Saturday Ramblings

This is what I should be doing instead of checking out every one's latest post and writing one of my own!

It's a beautiful day today with the sun shining. We just had lunch at the Texas Roadhouse and I over did with the Blooming Onion! That thing was huge and it was a long time before they brought our entree so it gave me plenty of time to over indulge! :O( I brought the rest of it home along with all of my entree as I was just too full to eat any of it.

We went to the tack shop in a small town about 40 minutes away to get Buddy some Old Mac Boots. These things are amazing and made about as sturdy as anything you could find. The only thing is they didn't have his size so we had to order them. Also they didn't have the cushioning pads that go in them and she wasn't sure she could get them????? I would think if it's the company that makes the boots they would make the pads that go in them, but we shall see. These are great for all kinds of different ailments plus are good when trailering the horses as they have a good heavy tread on the bottom and protect their feet in case they get stepped on. I hope they get here quickly as I think the hard ground is bothering Buddy's soles.

I'm still wading through old pictures and I know some of you out there like old tractors so I'm wondering if anyone knows what kind this one is that my Grandfather is standing on??? Or this one my Dad is on??? My money is on Cliff over at Donna's to know!

I found this picture of the first pony I ever rode. I am the smaller one standing beside my sister and the pony. His name was Scout and he belonged to one of our neighbors. Their kids had lost interest I guess so we would go get him every day after school and bring him to our house to ride. He was a nice little pony, don't know whatever happened to him. This was probably about 1957.

These next two are just a few of the teams that my Grandfather had over the years. That is my mother on the left and Grampie on the right holding one of the kids, probably one of my uncles, it was 1943.

I don't know why there were so many teams at the farm in this picture. They certainly were getting ready to do something that needed a lot of horse power! I think I can see five teams.

This was my dream car. It belonged to my aunt and uncle before they passed away a few years ago. It was sold, sure wish I'd had the $$ to buy it! :O(

Guess that's it for Memory Lane Volume 3 today. I need to get all of these pictures in albums. I used to be a really hardcore scrapbooker and made all the fancy pop up pages but now I'm lucky to even get the pictures in a book! Sigh.......

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! :O)

Friday Happenings

I got a lot done today. The phone didn't ring at all. The cats knocked the phone off the hook. Funny how that works....

Poor Hubby had been trying to get me on the phone and it just went to voice mail so finally he e-mailed me so I went around checking the phones. With the slushy weather today the two goobers didn't want to go outside so instead they played tag all through the house. They have rather long hair especially Noodles and he doesn't like the snow sticking to it, so he comes in and finds a warm spot and dries out.

My computer man was here this morning. Those two hours just fly by for me, there is so much to learn and there is always something for him to undo that I have made a mess out of! Today I had somehow put a gazillion pictures on the desktop so that there was absolutely no room left. Don't know how I did it but he undid it!

Many of you have asked me about Buddy. (THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!) We don't think that this is going to be anything serious. The vet thinks that possibly it is the ground in the inside arena getting frozen as our temps get lower and that it is hard on his bare feet. This is the best case scenario and the one we are hoping for. He doesn't have any heat in his feet which is good and he doesn't have a temp. Tomorrow we are going to go to a tack shop about 30 miles away and get him some Mac Boots to try. These are made out of rubber and hook onto the hoof with a strap and make a cushion. If this is what it takes to be able to ride him in the winter this is what we will do.

Someone asked about the cold and if this would be bothering him. No, he is nice and warm with his long thick coat that he grows every winter. We don't have blankets on any of the horses, the only reason we would put them on is if they got sick or if we had a long stretch of terribly frigid weather and then we would have to leave them on for the rest of the winter. Ideally we like them to grow their own 'blanket' we feel it's healthier for them in this climate.

I took a friend of mine to lunch this week. We work together on the decorating committee at church and are very close friends. Her Hubby is in a nursing home due to Parkinson's Disease and it is very hard on her. She would love to have him home but it is just not possible due to the amount of care that he needs. No one knows until they have been through it how difficult it is to have to place a loved one in a nursing facility even if it is for their own good. I admire her for keeping a positive attitude even though I know it is so hard for her.

