so simple when you just type it out. But nothing is ever simple, is it? All the phone calls, writing, emailing, research paperwork that went into the ACC meeting isn't reflected in that little laundry list. Having to do the housewifely chores on Thursday before leaving on Friday, plus getting together all the grooming paraphanalia and begin loading up the car doesn't show up. Nor does making sure the dog that went to the seminar with me was bathed and clean and fluffed on Friday morning before leaving Friday afternoon.

I'm hoping for a much slower paced week this week...... no surprises. I still have to get my technology running up to speed, for heaven's sakes. Sometimes boring is good.

You Can Quote Me

2010-02-19T10:03:00.000-06:00

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.

~~~E.B. White ~~~

You Can Quote Me

2010-02-12T08:49:00.000-06:00

The world is governed by those who show up.

~~~ Author Unknown ~~~

Treading Water

2010-02-09T16:00:00.000-06:00

Well, let's see. What have I learned over the weekend? I guess mainly that I wish I was 14 again so all this "advanced technology" would truly be child's play for me. But I'm not, and it's not.

I have managed to buy and download my first book to my Nook. Haven't had a chance to start reading it.....must make sure I know what all the buttons do. And gosh...there's only about 5 to know. So right now I know 3. Good. That's progress.

The laptop is up and running. I'm using it now. But none of my "stuff" from the old computer is on there......had to buy a Windows 7 book to try to learn from for all that. Today, I feel like the Oz Scarecrow...........straw stuffing and all.

You Can Quote Me

2010-02-05T08:00:00.001-06:00

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

~~~ C.S. Lewis ~~~

Electronic Toy Overload

2010-02-02T17:19:00.000-06:00

Oh my. I have Swiss cheese brain this afternoon. And I think the holes will only get larger.

I got my new B&N Nook e-reader late yesterday afternoon. YEA! It was my Christmas present. Of course, I can't really use it yet because I have to wait for the the nice Geek Squad guy to get here Friday with the wireless router and all the other whatevers it will take to get the new laptop up and running. I'm hoping it's going to be as simple for me as it was when the B&N guy demonstrated it for me way back in December.

So, I got out the new HP this afternoon and set it up, ready and waiting for Friday. Took a quick tour of Microsoft Works..........oh my dear. This is going to be like learning "how to computer" all over again. Fifteen minutes and my head was in a twirl. I had to shut down and go get a drink. I know I'll get it. The question is, WHEN?

Deep breaths, Donna........DEEP BREATHS.

Monday Musing - Electronic Upgrade

2010-02-01T15:27:00.000-06:00

Well, I finally did it. After agonizing for weeks over what kind of computer to get for myself, I just bought one. It's an HP Pavilion laptop.....don't ask me what's on it or any of that stuff. Mr. Head Geek Man at Best Buy helped me when I took the configuration I had made up for one on the HP website to his store.

Bless him.......he was so very patient and kind. He got me all "fixed" and scheduled Mr. Second-in-Command Geek Man to come put it all together for me the end of this week. I even sprung for a new wireless printer.

One of my new year's resolutions -- the one to become more electronically literate -- is on the road to reality. I just hope Windows 7 is simple to learn and navigate. And that all the 1001 things that can go wrong with new equipment of any kind -- but especially computers -- skips by me. Otherwise, I will certainly be bald from pulling my hair out in frustration.

My bank account is in cardiac arrest..........

You Can Quote Me

2010-01-29T08:00:00.001-06:00

"To ask how little, not how much, can I get along with. To say -- is it necessary? -- when I am tempted to add one more accumulation to my life."

~~~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~~~

Coming Up for Air

2010-01-27T16:57:00.000-06:00

The office area is a shambles. I'm sure it's going to stay that way much longer than I'd like. Of course, it's my own fault. I'm re-arranging, throwing out, filing, scratching my head and sneezing every few minutes. Dust, you know. And LOTS of it.

I dreaded doing this. Talked about it all last year and never touched a thing. Finally, I just couldn't stand it anymore. Plus, I think the idea of getting my own computer galvanized me to consider just where in the hell I was going to actually put one. I have a paper sickness: just can't throw information-laden pieces of it away. It's nuts. Today, I feel just like one of those hoarders Oprah helps periodically. Little slips of paper EVERYWHERE along with stacks of files and magazines. My mother says it's genetic; I got it from my father who was notorious for jotting down "notes" and tearing things out of magazines. Me, too. And it's crazy-making.

This Friday's quote should be tattooed on my forehead. Or, at the very least painted on the wall in big, big letters.

Monday Musing - Mad Men Mania

2010-01-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Yes, it's true. I'm just a born-again Mad Men Minx. I didn't discover this TV show till just a couple of months ago. Why didn't somebody tell me sooner that it's SO GOOD??? Don Draper: bad boy you can't help but be crazy for.

I sure hope they show the 3rd season before the new season starts this summer. It's not out on DVD yet and I'm dying to know what happened. They have some little recaps at the AMC-TV site, but I want it ALL. Every once in a while I fall in love with a TV show. This is it for now. I speculate it's not only because it's fabulously written and acted that I am enamored. Having been a teenager in the Fab 60s, I can remember the decade in spades. All the adults always having or going to cocktail parties, smoking, the fashions, etc. etc. The weekly hairdresser appointment. It's like revisiting a little teensy part of my past. I was too young to indulge in most of the goings-on, but I was a VERY OBSERVANT student. Teehee........

You Can Quote Me

2010-01-22T09:53:00.000-06:00

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.

~~~ Thomas Paine

This has been a busy week. I've spent quite a couple of days at the state's seat of power with all the legislators. What an eye-opening experience! Because of some pieces of dog legislation on the upcoming calendar, I'll probably be going back. I think it would help everyone to have to follow a bill one time through the process. It would make the political process more real and understandable.

Monday Musing: The Organizing Month

2010-01-18T08:00:00.001-06:00

Organizing: I'm such a sucker for "getting organized". And truth to tell, I hardly ever am no matter how many Rubbermaid bins I buy. Junk sticks to me like stink on a skunk. But I keep trying. It doesn't help that EVERY magazine in the month of January ballyhoos organization.

But I've run across an organizer -- AND full-time RV'er -- with attitude to spare. Visit her over at http://www.ramonacreel.com/ and dive in to spunkier straightening up. If you get tired of contemplating how to clean out your junk drawer, you can read about her RV travels.

This week I have an office area to tackle.....again. I'm always tackling it and it's always throwing me for a loss.

You Can Quote Me

2010-01-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.

~~~ Ferdinand Foch, Commander-in-Chief
Alllied Armies, WWI

To Sterilize or Not

2010-01-14T08:53:00.000-06:00

In yesterday's edition of the USA Today, there was an article written by Sharon L. Peters entitled "Sterilizing pets isn't a priority for new owners" (http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/pets/2010-01-13-petsurvey13_ST_N.htm). As I was reading it this morning, I couldn't help but be conflicted.

On the one hand, I understand the need for voluntary spay/neuter programs, especially in certain areas of the country. As Ms. Peters stated "Southerners and the under-35 set are the least likely to sterilize their pets." As much as I hate to admit it -- dyed-in-the-wool Southerner that I am -- this is true. Responsibility for one's animals here hasn't always been a very high priority. Slowly but surely that is changing though. More and more often I see and hear of pet owners buying a ticket on the Spay Train for their dogs and cats. This is a good thing because it shows a certain level of caring and commitment to responsible ownership of pets. People are becoming more educated about the role of responsibility and exactly what that entails in having animals in their lives. All I can say to that is "HURRAY!" More responsibility is directly related to less restrictive animal ordinances and laws for everyone. More responsibility is also directly related to lower shelter figures.

