Chance: Where are we?

My turn..my turn..my turn to blog. 

One morning we packed up the car and took off.  We had enough food for me to survive for ten days…and I took two balls and two leashes…and a water dish..and bottles of water…and a few Milk Bones and various other treats. I was not going to starve to death.

I got brushed real good before getting into the car.

Motel’s that have elevators are scary.  I hit the deck..and shivered and shook until it stopped moving…I now have a fear of little rooms with only one door. 

We stopped at Sue, Joe, Big Jake and Buddy's place …Big Jake growled at me and Buddy barked. Sue and Joe were happy to see me!

Then we drove and drove..until dark.

The next morning I woke up Far Side really early…

It was foggy..I could hardly see a thing.  Far Side wandered around in her jammies in the fog.

It was warm..well warmer than Minnesota.

Some trees still had leaves..and the grass was still green.  When the fog lifted I saw the lake. Yes, I went in for a dip.

Who lives here?

Meet Ernie..or Ern..or Ernest..he has lots of names.  He is just a little thing..I inadvertently sat on him one day..poooor Ernie.  Over the years most of his teeth went missing..he has about four left..he can only be fed small bits of food.  He has a bum leg..but he ran around pretty good while I was there.  He ran around with me in the yard..he led Far Guy through all the neighbor yards early one morning..poor old Ernie probably forgot where he lived.

Far Guy’s sister lives with Ernie..she likes me too:)

Wistful Wednesday: Shadow

Only the Shadow knows..

…why he loved to sleep in the bathroom sink.

He would lay there half the day until someone ran cold water for him to drink out of the faucet.

He was a weird cat.  He was trained to go potty outside and would wait to be let out the door.   He would use the cat box only in a true emergency.

Shadow was a replacement kitten.  He replaced Midnight who was a gift to Trica from Jason.  When Midnight died of Feline Leukemia..Shadow was the replacement. 

Like I said he was a weird cat.  He bit my father in law..who promptly got cat scratch fever and required a hospital stay and a surgery.

When the dogs..we had four..would get into a fight..Shadow would leap into the fray and land on one or another of the dogs and the fight would be forgotten..after all a kamikaze kitten was not to be trusted.

Shadow lived with us for a long, long time.  He finally moved in with Trica..and was euthanized because he could not be trusted around Savannah when she was a newborn. He was very jealous..and the day that he peed in Savannah’s car seat was the last straw.

There was always something a bit weird about that cat named Shadow…but only the Shadow knows why:(

Have a Happy Day

This is a sign that was given to my old bus driver when he retired.  His co workers had the sign made for him.

I smiled when I heard the story behind the sign..it was hung on one of the buildings at his retirement home.

He died a number of years ago..but I will always remember his smile and how his eyes twinkled when he greeted the kids on the bus morning and night.

Country kids..we knew nothing of having our own car with which to drive to school..we rode the bus.  We appreciated the warm ride to school in the morning, and being left off at the end of our drive every night.  It was our bus driver that got us there safely…year after year.

We didn’t misbehave on the bus..it was a privilege to ride the bus..and we didn’t take that privilege for granted.  If we messed up and got kicked off the bus..or even got a “pink slip” we would have found ourselves walking to school..for me that was 15 miles..so I just kept my hands to myself, looked out the window and enjoyed the ride:)

I saw a bear ..or not

Far Guy and I always joking  during our afternoon drives..will today be the day we see a bear..or a moose and will I get the photo?

Often when we are driving one of us will see something and ask the other if they saw it too? 

One day..I said “Did you see that bear?”  He replied.. “NO, I missed it..let’s go back!” 

Someone with a sick sense of humor..must have been laughing at all the traffic that turned around for a second look.  He even mowed and removed some brush..

Things are not always as we see them..I did see a bear..or not.

Not a real bear… I have only seen bear twice in Minnesota..they are impressive creatures.  A few years ago one came in and emptied all our bird feeders and stole one of the feeders in the middle of the night.  We had to take our bird feeders in a night for awhile..he/she did not return..at least not that we know of:)

Veterans Day 2012

Thanks to all the Veterans! 

