Decided

not to travel out of town to an auction today. It is mostly farm machinery with some goodies thrown in but would be a 60+ round trip and I more than likely would not stay. It is outside and the wind is blowing between 20 and 30 mph with a temperature right now of 42. Sunday is an auction much closer (14 miles RT) AND inside. Guess I am just a whimp.

Gateway Pundit: Another, Danish Imam Busted on Tape! Talks of Suicide Attacks!

Gateway Pundit: Another, Danish Imam Busted on Tape! Talks of Suicide Attacks!

Hmmm doesn't surprise me we never hear anything in MSM.

The Sound of Thunder

came scooting in the open window this morning. It is not the first thunder for this year but the first Spring thunder. Checked the radar and looks as though the biggest part of the storm is to the south of here so hopefully will not have to shut the computer down.

On one of my Dutch Oven groups they were listing the most hated veggie and I never add to the list. There are some I am not particularly fond of but none that I truly hate. The number one meal that I recall as a kid was the first fried chicken meal of the year. It was called Spring chicken as they were barely big enough to use, but, oh so tender. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, homemade bread and strawberries with cream. All of it raised or produced on the farm. Good eats!

Made A

quick trip to Wallyworld yesterday afternoon. Picked up a few grocery items that you cannot get here and a new cushion for Mom. She uses one on her lap for proping up her diary and puzzle book, plus just resting her arms. I got the skinniest one I could find but still to plump for her. She did not say so but I knew it probably was so asked her. She said "well, I just have to get use to it" so I offered her one I had upstairs that was bigger in diameter but pretty thin. I think it will work. Her old one was so ratty. Glad I picked one in a color and design that I like as I'm using it now.

Snow is almost gone and some spring showers around early today. Possible thunderstorms later on this week.

Friday is an auction that looks pretty good. I hope the weather is nice for it. Must go find the directions of how to get there.

Nice Visit

with my nephew and his wife yesterday. I happened to mention the OK City crew wants me to go with them to Michigan for a week in May. They both thought it was a very good idea. I am just going to play it by ear as I have to do on all my "escapes".

They also found a date for their big BBQ party and it is scheduled for April 15th. The problem with dates for them is quite a few of their friends have bands and to find a date when no one is scheduled to play can be tough. Both Dale and Deb have had, or played in bands in the past. I think I will be doing a batch of shrimp stuffed jalapenos on the grill for it. I gave him a jalapeno cooked in the shape of the state of Texas for helping out with Mom and think he wants to see someone else use it first.

Talked to my Corpus Christi friend and she was waiting for the release papers to get out of the hospital. The conclusion is she seems to have breast cancer but the mammograms did not show anything certain, but were not 100% clear. Biopsies sent to another lab for followup. Right now, looking at chemo and possible radiation later. The clots slowing dissovling. Doc told her she could do what she wanted and felt like except sky diving and rock climbing.

Almost time to sling some hash so will head downstairs shortly.

Next Stop Stew

MVC-016S
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003.

Actually the colors are brighter than what shows here. Don't know what I will do with all my "practice" stuff.

How Lucky

Checked the auction out and will go back later when they get to the "stuff" I am interested in, which isn't much, but something to do. Anyway, bought a couple of pieces of pie for dessert today at the auction lunch stand. Put them carefully in the truck and came on to the house. Carr ied them in and realized my purse was to light. Well, had laid my wallet on the edge of the hood, next to the windshield to place them in the truck and it (the wallet) rode the seven blocks without budging. How lucky can you get..

The New Toy

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Originally uploaded by sfinds2003.

It is hard to choose some items to order online. They say, for instance, that this easel is stable but is it really? In this case, yes, it is. While at Dick Blick's in Lincoln a couple of weeks ago I looked at their selection and could wiggle them etc. to see but they had mosly the high dollar ones so took a chance wilh online ordering and am pleased.

An Auction

is being held uptown today. At last, something to do! I have a couple of books to return to the library and they are open on Sat. mornings. yeah

Conditions are right with the wet snow that is on the ground for some morning fog. It is hovering about tree top level. The trees had already lost the snow that was caught in their branches but the moisture last night gave them all frosty limbs. Really pretty.

Walked up town to get a couple of batteries (one for the pedometer, does that mean I will be walking for exercise again?) and stopped by the local florist. She was telling me she had five funerals in the last couple of weeks or less. At least yesterday was doing something fun. Tonight is prom night and she had lots of corsages to work on.

Got the results back from the blood work and a big WHOOPS! cholesterol was up 30 points from 2 years ago. I went online and dug a little. Found a site to plug in numbers and it came up with me having a 2% chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. So even with the high main number (239) still not too bad in the MOOA. (minefield of old age) I believe that the past two years of stress has contributed greatly to that increase.

Sometime this weekend will call my friend in Corpus. Sure hope they know what is going on with her and have a plan of action.