But embedded in this article are some things that just grate on my nerves and make the fillings in my teeth sing. For example, there is a pie chart showing where owners get their pets. According to it, 68% of owners acquire animals from family members, adoption organizations & shelters and pickup of strays. 12% are acquired by purebred breeders. TWELVE PERCENT. Yet, purebred breeders are always the ones fingered and catching hell for swelling the numbers of the homeless/abandoned/callously bred THOUSANDS of animals entering the shelter system. I'm sorry. Something just doesn't add up here. Purebred breeders are the ones used as the scapegoat to push mandatory spay/neuter laws on to an animal-loving population (that is already well on its way to "doing the right thing" without the big stick) when proportionately they contribute hardly a thimbleful to the gallon bucket called "overpopulation".

The second thing that makes my eyebrows get that quizzical look is this statement: "PetSmart Charities commissioned the survey by Ipsos Marketing, released today, in an effort to understand factors contributing to continued pet overpopulation, which results in an estimated 4 millon to 6 million shelter animals being euthanized each year." Ms. Peters needs to get her facts straight. According to the latest statistics, there are 74.8 million owned dogs in the United States (the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association). In 2009, shelter statistics were widely quoted as 6-8 million dogs and cats entering the shelter system, with 3-4 million being euthanized and the same number being adopted. Roughly, half are dogs and half are cats, although in some areas there are many more cats than dogs entering the shelter system. This is still way too high a figure, but remember that these are national figures. Nationally, of the estimated total number of dogs (owned and sheltered added together,the figure would be estimated at 78.8 million), only .05 percent are in shelter environments at any point in time. Not only that, but experts tell us that shelter numbers have been dropping for the last several years. All of this just doesn't seem to add up to a true "overpopulation crisis" scenario to me. Although I can understand that when you're the one doing the hands-on rescuing (as I did at one time), it can certainly seem like billions.

Other tidbits of information in the article, such as "17% said they have no idea of the proper age to spay/neuter" and "42% of people who recently got a pet did no prior research, formal or informal" tell me that the crux of the matter is still education. Teaching people how to responsibly acquire and own their animals is the answer to today's animal issues. I say if we're going to throw money and resources at the problem, let's throw it there where it will have the most longlasting positive impact for both animals and people.

Do You Smell That?

2010-01-12T09:15:00.000-06:00

I love things that smell good. I'm a sucker for food cooking, roses growing, clean dogs (sometimes not-so-clean ones, too)....all kinds of stuff. I can't live without perfume. I'm probably one of a handful that wears it 360 days a year. Unfortunately, I'm not too partial to the cheaper scents. So, I have to hoard my stash and make it last as long as possible. I figure I'm pretty much a pro at what smells good.

I think I have discovered a new source of good smells. Check out http://www.cactusandivy.com/. South Carolina girl is putting together all kinds of interesting products to sniff. She's got a whole line of bodycare products, but I'm actually more interested in her reed diffusers. With scent names like "Lemon Razz" and "Cranberry Fig", how could you go wrong? And ESPECIALLY notable is something she calls "Natural Buzz Off Horse Care" to keep the little critters away, particularly in the warmer months. I'm figuring it might also be pretty good for dogs. And, all her stuff is natural -- no synthetics.

No, I haven't tried anything......yet. So I can't really rate anything or give you the skinny. But I'll definitely be buying a couple of things. With the house being all closed up against this unnatural cold we're having right now, I could use some uplifting smells wafting through the house. Will report back.........

You Can Quote Me

2010-01-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

To begin living like you've never lived before, begin living like you've never lived before.

Today is good..............

~~~Author Unknown

The 2010 Bucket List

2010-01-04T07:27:00.001-06:00

Once more into the fray of a brand new year. I spent the first weekend of this year considering the question of "resolutions" among other things. I reviewed the ones I set out for 2009. It was the same background music of my life that continues to play all the time, regardless of what year it is or what else is going on: more training time with the dogs, more exercising, less eating, more being "happy" and less being "angry", getting organized, cutting the clutter, etc. etc. All things that serve to make me feel more guilty and less productive when I don't hit them with all cylinders firing. So this year I'm trying something a little different -- a bucket list of things I want to do whether they are "good" for me or not.

First up is MORE ADVENTURES. Alone, with others, with the dogs. Just getting out and about, seeing and experiencing, getting involved in the living part of life rather than the thinking part. I'm making a list to put on the refrigerator of "See Alabama First" things to do over the next months. If I run out of those things, I might sneak in some other Southeastern destinations and experiences.

Second would be NO MORE RECIPES CUT OUT OF MAGAZINES. I swear, I have enough cookbooks for a whole neighborhood and hundreds more clipped out ones in 3 ring binders. From the looks of things, you'd think all I did was cook. I don't even like to cook. So, I'm limiting myself to TWO new recipes per month. Simple Southern recipes. If I want exotic and/or foreign, I'll go out.

Third, and related to #2, is not stockpiling food. It's shameful what gets thrown out in this house. There's only two of us here, not Cox's army. (No, I don't know who Cox was.....it's just something I've heard all my life from my grandmother, mother and any other female relative when discussing amounts of food. As in "we've got enough here to feed Cox's army!") While cooking for Christmas, I threw away several cans of food from the back of the pantry that were older than a kindergartener. Ridiculous!

Fourth is BECOMING MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY EDUCATED. For example, stuff to spiff up this blog. I want to be able to know stuff that 10-year olds take for granted: how to burn a CD, download music. Just things that I've never taken the time to do because basically, I didn't have to. I don't want to be a clueless little old bluehaired lady. Not yet anyway.

Fifth, is to VISIT ONE NATIONAL PARK I'VE NEVER BEEN TO. After watching Ken Burns' PBS special on our national park system a few months ago, I can see that I've been missing out on some spectacular places. Why go to Europe when what we've got right here is so amazing?

Sixth, CONTINUE TO HELP RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS AND BREEDERS IN MY STATE AND NATIONALLY PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS TO OWN AND BREED DOGS. However I can and as often as I can.

And then pretty much all that other stuff held over from last year. 2010 could prove to be a very full, but lighter, year. After all, I've still got to lose 15 pounds!

You Can Quote Me

2010-01-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

365 fresh new days; 365 fresh new opportunities...........

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

~~Donna

This Year's Animal

2009-12-31T14:26:00.000-06:00

It started year before last when I gave my sister and myself sterling silver dragonfly charms. Dragonflies symbolize transformation and I thought 2008 needed to be a transformative year for both of us. My sister hasn't changed her animal since; she loves the idea of constantly transforming herself.

I, on the other hand, chose the bumblebee as my 2009 animal. Bumblebees symbolize persistence, steadiness, diligence and winning against all odds. After all, aerodynamically bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly at all. All of which I need to work on as I have a bad habit of "flitting" and never "landing". I think I've done better this year. Not great, but better. I wore my bumblebee often throughout this year to give me a boost when I needed it.

For 2010, I have chosen the turtle as my totem. I love turtles and tortoises. They just look wise to me. So, for Christmas I asked for a very pretty little bracelet I had seen with turtles and turquoise beads. It really helps me to have a reminder that I can wear. Turtles signify "groundedness" and they are the oldest symbol for planet Earth. The turtle is a reminder to create and hold your ideas and plans till they are fully ready to share; and, that being bigger, stronger or faster aren't always the best ways to get to your goal. Remember "slow and steady wins the race"?

This year I'll try to give myself the time I need to do the things I need or want to do. And I'll have these sweet little turtles to help me along.

Monday Musing

2009-12-28T09:29:00.000-06:00

Christmas is over. I'm sure there are people out there very sad about this. I am, however, not one of them. The relief that I felt on the 26th getting that Christmas tree down was huge. I'm not a total Grinch: I do still have the wreath on the front door. But it will soon be coming down, too.

That being said, I had a wonderful Christmas. The company was sterling; the food was wonderful (and fattening); the presents surprising and satisfying. My sweet Significant Husband gifted me with a Barnes & Noble Nook e-reader, which I ordered yesterday. It will actually be a Valentine's present, too, since it isn't shipping till February 1st. But hey -- something to look forward to in the dreary grip of winter.

I am ready to move on to a new year. Well, I'm ALMOST ready to move on. I need to get my office and craft areas cleared out and rearranged to meet 2010 with conviction. Betcha can't guess what I'm going to be doing for the next several days.

You Can Quote Me

2009-12-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

O, Come All Ye Faithful to the Little Town of Bethlehem in the Silent Night to celebrate Joy to the World.