I have a friend named Joe.  Joe is a WWII Veteran.

Joe received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

For heroism and extraordinary achievements in aerial flight as a Combat Aircrewman of a Patrol Bomber Squadron TWENTY EIGHT during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific War Area from Jan 25 – April 6 1945.  Participating in twenty missions during that period.

Joe also was in active combat from April 6 –May 26 1945.  He was 19 years old

From the White House:

To you who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation. As one of the Nation’s finest, you undertook the most severe task one can be called upon to perform.  Because you demonstrated the fortitude, resourcefulness and calm judgment necessary to carry out that task, we now look to you for leadership and example in further exalting our country in peace.

Signed Harry S. Truman

Joe shared with me his survival kit that he was issued.

Joe is an extraordinary individual…I am proud to call him my friend:)

Half Done

We are about half done with the carved Christmas ornament this year.  The design works..several have been painted and sealed and delivered!  I never really know how a design will look until one is ready to hang on a tree.

How about that and it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet.  We are moving right along.  Of course there is the never ending supply of wood chips that ends up under the table..those little suckers sure can fly.  We sit at the kitchen/dining table in the afternoon and evening and carve away.

When I get the ornaments all done and ready to package I will take some photos..and some in process photos too..and then I will give a few away. Yahoo!!

Thanksgiving seems early this year…or is it just me?

I had a piece of pumpkin pie at a friends house the other day..it sure tasted good!  It kinda put me in a Thanksgiving mood…or maybe it was just a momentary sugar high.

Today I am thankful for a little sunshine to warm my old bones:)

Postal Window

When I was little I went everywhere with my parents..one of the places we went was to the post office.

There was a little window there..and my Mom would get stamps.  I was too little to see what was going on behind the wall.  I was always curious.. what happens back there?   When I got a little taller I could see the wooden floor was scuffed and worn from the wheeled carts that were pushed around.  The big old containers were made of green canvas ..how much mail could they hold?  Where were all those letters going? 

I think I would have liked sorting the mail..getting all the letters and magazines in their proper mail boxes.

Far Guy handles all our postal business in our nearest small town..there are idiots working there.  I go either 7 miles west or 14 miles east to go to a post office where there are no idiots:)

Moments in Time

The other day we came home just as Josh was walking up to wait for the bus.  I got out to take a photo of the bus.  Usually their Mom is waiting at the bus stop..however there is something magical about kids seeing their Dad at the bus stop:)

Wistful Wednesday: The Hunting Bus

My Father in law was an avid deer hunter.  So were his friends.  They all went together and bought a bus.  They hunted in Montana and Wyoming with that bus.

It was a guy thing.

Inside the bus.

My Father In Law Marvin, with his friends Sam and Ben.  I had the best time looking around this old photo..they had Nut Goodies..Campbell’s Soup and Folgers Coffee above them..and 7 Up and some kind of hard liquor…I noted they cut a coffee can up and were using it for an ash tray.  Ben was hardly ever seen without a cigar in his mouth.

They must have kept clean..here is Sam washing his feet.  Note the bunks for sleeping.

Looks like they played some cards.

I wonder how warm it was in that bus..this looks like a cold morning..but it must have been a successful hunt..one deer for each hunter:)

Some of My Favorite Things

I am a janitor to a few of my favorite things.

The woven basket holds a blue cut off wine bottle and it in turn holds all my colored pencils..  You never know when you might need a colored pencil!   The woven basket is being guarded by a replica of Chance..a gift from granddaughter Madison. 

I love boxes..they hold lots of “stuff” and make me seem more organized than I am.  One holds old computer mouses and parts..the other might be a surprise box..since I cannot recall what exactly it holds… it would be a surprise! ( One Times Square Candy Bar without the candy .. I ate the chocolate and wrapped up a piece of cardboard the same size as the chocolate..a little pink computer duster and a few miscellaneous notes to self.)

The little Chickadee is a wood carving by my cousin Chuckie.  I won it at one of the family picnics.  I asked the little girl to please pull out my name and she did..I felt bad..but not bad enough to surrender the Chickadee.

