Barbara's Bloggin'

Schiz's Antics

2012-01-31T22:29:00.008-06:00

Another gorgeous day here in Kansas. Little windy...quite a little actually...but Carol, Mary and I rode to Nickerson for a soda/coffee. Got home with 27.19 miles...felt really good! Then this evening went to the Anchor Inn for a pork tostado and chips. I'm taking an antibiotic for my teeth (or lack thereof) so decided the big red beer I'd been dreaming of all day probably wasn't the best idea. The food was excellent....but a red beer sure would've improved it!

I have to tell you about Schiz's latest antic. The people across the street from me were getting some new windows. The fellows came and worked for a while, but then left their trailer parked there. After I got home from my ride yesterday, I was hooking up the water sprinklers to water my flower beds and Schiz was outside with me. She went to the end of the double driveway and paced back and forth, curling her head and body, and growling. Occasionally she'd let out one little bark. She simply could not understand why this fellow wouldn't come over and see her...and she's not allowed to go in the street and she knows it! There was no one there...and I could see she was clearly looking at the trailer. DUH!

However, in her defense,this a.m. the trailer was still there and she stopped, looked, and

walked out into the yard to "take care of business"... no big deal.

Count your blessings!!!

Out Ridin' Again

2012-01-30T15:42:00.002-06:00

Wow...here it is January 30 and temp in Hutchinson is 64 degrees!!! I'm at this very moment watering my flower bed as we have had virtually NO moisture this year.

Carol, Mary and I took off on a bicycle ride about 1:30 today and it was simply wonderful. I'd had some "oral surgery" done Friday (had two teeth pulled) and although yesterday was beautiful I didn't think it would be wise to go ride. Today I decided I'm well-enough!!! I got home with 21.6 miles and a big ole smile (well....less 2 teeth...no, they're clear at the back) !!!

On Monday mornings four of us "coffee" together. Conversations vary. This morning one of the gals mentioned a friend of hers had false teeth....and that they had buried little magnets in her gums to hold the teeth in place. We were absolutely falling over each other with punch lines. Can't wear zippered tops anymore. Watch out for the doorknob. Can't get the spoon out of my mouth. And it went on and on and on. I think MaryLou may have regretted telling us anything about it!! When we rode this afternoon we started talking and laughing about it again.

As I mentioned I had two teeth pulled Friday. I've been going to a dentist in Cassville, Missouri who I really liked and who was UNBELIEVABLY cheap...yeah..not reasonable, CHEAP! I wasn't unhappy with his work but was told he was retiring, so I made an appointment at Cambridge Dental in Wichita. I've been twice and I'm here to tell ya...I like 'em!!! Everything has been just great. The people are absolutely wonderful, their work is great, the offices are clean and cheerful (albeit HUGE)...and I am 100% happy with them. Dr. Vessali...she's my dentist from now on! And yes, this is an advertisement! :) Well, maybe not...but they really are great.

Count your blessings....stay healthy...eat right...and walk the dog. It's a great life!!

A Wintry Day....NOT !!!!

2012-01-22T15:18:00.004-06:00

Here it is January 22...usually cold and wintry in Kansas. Here's a picture I took today...looks cold and wintry (other than lack of ANY kind of moisture!) And the temperature is about 56 degrees! Wind was major this morning, but it's pretty much still now.

But...I was bored...so I wasted fossil fuels and went for a ride. I found this beautiful tree... truly pretty...even without much sunlight. Maybe if you'll click on it you can see how pretty it is.

I'm fighting being angry with the world. Why? I'm angry because I can't make someone close to me well. I'm angry because I can't make several people close to me quit smoking. I'm angry because I can't make people use "bcc" to hide everyone's email addresses..and to delete them when forwarding any email. And I'm angry because of an ignorant racial slur that makes my blood boil...and I responded. I've been trying to make that thought "Sometimes it's better to be kind than to be right" work for me...but a neighbor who has recently had major surgery (and is doing great) sent me an email with an EXTREME racial slur...and it was also political. I decided in this case it's better to be right!!! So I told her what I thought of it. Haven't heard back from her and I'm really REALLY ok with that!!! Just wonder if I'll need to move again :).... oh well....

Life is good. I have tons of blessings to count. But it's winter...blah....... But count your blessings and thank God for the good things in life: A couple of cousins who are both healing from recent surgeries, tremendous friends (we've actually named our wrinkles after each other..because we decided they're laugh wrinkles and we laugh a lot!), and overall, life is good!!!

Just a thought....

2012-01-11T21:35:00.003-06:00

Saw this today and it fits into my "current world" very well. Not a resolution, but something I'm going to try to keep in mind:

Sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right. We do not need an intelligent mind that speaks, but a patient heart that listens.

Happy New Year !!!

2011-12-31T21:58:00.004-06:00

And I'm ending 2011 smilin' !!! For the past several months I've been trying to buy an old bicycle from a fellow and we just couldn't get together on price. Today I called him and tried one more time. WE DID IT! I had a friend go with me and we went over to a small town about 10 miles from Hutch and picked it up. Here it is.

It looks small here...it's actually 36" at the top of the handlebars. I THINK it's considered a child-size "boneshaker"...or high-wheeler. It is functional. The tires are wooden with metal rims. The seat is extremely hard, but consensus is that it's leather.

I don't know whether it's truly old or not...and bluntly at this point I don't care. I wanted it!!! I've wanted it from the first time I ever laid eyes on it. I may have overpaid for it...again, I don't know and don't care. Repeat: I wanted it!!! If it truly is original and "real", then I think I may have paid a fraction of what it's actually worth. I have a friend that will take a look at it and he'll know....if anyone in Kansas knows, he'll know. For now it's merely a decorative piece for my house!

Count your blessings...I do! And it seems to me I have a LOT!!!

P.S. BTW...I finished the year with 1840 miles...not bad considering I didn't really ride regularly until September. My friend that I ride with nearly every day finished with 5800 miles!!! That's spelled S-E-R-I-O-U-S !!

And have a Happy New Year...hopefully 2012 will bring PEACE to the world.

Famous....OR NOT!!!!

2011-12-29T12:18:00.004-06:00

It's been really beautiful weather here. Not always Ultra-Warm...but dry and kind of warm-ish maybe? Temps usually in the mid-40's and 50's...that's considered "ridin' weather!"

Tuesday, Carol, Mary, and I got out and did a few miles up and down the bike path (18.04 miles for me), and yesterday the three of us rode down to Crupper's Corner and a couple of miles west before we headed back. (I wound up with 27.05 miles.) Nice ride.

Mary can't go today (she bowls in Wichita now - since Hutchinson doesn't seem to be able to support a bowling alley!)... So Carol, her husband Bill, and I drove up to Inman this a.m. for our "every-other-week cream puff." YUM!!! Delish! But in just a few minutes I'm going to go meet Carol and we'll get in a little ride today. Not sure yet where or how far..let you know later. (It's later....we did 27.05 again!)

BUT....today's Hutchinson News has a picture (albeit extremely small) of Carol and I riding through Carey Park yesterday. One really can't tell who it is, but we know it's us. Same old riding gear we always wear!

We had a lot of fun with this today. At a stoplight at 11th & Baker we were granted a green light and several cars had to wait for us to cross. After we were barely across I acted like I was talking to the drivers and said, "Yeah...yeah...it's us...we were in the newspaper this morning!" We joked off and on all day about people wanting our autographs.

After we got a couple of miles west of Crupper's Corner we both took our jackets off (still had a turtleneck sweater and a sweatsuit-type jacket on), and headed back "with the wind" (makes it a little warmer.) As we entered Carey Park on the way home, Carol said, "Well...people won't know who we are..we don't have our jackets on!" We decided everyone would just think we were wannabes. (I'm not positive, but I think maybe endorphins or something affect our thinking sometimes.)

Anyway, it was another great day and a great ride. Still counting my blessings...you too, I hope!

Waiting on Santa

2011-12-24T23:19:00.002-06:00

It's 11:20pm. Spent the entire day (and a couple of hours last night) reading "The Help" I've already seen the movie...wish I would have read the book first. Excellent read!!!

Gotta get to bed soon...expecting some fat dude on my rooftop soon. Just wanted to say :

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

Back to Bikin'

2011-12-17T20:22:00.002-06:00

Well, craft show season is mostly behind me....and I'm ready. It's been fun, it's been great, it's been profitable....but I'm tired and ready to kick back a little.

It's been too something: too windy, too cold, too wet, maybe even just too lazy...but I hadn't ridden my bicycle for nearly 5 weeks. November 13...so yesterday, December 16, Carol, Mary, and I took off and rode out to Crupper's corner. It's a little over 23 miles round trip for me. The temperature was 37 degrees, and even though we were all dressed warm it was still a pretty chilly ride.

When we ride we talk about all kinds of stuff. Some I won't/can't go into here (like how much Mary is going to change the height of her seat. Tee-hee!)...but the conversation will start one place and end up entirely changed within the mile. I don't remember exactly where this one started but it came around to putting Kahlua in hot cocoa. Let me repeat...it was 37 degrees. We hadn't ridden in nearly 5 weeks. Well, needless to say, I came home, got some warm comfy clothes on, had a bowl of stew, and decided to have a cup of cocoa. I've always been "the master of the 5-7 minute power nap." Well.....I had the best hour and a half nap I think I've ever had. I don't know whether it was the fresh air, the exercise, the warm soup, or what...but I'm highly suspicious of the Kahlua. Yummmmy!

Today we decided that yesterday was so good that we should do it again. So the three of us rode to Nickerson. 27.29 miles round trip. About 4 miles short of Nickerson I asked, "Have they MOVED Nickerson?" It was a hard ride. We all struggled a little I think. Wind was brisk and out of the west so we had several miles of headwind, but it was 57 degrees. It shouldn't have been that tough...but it was. Great ride back: tail wind.