~~~ Donna Noland

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Monday Musing

2009-12-21T09:45:00.000-06:00

Christmas traditions really can be fun even when you've done them for years on end and you may think they are getting rather stale.

Yesterday, the women of the family(along with one lone boyfriend) trekked downtown to the grand old Alabama Theater to watch "White Christmas" on the big screen. We can't remember precisely, but it seems that this must be at least the 7th year for this. And every year -- even though we can quote whole scenes worth of the script -- it's just as much fun. The mighty Wurlitzer organ is played superbly for a half hour before show time. Then comes the audience Christmas carol singalong. The organ disappears under the stage, the lights go down, the velvet curtains open and the event begins; always with a classic Disney cartoon. This year it was Donald Duck's turn at bat.

Throughout the movie, you can hear people (usually me, but others, too) softly singing under their breath. The laughter comes easily. We love Bing. We love Rosemary. We are in awe of Vera Ellen and her teeny, tiny waist. But oh, how we ADORE Danny Kaye. I really think it's the only reason my mother continues to attend. Well, that and she loves all the 50s ambiance. She says it reminds her of "how much fun we used to have......y'all just don't know how to have a good time now." The Sisters's song is probably my and my sister's highlight. Both the versions.

And at the last when Bing, Danny, Rosemary & Vera Ellen stand before the glorious Christmas tree and encourage their film audience to join them in the last chorus of "White Christmas", the Alabama crowd is THERE and we oblige. The theater rings as we sing out and enjoy the White Christmas experience for another year.

You Can Quote Me

2009-12-18T08:00:00.003-06:00

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace, the gladness of Christmas give you hope, the warmth of Christmas grant you love.

~~~ Author Unknown

Christmas Icicle Crunchies

2009-12-15T10:13:00.000-06:00

I thought I was going to get away with no Christmas tree-dog mishaps this year. Yes.......I was wrong. Over the weekend, Vivi determined that the nice, sparkly plastic icicles I put on the tree must be new doggie treats sent from Santa just for her.

The first crunch that I heard, I couldn't really place what it was. I kept on with what I was doing, but then I heard it again. I got up to check and there she was, the evidence strewn around her in several small pieces. As I bent down to look, I quickly realized that there weren't enough small pieces to make a whole icicle. Uh oh. I resumed what I had been doing and an hour later, I heard the telltale crunch again. I ran this time to the scene of the crime. Now, I picked up the top and two-thirds of the bottom. When I picked her up, Miss Viv gagged up the other half-inch. This time I went to find the baby gate (used in emergency cases like this); removed all the remaining icicles from the lower third of the tree; and, closed the pocket door in to the dining room effectively sealing off the temptation.

I spent the next two days watching for signs of intestinal blockage, which thankfully, never materialized. I would have hated to spend all of Vivi's Christmas present money on a big, fat vet bill. As far as I can tell, the tree ornaments have now lost most of their glowing appeal. We have 10 days. Keep your fingers crossed.

Monday Musing

2009-12-14T13:23:00.000-06:00

That soft little breeze whispering by your cheek just now was a sigh. From me. I think I'm finally to the point in the holiday season where I can begin to unknot the kinks in my shoulders. I think.

There are two more presents to wrap. There are 3 bottles of wine to pick up sometime this week. I have two gifts left to mail today. The Little Black Dogs get taken to the groomers tomorrow for Christmas Cleanup (just hope that lasts a little longer than 36 hours). I know which food items I will be attempting this year for our Christmas get-together.....all easy recipes, thank God. So right about now, I'm feeling pretty good. Tomorrow could be another story, but I'm not looking ahead.

Well, actually that's a lie. While doing all those housewifely chores this morning, I was contemplating what I'd like for 2010 to be like. Maybe by New Year's Eve, I'll have some kind of list. Not that much ever gets checked off each year, but it makes me feel positive about turning over that new leaf.

Right now though, I think I'll just enjoy some holiday breathing space.

You Can Quote Me

2009-12-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

"One kind word can warm three winter months."
~~~ Japanese Proverb

We Interrupt Christmas........

2009-12-10T08:51:00.000-06:00

I hate to interject anything truly "serious" at this jolly time of the year, but the Soapbox calls.

This morning on the Today Show, there was a segment about the BBC's video from last year -- the one that prevented Crufts from being aired...the "expose on pedigreed dogs". (See it at http://www.today.msnbc.msn.com/) BBC America is showing that documentary tonight at 7 o'clock CST. I think it would behoove all of us to watch, make notes and then be prepared to ask questions, make noise, etc.

I also believe that NBC needs to hear from the breeders and supporters of responsibly bred purebred dogs. For example, I plan to send an email requesting that they actually do on-air interviews (in the interest of FAIR AND OBJECTIVE reporting) with reputable breeders who have years of HANDS ON experience breeding and raising dogs instead of interviewing Ivory Tower professors who probably wouldn't know which end the damn puppy comes out of. It burns me slap DOWN that no network, no group, no anybody ever wants to hear from the people who actually are involved in the activity being vilified. Yes, there are crappy breeders......and have been for hundreds of years. But there are plenty who try very, very hard to breed sound, healthy dogs. And without good breeders, just where are our liberal, hand-wringing friends going to get their next Lab or Golden or Cocker Spaniel....or whatever breed they have happened to fall head over heels in love with?

And by the way, has it never dawned on any of these yo-yos that one of the reasons it APPEARS that purebred dogs have more health problems is because the purebred community is terribly aware of their breeds and actively watch and test for problems so that they can do whatever they can to eliminate them? Mixed breed dogs have plenty of health problems, too, only nobody recognizes them for what they are because nobody's looking or keeping track.