This is just a small part of the shelf that is above my computer desk…just a few of my favorite things that I like to look at..and dust:)

Ice Castle

My other baby brother bought a castle!

It is a super insulated fish house/RV/home away from home.

It will sleep four, has a bathroom and a shower, refrigerator, microwave, cooking stove, heat, air conditioning, radio and TV!  I believe it has eight holes in the floor so that you can ice fish from the comforts of home!  Yes, it can be driven out onto the ice..after the ice is safe for vehicles.

Mom, Jody and Aunt Anna

The interior is cedar..you could play a game of cards if fishing is slow..or you could have a nap or stretch out and read a book.

Ice Castles are built in Montevideo Minnesota.  I have seen them for sale in town.  This is the first time I have seen one in the inside.  I though it was way cool..and suggested to my brother that after he retires a few mountains in Wyoming could be calling his name and maybe mine too.  He lived in Big Piney Wyoming for a long time..he knows all the best places to camp in the mountains where you don’t see any other people for days:)

A Do Over

Last night we got a “do over” from 2AM to 3AM..it was a sleepy do over. Oh how I hate the end of Day Light Saving Time.  My biological clock gets all messed up and I get cranky crankier.

My sleep pattern not that I have much of one will be off kilter.  Chance’s tummy will be hungry at 5 PM instead of 6PM..what does a dog know of daylight saving time anyway?  At 5PM he starts looking around to see who is cooking.  He must think he will starve to death if supper is later…now that will change to 4PM… soon it will be dark at 4PM anyway and you may as well be cooking.

I made two kettles of soup.  I thought we were getting deer hunting company ( Andy, Jen and the boys)..so I made soup.. her favorite food.  Instead I had my other baby brother,  his wife, my parents and Aunt Anna over for lunch.  We had a wonderful lunch..and there is still soup left over to freeze for when I want some comfort food this Fall..rutabaga, carrots, cabbage, tomato, potato and beef comfort food.  I made bread too..I get a gold star for cooking!  Far Guy doesn’t even like soup..but he ate some anyway.

Fall is fading fast..we are all shades of brown and grey and the sun hardly ever shines.

I do not want to “do over” the entire summer..just the flower picture taking and a little sunshine:)

Shooting Deer

There is no such thing as camera season..I can shoot deer any time of the year..day or night.

These two were right next to the highway grazing..and annoying three dogs that were in a fence nearby.  They were barking their heads off.  Chance was entertained!

Deer Hunting Season opens in our area today.  There are way too many does and fawns in our area yet you had to put in early for a Antlerless permit.  I don’t know who does the counts.. and what idiot decides these things..we have a herd of about thirty deer in our immediate area.  If we get snow..the wolves will get the young ones..if not a number will be taken out by vehicles and drag themselves off into the ditch or a field where they will become eagle food.

I would just as soon see the herd numbers controlled by hunters.  It is important to me that these tick factories/deer are kept in check:)

I might be cranky if:

I walk into a Car Dealership to buy a new car and walk by many salesmen and no one says hi.  Perhaps it was me..lacking dripping diamonds.  Far Guy complained to a few salesmen in the parking lot..they were standing around shooting the breeze.  THEN they tried to make the sale…nope..if their salesmen are not friendly their customer service sucks. There are other car dealerships.

I walk into a Dairy Queen grab a quart of frozen Ice Cream out of their freezer take it to the counter to pay for it and a small container of their topping to take as a birthday treat..only to be told that they don’t sell toppings separately.  I said “What do you mean..you are in the ice cream and topping business??”    I put the quart of ice cream back in their freezer and left.  Far Guy said “I bet we won’t be going back there again for awhile.”  Yathink?

Is it just me or is customer service non existent?

I was in  Ben Franklin with a few purchases..the checkout gal had a hard time stopping her conversation with her friend.  I cleared my throat loudly.  Then she asked me if I really needed a bag?  What..of course I need a bag.  Did she say Thanks for Shopping at Ben Franklin?  No.

It is no small wonder that small businesses are failing.

