This 'n That

FIRST of all-  Hang on to your hats everyone--- that's right, ELLA IS COMING TO SEE GRANDMA AND GRANDPA - and Uncle Mike!  I wanted to get that said immediately, as it is such GREAT news!!  YES!!!  Of course, what this really means is that I need to do some additional cleaning upstairs.  I had gone through and cleaned up the one room, when I thought it was just Greg and Sarah, but now we need the other room as well. I am in the middle of trying to get rid of certain people's old junk *coughgreg*, so there is chaos up there.  That will be my after school task!  I have to insert here that I am thrilled that Greg and Sarah and Toby and Ruger are coming, too!!  YAY!!  I love having the dogs here. And, of course, someone can get my outdoor speakers hooked up again!  :)  and I need someone to look at Grandpa's clock and figure out why the pendulum stopped working....  I bought brats from the Fifield grocery- just sayin!!

Ok, now that we have all that taken care of-
my hands are killing me today.  I weeded much of the weekend and I feel like my right hand is swelled up, and in fact it sort of looks like it is!  I got a lot done, and I feel like I should have done a lot more, but I needed to clean in the house (see above) and I had to wash clothes and for some reason the MA thinks he needs to eat on the weekend! Such an imposition!  Lol.  We were both unstoppable - he is working on the new garage doors, getting in the garden and hogged the "new" Cub Cadet and mowed the lawn for the first time.  I got a zillion tomato plants transplanted into bigger pots, rearranged the garden shed a bit (I used it for the first time!!!) (hey, I also get wifi out there.  THAT is awesome!), weeded, walked, groomed the horse- partially (that boy needs a stylist), laundry, dishes, etc. etc.

We put onions, spinach, chard, peas and beets in the garden so far.  I have a gazillion tomatoes in the garden shed, and we probably could put in the first planting of beans. It seems like it is going to stay warm, so we may not have frost.

Speaking of garden- I have been a vegetarian now for a year!  I am very pleased with this fact.  I was never a big meat eater and it was the next logical step.  To make that commitment to not eat meat was not hard.  The only drawback is the convenience factor, it is easy to rip open a package of tuna or heat up a hot dog in 20 seconds..... but I feel like the health benefits for me far outweigh the inconvenience. I am used to it now- I have things that I can quickly make/eat if I am starving.  And let me tell you they are a whole lot healthier than the things I used to have!! I can see this as a lifetime lifestyle- along with my no soda rule.  And no Doritos.  Lol.

This is the last week of school for the seniors.  I love my kiddos, but we are all ready for summer vaca. The seniors have been phoning it in for the past couple weeks and the rest of them are getting restless.  And the teachers are daydreaming about sleeping in, going to the gym, spending the majority of the day outside and traveling around the state and midwest...... oh wait, that might be me.

Usually I would be outside going for a walk at this time of the day- as I have found it is a great way to start the day. And get some extra calorie burn in.  But the rains and the fact that I have a mountain of laundry are keeping me home for this morning..... oh and I guess i am updating my blog!  :D  Lord have mercy, my hands hurt from typing too.

I have pix to post, but I just don't have the ambition this morning.  I need to start on that mountain of clothes folding and think about my shower, and run out to the garden shed and water my baby tomatoes!  3 weeks of school left for the majority of our kids, so I have to make sure I am ready to go.  The end is in sight, and we have a few things left to learn in art class!

And did I say that Jon and Sarah and Manny and ELLA and Greg and Sarah and Toby and Ruger and of course ELLA are coming to visit!!??!!

This weekend will be a joy!

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

So winter arrived in a huff last night.  I noticed the dropping temperature in the early afternoon, the wind picked up a little later and then there were the impending clouds of doom!  Lol, well maybe not doom, but HOLY cats.  Winter got us good!  Paid us back for enjoying MUCH above normal temps for a week- she was not pleased that she was so late to the party.  

Impending clouds of doom!  Lol

Early morning through my window

Lola and she was not thrilled either!

So last night around 9 it started snowing and blowing.  The house was so cold when I got up this morning- it seemed forever before it warmed up.  In spite of the appearance, I decided that a walk was definitely in order. And so I asked Sarah Jane if she wanted to go..... and I got a yes!  And then we sweet talked Greg into going too!  He was not convinced.  Then Sarah pulled out the cute smile and the  whole "we need you to keep us safe", to which I was almost rolling on the floor with laughter.  As if SJ and I can't take care of ourselves..... but that's ok, Greg, you were a trooper!

As we started off, it didn't seem too bad, but then we hit Hwy E. and the proverbial hell broke loose.  It was COLD and windy.  REALLY cold and windy!  But off to the stone house we went.

Beautiful branches

So I started by sneaking off to the poor broken down wooden house across the road - which was looking sort of grim.

The stone house was bathed in a snowy glory.

The white of the snow outlined the usually invisible barn

Toby

The snow plows were out in force!

Favorite tree in the snow

It was a really good walk!  We all had a good time- well I'm going to say we did. Greg might have a different comment, but hey, it's my blog!

Until next time, be a joy giver and make sure you get your exercise today!

**Speaking of my blog, I am going to be posting more soon and it will be totally out of order, but you know that is how I roll!  

Weekend Photos

I have some pretty nice photos from the weekend, it was a nice couple of walks that I was able to get in.  I took my SLR along with me on Sunday, which resulted in some good shots.  Sit back and enjoy them, meow!  :)

Favorite tree

Bright and sunny edit

Moodier edit

Butternut creek

Geese

Stand of aspen

Ruger girl

The lovely Lola is a little miffed that I have not decked her out for either Halloween or Thanksgiving this year. I guess I will make sure the good old Santa hat gets out to her.  She is so insistent- I mean for heavens sakes, the girl has a crown!  I need a crown......  hmmmm

Until next time, be a joy giver....

Well this just figures....

Ya know, some times you just wonder what you did in  a former life....

All I wanted to do this morning is check facebook, post a few things on loseit.com and be on my merry way.  There seems to be an issue with something somewhere- neither site will come up. Strangely, my igoogle does come up, and blogger comes up, so it isn't my computer or my internet connection. So this is good.

Yesterday did not end in the most graceful way.  I was distressed- big time- at the end of the day.  But by trying to help out a couple of people by listening and reflecting AND almost more importantly, getting some physical activity helped me regain my center and my perspective on things.  I wish I didn't care about "things" so much, but I do so I guess I am stuck with me.  It is exhausting.

So, I am going to go on and pretend yesterday afternoon never happened.

Connected in my mind to all this, but not clear to you yet, I have a post that talks about body image that is percolating in me, but it isn't quite finished yet.  I haven't completely solidified my point of view.....  stay tuned!


In the meantime, here is a lovely few pix from the walk I finally was able to take on Tuesday night and one of little Ruger with her head on the Barber's hat.  Such an adorable dog!

Hope these pix helped you find your joy!

I think I found mine again.

Sunday Photo post!!

Hey, kids, here it is again.....  an official Sunday photos post!

I've not been following ANY kind of schedule lately, ahhhh, that is summer for you- and so in an undoubtedly futile attempt to get myself in line (we know this won't work, but an admirable attempt) I am starting Sunday photos.  So you know how this goes, suddenly I will be posting pix on random days like Thursdays and an occasional Monday......  well, never mind.

Stone house corner

abandoned

Toby

Lola is very happy to be featured again!

Sunset fire in the sky

Favorite pic of the week

climbing vines

rays of light

sunset of beauty

Smith Creek

Ruger-girl

Smith creek

Shadow and window

Scattered showers

Morning light

There was joy to be found this week!

Until next time, be a joy giver!