And AKC: oh boy! They issued a "statement". Great. Those boys up there need to get their heads out of their asses and formulate a PLAN that involves going on the offensive instead of constantly playing catchup. Don't y'all think that Wayne and his minions over at HSUS are going to have a damn FIELD DAY with this? They'll tie it right in to their "war on puppy mills" that they are ramping up for 2010. (The latest is their national toll-free hotline to report suspected puppymills. Somehow they've managed to delude folks into thinking that HSUS has law enforcement powers!) And of course, to HSUS, anybody that has more than 2 or 3 dogs and breeds more than once a year is a puppymill.

So, in the battle to keep purebred animals in our lives, if y'all thought 2009 was tough, get ready. And take your heads out of the sand..........

Sorry.....back to our regularly scheduled festivities.........

O Christmas Tree......

2009-12-09T17:33:00.000-06:00

O Christmas tree..........

Well, I have finally managed to get the tree up and decorated. So many things have happened to prevent this, that I am beginning to think I wasn't supposed to have one. For one thing, my beautifully STRAIGHT tree at the lot somehow began severely listing to one side within minutes of being put in the tree stand. Repeated attempts to fix this were all for naught. It's still listing to one side. Of course, now that I think of it, this could have been from the tree falling over several times while I had it in the garage "drinking" out of a 2-gallon bucket. I kept trying to prop it up; it kept falling. Hey, at least it's still nice and green and fragrant.

This is also the first live Christmas tree we've had in almost 30 years. As I got the lights out that we used several years ago (the others are on the artificial tree in the attic -- the one we've had up for the past, oh, 15 years), I suddenly remembered why I've stored my tree with the lights on it. I forgot that these old-fashioned lights have to be screwed in the string and THEN you get to string them on the tree. And those little LIVE branches aren't nearly as strong and supportive as the artifical ones, so you must attach the lights, not merely lay them up in the tree. Sigh.

Today is the last of Decoration Days. I'm done. All in. Whatever is left undone will have to wait till next year. There's only one thing left to do: wrap the presents and get them under the tree. I do so hope that can be accomplished before December 24th.

CHRISTMAS SNAPS:

Monday Musing

2009-12-07T12:36:00.000-06:00

This is what my poor little Knockout rose bush looked like on Saturday morning. Yep, we got about an inch of the white stuff in Alabama. It's probably as close as we'll ever get to a White Christmas. It was very pretty early in the morning and then by noon, it was all gone.

We Southerners are a strange bunch when it comes to snow. We see it so seldom in any appreciable quantity, that we all become 6 year-olds at the mention of the word, much less the actual product. And then, after the initial "oh boy....SNOW", we get all panicky and go in to "milk/bread/eggs" survival mode. I bet Friday at the grocery stores was crazy. It's really amusing. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 60 degrees.