I shudder to think that I should begin shopping for Christmas soon.  I would like to shop small businesses..but I am not sure I can do that without going stark raving mad.

I hate shopping. I really hate shopping. I really hate shopping places that do not treat their customers nicely.  Every customer that walks through the door should be greeted warmly and if they buy something it is proper to say thank you:)

The Halloween Report

The evening went as expected. We had ten trick or treaters. All of them as cute as they could be.  Brooke was a T.U.R.D and would not pose for a photo..she was supposed to be a Care Bear but got too warm in her costume ..so she took it off.

Aubrey had her shoes on the wrong feet..but it didn’t seem to bother her.  Chance was happy to see them all, he greeted everyone..he loves kids.  All the children left happy with their treats.  And yes we have left overs.

I like Halloween..it just involves buying candy and staying at home:)

Wistful Wednesday: Halloween

This photo was taken by Auntie Kathy most likely in 1977.

Jennifer is on the left she looks about 2 years old. Debra is in the middle she would have been 6 that year and Trica is on the far right she would have been 5.  Second Cousins..Debra belongs to my Cousin Art ..or Uncle Art and Auntie Kathy.

That is Far Guy in the back..not sure what he was doing.  I know he was always in charge of taking the girls around the neighborhood to get candy.  The girls would anxiously wait for him to finish supper and then they would run to get dressed and head out.  Many times the weather was horrid..snowy and cold or icy rain.. they would only go to houses where we knew the people.  Back in the mid 1970’s was the razor blades in apples scares and hospitals would x-ray candy for free.

We used to go through the girls candy..anything questionable would be thrown out.  The girls would often remember what they got where.

I can vaguely remember making those witches hats..I think they were construction paper. I think Auntie Kathy must have done the makeup..I do not remember that at all..but that was a long time ago.

I would stay home and hand out candy..when we lived in Moorhead we would get 100’s of kids if the weather was half way decent.  The dog would stay with me and bark most of the evening.  Back then we had a Scottie mutt mix by the name of Snuffer.  We got her before the girls were born..one of those $5.00 dogs.. she was worth every penny and grew up with our girls.

When we ran out of candy or when it was nine o’clock we would shut off the porch light.  The girls were good about sharing..I always looked for a Bit O Honey and Far Guy would look for a Tootsie Roll:)

Treats or Tricks

We finally broke down and bought Halloween Candy.    We always buy the kinds we like just incase no one shows up.  Wishful thinking..or what?

Waiting until this week..some candy was on sale…so we bought lots.  Not that we need lots..we will get our eight to ten kids and I will take photos of them all and we will have left over candy.

It must be a tradition since it happens nearly every year.

Last Saturday before the snow I took some photos of Chance in his Halloween Scarf with the treat bucket..

It was empty…I tossed a few treats ( Milk Bone Biscuits) in there..

He will have a blast greeting all the neighborhood kids on Wednesday night.  The snow is mostly melted and our temperatures will be in the 40’s ..so it will be a nice evening to be out and about!

I feel so sorry for the people without electricity on the east coast..that is a monster of a storm.  Lots of kids are bound to miss Halloween this year due to safety issues from Hurricane Sandy:(

Minnesnowda

We woke to snow on the ground on Sunday morning. What fun..as most of you know I am not thrilled about snow or cold…

Time to get out the snow boots…or at least socks with crocs.

The roads were icy..we headed up north, turned around and came back home after a half an hour of icy roads.  Then we both had a nap.  Why travel on treacherous roads if you don’t have to?

See the wheel all decked out for winter.  Things can change just like that overnight.

The Junco’s came..I call them Snow Birds I watched them out the kitchen window.  They are ground feeders. I guess a person could eat all day long if they hopped everywhere they went on the ground..think about it!

Then all of a sudden the Pine Siskins arrived!  They like the new thistle feeder just fine.

Finally..I was beginning to think that this feeder was a lost cause.  I love the way they can sit in the inside of this feeder and eat.  Several of them hogged the center spots..smart little birds.  I wonder how long they will stay…I bet they are just passing through.

This is snowfall number three.  The snow will most likely melt it is supposed to be in the 40’s this week:)