WTF

Wouldn'tYouKnow

Not Good

The news from the coast is not good for my friend. The tests say cancer but so far they cannot find out the source so more tests are being run. She seems to be holding up well and keeping hubby from flipping out. Bless her heart.

Another friend's mother was told nothing the Dr.s could do after a heart attack, she elected to go home and so far, doing OK to the point of playing gin rummy with friends.

Received the easel late yesterday and had to laugh. A nice piece of equipment, made in Italy and with no instructions except "common sense". Took a little bit but finally figured it out. Felt common sense had taken a brief vacation. It is a Plein Air easel by Mabef. I think I will like it just fine. The companies sure know what they are doing when they enclose their current catalog in your shipment. I have already found at least "one" gotta have that!

Tough Stuff

I had not heard via phone or email from a friend on the Texas coast for over a week. Finally, called her husband's cell and what I had feared was true. She is in the hospital and has been there for a week. Pretty scary stuff and they are not sure yet just what all it is. Known for sure is two blood clots, one in her shoulder and one in her arm. The reason MAY be lymphoma with the enlarged nodes pressing on veins.

Then, another friend has lost a school pal. Husband went to the pasture as he did every evening after supper and upon his return, wife was dead of a heart attack on the kitchen floor.

There are a couple of more happenings like this the past week with either deaths or severe health problems among people I know. Damn, old age feels like treading through a mine field.

Minutia for today that is fun. Suppose to take delivery of an easel for my pastel piddling. Have a corner cleared out that gets good north light and the sun is shinning, no ice on the streets.

Let's all relax and have less stress in our lives. Ah, if I could only take my own advice.

Second Day of Spring

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Originally uploaded by sfinds2003.

Had not been to Flickr in a long time and things had changed. So will see if this will hit the blog! and not be way to big.

Just Read

about how a little bit of strength training helps even though you may not have time to do "full" sets..well, I have time but still don't do them.
I just finished a little extra shoveling on the driveway, think I will take a nap! Mine kind of training..naps, that is.

Still Snow and the Back Door Critter

Lots of snow and it is still going at it. I checked the back steps this morning and saw rabbit footprints in the snow. But Buddy Boy (or Girl) was back in position by the door. Sure hope it finds something to eat soon. Evidently it has been there 24 hours and counting. Wish there was some way I could get some food out there but would just scare it off.

Need to get to the Post Office this morning and since it is only 3 blocks away may attempt to wade through the snow. My boots are in the Baby Truck in the garage so may make the trip in tennies. Or not.

LATER Another check and the rabbit was gone. Then I saw him run in front of the steps around the side of the house. I quickly chopped up some fresh cabbage and stuck it out the door. Sure enough, the snow started in again with the wind picking up and he/she was back by the door but I could not see if any food had been consumed.

Boy, sure is tough when the most excitment you have is checking on a rabbit.

"sigh"

Hello Spring

and what a load of snow Mother Nature is dumping on us. Oh, well, the farmers need the moisture. A poor little rabbit snugged up against the back door early this morning to get out of the wind, I suppose. At least he was facing out toward the steps just in case one of the nasty assed cats that roam around killing them would appear.

I am not feeling to well today so don't know if I will attempt to shovel snow or not. Just have to wait and see.

My daughter called and it looks as though she may have a chance to take the girls to Washington D.C. by the end of summer. That would be pretty cool. But, of course, I would worry..that's what motherhood does, no matter how old they are. At least I don't treat her like she is 16..more than I can say for Mom..ha

Back for a Minute

Windy and cold today. Cooked country ribs in Cast Iron on the stove and they were tender and good!
Piddling with pastels some. Been looking at easels and can't decide what to do...I hate to add anything to the "gotta drag it to Texas" one day list, if that ever happens..Guess that is as good "pro" as I can get. May not have to..LOL

I do think this will be a martini evening. Wanted to take Mom to the club for a birthday dinner but she did not want to go. Also piddling with some housework.

My latest interest beside real estate in Texas is looking at yurts..I must have way too much prairie wind blowing between my ears. But I am still gonna look at 'em.

I'm In A

Rat's Ass mode...as in not giving a Rats Ass about much.

The death of my friend in Mississippi has really hit home. Stress must be managed and as we all know, it is hard to do. Consequently, in the scheme of things I have found going into the RA mode can be helpful. At This Point in Time it is applying to friends, family and strangers.

I have definately made some adjustments in being here that are helping get me through this trying time.
The most recent thing that I even surprsied myself in was a DIL going completely off, on me, via telephone and email. I handled it very well, as in staying detached with no sense of wanting to influence the outcome. I was aware that she has serious health issues, her marriage has been in trouble for a long time and her mother has been fighting cancer so realized, there was projection going on and I was it. But the upshot was, my power to stay detached remained strong. A new thing for me.

The other thing I realized is how much we don't take ownership of our choices. The first thing I knew when I got here was, "boy, you sure made a wrong decision" and certainly not anyone else was to blame. Early on in this blog I know I mentioned I would never make a fast decision again, unless it involved jumping out of the way of a speeding car.