You Can Quote Me

2009-12-04T08:00:00.001-06:00

"A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!"
~~~~Author Unknown

Deck the Halls, Y'all!

2009-12-02T12:15:00.000-06:00

So, I've put on my Elf Hat (if not my Elf Attitude) and begun the process of turning a country farmhouse into Santa's Village. Ummmmm....maybe not. But at least it might look a little bit Christmasy. Here's what's happened so far:

I made this wreath several years ago out of a 20' lead, miniature chew sticks and dog ornaments. I hope it's going to hold up forever because I don't want to have to do it again. The Christmas sign came from good old Michael's about 3 years ago -- one of my "newer" Christmas decorations.

And of course, I have to have the Christmas flags outside on the walk. And you can't play favorites. They KNOW.

And here we have this year's "crafty thing". Seems like I just can't make it through a holiday season without trying to make something. There have been a few times that whatever it was got immediately thrown in the trash, it was so horrible. I got lucky this year. This attempt at creating actually turned out to work! (Thanks a heap, Martha.)

And here we have the BIG EXPENDITURE for the holidays. (This is what was in the boxes a few days ago.) Now I know why people spring for the prelighted ones even though they're double the cost. I think we need more lights, but by the time I got to this, all I wanted was THROUGH! Obviously needs a little refining.

And, finally, I got to move to the inside of the house. And scatter a couple of things around as you can see below. Guess once I get the tree in a few days, I can complete the process. By that time I should be pretty sick of the whole mess. More later!

For the Love of a Dog

2009-12-01T17:22:00.000-06:00

Today I had the privilege of helping an Airedale rescue boy and his new owner start to build a foundation of trust. Seems that George is a 3-year old with quite a lot of baggage. This is his third home in as many years. A sweet, sweet boy, but with oh so many anxieties and fears. Fortunately for him, his new owner is committed to working with him and loving him and keeping him. George's main problem is his fence jumping. His second main problem is his lack of connection with humans. For whatever reasons (which we will never really know), he hasn't learned that humans can be fun, trustworthy, caring and hanging out with them can be just as good --sometimes better -- than hanging with canine buds.

I was really surprised when George's owner asked me how much I charged for coming to "consult" with her. She was even more surprised than me when I laughed and said, "Nothing." Little could she know that this is for an Airedale debt that I can never repay. I have been loved by 3 wonderful Airedales so far in my life. If I can keep one in a home that will love him and protect him until the day he dies, it just goes toward the love loan that was given to me. On the way home, I looked at the picture of the one closest to my heart that rides in my car stuck on the visor so I can see it if I glance up. Today was that girl's tribute. And only a drop in the bucket to what she gave me in her short life.

It will take time for George to see that someone is going to love him no matter what. But he will see it. His new owner wants that. And I told her if she wants that enough, then it can happen. With a rescue you can't make promises, but I think I'm right. I hope I am. For George's sake. For his owner's. For mine.

Monday (Movie) Musing

2009-11-30T08:00:00.001-06:00

Yesterday afternoon I treated myself to a movie. The one I chose was "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock. What a GREAT movie! Yes, the storyline is predictable, but so what? It's still good. Y'all need to go see it if you haven't already.

Sandra Bullock has dead-on nailed her character, Leigh Ann Tuohy. The supporting actors are excellent, too. As a matter of fact, I was very pleasantly surprised at Tim McGraw as the husband. Now I can see what Faith Hill sees :) But back to Miss Sandy. It was so nice to see her portrayl of The Southern Sorority Girl all grown up. She could have gone WAY over the top with that, but didn't. She managed to show that yes indeed, Southern girls-now-women have more layers than just "Daddy's little rich girl" or "spoiled bitch" or "flighty twit". Those elements are certainly there sometimes, but there are also qualities of caring about others and wanting to do the right thing. Even if that means going it alone. "Steel magnolias" isn't just the title of a play/movie. Bossy? Yes. Flirty? A little, but with a modicum of taste. Mannerly? Absolutely. Iron will....temper......courageous? Yes, yes and yes.

Maybe one of the reasons I liked this movie so much is because I know more than just a few of these very same women. Grew up with them; had them for friends and relatives and role models. Loved them to pieces. As a matter of fact, I suppose there are people out there who would peg me for one my own self. That's okay by me. I was born and raised in the South. Lived here my whole life (with a couple of years here and there away). An alumnus of both the University of Tennessee and the University of Alabama. Instructed in the football culture from junior high school on. AND, an initiate of the Kappa Delta Sorority......just like Leigh Anne. So, yeah......it was fun to see "myself" up on the big screen. Just wish I looked a little more like Sandra Bullock! But then I'd have to be younger and on a perpetual diet. So, maybe I'll just be content to stay one of the unknown Southern Sisterhood.

You Can Quote Me

2009-11-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

The Once-Ler, from Dr. Seuss's eco-children's classic, The Lorax

Vivi's Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Apparently, Wellness Duck & Potato and/or Solid Gold Millennium just isn't good enough for Miss Prissy Britches. She would much rather choose her own menu. And not only choose it, but hunt it down as well.

Lots of little birds like to hang out in our very big Bradford pear tree in the backyard. It's the only one we have, so if they want to be back there, they have little other choice -- gutters on the house or the roof maybe. After the last couple of weeks, I think they better put their little bird brains in to overdrive and determine another place to congregrate. Unless they want to die young. This is the second bird Vivi has brought down in as many weeks. I feel bad for the birds, but geez......they need stay OFF THE GROUND. Viv is fast. Very, very fast. And obviously, "birdy". I guess I really should get her entered in some earthdog events. But I shudder to think what might be lying on the patio every day if she was encouraged to hunt.

(Graphic picture warning........don't eat breakfast and read this.)

Let the Decorating Begin

2009-11-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Why, what is this? Boxes. They don't look very Christmas-y. Oh, but wait. What they contain is the kickoff to the new look of Christmas at Dosido Farm.

They arrived on Saturday afternoon. I have refrained from diving in until I can devote a whole day to beginning Operation Tinsel. Last year I didn't do too much in the way of Christmas; the tree was about it. I think I may be feeling a little more like Tiny Tim than Scrooge this year. Stay tuned as the transformation unfolds!

Right now I have to consider Thanksgiving Day food........

Monday Musing

2009-11-23T09:10:00.000-06:00

I just took a few minutes to watch Susan Boyle on the Today Show on NBC. What a great talent and seemingly such a nice person. I will be buying her CD. Especially since I got a 40% off coupon from Barnes & Noble for it.....teehee. But I probably would have bought it anyway. I admire people who are able to push through their obstacles and/or fears to accomplish something important to them.

Now, I've heard that the critics aren't so enamored of Ms. Boyle. They opine that she is (to use one of my favorite words from one of my favorite Christmas movies) "schmaltzy". I say that a little schmaltz may be EXACTLY what the world needs about now. We are full of cynics, critics and curmudgeons. A shot of innocence sounds pretty damn refreshing to me.

So sing on, Susan........I'll be listening with an open heart.

You Can Quote Me

2009-11-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

"Many small people, who in many small places do many small things, can alter the face of the world."

(Piece of graffiti from the Berlin Wall, which fell 20 years ago.)

Literary Dogs

2009-11-19T08:00:00.001-06:00

Just received an email from the AKC about a cute little contest they've devised in conjunction with PawNation.com. They're asking people to vote for their favorite dog character in literature. As several people pointed out, they left out two icons: Lassie and Lad. But included Clifford The Big Red Dog. Huh? And CUJO! At least they managed to include my second fav, Skip of My Dog Skip fame.

I've read lots of dog stories in my life, but probably the one that I would have to vote for is one I never read. I was too young to know how at the time. But my father read it to me -- a chapter every night before bed. You'll recognize him: Old Yeller. I remember very well being taken to see the movie when it came out. I think it was the first time (but definitely not the last) I ever cried at the movies.

I guess I can thank that "old yeller dog" for being engulfed in dog hair and drool since then.

Martha Made Me Do It

2009-11-18T10:42:00.000-06:00

See this? It's all because of Martha Stewart and her magazine.

Granted....I most likely would have gotten the fake poinsettas anyway. I use them on my front porch for the holidays and half of them got thrown out after last year. They were just way too faded and sad looking. But if I hadn't been flipping through Martha's December issue, I wouldn't have gotten the bright idea to try some window dressing this year. My porch is a trial. It's VERY long and therefore, it takes quite a lot of stuff to make it look "decorated". Not to mention that there is usually, for some unknown reason, a small gale-force wind blowing across it. So anything over 2 feet tall sitting out there is repeatedly -- and I mean REPEATEDLY -- knocked down or over.