I think Carol and another friend are maybe planning to ride tomorrow but I said I thought I'd bow out for the day. Probably a mistake as they're forecasting snow for Monday and Tuesday here. Yuck! I'm already ready for spring!

But all in all, I'm lucky to be able to do all the things I love to do...and have the great friends to do them with! Countin' my blessings...just countin' my blessings!

Photos to go w/earlier post

2011-12-11T20:24:00.001-06:00

Ok...so here's a few photos from Saturday. I'm too tired to go figure out how to get them on the other post.

I didn't have time to take photos when we were really busy...but this was sure a nice start!

Some of these were taken before the sale ever began and some of the tables aren't even completely set up.

It Pays To Advertise ! ! ! !

2011-12-11T15:26:00.005-06:00

Barbara's 3rd Annual Christmas Craft Show was a HUGE success! Many, many very good comments.

I advertised a LOT....several newspapers, 4 digital displays, lots of hand-outs and posters, 15 stick-in-the-ground realtor-type signs all over town, Channel 7 at 10 after and 20 til the hour all week, The Chamber - Hutchinson and Reno County website, the Kansas State Fair website, the Visithutch.com website, Facebook by a half-dozen people, mentioned two days on two different radio stations, a blog or two or three....and probably more that I'm not remembering at this moment.

We had a fantastic crowd! One of my friends who works at a church and is very nice gal emailed me and said, "To begin with: Holy Shit! I didn't think it was going to be that busy!!!" It was BUSY!!! I honestly think we had more people than I've seen at any other local craft show.

The main problem/complaint was "lack of space." We simply didn't have enough room. Next year I'll be looking for a bigger building for sure. Most of the vendors were absolutely wonderful to work with each other and try to make everything work out ok. I had only one that humped his back up and threw a fit. Even the nice people said he was a bully and rude. I tried to move him around and make him happy....and he said that it was a lot better...but the next morning he was over in the building that I was in complaining loudly to someone about "what a helluva mess it was over there last night." (The vendors set up on Friday night.) I suppose everyone has to have "one"....think about it, you'll figure it out.

Just a few of the highlights: I'd asked a couple of friends to serve as greeters and direct people to sign up for our door prizes and be sure to visit both buildings, etc. Betty had never "done" a craft show before. Even before 9am she had made several trips to store stuff under my table. I accused her of buying at least one item from each booth. She said, "DON'T YOU EVER ASK ME TO DO THIS AGAIN!!!!" Then a few hours later, she came over and added, "And if I do it again, don't sit me next to the food vendor either!!"

Our food vendor did a fantastic job. They served chili, and chili dogs, hot dogs, and homemade chicken and noodles. EXCELLENT!!!! Everyone was commenting on it...and you got a really large serving for not much money! She also had individually wrapped cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, coffee, 6-packs of cinnamon rolls, pies (either by the piece or whole), cream cheese bread, jalepena cheese bread....and even canned beets...plus a bunch more stuff. They are an Amish family and they arrived in a tractor pulling a trailer. Everyone helped carry stuff in....and the youngest was a little boy. I didn't want to break any rules so I didn't take any photos, but you've never seen anyone cuter! He was a doll...and he was a worker! He carried things in that were nearly as big as he was. I would guess he was maybe 3 or 4...absolutely adorable! All their kids were cuties and really hard working and respectful. And when closing time came around, they all did their share as well. Great family!

I had super vendors (mostly) and plan to do it again next year. I am/will be looking for a larger building however. I've got one in mind, but the $$$$$$ is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!

As my cuz keeps telling me: it's good to be me!!!! I'm counting my blessings and offering thanks for making it all possible.

Barbara's 3rd Annual Christmas Craft Show

2011-12-04T08:44:00.005-06:00

Added a day or two later: Channel 7 is advertising my show!!! At 10 and 40 minutes past the hour there's a few seconds of talk about it!!! Also, check out what the Chamber - Hutchinson and Reno County has to say about it!!!http://members.hutchchamber.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=4049

Also I've noticed it's already up on the digital sign on the front of the fairgrounds. May need to call and check on that tomorrow. It was supposed to be for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...not the entire week. I'd LIKE the entire week....but I can only AFFORD three days!

It's almost here!!!! My third annual Christmas craft show! This started out in the spring of 2009 with a three-vendor gathering in my living room. Several people suggested we should do it at Christmastime, so in December 2009 I had the first Christmas show. I had a fairly large house at that time and had eleven vendors there. We had a good crowd and a lot of fun.

In September 2010 I moved to a triplex. I announced that I wouldn't be able to do it because I wouldn't have the room. My vendors convinced me otherwise, and I wound up with 14 vendors. We were practically standing on each other but we had a fun time.

This year I said, "We gotta go to a public building!" So I rented the Boy Scout building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. I sent out booth applications and immediately was "full." So I rented the Girl Scout building as well. The buildings are practically identical and sit side-by-side.

Now both buildings are full, plus there'll be a trailer out front selling kettle corn. It's people selling antiques, aprons, bakery items, beaded jewelry, baby items, candles, cookbooks, cookies, cosmetics, dolls, drink mixes, duct tape purses, embellished clothing, embroidered items, florals, gift items, goat's milk soap, greeting cards, hot lunches, jams, jellies, jewelry, kettle corn, kitchen items, iris-folded cards, oddities, packaged food items, pillow cases, plasma-cut metal, purses, quilted items, sack cards, salsa, Santas, scroll-cut wood items, snowmen, soy candles, sterling silver jewelry, tea towels, tole painted items, tote bags, wave art, wheel-thrown pottery items, wine jelly...and surely someone will have a zebra. That's A - Z!!!! (with a few exceptions.) There'll be a lot more there too, because almost every vendor has said, "And other stuff....."

I've been trying to get the word out with hand-out postcards at every craft show around. Several of my vendors have cards to pass around too. By the end of this week hopefully people will be saying, "Who the heck is Barbara???" It's to be in the Hutch News in at least 4 places, the Bee, the Rural Messenger, the Lyons News, and already on-line at VisitHutch.com. I'm working to get mentioned on a local radio station. It'll be on digital billboards at Bank of Kansas on east 30th and also in South Hutch. And on the digital billboard at Hutch Credit Union at A and Adams. Also on the big digital billboard on the front of the fairgrounds along Main Street. AND I have about 22 stick-in-the-ground realtor-type signs to put around town. I'm everywhere, I'm everywhere!!! So...."who's Barbara???" should be on everyone's lips!

So...Saturday, December 10, from 9am to 4pm YOU should try to attend Barbara's 3rd Annual Christmas Craft Show! Yoder Pastries will have hot lunches...I'm hearing chili, hot dogs, chili dogs, and tentatively homemade chicken and noodles. And they make the BEST jalapeno bread!! YUM!!!

I personally am having INCREDIBLE prices for this show. It's my last show of the year (as it is for many of my vendors) and I don't have another one until March (so plenty of time to re-order!)...so this one's going to be good!! I did the Hutch Rec show yesterday and probably shot myself in the foot several times by telling people that. I always added, "But my inventory will probably be pretty low...so if you want it, you might want to buy it now." However, a lot of people said, "See ya next Saturday!"

And we hope to see YOU next Saturday..... whether you buy anything or not, you're sure to have fun!!!!!!!!!!!! See ya there!

He Gave Her A Ring ! ! !

2011-11-30T08:22:00.003-06:00

Can't post much here...but I'm sure smiling!!! Had a phone call from my son last night and they're officially ENGAGED!!!! Tentatively looking at maybe an April wedding. They've been together for quite awhile, and I think we all knew that's where this was going....but now it's official!!!! Translation: I'm gonna be a mother-in-law....and hopefully a grandma someday!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIE & J...... I love you both and this just feels GREAT!!!!

Big Sale...and Old Friends

2011-11-22T22:25:00.004-06:00

Another weekend of craft sales and another good time. Christmas in the Foothills, held at the fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas is probably the biggest local craft show around. I've done it for the past several years and always have a good time. It's two LONG days however!!!! LONG days!!!! Friday I was there from 8am until nearly 9pm, then returned on Saturday at 8am and it was about 5pm before I was out of there.

It's a pretty well-known show and draws a fairly good crowd. I heard several other vendors complain that they hadn't done as well this year. I actually did a little better than last year. And I thought last year was really great!

But I did have something happen this past week that really "made my day", I guess. Thursday night was "Third Thursday" in Hutch and a friend had asked me to come set up a table of my jewelry in her store. Originally I had said I couldn't because I had to set up for Christmas in the Foothills, but then realized I could do that earlier in the day and still do Third Thursday that evening.

It was a rather cold, windy evening and traffic where we were was incredibly slow. Mid-evening a couple that I've known for many years came in. Well, actually only she, Anita came in because they had a little dog with them. One of the other vendors that was set up also knew Anita, so we all began to chit-chat. Meanwhile there was a man that walked in and just kind of stood there looking at us...specifically he was looking at me. I didn't feel threatened, just a little awkward maybe. Finally he turned and went back outside. Shortly after that the husband, Larry walked in and I said to him, "What did you do with the dog, hang it from a tree?" He responded, "No, Palmer's got him." Well, Palmer was my first husband's best friend and he left here many, many years ago. I said, "Palmer's here??????" And Larry said, "Yeah....he came in but you didn't recognize him!" I jumped up and immediately went outside. Sure enough...there he was!!! Well...long story short (I know, too late)..we visited for probably a half hour and were just tickled to pieces to see each other. Then they all left. About 7:30 traffic was so slow that we all decided to give it up and go home. I was just getting ready to leave when in walked Palmer again! We wound up talking again for quite a while. Then Friday he came up to the Foothills sale and sat behind in my booth and we visited again. Then yesterday I was going to Walmart and there he was helping his 87 year old sister out of a van. Well, once inside the store she went on shopping and he and I stood and chatted again. He was planning to leave this morning to go back to Florida but it was wonderful to see him again. I did find out later that he hadn't recognized me either. His brother Larry had told him I was in the store and that's why he had came inside. As close as we can remember we think it's been about 45 years since we've seen each other. Sure was fun to reminisce!!