I missed National De-Lurking week a few weeks ago but decided to put this in even though it's late. (Thank you Pea for providing the buttons for us to use!) De-lurkers are people that read our blogs but don't leave a comment or identify themselves in any way. I am finding according to my sitemeter that I am only getting about 1/3 of the people leaving comments and I would love to have you all put your 2 cents worth in! It makes it so fun to read the comments each day and to respond to them. So come out, come out, where ever you! You don't have to write anything long, just say hello if you want! :O)

I came across this picture of the farmer squirting milk into the mouth of one of his cats. It took me back to my grandparents farm years ago that was just down the road from us and my grandfather would do the same thing. They didn't have 'house cats' the cats lived and earned their living in the barn keeping the mice and rats at bay but at milking time there was always a pan of nice warm milk for them. It seemed like there was always one cat that Grampie could squirt the milk right into his mouth and it never ceased to amaze us as little kids! We just thought that was the greatest thing since sliced bread! :O)

Oh me oh my, I think my turkey flock is growing daily! Probably has something to do with the nice wildlife grain that I put out every day. Last night we had two does and they each had twin fawns. Quite a sight to see, wish I could get a picture for you all!

I have been back at the gym on a limited workout since my fall off one of my horses. I do mostly upper body work so that my leg and knee have time for a complete recovery. If you are wondering what I look like in the gym here are a couple of shots that my trainer took of me.

As you can see I have a long way to go......ahem..... I think I am going to start my own line of workout wear, what do you think??????

Funsize is off on a cruise to the Caribbean tomorrow with one of her friends! 80* and balmy breezes sure sounds good right now! She works two jobs, sometimes three and certainly deserves a nice trip!

Guess that's it for today. I'm looking forward to checking out the new tack shop tomorrow. Maybe I should leave my purse at home....... Anywho, hope you all have a great weekend! We'll be here by the fire!

Wednesday Sunshine

We finally got dug out from our big storm but the snow banks are sure huge. It makes it fun for the children to slide down them and then on down the hill but it's a little hard to see when coming out of a street onto the main road. I worry about FIL who is 91 being on the road when the banks are like this but at least he rides with Hubby to work on days when it is snowing. I admire his independence living alone and being very self sufficient, must not be easy at that age. Hubby goes over every night about 8:30 and checks in on him and visits for an hour or so. It has been such a good thing having him move over here beside us instead of living several miles away across the river.

Ann and I (Funsize was working) went to the barn this morning to work with the 'guys'. It was bitterly cold when we first got there and our hands just couldn't seem to warm up even in the barn. The horses are cozy and warm though with their thick long hair and were itching to get outside. She rode her horse Bucky, you know the one that was bottoms up in the snow last week, and I rode Buddy. Buddy's feet are a bit tender so I am waiting for a call from the vet to see what he thinks. I think it's because with the cold weather the footing in the inside arena is hardening up a bit and making it less comfortable on his bare feet. Hopefully that's all it is. My stomach is in a knot thinking of what it could be and I know that is wrong to do, worrying never accomplished anything but it's hard not to after the year we have put in with him.

American Idol has started up as of last night. There is one very talented gal that sold her best barrel racing horse so that she would have the money to go try out on AI. She will have my vote no matter what! The horse is gorgeous, one that I wouldn't mind having in my barn. (as if I need another one!) I was very disgusted with Paula and Randy last night as they made fun of the young man with the really deep voice to the point it was cruel. He didn't have a good voice but they didn't have to be sitting there laughing their heads off with the poor guy looking on. Now some of the contestants knew before they went in that they were ridiculous, like the guy that had his chest hair waxed off, but this young man really thinks that he has talent. I will be glad when the preliminaries are over and the 24 contestants are chosen.

Went through a few more old pictures today. This first one is of my mother and father in 1942. What kind of car is that???? It must have been taken before Dad left for the war.

This next one of me is with my blanket that was never far out of my reach! This would have been 1953. Again look at the old vehicles in the background! My mother sure spiffed us up.

This mare belonged to my grandfather, her name was Bess. Have you ever seen a head that big on a horse????????? Wow!

This last one is a picture of my older sister sitting on a cow. Don't ask me why she is sitting on a cow but I guess that is just what you did in 1949!

The house smells delish as I have Pioneer Woman's pot roast simmering in the crock pot and I just took two loaves of pumpkin bread out of the oven. Pioneer Woman has some really nice recipes and directions that are very easy to follow as she puts in lots of pictures.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Oh the weather outside is frightful! Can't remember the next line, sigh....... Anyway, it's been snowing to beat the band today. It started about 11 this morning and it's almost 9 PM and it's still going strong. We'll probably have about 14 inches before all is said and done. :o)

Now you know I am not unhappy about this. I love the snow and all the fun that goes with it. My snowmobile is calling my name from the barn and the sleds are itching to take us for a good slide down Grampa's hill! Tonight I can hear the neighborhood children laughing and talking over there as they slide. The snow is very soft and fluffy so it wouldn't be good for making a snowman but great for sliding down the hill.