So, in the next few days I will don my Santa's elf hat and attempt again to fashion something I can attach to the windows that will get me in the Christmas spirit. Lord knows I don't have it yet. Of course, first I have to get all the summer plants off the porch and put somewhere to survive the winter. Another trial......but let's not go there right now.

From Purgatory to Paradise

2009-11-17T16:39:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's tough to be a dog. Especially one of my dogs. First, I get a little glint in the eye. Then I put on a grooming smock. Then dogs start disappearing. I guess I could take the easy way out and just get them clipped down by a groomer every few weeks. But I love the look of a stripped coat. Plus the fact I keep trying to get better at grooming. Hard to do if you don't have a dog or two to practice on.

So, today was the day. First it was toenails. Everybody hates having nails done. I tell them it's part of the price to live here. The smock went on and a black dog was grabbed and taken. It happened to be Blue, who, after 5 years of this, stoically submits with a certain amount of grace. A couple of hours later (after fortifying myself with some lunch), it was Vivi's turn. Being still relatively new to the ins and outs of grooming, she does the circle game: every time I grab one end, she turns to present the opposite one to me. It's an exhausting dance for her and for me. Not to say it doesn't have it's own little rhythm after a few minutes. But still. It sure would be easier -- and faster -- if I didn't have to keep turning her around and/or circling the table myself.

She's learning though that there are certain compensations for beauty work. If you wait long enough, patiently enough, something wonderful happens. You get to get DOWN. And not only DOWN, but OUTSIDE. Where all kinds of surprises can be awaiting................

TABLE PURGATORY

PARADISE

RePot

2009-11-14T08:00:00.004-06:00

Sometimes when you're feeling as bedraggled, dry and sad as last summer's dahlias, you just need to rethink your flower.......become this winter's pansies and stick your little face in to the sun.

From this .........

To this................

I'm ready to start blooming now. Isn't it wonderful how digging in the dirt can be so refreshing and mind clearing?

The Attack of the Antibiotics

2009-11-13T11:39:00.000-06:00

Since October 21st, which is the last time I sat down to write, a few notable things have happened.

Yes, Mama got moved. That was 3 weeks ago and now when you go over to her house, it's like she's been there for months, if not years. That Mama. She's a worker-bee alright. Of course, if you go DOWNSTAIRS, that's a whole different story. Let's just say that it may take all of 2010 to get that conglomeration of "things" straightened out. However, she does know where the Christmas decorations are. Important stuff.

We loaded everyone up last weekend to go to the Fala Day event at the Little White House in Warm Springs, GA sponsored by the Atlanta Scottie club. Always a fun little trip. I came home with two more unnecessary Scottie collectibles, but cute nonetheless. However, the weekend just wasn't as fun as it could have been.

Nobody felt good. DH's knee/leg was hurting. And I was on some rather potent antibiotics for some unknown infection running around my system. I hate medicine. Almost all of those antibiotic things make me feel worse than whatever it is I have. And this was no exception. We soldiered on though, but were thrilled to be in our own beds on Sunday night.

No relief for me though, as I have had to continue with the drugs all week. I have been draggy and useless which has made me feel worse. Tomorrow is the last day I have to take the stupid things and I am planning on feeling MUCH better by Sunday. Wish me luck!

Moving Mama

2009-10-21T08:44:00.000-05:00

This is a big week. Mama is moving. She's been my next door neighbor for the last 10 years. Now, she's going to be my sister's next door neighbor for -- I hope -- the next 20.

Some people might not enjoy living next door to Mama. Obviously, they just don't have the right kind of mama. My mama and I have done all kinds of fun things together. We've adventured to places we've never been (and still have quite a list to go, both near and far). We've commiserated with each other over various and sundry things. We've SHOPPED......oh boy, we LOVE to shop! And gardened and raised dogs. It's been great. But this particular stage of her life is coming to an end. She's moving on and leaving me behind.

I shouldn't sound too sad. After all, she's only moving across town. But when you've been with someone almost daily for years, that's quite an adjustment. But it's time. Her big old house and her even bigger property has just gotten too much to handle. Heck, so has mine and I'm more than several years her junior. So, I've got some rather mixed feelings about all this. But tomorrow the movers come and we'll spend the weekend getting her house in some kind of working order. And then we'll talk about what trouble we're planning on getting into next. Can't wait!

C'mon, Get Happy!

2009-09-30T08:36:00.000-05:00

There's a book out right now titled Bright-Sided: How Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich. It's all about how positive psychology and positive thinking are vastly overrated. Ms. Ehrenreich says it is, instead, "blind optimism" that prevents people from seeing things as they really are and making choices based on the realities of their situation.

There's a part of me that agrees with the premise of her book. I don't want to be so focused on happiness and getting happy and being happy that I forget there is always going to be "less happy" episodes of life. And that getting through those graciously and with some common sense is just as important.... maybe more so..... to living completely.

But being happy is something everyone wants as much of as they can get. Me, too. It's how you define happiness, I think, that helps you get it. One woman's "happiness" could be another's "oh, shit". Personally, I'd like to have the contentment and peace of mind kind rather than the delirious type. And to also remember in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: "is not a goal, it's a byproduct". So, finding an interest or a cause might be a big first step in the happiness equation. Time to get out and explore some new stuff and jumpstart the old happiness engine.

Network? What Network TV?

2009-09-28T17:29:00.000-05:00

Even though I'm a HUGE fan of Dancing with the Stars (I hear the snickers....quiet!), I'm abandoning all network TV this week. Ken Burns' new series on the National Parks system started last night on PBS. If you didn't see it, start tonight. It's FABULOUS, informative and fun. It will be on every night this week.

Last night set the stage with the first parks being created: Yosemite, Sequoia, one other I don't recall the name of, and the great Yellowstone. John Muir, a Scotsman by heritage but raised here, was a moving force in the birth of the parks system. He sounds so terribly fascinating himself that I might have to go to the library and delve a little more in to his history.

I guess there will probably be a book......one I will have to buy. And then, I'm sure PBS will use the video to raise money. But right now, it's all free and I'm watching! Hope you are, too.

A Southern Delicacy

2009-09-25T09:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday as I was driving home from the grocery store, I happened to glance up at the Hardee's sign as I went by. And there it was: advertising for a fried bologna sandwich. WHAT?????

Now, I don't know if Hardees all over the nation are on this bandwagon or not. Maybe it's just us this particular campaign is aimed for. But I haven't seen or heard of any restaurant or deli or sandwich shop around here touting bologna before now. (And by the way, when I was growing up -- and still --- that word is pronounced "bolo-nee", long o's with the emphasis on the "nee" if you want to get the inflection just right.) Just one more little artery-clogging menu item to entice us with.

I can well remember as a little girl going to the store with my grandmother to grocery shop. She always stopped at the butcher counter (remember those?) and had the man there slice up at least a pound of the stuff. Thick slices.....really thick slices. Back then, it didn't come all prepackaged for you. He'd slice it up and wrap it in that nice thick, white butcher's paper. And when we'd get home, I couldn't wait for her to unwrap it and slap it down in that skillet. She'd fry it up until it was nice and hot and crispy brown around the edges. Take it out, put it between two heavily mayonnaised pieces of fresh "light bread" and dig in. Oh, and "light bread", if you don't already know, was white, presliced, store-bought bread versus the homemade kind. Yummy! No wonder Southerners seem to have a problem with calorie counting.

I bet Hardee's version doesn't hold a candle..........

Wet/Mold/Mildew/OH MY!

2009-09-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

For two years, we couldn't PRAY for rain. This year, it's monsoon season. Flooding everywhere in the South. There's one thing I know for certain: I can never live in Seattle, London or anywhere else that has gray, cloudy, rainy, CRAPPY weather day after day after day. Depression City!

This past weekend as I visited with friends in Atlanta and attended a couple of dog shows, it absolutely poured. The only thing I could think of was how totally relieved I was NOT to have my dogs with me. All those poor souls slogging around in the rain (some sans umbrellas or raincoats) imploring FiFi to "PLLLEEEAASSE PEEEEEEEE". And trying to keep all those hours of dedicated grooming intact long enough for their two minutes under the judge's eye. Oh me, oh my. Yep. It was glad I was that the Little Black Dogs were safe at home.