All in all a fun (and profitable) weekend. I'm working on trying to buy a little something for my living room, but so far I haven't been able to accomplish it. I'll keep you posted (with photos) if it happens.

No craft sale this weekend...couple of weeks of rest and catching up. Then two bigs one after that. I'll be posting on those too!!! Stay tuned!!!

Count your blessings!

Southeast Saline's Prairie Patch at Gypsum

2011-11-16T23:09:00.002-06:00

Once again the people at the Southeast of Saline School District have outdone themselves with their annual arts and craft show, Prairie Patch. Last Saturday, the 12th, was the day. Location...near Gypsum. Gypsum...town of about 400-450 people.

Earlier in the week a friend of mine had asked about the show and wondered whether they'd be able to get into it. I assured her it was huge and very full and I would seriously doubt they'd have any spaces left...but it doesn't hurt to call. So she did. A couple of days later she called me just pleased as punch...there'd been a cancellation and they had gotten in!!! What luck!!! But..as I drove up there early that Saturday morning, I thought to myself, "Cheryl has to be thinking I've sent them on a wild goose chase!" It's truly "out in the country." You're actually out in the country before you ever get to "out in the country."

Three gymnasiums. Hundreds of vendors. Huge spaces (12' x 12') Wide aisles. Perfect temperature...it was actually COOL in there. (Most craft shows tend to hit about 90 degrees, I think!) Great crowd.

Vendors are sent a packet with maps showing them how to get there, where their parking area is located, and where their booth is located in which gym. But the really neat part is: the students carry your "stuff" in!!! I carried my McD's diet Coke and my purse...that's it!!! And the young men even set my tables up for me. Awesome!

9 am they open the doors to the public....and the public, they're THERE! Until 4pm (actually it was 4:10 before I could begin to break down) there are customers. Lots of customers. From Gypsum, from Salina, from Bennington, from Herrington, from Topeka, from McPherson, from Assaria...from everywhere!

This is truly the perfect craft show. The promoters are friendly and helpful. They want feedback. There's even security people on site. And honestly....and those of you who know me know kids aren't my favorite thing....but these kids are SUPER! Every single one of them was polite and helpful. Extending their offer to help without ever being asked. Somebody...parents and/or teachers... is doing a great job in that school district. BE PROUD!!!

All in all, a terrific day!

Another Great November Day

2011-11-10T17:20:00.002-06:00

Yeah....we had a little snow night before last. The yard pretty much stayed lumpy white all day yesterday. But today was lovely. About 60 degrees, the snow's melted, and the wind was "kind."

Carol, Mary and I took off about one o'clock and managed to get in 31 miles. Great ride. Great friends!

The cottonwoods are a brilliant shade of yellow. Don't remember them being this pretty in past years (partially due to having a swimming pool and a neighbor with a cottonwood.) Maybe the lack of moisture and high heat this summer??? Don't know...but they sure are pretty.

Keep countin' those blessings. One of my riding partners and I had a discussion about karma and one of our new expressions is "Your karma jar is empty." Used so far primarily on rude drivers....they, of course, don't hear it, but it makes us feel better about their rudeness and stupidity.

Oh Deer Me!!!

2011-11-04T16:32:00.005-05:00

Cold morning...well, too cold to ride early, so Carol, Mary, and I took off about 11:30. We headed south on Yoder Road. Temperature was about 42 degrees and the wind was "more than brisk." (Not the term I described it with earlier, but that's probably better left un-described.) It was WINDY!!! We were pedaling as hard as we could just trying to keep in forward motion. Quite a bit of traffic on Yoder Road. When all of a sudden...now mind you it's probably the noon hour...all of a sudden a deer ran right across in front of everyone. It was close...too close. Car drivers were startled, we were startled...heck, even the deer was startled. Plus when he cleared the road and ditch, he tripped over an electric fence. I saw his hind foot bounce on the fence, and I swear I saw it spark. Don't know if that's even possible, but I think that's what I saw. He kept right on moving at a rapid pace for a long way across the field. 'Tis the season, and I guess he had something more important on his mind (maybe he's like most guys and was thinking with his "other" brain??)

Twenty-seven miles today...another great ride. Beautiful day except for the wind (reported at 15-20 mph with gusts.) It was cool but not totally uncomfortable.

Count your blessings! Truly, count your blessings! I do, and they're numerous.

Great Photos

2011-10-26T10:16:00.002-05:00

I read several blogs every day. Today one of my favorites had some super photos posted. Thought you all might enjoy these: http://rideagoodhorse.blogspot.com/ The cobweb one is just awesome, isn't it?

The View From Here

2011-10-23T19:55:00.004-05:00

Nice bike ride this a.m. (29 miles) Came home, showered, dressed casually. A friend brought me a dish of eggplant parmesan (delish!!). I ate it and pretended to read the newspaper. Wound up checking my eyelids for leaks.

When I awoke, I got up to go to the kitchen and refresh my iced tea and glanced out the front door. WHA?????? Two city police cars, two sheriff's patrol cars, and a state trooper. Lights ablazing!

Bottom line: probably a drug bust. They took two guys out of the black suv and searched the car. They immediately handcuffed the driver and put him into one of the sheriff's patrol cars. Shortly after that they handcuffed the other young man and stuck him in the back of one of the city police cars.

I actually live in a pretty nice area....but it sure seems like we get our share (and someone else's too) of police activity!

Back to an earlier comment: my friend brought me a dish of eggplant parmesan, a dish with two poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, and half of an acorn squash stuffed with hot sausage...and a salad. She loves to cook and thinks I should eat more veggies! But there was enough cheese there to negate the value of any veggies! Haven't tried the other stuff yet, but the eggplant parmesan was wonderful!

Never a dull moment here!! Well...that's not always true......

Joplin....nearly 5 months later

2011-10-16T13:38:00.005-05:00

I was there a couple of weeks after the tornado hit (May 22, 2011), and then was there this past few days. It's still heart-wrenching. There's a lot of rebuilding and a lot of progress...but you'll still see a lot of damage and wreckage and hurt. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.) Sad...just sad.

Friends

2011-10-07T19:50:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine actually sent me this in an email...but she didn't post it to her blog, so I like it and will post it to mine!

Friends:

Friends are like panties...
Some crawl up your butt.
Some snap under pressure.
Some don't have the strength to hold you up.
Some get a little twisted.
Some are your favorite.
Some are cheap.
Some are holy.
Some are a little naughty.
And some actually cover your butt when you need them to....

It's My Birthday!

2011-10-05T21:55:00.002-05:00

Yeah...it sure is! It's been a really great one too...and not just in number!!!

Last night the Homeowners' group went to the Anchor Inn..a local Mexican food place...it was delish!

This morning Carol, Mary and I biked out (the long way) to the Dutch Kitchen for breakfast... well, Mary had a cinnamon roll and I had 1/4 order (1 biscuit) biscuits and gravy and Carol just had coffee. I always have 1/2 order of biscuits and gravy...best around!! BUT I really didn't want to eat that much and then ride back in. I wound up with 32.52 miles...and it was windy here!

A few midday errands, and then this evening a couple of friends took me to dinner at the Anchor Inn. I love Mexican food so I was completely happy to go two nights in a row. Their pork tostado is excellent....as is their red beer! Yum!!!

I received some very nice gifts and a bunch of birthday cards and enjoyed each and every one. Hilarious stuff! You'd think these people think I'm getting OLD! Ha!

All in all, a great day. I feel extremely fortunate to be 67 years old and in pretty good health and capable of biking as much as I do. Life's good! Oh yeah...and I treated myself to a little birthday present too: I bought a new flat-screen 26" tv for my bedroom! So far it's still in the box...but I have it, at least.

Oh...and food...yeah...tomorrow is Thursday! If it's not toooooo windy Carol and I are going to go out and ride early tomorrow, and then four of us are going to DRIVE in my car up to Inman for cream puffs! I repeat: YUM!

Day 4 - Black Eye

2011-09-29T07:46:00.002-05:00

Purdy, ain't it? (Act stoopid, write stoopid.) Wish I had someone else to blame this on...duh! No, I don't...be careful what you wish for!

Day 2 - Black Eye!

2011-09-27T21:42:00.002-05:00

Wasn't below my eyebrow yesterday..only on my forehead. This a.m. it wasn't below my eyebrow ... and then I went for a bicycle ride. 27.55 miles later I'd evidently stirred my blood enough to cause the purple-ness below my eyebrow. We've got another ride planned for tomorrow...may have a real shiner before it's done!

Carol, my riding companion, said I look like a battered woman. My helmet didn't hurt it at all and it really doesn't hurt unless I touch my forehead.

Klutz report finished. Count your blessings...and get out and enjoy this incredible weather we're having. It's beautiful!

Weekend Happenings...and Monday Moron-ness

2011-09-26T15:06:00.003-05:00

AWESOME weekend!!!!

Lyons Fair on the Square was tremendous! My friend Pat was with me and she called me after we got home to thank me for taking her along. I told her I was glad that she'd gone, because if I'd have called her and told her how good it was she would never have believed me.