The birds were out in great numbers today too looking for a free lunch. I had woodpeckers, chickadees, finches, mourning doves and juncos. I got a few pictures but I didn't want to get my camera too wet as the snow was really coming down hard when I was out shooting. I think chickadees are just the cutest thing! :o)

D and T were here with me this morning as DIL had a gym appointment. We had fun playing games and painting, two of their favorite things to do at Grammies.




It was so pretty with the snow coming down. I always have to take a few shots of the barn and trees.

There was no school today and most of the businesses closed early. The schools have already used up their snow days and here we are only in January. The poor kids will be going to school till July if this keeps up!

Noodles and Munchie were out in the sun room with us after dinner watching the snow and Noodles decided to play a game.

This looks interesting.

I think I will be blue.


I think you need two to play this game.

HEY Munchie come on in and play!!!!

Someone asked me how Buddy has been doing this winter (thank you so much for asking!) and I am glad to report that he is doing very well. I rode him on Saturday in the inside arena for a while and he was going great. We only did walk/trot as there were two others in there working and it gets a bit crowded plus I didn't want to get him sweating at all as his hair is so long and thick it would take forever to cool him out.

Also someone asked me if we raise the turkeys here on the farm or are they wild and yes they are wild. They are very well fed with the grain we give them so they might be pretty good to eat but I won't let anyone hunt on my property so they are pretty safe from the roasting pan! If they keep producing like they have been we may have to open it up to the hunters to keep them under control.

Another thing someone asked me was if I still had the sleigh that was in a picture a couple posts back with Smokey Jack. No we don't, it actually belonged to my aunt and she sold it. At the time we didn't have any other horses that drove and Smokey was living with her so we didn't buy it. Bad decision, sure could use it now!!!

I am still going through old pictures and found a few REALLY old ones of moi! This one was probably taken in 1953.

This one was taken in 1952.

This last one was my high school graduation photo in 1969. I worked soooooo hard to get my hair somewhat straight. It was VERY curly back then right in the middle of when long stick straight hair was in style!

Guess that's it for tonight. Got to go watch the snow some more. There is just something mesmerizing about the flakes drifting down, it's so beautiful! :o) Sigh........

Saturday Ramblings

I have been working with my computer man for the past 4 or 5 weeks. He comes to the house and we work on things that I want to learn how to do and he fixes anything that I have messed up in the previous week......... My son is probably thanking his stars above that I have this guy so that he doesn't have to get me out of a mess every time he comes over to visit. :o)

I get a kick out of Steve as I doubt he works on things anywhere else like he works on here but he takes it in good stride. He is very patient with my fascination of Hug Bug graphics and has worked hard to get them to work in my blogs. I know nothing about JPEG, PGN or any of the other ways graphics are made but I am slowly learning. Blogger only accepts JPEG so next week we are going to work on changing some of the others over to that format.

Can't you just hear the other computer guys when Steve goes back to the office..........."hey Steve did you make some cute little cows, bunnies or kitties today???? WE set up a whole new computer system for the bank down the street and you are working with cutesy graphics??????" Steve is a good sport!

Our turkey flock has grown considerably this year. For several years we had 5 turkeys that came to the house regularly for their grain. Evidently they hooked up with another flock and I counted close to 40 yesterday! This spring we had about 15 or 20 chicks hatch and almost all of them have survived and are now teenagers. I'm just hoping the flock doesn't double in size in the next year or so!!

Last evening we were sitting out in the sun room and looked up and there was a doe with her twin fawns out back eating some of the wildlife grain that I throw out for the turkeys. The fawns are really good size now and in people years the would be preteens. I have been trying to get a good picture of them but they hear me open any window or door and they are GONE! I will keep trying though because they are just adorable.

I have several favorite pictures that I would like to post. The first one is of me and Hubby on the John Deere. It was taken a couple years ago when we were having a hay ride for the neighborhood children.

Another favorite is this one that Son took of some animals at a farm that belongs to one of his clients. I just love the shot with the cows and horses eating together and the foal getting up after probably rolling in the snow. I think I will print one of these off on my big printer that Hubby got me for Christmas. It will print up to 19X13 pictures and they are just like a poster.

This is D and T in my kitchen sink when they were just little. They sure wouldn't fit in there now!

What is this? A new toy!

Am I supposed to wear it on my head?

What's that a ball going around and around?

Hey, I'm getting dizzy!

Stop watching me and taking all those pictures!