I was even gladder that I made it home myself. Especially after I just heard yesterday about the mud slides and tragic deaths happening in the Atlanta area. This is just one more case of that famous saying "Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it." And in spades, too.

No More Bookcases?

2009-09-16T07:20:00.000-05:00

Just a couple of days ago I read with great interest about all the E-readers (such as Amazon's Kindle) now on the market and the ones soon to be out. Ever since the Kindle first came out, I've been cogitating on buying one. It just seems so expensive compared to a trade paperback or even a nice hardcover. However, the more I think about it, the more the price is looking reasonable.

First of all, if you're a pretty avid reader like me, the amount I spend on books in a year would more than pay for the cost. Honestly, I try to go to the library more..... and I have. But often I end up halfway through the library's book thinking, "Oh man...I've GOT to have this book." This is probably due to the fact that I read with a yellow Bible highlighter in my hand with my own books. This propensity to want to "remember" passages would be the main drawback to me of an electronic reader. Unless, of course, they've REALLY perfected their way of annotating.

Secondly, I look around at the number of bookcases in my house, both built-in and freestanding. You just wouldn't believe the shelf space I've dedicated to books. There is at least one in every room of my house......plus the built-ins in the kitchen, the living room, one bedroom and my craft area. There're even two in my attic! Could an electronic reader really help prevent buying more??? Very possibly. Could I stop having to give away books to friends and the libraries because I've run out of room in my house to keep them? Maybe.

And there's always the issue of travel. Although I don't do much flying or train riding, I am adamant about taking a book along with me wherever I go, even if it's just an overnight. I can't imagine sitting for more than 10 minutes with nothing to read. I swear, it's a sickness.

Could this be my Christmas present this year? Maybe. Stay tuned.

Another Week Ended

2009-09-11T14:51:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine is about to become a grandmother at the end of the year. I really can't believe that I'm old enough to have friends who are grandparents, but there you are: I am. As I still find it hard to take care of myself and my dogs (and occasionally my husband), there's a big part of me that's glad it's her and not me. The other little teensy part of me that heaves a big sigh at the thought of grandmotherness filled the need by knitting this little lap blanket for the new arrival.

I love to knit anything flat because
I'm really not much more than a
novice knitter. So, baby blankets are
my go-to gift. Plus, I love the yarns
that are designated for such projects.
As a matter of fact, I found a little
jacket for a toddler that I'd really LOVE to make for myself.... just need to find someone who can rewrite the pattern for me.

I didn't find out until I had finished what gender we had coming out of the oven (a boy). Thank goodness I chose a yarn to do the heart that could go either way.

I hope that this gets used till it falls apart. And it keeps that wee one warm and cuddly. Babies truly are a magic gift. Beside this new little person, my blanket is just a very wee token.

It's Coming!

2009-09-09T11:00:00.002-05:00

I could feel it in the air this morning. Instead of doing my usual routine of popping in an exercise video to force myself to move, I decided to go outside for a REAL walk. It's kind of cool this morning; sun is shining for a change.

It didn't take too many minutes for me to realize it was downright comfortable and pleasant out there. Immediately my mind sprang forward to a few weeks in the future and started fantasizing about all the fall walks I could take The Little Black Dogs on.

I'd like for those not to be just fantasies this year. So, I'm aiming for a couple of dog walks a week for the fall. I know two little critters who would LOVE that.

The End of Summer

2009-09-08T10:03:00.000-05:00

Labor Day is always supposed to be the official end of summer. It makes no difference that temperatures here in the South will still hit the high 80s or low 90s until somewhere along about Thanksgiving. That may be a slight exaggeration, but not by much. I've known plenty of Thanksgiving Days that were in the low 70s.

Enough about the weather. It must be a mental thing, but when I woke up this morning (at 4:30.....no, I don't know why....I just did), I felt curiously energized and ready to DO something. Which is a far cry from the way I felt over the weekend. Can you say "lethargic"? It's almost as if my brain flipped a switch in to Autumn Mode: crispy, clear days equal crispy, clear behavior. Go get 'em, girlie! Make use of that little surge of adrenalin!

Anyway, I'm ready. Summer makes me tired and cranky and hot. I'm ready for an attitude adjustment and a change of season is just what the doctor ordered. Falling leaves, anyone?

Friday's Finish

2009-09-04T16:00:00.000-05:00

Did you think I was eaten by a scrapbook or something? Not hardly. Haven't even been back to that side of the room this whole entire week. Not that I haven't THOUGHT about it.....WANTED to.....just never happened. And why not you ask?

Why not indeed. Monday was throw-the-house-back-to-order-from-the- weekend. Tuesday & Wednesday were taken with a flying trip to Atlanta to get The Little Black Dogs groomed. Yes, I know I groom them. But I do not groom them CORRECTLY. God knows I try. I think I'll probably have that put on my tombstone. Something to the effect of "I did the best I could." That would just about cover everything I think.

Thursday was Hunting & Gathering Day (food for the household hungry). And today was Little Black Sambo Day, otherwise known as "mowing the hayfields we call yards" around here.

So, I have tomorrow and Sunday to finish out this wonderful week. Could I maybe make it to one of the stools around the craft table? Maybe. If it rains. Seems like I do a lot better with my creative stuff on soggy days.

T.G.I.F..............AGAIN?????

2009-08-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

Damn. How does this keep happening? I write on Monday. I'm supposed to be writing on another couple of days of the week. Then, all of a sudden, it's Friday again. Sometimes I think Somebody is subtracting days out of my weeks just to gaslight me. Or, is this just a "senior moment" type thing?

However, there is one good thing that's happened in these lost (to me) days. I have begun the Great Excavation over in my craft area. Say a little prayer for me please. I managed to clear a space, oh.....about 3 feet square in the floor. I guess it is a start. But what a puny one!

Never fear: I am determined. Somehow, some way, this horrible pile of odds and ends is going to evolve in to a place where I can actually get work done without being surrounded by stacks and piles and heaps.

But for now, let's just enjoy the weekend, okay?

Monday Morning Musings

2009-08-24T07:36:00.003-05:00

To be absolutely correct, I guess I should call this Monday Musing "Monday FUMING". I got on the scales this morning for the first time in about a week. Need I say more? I had(again) passed the magic number.....and NO, I won't tell you what it is......that tells me I am headed to Fat City on the express train.

It's not fair that as you age, your body wants to hold on to all those calories instead of release them. It's not fair that no matter how much you move, your metabolism rachets down in to creep mode. Not fair, not fair, not fair. But, as they say, it is what it is.

I don't mind the less eating part really. It's the less drinking part that gets me. Those cocktails in the late afternoon before dinner are such a pleasant way to unwind and end the day. Unfortunately, they also carry mucho calories with them. And even though I'm told dozens of times that those calories are empty, I can't believe that anything that tastes that good could be termed "empty". Ah well. Prohibition Wagon, here I come!

T.G.I.F.

2009-08-21T07:20:00.003-05:00

It was Monday. POOF!........ It's now Friday. How did that happen? Time has a sneaky way of disappearing lately. What have I done this week? Where did my energies go? I'm sure I must have done something worthwhile besides grocery shop, groom dogs, clean house, plan meals, wash clothes, run errands.....ad nauseum.

Perhaps that's the problem: time is disappearing because my LIFE is disappearing in little dribs and drabs of endless monotony. Why am I doing that? Yes, there are things that "need" doing. But geez, EVERY day??? Maybe it's because all those things help keep the wolf of anxiety away from the door in these very disturbing, turbulent times. Could I be using all that as insulation from the stresses and strains? Probably. But boy, I need to break out of that habit and fast. Anxiety in manageable amounts won't kill me....might jumpstart all those creative juices I just know are way down there somewhere.

So, where to start? Hmmm. Guess that better be the topic of thought (with ACTION) next week.

Monday Morning Musing

2009-08-17T07:37:00.003-05:00

In a rare fit of determination, I went to the movies yesterday afternoon. This is significant because I probably attend 2-3 movies at a theatre in a year's time. The movie I had made this extra effort for is "Julie & Julia"..... the one about Julia Child and Julie I-Forget-Her-Last-Name cooking all the recipes in "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year.

It was a really good movie and I'm glad I got to see Meryl Streep work her characterization magic. It was funny and heartwarming and all that. But I'm just going to tell you: if I thought I had to take a cookbook and fix every recipe in it in a year just to get a handle on my life, I'd probably be in the looney bin before the second week. I can't imagine coming home 365 NIGHTS to fix some long drawn-out French recipe. Hell, it's all I can do to make myself go to the grocery store every week. And half the time, I don't come back with anything really edible.