She described it as seeing a group of people standing looking at something...who knows what...and so everyone goes to that group to see what they're looking at!!! That was my booth for about an hour and a half....and then it never got un-busy clear up until 4pm! I had a VERY good day!

And so did Pat with her Iris-folded greeting cards! She has a bunch of new ones...All cute, but one of an ostrich that is really wonderful!

Then this a.m., after coffee, I came home and decided to remove the grass that was coming up between the end of my driveway and the street. No biggie...easy stuff. Got it done, was hanging the shovel back up, hit the end of the shop broom and it came down. But it didn't hit the floor or my car or Schiz ... my forehead stopped it! DUH!!!!

Turns out I have a very dirty mouth!

I'm ok...no permanent damage that I know of...just kicking myself for being so dumb. Wondering just how my bike helmet will fit tomorrow...hmmmmmmm.

Count your blessings...and enjoy the awesomely gorgeous weather we're having! WOW!

So What Do YOU See?

2011-09-23T19:53:00.004-05:00

Bicycle riding is alive and well around Hutchinson! Since September 5 I've ridden 383.6 miles...that includes one full week with no rides at all! We're riding between 25 and 30 miles almost every day...and OF COURSE, every other Thursday it's a 38 miler for cream puffs! So far my September total miles are 441.36. I'm pretty proud of that! It's been several years since I've ridden those kind of miles regularly.

I feel like I'm getting stronger and better each day (not that I've been sick or anything...just better as in "fitter".)

There have been some questions about my eye sight however. So...what do YOU see?

Double click for a bigger, closer view.

We were riding along and I looked to the south and saw this. We've ridden this road a lot of times over the years, and because I didn't remember there being railroad tracks crossing this particular road, I said, "Well...where's that train from?"

Carol looked, then looked at me, like "Are you all right?" Finally she said, "I think that's hay bales."

Well....it sure LOOKED like a train!!!!

Wouldn't have been so bad except that a couple of days later I was driving south in downtown Hutch and saw a man walking south down the east side of Main Street with a rifle over his shoulder. I was startled! I was talking to Mary on the phone and telling her all about it...how unusual this is....luckily I didn't call 911 or anything. After the light changed and I continued on past him, I could see it wasn't a rifle...it was a closed umbrella. BUT...in my defense, he was carrying it like a hunter or soldier would carry a rifle!!!

'Course, that doesn't explain the stiff-legged, bloated deer at the side of the road on another bike ride...yeah....sticks and brush. BUT ...my riding companions could see it too!

In answer to your unasked question...October 24th I think..1 p.m. Dr. B--- Thinking about getting the Transitions kind. Had those many years ago and didn't like them at all...but I hear they've greatly improved.

Tomorrow's a big day....Lyons Fair on the Square...craft show. Looking forward to it. My friend Pat will be going with me and we'll share a booth. Hopefully we'll both come home RICH!!! With money. We're both already very rich with friends and good fortune. Be sure to count your blessings!

Cooler Weather and Great Rides

2011-09-05T20:53:00.005-05:00

It's been a great week...especially the past couple of days...for bicycling. This morning I even wore a lightweight jacket for the first 14 miles!

Last I posted mileage was August 25..the day we rode to Inman for cream puffs...38.02 miles.

The next day was Friday and we were going to ride a shorter ride...yeah....felt great and wound up with 34.53 miles.

Saturday I was at Yoder Heritage Craft Show so didn't ride and begged off for Sunday as well. Monday is our "coffee morning" so we don't usually ride. Tuesday 26.34 miles, Wednesday 12.54 miles and a visit to the chiropractor (old knee problem that actually is relieved by riding)...but that was followed with instructions from Dr. to NOT ride on Thursday. Friday knee felt great and we did 29.10. Saturday was 26.66 miles and Sunday was WINDY so we didn't go. Today was GORGEOUS and we rode to Nickerson for coffee...27.25 miles.

On the way back Carol mentioned that she's been thinking about a mileage goal. My instant response was something like "oh..sh--...." I knew where it was going. 30 days in September...gotta be 1,000 miles! Sure enough...1,000 miles!!!! I'm going to try and do it...however, even if I ride her miles I think I'll be short as I've had a couple of days off and need at least one more for a Sept 24 craft show... And, every day is hard to do! Not that we EVER get rain, but it could happen! The Kansas State Fair starts next Friday and I don't think we've ever got through those 10 days without a good downpour, blowing storm! So...I'm thinking more in the 800 miles range for my goal....and that's still pretty ambitious for a fat girl...ok, fat old woman.

I've been trying to lose weight. If you can believe the scales (and I don't) I've lost 10 pounds. Carol said today, "Well, if you ride those thousand miles with me, you'll lose it!!!"

She's fun to ride with and an exceptionally "safe & sane" rider. She gets it! (I bring this up because someone I know rode with us for a mile or so the other day and was left of center most of the time, weaving and bobbing, uphill and down. Loose cannon! No thanks!)

Other than riding, not much news here. I've been helping another friend some as she's in the middle of moving to a new place. This is the gal with over 3,500 KU items! Yeah...over 3,500!!! That's a lot, believe me. She's going to try to sell a bunch before she moves and says she's downsizing. I brought home nine items to list on either Ebay or Craig's List, but haven't done it yet. (Have to get boxes so I'll know what my postage will be.)

Time to go get busy on something else. Stay busy, stay healthy, stay happy...and don't forget to count your blessings.

Great Shoes!!!

2011-08-27T19:03:00.005-05:00

I want some of these!! Seriously!!! The wearer even told me where she got them. These would be FUN shoes!!!!

Today was Yoder Heritage day and I spent the entire day over there with my craft booth. HOT!!! And the tractor pulls were just to the east-south-east of us...and guess which direction the wind was from!? Yeah....east-south-east! But all in all a great day!

Schiz & the Ceiling Fan Heist

2011-08-26T13:28:00.004-05:00

Whatever the ceiling fan blows off the table should be hers, right? Nope. But she was so sure!!!!

FYI - I traded it for an itty-bitty piece of chicken. She's probably thinking, "Wow...groceries really have gone up!"

Inman Cream Puffs & Bicycle Miles

2011-08-25T12:28:00.008-05:00

WOW!!!! Ok...my last post I told you that I thought Carol was secretly training me. Well, I'm pretty sure that's true. Mileage this week has been:

Tuesday, August 23 - 24.02 miles

Wednesday, August 24 - 26.08 miles

Thursday, August 25 - 38.02 miles

Today - Thursday - we rode to Inman, Kansas, a little town north of Hutchinson. Seemed like every road we took had been recently redone and was smooth as glass. Winds were almost non-existent and only one dog came out. He was a Border Collie that had either learned the hard way or was well-trained to stay off the asphalt. He ran the ditch and was waaaaay ahead of us. When he reached the end of his property line he just stopped and looked like, "Oh...I can't go there" and everything just shut down. He turned and walked back toward his home. No problem.

But here's why we rode to Inman. (Just click on that photo to make your mouth water!)

I'm ready to go again in two weeks when they make these again. DELICIOUS!!!!!!

Marilu, one of my Monday morning coffee buddies, and Carol's husband, Bill joined us at Inman. Bill on a motorcycle and Marilu in a van. I think a good time was had by all!!! :)

Wonderful ride...awesome morning!! 38 miles, home by 11:00 am, and still lickin' my chops over those cream puffs!!!

Count your blessings...they are SO plentiful!!!

Wha's Happenin'

2011-08-19T17:30:00.004-05:00

Someone told me they missed reading my blog...because I haven't posted anything for awhile. I responded that my life is truly that boring and with all the HOT Kansas temperatures I haven't been doing anything.

But...just so I don't lose my huge (ha ha ha ha) audience, I thought I should post something here today.

My friend Carol and I have been meeting at 7 a.m. (originally 6:45) to bicycle ride. That means waking up / getting up before daylight. I don't like that part, but I'm sure enjoying riding with Carol again. I'm beginning to wonder if she has a plan however...seems to me that I wind up riding a little more each day.

I usually ride only part of Carol's ride. She usually goes on to Inman or Buhler or Yoder or Burrton or somewhere. However, I've been going a little further with her each day. I said I was going to have to "just put on my big girl panties" and do a "real" ride with her someday soon.

So far here's what I've done:
August 9 - Tuesday: 13 miles (after nearly a full month with no riding)
August 11 - Thursday: 17.10 miles
August 12 - Friday: 7.27 miles...of which 4 were EXTREMELY wet
August 14 - Sunday: 17.04 miles
August 17 - Wednesday: 19.05 miles
August 18 - Thursday: 22.18 miles
August 19 - Friday (today): 23.48 miles

See...I think she's silently training me!!!! And I'm likin' it!!!!!!! In fact, when she told me of a restaurant in a nearby (20 miles) town that every other Thursday has cream puffs, I agreed to ride there with her. Coming next Thursday...and those cream puffs better be spectacular....that's a 40 mile or better round trip. And yes, I know....even 40 miles on a bicycle won't wear off those calories! (Whew...talk about "big girl panties")

I said a long, long time ago that I don't diet well. "Diet" to me indicates that I'm to think about food constantly....so I do, and in doing so, I eat more because absolutely everything looks and sounds better to me. The only way that actually works for me is to exercise. So........no diet, more exercise!

Ok...that's about all I've been doing. Coffee one day a week with a few friends, bicycle ride several days a week, and this weekend (well, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun) I'm babysitting my neighbor's little dog. She's a Lhasa Apso/Maltese cross...looks like a panda bear. The cutest, sweetest, giggly-est little thing you've ever seen...about 8 months old. Oh sure...Schiz doesn't like her, of course. Maybe in a year or so...when she's older.

Count your blessings...it's a great world!