So, while I -- like Julia -- LOVE to eat, I'm still not going to stay in the kitchen. If I want really good food, I'll save up the "egg money" and go to a nice restaurant.

Meditations on Yard Work

2009-08-14T13:37:00.005-05:00

Well, after I "freshened" yesterday, I did mow grass. And I mowed some more this morning. When there are ACRES of lawn, it takes the efforts and time of more than one. I do a little; my mother does a little; my husband does a little. It's torturous. Especially if you're not a yard person like me. I have told everyone who would ever listen that the only reason I have a yard in the first place is for my dogs. A few pots of flowers would do me just fine, thank you very much. If I needed more nature than that..........well, isn't that what they have parks for?

Only rich people should have large (or in our case, EXTRA LARGE) yards -- and the yard men or service to go along with them. Seeing as how I'm not rich, nor am I ever likely to be, I have two options. Move or do it myself. I think maybe I should be working on that move aspect. I'll put that on the overlong, overdue list.

To Nap or Not

2009-08-13T13:20:00.002-05:00

Many years ago, I used to take a nap every day after lunch. Then, life got crazy, crowded and chaotic and I quit. Just got out of the habit. I'm thinking of reinstituting the nap hour though. It's all a part of staying "fresh" I think. If my mind gets all fuzzy after lunch and my brain slows down, I figure that must be a sure sign of "staleness".

After my foraging of the morning (also known as grocery shopping), I had thought I might bite the bullet and mow some grass. God knows, there's plenty of it to mow. But no. Now that I've eaten, I've determined the grass can wait. I need to freshen up my mind instead.

Another Thought

2009-08-11T10:49:00.002-05:00

I read this yesterday: "Don't fear starting fresh. Sometimes a fresh start is the only answer."

So, today, I want to be FRESH. I don't want to feel all stale and fried like McDonald's french fry grease from last month. I'm starting by writing this. And while I'm out doing those 2 dozen errands today, I'm going to mediate on "freshness"..... what road will take me there and how I'll know when I've arrived.

I also will have the A/C turned up full blast............

I Hate Summer!

2009-08-10T09:39:00.004-05:00

Really. No kidding. It sounds crazy because most people love summer: the swimming, the boating, the golfing, the hiking, the......whatever. Those lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer. Sorry, I'm not buying it. Here in the South, it's nothing but heat, humidity and sweat. I don't like any of those.

Summer saps my energy, makes me lethargic and dull. All my vim, vigor, zest and creativity are enveloped in the steamy outdoors, never to return till October. It makes me cranky and wears on my nerves. And I've been this way since June.

I've had enough. It's almost mid-August and we still have weeks and weeks of summer weather. I'm fighting back. No, I don't know how. But I'm tired of being just a puddle on the floor. I WANT SOME COOL FUN. And I'm going out and find some!

LOVE the Races!!

2009-06-06T17:18:00.004-05:00

If I ever get filthy rich, I'll be dangerous. I'll be wearing big, showy hats at the Derby; eating lots of fresh crab at the Preakness; and singing "New York, New York" at the Belmont. But don't hold your breath. I'm not. My lottery tickets have all been duds so far. I don't see that changing any time soon.

I'm sad. I really had wanted Calvin Burell to get his personal triple crown today. It didn't happen, although he gave a good ride. Mine That Bird's brother, Summer Bird, beat him, but not by much. Calvin just has that joie de vivre that makes me smile. Perhaps he'll be another Willie Shoemaker and ride for a long, long time. I hope so.

One thing I am happy about though: Rachel Alexandra's owners had the good sense not to run her. I feared for her safety at a mile and a half. Apparently, they thought that might be a little much as well. I love to watch horse racing. But I love to watch healthy horses more. So, I hope that the racing community will continue to birddog their trainers, jockeys, owners, etc., forcing them to put the welfare of their horses first, not purses. Yep, those purses are big. But the question of ethics is bigger.

The Baker's Dozen....

2009-05-25T17:04:00.002-05:00

Actually, dozen and a half....cupcakes. Good cupcakes; strawberry ones. Made with very fresh "from the farm" strawberries. Recipe called for yummy sounding cream cheese frosting. With 3 sticks of butter and 8 oz of cream cheese and almost a whole box of powdered sugar. Plus, more fresh strawberries and a little strawberry jam.

Alas and alack, I don't think the frosting is quite right. Somehow, I did something to it. I'm guessing I didn't beat the butter and cream cheese and sugar together long enough. But how do I know? I'm not the best cook around and obviously FAR from the best baker. If I was, first of all, I'd know how to avoid this problem and secondly, I would know how to fix it if I didn't avoid it. I don't know either of those things. You'd think that by this age I would have learned SOMETHING.

Consequently, my wonderful strawberry cupcakes that I worked all morning to make the old-fashioned way FROM SCRATCH will now taste sort of like SCRATCH. No frosting unless we want to just slather the top with this butter-based concoction that's passing for frosting sitting in my refrigerator right now.

This is really when I wish my grandmother was still around. (Not my mother; she's not all that terrific at baking either.) I need a note from heaven about the finer points of frosting making. For next time. And yes, I guess there will be a next time....sigh.......

2009-04-23T08:38:00.001-05:00

I am in love. Another man has stolen my heart and I’m hopeful I’ll be the better for it. James P. Owen is probably not someone you’ve ever heard of before unless you are a cowboy. I certainly hadn’t till just a few weeks ago. Mr. Owen is the originator of “cowboy ethics” and “The Code of the West”. I know. This doesn’t seem to have anything to do with dogs or politics or “fighting City Hall”. Bear with me. Because I see a definite link.

As Mr. Owen outlines it, this is the code that all cowboys followed then and still follow today:

Live each day with courage.
Take pride in your work.
Always finish what you start.
Do what has to be done.
Be tough, but fair.
When you make a promise, keep it.
Ride for the brand.
Talk less and say more.
Remember that some things aren’t for sale.
Know where to draw the line.

Even though there are very few of us who are driving cattle to Kansas City anymore, or putting up miles of fencing or laying brands or breaking horses, all ten of these principles still apply to life today if we let them. Some may think they are old-fashioned, simple or just plain hokey but following them could make a major impact on our world if we only would. Why? Because they’re based on ethics and doing what’s right, not what’s expedient. They offer stability, not chaos, to a society urgently in need.

How does this apply to dog owners and breeders and fanciers? The Code is based on personal responsibility; something that pretty much all of us profess to believe in when it comes to the owning, breeding and treatment of dogs and other pets. Most of us expect people to do “what’s right and fair” when it comes to the owning of dogs……right and fair for the owner and right and fair for the dog.

We also believe in freedom – freedom to have our dogs, to participate in our dog activities without interference, to live our doggie lifestyle. The cowboy ethics principle that particularly applies here and now is “do what has to be done”. For the past several years, and for the immediate future, dog owners have been in a fight for their existence and way of life. Forces gather to take all this away from us, either all at once, or piece by piece over time. It’s time to do “what has to be done”. I offer this quote from Mr. Owen’s book, Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West:

“In Kevin Costner’s Open Range, the cowboy heroes are Boss Spearman, a tough old cattle drover who has endeavored to steer clear of bloodshed, and his hand Charley Waite, who has clearly done some killing in his time. While resting their herd, they run up against Baxter, a despotic rancher who rules the nearby town and hates “free grazers” like Boss and Charley. Baxter’s men rough up their friend, Mose, and the bullying rancher lets them know he means to kill them all and scatter their herd if they do not quit his domain.

‘You reckon them cows are worth getting killed over?’ Charley asks Boss when he vows to protect the herd. ‘The cows is one thing,’ says Boss. ‘But one man telling another where he can go in this country is something else.’”

I think all dog lovers need to “Cowboy Up”. NOW.

Spring Has Sprung

2009-03-20T13:37:00.003-05:00

Today is the first official day of spring and it certainly looks like it outside my window. The sun is bright; the sky is deep blue; a strong March breeze is blowing. A textbook spring day is all around me. My sinuses have recognized this. They aren't particularly happy. I try to soothe them with a little Tylenol. They cooperate for a couple of hours and then begin complaining again. Tyrants at this time of year.

I should be out trimming more bushes, clearing more brush and generally doing all those spring cleanup chores that demand to be done this time of year. Actually, "scream" would probably be a better word. And what's more, they all scream at the same time. It's not like they could be polite and ....... get in line. No, no. It's like 10 puppies pulling at your shoe laces as you try to walk 5 feet across the floor.

I suppose I will get to most of it. Eventually. It may be Memorial Day or later though. I'm not making any promises. For this afternoon, I think I'll just enjoy Spring in all her blowsy beauty. To hell with chores. They'll be there tomorrow. The Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, so will I.