P.S. Just thought I should add for any newcomers: I USED to be a distance rider...I've ridden a lot of days over 40 miles...but not this year. My longest day ever was 106 miles, but these days I'm usually around 20 to 25 miles, with an occasional 30 miler.

Grumpy From Heat

2011-08-06T10:44:00.002-05:00

Wish this was my original thought...but I heard it elsewhere:

It's not the heat, it's the stupidity!

Leg Cramps and Day Trip (Now Amended!!)

2011-07-17T10:51:00.008-05:00

Weird title, huh? Well...I'm trying to get the attention of those people who have leg cramps.

Being a bicycle rider for many years, occasionally I get leg cramps....usually after a ride or after too much standing on my feet for several hours. Recently a good friend who has done a LOT of riding (3 times transcontinental plus many many other distance rides) said she thought she'd found a "sure cure" for leg cramps. I've been trying it and it seems to work.

Last Thursday my sister from Joplin was here and we decided to go to Manhattan (about 140 miles) to see two of my cousins. One of them mentioned that she'd been having terrible leg cramps in the night...up sometimes 10 or 12 times per night. I mentioned the "cure" and my sister confirmed that's what she's used for a long time too.

So...if you have leg cramps, you might want to try this: Mix 2 or 3 teaspoons APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (not the "white" vinegar!) in about 1/3 of a cup of water...add a little honey or molasses or something to cut the taste. Drink it once or twice a day..every day. No more leg cramps. It works! An email (one of several) from my cousin this a.m. urged me to post this on my blog for others who might have the same problem. She said she's been tempted to stop complete strangers on the street to tell them...and she did just that at a local health food store!!! :)
OK....added later.....my cousin tells me she NEEDS 2 TABLESPOONS to keep her leg cramps at bay!!! AND...I also noticed that my "recipe" on the bottle says "2-3 times per day"....whatever works for YOU!

My sister has also used the apple cider vinegar pills...but Webmd says they aren't consistent in a lot of ways. I personally use Bragg's Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar...about $6 a quart here in Hutchinson....however, I don't think it's all that much better than just regular old apple cider vinegar from Walmart for a whole lot less money!

Then....for the rest of the Manhattan day trip. We visited my cousins and I brought home a really neat old boot scraper (I love rusty old iron antique-y stuff!!....not dirty boots!). Then we went out to the cemetary where my parents and a lot of other relatives are buried. Then we went up to Rocky Ford...just north of Manhattan in the Tuttle Creek area. My sister and I were "born" in that area and wanted to go take a look.

We walked down two flights of stairs to see the dam and then back up. I counted the second flight on the way back up. 35 steps. Other flight was at least that...maybe more. Old fat girls were huffin' and a puffin'!!! But it was great!

Later on I-70 we came by a Harley dealership that I'd seen earlier and I pulled over to take the shot. Isn't that cool??? That's just well-groomed shrubbery! Very nice!

Great Day!

Count your blessings...they're plentiful!

More Bunny-News

2011-07-11T11:08:00.004-05:00

They're baaaccccckkkkk...... These were taken Sunday early evening....there were two but one left before I got my camera. (Double click for close-ups.)

Tucked in where he thinks no one can see him!!

And...clearly Schiz is oblivious to his whereabouts..

I know....someone needs to sweep the patio. But it's HOT out there!!! 112 degrees here in Hutchinson yesterday!!!!

Another Bunnie Update

2011-07-08T19:40:00.003-05:00

7pm and I thought I'd go check on the bunnies. They're GONE!!!! So I went out the front door and started looking. They were under the gas meters which are surrounded by a little wooden fence. Here's 3 of them....but there are 5 total...well, there are 5 that I saw...may be more and I just didn't see them. 2 were in a position where I couldn't get a camera in to take a picture without scaring them all. I think this may be their first outing. I may buy rabbit pellets tomorrow!!!! :)

Bunnie Update

2011-07-08T08:33:00.007-05:00

I'm a little concerned about this hussy mother rabbit...seems to me she's sure off galavantin' around all the time. However, she does cover and uncover her babies. BUT...note the greenery in the picture....that's FAKE! It's plastic pieces off of an old artificial fern that was out there this past winter. Surely she could have done better. Maybe it's like we all say: We'll do better when we know better. (Click on photo to see close-up.)

Also...she (I hope) seems to like the grape tomatoes. So far she's eaten 10 of them...and I left 6 more for her this morning.

Also this morning, to top things off, my Rose of Sharon has one bloom. No way am I going to water it..the bunnies are just beneath it. I've watered all around it and just hope enough soaked over that way to keep it damp.

Bunnies!!!!

2011-07-06T15:45:00.004-05:00

Several times lately I've seen small bunnies out in the yard. Many times when a group of people are sitting around, the adult rabbits in our neighborhood will get within 3 or 4 feet. Last night I was watering and noticed "an old dead, dried leaf" under my Rose of Sharon bushes. Thought I should pick it up and turned the hose a different direction, when I noticed the "leaf" was moving a little. I watched and saw it was breathing. I knew (hoped) it was a nest of bunnies (and not rats or skunks!) so I left it completely alone. I, great dieter that I am, didn't have any lettuce or carrots, but I did take out 3 little grape tomatoes and put them on the concrete of the patio.

Later in the evening, before dark, I looked out and the mama rabbit was over the nest. She must have been nursing them. I thought the rabbits I had seen in the yard were probably past that stage.

Today I went out to look. She has the babies uncovered. I can see three definitely..maybe more. Clearly they are considerably smaller than the ones I had seen in the yard a few days ago. These are tiny..furry, but tiny.

One of the grape tomatoes is still there but someone/something ate the other two. I took pictures but other than you can see fur, you can't really tell a whole lot yet. For now, they're pretty safe...inside my patio where a dog can't get them...and we don't have any cats around that I've seen.

Watch for the continued saga of the Forest Garden Bunnies!!!

A New Dog Bed

2011-06-28T18:34:00.005-05:00

I've already sent pictures of this to most of the people that read my blog, but just have to show the world. A friend of mine had this and their little dog was no longer around, so I bartered with her and brought it home.

I brought it in, told Schiz I had something NEW for her. I brought it upstairs, stuck her pillow in it (it's HER pillow...even though she rarely gets on it...she prefers tile floor to sleep on), patted it and told her it was hers. She immediately crawled right up in it like "No Biggie"....turned a couple of turns, and laid down and yawned.

She may never bother to get in it again, but it was just too cute to let it just sit there in the gal's garage. I just love the little milkbone cutout on the headboard and again on the footboard. If Schiz doesn't sleep in it, I'll probably stack her toys in it...she has a few thousand!

Don't bother telling me she's spoiled...she isn't...she's just special!

Another Person's Blog

2011-06-27T12:05:00.004-05:00

I have several blogs that I read every day. This particular one is one of my favorites. And this particular day just nailed my shoes to the floor. PERFECT! Thank you, Leanne!!!

http://fromchaoscomeshappiness.blogspot.com/2011/06/from-sunshine-to-cookies-to-not-being.html

I've passed it on to several friends and as one wrote back and said, "Did YOU GET IT!?!?" Yes, I did.

So...to some people I just need to say, "Here's your cookies...choke on 'em!"

Man, I just love my friends...true friends are awesome, ya know!?!

Count your blessings...and be sure to count your friends as your blessings, for they certainly are!

One More Photo

2011-06-23T11:36:00.000-05:00

Here's one that escaped earlier, I guess:

On a Cool Morning in June

2011-06-23T11:12:00.007-05:00

Just look what a "mere woman" can accomplish on a cool morning in June. Got up this a.m. and decided to build a wall. Had to dig out all the old grass (the biggest part of the job) and clean the dirt really good. Then leveled it, laid the first course of bricks (they say if you get the first course right the rest will be ok), and "got 'er done!"

That's 440 lbs. of brick, 200 lbs. of river rock, a pot with fountain grass that was rolled from the patio and lifted onto the rocks....that's 1 woman...one 66-year old woman!!! I'm proud...also dirty, stinky, sweaty, tired, and tattered.

"Tattered?" you ask.... well...in the process carrying one of the 50 lb bags of river rock I punctured my forearm. Then when moving a little bench into my front garden spot I caught my right knee on one the those roses that I don't like (and they don't like me either!) Later, when putting a pot of springerai fern and a pot of red sweet potato vine on the bench the same rose bush caught my left knee. You guessed it!!! It's not there anymore! Don't mess with me...I'll get rid of ya! Actually I just trimmed it back....severely....and angrily.

So...anyway...I'm delighted with my new awning and my little wall. Wonder what's next?

(BTW...I also did a load of laundry, ran the dishwasher, fed the dog, and swept out the garage!!!

Not like I had to take the laundry down to the river or anything...but still...I got 'er done!!!) AND talked to two people on the telephone!!!

Update on the Awning

2011-06-22T10:45:00.005-05:00

The awning is done...as of about 10 am today!!! I think it's great! Shades the door and by afternoon it also shades the living room window. (Click on the photos to get a better view.)

Saturday Betty and I went to Menard's in Wichita and I got the retaining wall bricks that I need to make a little wall. ($2.88 everywhere in Hutch, $1.18 at Menard's...and then they had some on sale for $.97 each!!!) My little Honda Fit looked like a lo-rider and I probably shouldn't have hauled so many, but it made it and the bricks are now in my garage. Some morning when it's cooler I'm going to start my project....a short wall (probably 4 rows high) from the post on your right to over under the window. Then I have a big pot with a purple fountain grass to sit in the arc on rocks.

Anxious to get it done!!!

Count your blessings!!! I do.

The New Awning

2011-06-16T13:04:00.008-05:00

Here's how it started out:

A few days later, here's how it looked.

And at the end of yesterday, here's how it looks:

My builder has gone out of state for a little family vacation, but will be back Tuesday morning to put on the flashing and shingles and paint everything. I'm VERY happy with it so far.

I'm planning to build a short garden wall (those pretty, fat bricks) to the right of the front door (from this view) and already have a purple fountain grass planted in a big pot to put out there on some rocks.

My front door got VERY hot from the sunshine and it's now shady...very nice!!!!

Swedish Bikers crossing USA

2011-06-13T14:40:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago, my friend Carol (a serious biker herself) had mentioned meeting a couple from Sweden (and somewhere else) that were biking across the USA. Their intent was to "hike the Grand Canyon" along the way! An ambitious endeavor, to say the least.

At coffee this a.m. Carol was telling that they have a blog and later she sent me a link to it. I've spent the last hour reading it. Wow! What an adventure! And it's not done yet!

I love this photo..captioned with "It's very windy here in Kansas!"

Here's a link if you'd like to enjoy their adventure too: http://pavei.tumblr.com

Calla Lily

2011-06-10T21:41:00.010-05:00

I'm having a gable roof put over my front door, so when a friend mentioned that she was on her way to Lowe's to buy some hostas, I said, "Take these! They're going to be in the way and have to be moved." (And...I have lots more out in the front flower bed too.) So we dug out the four "hostas" by my front door.

A few weeks have passed and the other day Betty said to me, "Come look at these hostas you gave me. I'm not so sure they're all hostas."

Sure enough...three appear to be green and white hostas, but the fourth one is this gorgeous critter. We think it's a calla lily.

She asked if I was going to want it back now...and I said, "No....but I may want a start

off of it next year!!!"

Lilies

2011-06-09T12:37:00.002-05:00

The lilies are in full bloom now. I'm not overly wild about orange, but these are truly gorgeous! I don't think they are "day lilies"...at least not the kind of day lilies that I've had before. These have short leaves on a stem. I think these are some type of Chinese Lily. Beautiful, aren't they!?!?!

Marion Chingawassa Days

2011-06-05T07:43:00.012-05:00

Yesterday Tami and I participated in the Marion, Kansas Chingawassa Days. We set up a booth in the city park....absolutely BEAUTIFUL city park!!! We left Hutchinson at 6 am....and were set up and ready to sell jewelry by 8 or 8:30. Slow start...a few sales, but not terrific. It started getting pretty warm. I had my pop-up tent with us, but we'd decided we were in such a shaded area we really didn't need it. We probably should have set it up!

Sales were ok...just ok! About 4pm Tami mentioned the clouds forming to the northwest. I didn't think those would come over us. At 4:30 they announced there was heavy rain and large hail in Hillsboro, 10 miles west of Marion. We loaded...FAST!!! There was a lot of cloud to ground lightning and light sprinkles and dark, dark clouds. Instead of going north a couple of miles and then west back towards McPherson, we went east to Highway 50 and south to Florence, Peabody, and into Newton. We got drenched a few times, but no hail. About Newton it all cleared up.

Here's what hurts: Originally we planned for 9am to 4pm. Then we learned that the REAL crowd doesn't show up til right before the concerts. They had two well-known bands prior to Diamond Rio playing at 9:15pm. We were about 50 yards from the stage and could have seen, heard it all! We changed our plans and decided to stay til near dark and by then most people would be at the concert. We could "load up" and then go back and enjoy the Diamond Rio concert. Then the storm moved in. Well...we left....and later Tami had a phone call and we learned it had rained hard for about 30 minutes, cleared off, and the sidewalks were "crammed with thousands of people"...."just milling around and buying stuff...waiting for the Diamond Rio concert"....ouch, ouch, ouch!!!!! Those were supposed to be OUR customers, I'm sure!

All in all...it was still a good day. We had fun...made a few sales...learned a LOT... We've decided we want to do it again next year, but we'll do it completely different! Go later..stay later..set up the pop-up, etc.

But...regardless of what WE did....that is an absolutely awesome event. It is truly a family event. They had it ALL!!! They had sumo-wrestling (big puffy suits and helmets were donned..very fun), minute-to-win-it games, heads/tails games, bed races, dinky duck races, lazer tag, Texas hold-em poker games, bingo, mariachi bands, and drum corps, and bagpipers....and MORE...lots more. Lots of booths with games for winning prizes! And all kinds of food vendors! It's a really neat event! And it's all in one of the most beautiful parks I think I've ever seen! (Wish Hutchinson would do stuff like this!!!! I know, we have Third Thursday, and it's great...but that doesn't compare for a community/family event geared intentionally toward FUN!)

Tami and I will be there again next year...hope you will be too!! It's a great event!

P.S. This is a little non-family comment.....early Saturday morning we were busy setting up and I had my back turned to the woman who loudly made this comment: "Take your top off first before you spread your legs too far!" Without turning around, I looked up at Tami and she was staring at me, trying to kill a smile, and shaking her head "NO" very discreetly. I just slowly walked toward Tami and said quietly, "Do I dare turn around and look?" We were both cracking up....they were merely setting up a pop-up tent!!!!! Well...what did YOU think!?!?!

POW!!!

2011-06-03T09:09:00.004-05:00

Just as I was letting Schiz out late yesterday afternoon, I heard a loud POW!!! My neighbor had had company and I guess they were attempting to leave and nailed his mailbox. DUH!!!!! This used to be straight! No further comments...if you know me, you already KNOW what I'm thinking!

Bloomin' Lilies

2011-06-01T08:22:00.000-05:00

Gotta go "google" these yet...but this morning when I got back from my little bicycle ride I had a lily in bloom. Anybody want to comment as to what KIND of lily???? :) Have a great day...and don't forget to count your blessings!!

New Old Stuff

2011-05-29T09:00:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a very good day in the garage sale world..for me. Found this (and many others) old wheel and made a deal for it...even got it delivered! (Had to pay to get it delivered, but I got it delivered!)

Then later Pat called and told me of an antique/junque store I hadn't been in yet. Betty and I were out running around so we went by there. Wound up EACH of us bought one of these. It's a disc of some sort for a plow.....we think. I just think it's neat. I'd love to hang it on the front wall of my loft but won't. If it ever fell it would embed itself in the floor, someone's body, the dog, my head, whatever...it's heavy! Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I just think it's cool!!!

New Sign

2011-05-17T17:29:00.002-05:00

Last night I went to Wichita to pick up a friend at the airport at 10 pm . I drove by a liquor store and this was posted on the lit sign out front:

"You look like I could use another drink!"

I really liked it and wish I'd thought to take a photo!!! :)

The Roses I Hated

2011-05-10T20:41:00.000-05:00

Ok..time to take back all the things I said about Knockout Roses. They're blooming this week and they're truly very pretty...especially the yellow ones with peachy edges. Lots of people have asked about the red plants around the front edge of the plot...it's Coral Bells. I've been really pleased with how this area has shaped up. Started out with huge hyacinths and jonquils and lots of red and yellow and varied colored tulips..
and of course, the little blooming idiot is in the picture too!! :)

Twelve Days Old

2011-04-25T14:09:00.003-05:00

Well....it's been twelve days and the grass is coming in pretty good where the tree was removed. I plan to leave the little string up for another week so that the mowers don't go over it just yet. It will probably require another seeding of grass soon too....but, so far, so good. It isn't a bare stump at least!

Stump Grinding

2011-04-13T21:11:00.005-05:00

Remember back when this happened about a week before Christmas.

Well...yesterday this happened. Stump grinding. Man, the wood chips flew everywhere, but it only took about 25 minutes to get it GONE!!! The guy was super nice, cleaned up the mess pretty much entirely, then re-ground some spots he had missed. Very reasonable. He left me with about 20 of his business cards to pass around. He's got my vote!

And today, after the yard guys had been here and mowed, I dumped 80 pounds of topsoil and 1.5 cubic feet of MiracleGro garden soil in there and planted a bag of grass. Now it's water, water, water and hope it takes hold a little before next Wednesday so it doesn't get sucked up in a mower. I've cordoned it off, so hopefully that will help prevent it's demise.

(Just as a little side note of humor: last evening while at supper with the homeowners' group I mentioned that I'd had my stump ground today. One of the fellas said, "Well, I thought you seemed in a pretty good mood!!!" Hmmmmm.....whatever could he have meant?!?!!?)

Tulips - Tulips - Tulips

2011-04-10T13:06:00.006-05:00

What She Said

2011-04-07T23:01:00.002-05:00

Yeah...what she said: http://fromchaoscomeshappiness.blogspot.com/2011/04/shutdown-are-you-kidding-me.html Too good not to reference!

It's All Done With Mirrors????

2011-04-07T08:38:00.003-05:00

I'm feelin' guilty. I put up a new header yesterday...more experiment than anything...will probably change it before long....but I've already had several emails about how cute the picture of Schiz is. Sorry, folks, it's not Schiz...it's a google picture!!! It really does look like her (and every other Shih Tzu with that coloring), but Schiz is in short coat right now. Too hot for that much hair for her! Here's yesterday's shot of her checking out the new pavers. The header picture will be there for awhile...until I find something I like better.

Outside Activities

2011-04-06T20:22:00.010-05:00

For over a week now it's been too windy to bicycle ride (at least for ME to bicycle ride) so I've been trying to do a few things outdoors.

I still haven't given the inside of the fence a second coat of paint...but I did do the outside. And I spent several hours for each of three days digging out all the rock and dirt so that I could lay pavers in the entrance to my patio. I'm barefooted too much to deal with rocks! Still not perfect by a long ways, but suits me fine.

Also I have a LOT of flowers blooming and coming up. I not only have jonquils and hyacinths, but now red tulips and yellow tulips and lots and lots of sprouts that I'm pretty sure are hostas! I love hostas! And of course the knockout roses survived (darnit!) and even the coral bells are beginning to feel a little alive I think.

And the Bradford pear tree is almost done blooming and is getting green now. The lawn guys have mowed twice.... I do believe Spring is here!!!

Today the wind died down quite a bit, but I was kind of committed to other things so I didn't get out and get my bicycle ride. Maybe tomorrow..... or not....listening to the weather forecast. Oh well...we need rain.

Count your blessings!

As I Remember It.....

2011-03-31T11:45:00.007-05:00

Well...blogger has decided there's no such thing as paragraphs....so that's why these are all ran together. I tried to separate with dots and spaces...didn't work well...here ya go!! These might not be perfectly verbatim correct....but they're as I remember them. Several commercials just crack me up. Here's three of my favorites: ..... The first one was a Pic-Quik commerical. Picture a man waiting for his daughter. She comes trotting down the stairs in this horrible "get-up" and he says "No way..." and she goes back upstairs. Next she comes down in another clown suit get up and he says "You're kiddin', right?...." and she tromps back upstairs. Meanwhile the commercial is telling how if you don't have the time to spare in the mornings you can get one of their breakfast sandwiches. Third time...the daughter comes down the stairs in a fairly normal looking outfit. The dad says, "Now that's more like it!" The daughter gives the typical teenager "eat sh-- and die" look and says, "Awesome...." and heads for the door. As she passes her father you can see the seat of her pants and it says "Hot Stuff" (or something like that)...and the father says, "OH, HOLD IT!!!!!!" ..... Then more recently I heard this one of the radio...again I think it was for Pic-Quik. They're again selling sandwiches...how the guy doesn't have time to wait for someone to make a sandwich because he needs to get home on his lunch hour to let his dog, Tina out. If he doesn't get there, Tina gets testy and does "bad things".....and the commercial goes on. Finally they say that he doesn't want Tina to do bad things. Tina is part Mastiff, part Great Dane, and part Kodiak...and she's already the size of a caribou!!! ..... And then just last night I heard a commercial on tv for an upcoming "Alaskan Highway Patrol" or something like that. They have this VERY scruffy looking guy standing beside his car. He has on a floppy hillbilly hat, long grey hair and long beard. Clearly he's DRUNK!!!!! The officer says to him, very politely, "Count backwards from 69...can you do that for me?" And the drunks slurs out, "Like WHO could???" ..... My life is simple...I enjoy the little things.. Hope you enjoyed these. I know Pic-Quik isn't everywhere so not everyone gets to view or hear these. Thought you might enjoy them. ..... Well...the sun is shining....the streets are dry...and temperature is good...time to go outside and do something. Count your blessings!!!! I do!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation..or Something Like That

2011-03-20T20:01:00.001-05:00

Lots of ballgames on tv today...too windy to bicycle ride...so I decided to paint. I've been needing to get this horrible looking patio fence painted for some time...well, ever since I moved here last September. I will tell you this...these pictures don't do the "ugliness" justice.

It was light turquoise, with lime green stringers and posts. AND....so you can fully appreciate the talent of the #&^%$# that lived here prior to me, it was also INTERIOR paint. And she's a school teacher...that's what our kids are learning from!! (And yes...I did just end a sentence with a preposition BUT I am aware of it!) Anyway...I digress...back to the fence. On top of the turquoise and lime green were white plastic lattice panels. Truly a lovely picture.

BTW, the entire fence...all three sides were like that....this first photo I'd already painted a good deal of it white...but ALL of it was turquoise and green!

Yesterday I bought a gallon of exterior white paint and started wire brushing and scraping today. I probably didn't do as good a job as I should have but look at it this way: my thoughts were how I could just replace the entire thing!

So mid-afternoon I decided it was time to do something. I haven't painted a fence for a long long time. And I don't see me wanting to do another one real soon either. I do still have to do the outside, but it's already white and will be much simpler.

These photos also don't do justice to how poorly my white paint job looks. It definitely will need another coat...again, much simpler than this first coat I'm sure.

Next projects out there: repaint the hinges on the gate, put down plastic and rock between the fence and the patio, and put down some pavers going out the gate. Another day, another dollar.

Good day...got something done that I can actually SEE the improvement! I like that! Hope yours was as good and as productive.

Spring's Lovelies

2011-03-18T22:33:00.002-05:00

They're up and blooming beautifully!!! Aren't they pretty? Surely this is a
positive sign that Spring is here. The weather in the middle of Kansas has been absolutely gorgeous (other than too windy!)...warm and sunshiny. That's all supposed to end this weekend I guess. We need rain...just hope it doesn't bring severe weather with it.

As I look at these lovely flowers I also see the remnants of last year's knock-out roses. I cut those back....WAY back....with the comment: If they come back, fine. If they don't, that's fine too. As I look at these (and at the pokes I received on the side of my hand today while trying to pull a dandelion) I question whether they're worth it. I've never been a real fan of roses. They simply aren't pretty enough to warrant their thorns. They may or may not make it through this summer. We'll see. They were about four feet tall in places and very "wild" looking when I moved in here last September. They'll be kept short this year.

But I really do like the jonquils or daffodils...I don't know the difference and the grape hyacinths...or whatever they are. I like these yellow and purple flowers. How's that?

Also I notice my pictures loaded backwards (don't think that's the pictures' fault!). First picture was to show that there's still more to come.

Hope your weekend is great! Don't forget to count your blessings...and ask for help for all the people in Japan...what a tragic mess.

Has Spring Sprung???

2011-03-14T17:54:00.003-05:00

Has Spring sprung???? I sure hope so!

Last night I went into the kitchen and before I switched on the overhead light I noticed how bright the room was. At first I thought someone must be sitting out in a car with the headlights on, but I took a quick peek through the blinds to see SNOW!!! The yard was completely covered with snow! The driveways never did cover, evidently warm enough to keep the snow melted.

We got only a trace and it was pretty much gone before noon today.
Blessings....my friends at Salina had about 5 inches of snow!!!

While outside this afternoon I noticed these grape hyacinths(?) beginning to bloom. Two so far. There are about seven or eight plants with larger plants alongside them (daffodils???). We'll see when they bloom I guess.

And speaking of "blooming"...here's a blooming idiot!!! She'd been "burying" a milk bone (you can't see that, can you?)
When she turned back toward me (to check to see if I could see it) I moved to get a camera. Her hair had actually settled down quite a bit, but she had a halo of hair for awhile. She works so hard to get those bones hidden...and then stands and barks when she wants them out. Her nose is too flat or short or something to get back in the crack of the sofa. Duh!!!

Count your blessings!

Hawk?

2011-03-11T16:29:00.003-06:00

As I was running my errands today, I saw this hawk just standing in the gutter at the corner of Countryside Drive and Whitmore. That's a very residential area that's only about a block north of Main Street.

I went past it the first time, made a u-turn, and went back with camera ready, because I thought he'd take off. I snapped several pictures and he just stood there in the water.

But when I started to pull my car up a little further, he finally took flight and disappeared.

Seems unusual to me to see a hawk right in town. I don't know my birds...but isn't that a hawk? Somebody comment and tell me for sure please. Maybe he was fishing?

Rackin' My Brain

2011-03-04T16:49:00.006-06:00

Did you ever have something that you just can't quite remember all of it and it just drives you nuts?? Some word or expression that you know is just perfect to describe the situation, but you can't quite pinpoint it? Well, I had one yesterday!

Yesterday was gorgeous here in Kansas. A little wind from the southeast and temperatures in the 60's. An ideal day for a bicycle ride. I have a friend Carol that I ride with quite often, but she's much more dedicated than I am. I rode on Tuesday as well...and met up with Carol on 82nd Avenue...she was coming back in from a decidedly longer ride. We agreed that we'd ride on Thursday and made our plan.

She called yesterday morning and was headed to Yoder via Crupper's Corner. Now one can get to Yoder in about 8 or 9 miles one way....but not via Crupper's Corner. From my house to Crupper's Corner is 10 miles...then another 4 or 5 to Yoder! So our plan was that she'd go to Yoder (actually she went a few miles beyond Yoder) and then meet me at Crupper's Corner about 1 pm and we'd ride back in together.

I left here about 11:45 and headed out. I was riding into the wind and not very fast so I thought I'd probably get there about 1. Turned out I was there at 12:30, so I decided to ride on toward Yoder. I met Carol in the second mile and turned around and we rode back in together.

Now...back to not being able to come up with the right word to fill in the blank: On the way out I was riding along, thinking about someone and what that person should do. Then I thought to myself, "No, that probably wouldn't be such a good idea...because he doesn't ________ fools well." I could not think of the expression I was wanting. He doesn't tolerate fools well. He doesn't cotton to fools well.

So, when I met Carol, knowing that she's a excellent "word" person, I asked her. Old expression about not liking stupid people or tolerating foolish people. Neither of us could come up with the expression.

Have you got it yet?

Wanna think about it a little while longer?

Here it is!!

He "doesn't suffer fools gladly!"

Thank you, Google! He doesn't suffer fools gladly....and with a little more thought, I realized WHY he doesn't suffer fools gladly: because his mother doesn't suffer fools gladly either!!!

BTW....Carol had about 32 miles and I had 22.56 when we got back in. Great ride, great company, great day!!!!!

SCHIZ IS 7 ! ! ! !

2011-02-27T09:57:00.011-06:00

Schiz is seven years old today! We've come a long way, baby. Schiz was more-or-less a puppy-mill dog. From an indiscriminate breeder. A skank!

I've kept a "baby book" on Schiz since the day I got her. She was 5 months and 1 day old when she came to me. I worked with a guy "whose mother raises show quality Shih tzus... but once in awhile if she had one that wasn't show quality she'd place it in a home." BS! The son told me that there were 21 dogs in her kitchen.

Schiz came to me "sight unseen" for $50 from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. No pictures were ever sent, even though I had requested them several times. I knew she didn't have a full mask so I began to look in a psychology book for "split personality"..etc. A line from the book was something like "a lot of people confuse split personality with schizophrenia because the Greek verb 'schizo' means to split or separate." Thus she became Schizo.

She's "pet quality" at best. She still has front dewclaws and doesn't quite fit the AKC standard. She DOES have coat...she has three times what she needs. She can DO full Shih tzu look with hair! But don't you even think about no ugly topknot...won't happen!

Anyway..at five months, she'd never been held. Scared her to death to be picked up. She'd never been outside on grass...freaked her out. She was stained with urine and feces half way up on her body...with large chunks of hair cut out (assuming to remove clumps of ???.) She was in dire need of a lot of love and a lot of socialization. She didn't pick her tail up over her back for several days.

Day Two was a trip to my veterinarian. He saw no problem with the unmasked eye. No sign of parasites, worms, or fleas. He even commented that she was a "caged pup...needs lots of love."

Day Three was a bath. She did not like it at all. She hated the hair dryer even more and I wound up letting her pretty much air-dry because I was afraid she'd have a heart attack she was so panicky. She also hated the vacumn sweeper...anything that made noise scared her to pieces.

Great neighbors with a super little dog named Wally...and Schiz was socialized and IN LOVE! These two dogs played together everyday..sometimes all day long. Great buddies! Schiz became a completely different dog.

Today...just mention "sweeper" and she'll beat you to the closet. She loves it...well, what she actually loves is the yellow feather duster that hooks to the sweeper. While running the sweeper I have to say "move...move...move it" several times usually.

She the best, most perfect house-broken dog I've ever had. I think she decided she'd waded around in that stuff long enough and she is VERY good about getting the message to you when she needs to go out.

Schiz is super spoiled. Barks too much. Somewhat picky eater (wonder why?) She recognizes vehicles..just tell her who's expected and she'll watch for that person. She won't bark until the right car gets here...they don't have to be in the driveway..just on the street...she knows! She's still not tremendously fond of being picked up (but it happens several times a day...she just doesn't totally relax into it)...but she totally understands "smoochies"; however, she prefers I get down on the floor (or chair) to provide smoochies. She won't sleep on the bed. I think she gets too hot. She sleeps on the floor. Yes, she has a little bed....sometimes she'll even sleep fairly close to it. She sleeps on the floor.

But...she OWNS this chair and this window:

"Did you say candy for my birthday?"

Yeah...this is Schiz on her 7th birthday...happy, outgoing (OMG!), loves everybody and pretty much everything. She's even beginning to like Bandit...the little black/white mentioned in an earlier blog. She actually played with him a few days ago...it could happen!!! (Clairification: "It" means play...both dogs have been altered.)

Happy Birthday, Schizzy! You're my Sweetpea and I love you dearly!!! Happy, happy birthday!

Yeah...she IS one of my blessings. Don't forget to count yours!

TGIF...Oh Yeah...TGIF

2011-02-25T17:04:00.005-06:00

TGIF - Thank God It's Friday! Thank God for good news on Friday!!!

I attended a class at our local library this morning and afterwards went by the post office to pick up my mail. In it was a form letter from Hutchinson Clinic stating the "Exam Date 2/23/2011.......we are happy to inform you that your mammogram showed no evidence of breast cancer." I will still be following up with my doctor to find out what or why more tests were necessary, but I'm very very happy to get this news today.

I called a good friend (a GREAT friend) and we went to the Yoder Bakery for a cinnamon roll. There's a lot of good cinnamon rolls in this area: Dutch Kitchen, Carriage Crossing, Allie's Deli...lots of good cinnamon rolls. But Mary and I agreed, Yoder Bakery has the BEST....and today they were just especially good!!!

While I kept telling everyone that I wasn't really worried about the results of these tests, I was still "concerned." I don't think I was worried, but I was definitely relieved to get this letter today. I would have liked a phone call from one of the two doctors the radiology department sent the report to, but that evidently wasn't to be. Hopefully Monday....hmmmmm......

Count your blessings...remember your health, your friends, your happiness...and on and on.

Today's News

2011-02-21T12:53:00.001-06:00

Well....so last Wednesday I went for my annual mammogram. This morning (Monday) I was on my way to meet some friends for coffee and felt a "need" for a few swallows of Diet Coke. I was about ten minutes early anyway, so I swung into the 4th Street McDonald's. The van ahead of me pretty much blocked my view of everything as I waited my turn.

And, as I waited my turn, my phone rang. The woman identified herself as being from the radiology department at the Hutch Clinic. The result of last week's mammogram were given to my doctor to view and she's wanting an additional view and a sonagram (later she said ultrasound) of my right side. No clue. I need to talk to my doctor for further information. So I scheduled the additional stuff for Wednesday morning of this week.

And then the van in front of me was moving forward to place their order. And this sign came into my view. (I went back later and took the photo.) I'm a believer. I'm not a church-goer, but I'm a very definite believer! He speaks to me! And this was this morning's message. I'm gonna take it and run with it!!!!!!

Count your blessings...I do...and I pray that by Wednesday afternoon I'll be counting them even more and thanking God for how fortunate I am.

Tired Pup

2011-02-20T08:09:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was "groomer day" for Schiz. After we got home, she crashed. She's normally on the back of a chair by the window, watching for walkers...but not yesterday. I was upstairs in the loft, looked over to see where she was, and this was my view. She's clear over on her side...sound asleep! And this morning, she's "full of it"...clearly rested and ready to roar! She's got a birthday coming up next Sunday, the 27th. She'll be 7 years old...oops, not supposed to tell a lady's age, I guess.

Beautiful weather here..especially for February. Can only hope it'll be kind throughout the rest of the winter months. Last Wednesday the weather people were telling we'd had a 95 degree temperature swing in 7 days....from -17 to 78 in one week! Like they say here in Kansas...if you don't like the weather, wait a minute! How true!

Count your blessings...I do...and I think probably even Schiz does!! She's a happy girl!

Snowin' and Blowin'

2011-02-09T23:03:00.002-06:00

It's snowy. It's cold. Probably I should forewarn you...this is a rant!

The tv stations are all reporting that Hutchinson has had 19" of snow. It's lovely. Temperature is currently -1. It's lovely. Supposed to get down to -5 tonight...actual, not wind chill. It's lovely.

The guys came to clear driveways and sidewalks. Got everyone's done except 1/2 of mine...and their 4-wheeler broke down. They still had shovels but evidently they don't use those...so half my drive way is still covered with snow...and by the attitude they copped when I asked about it, I'm assuming they won't be coming back to clear it. (They should hope that I'm never in the position of being the person that writes their check...my pen would probably break or something.) Maybe I'll clear it tomorrow afternoon when the temperature gets up a little...no biggie! It's lovely!

Newspaper didn't get thrown until about 10 am this morning....clear out by the street on top the snow...so I decided (at that point the snow removers hadn't been here yet) to go shovel the front walk so I could get my paper. As I did I thought I could smell natural gas. After I came back in I called the gas company and they sent a guy out...very pleasant individual. Nope, no gas leak here...he'd check around though. Pretty soon he came back up to the door and said he'd found the problem. My neighbor's gas meter just east of me was "bubbling". He corrected the problem and said they'd contact her to come back out and turn her furnace, etc. back on. Nosy neighbors are STILL the best insurance policy!

Seems like everytime I sit down, I fall asleep...can't be because I'm sleepy because like I said, every time I sit down, I fall asleep. I'm bored!!!!

Today I've made some Zatarain's Jamalaya with cheese (started out to be chili and realized I had only kidney beans or green beans, found the Zatarain's and decided that would be good..and it was.) Also made a pan of brownies. Finished off the last of the cherry bordeaux ice cream...and had some raisins. Finished off some crackers with the Zatarain's. Think all this may explain why I'm sleepy too! Oh, yeah...in my "food" paragraph...and tonight on tv they're telling that Diet Coke is bad for me. Something like 58% more apt to have a heart attack or stroke. Guess I'll have to look into that clear stuff...what's it called??? Water, I think. They'll probably figure out something wrong with it before long.

I don't think I like winter any more. Yeah....I know...it's SOOOOO pretty!!!! It's lovely! I hate it...it's cold and confining and stifling! Well...I feel better. Think I'll quit now and maybe...oh, I don't know..maybe I'll go to bed. I can surely use a good night's rest!!! Tomorrow's another day...and temperatures are supposed to be better every day for the next 5 or 6....up to 52 on Sunday I hear.

Count your blessings...even in the snow there's way worse things than the life I have and I know that. Life is good. Good night.

Garage Salin'

2011-01-29T09:59:00.010-06:00

Tis the season...well, almost! Needing a garage sale fix I went to an estate sale yesterday. And this is what I wound up with:

For $1.50 I was pretty pleased. I'm needing house plants and Stutzman's isn't quite into that yet, so this fills the need..for now. I think this is an Hawaiian Schefflera. But I'm not sure of that at all...I don't really care...it's GREEN (for now!)

I also bought a couple of Sonoma coffee cups 2/$1 ... but my photo looks "squatty". Just nice big cups with moose and bear and pine trees on them....just what I needed to go with the other dozen or so cups that I think I just have to have! Duh!

Rode 17.5 miles with Carol yesterday and plan to go again today if the weather holds.

Count your blessings...get out and get some of this gorgeous sunshine....live, laugh, love!!!!

Bandit & Schizo

2011-01-28T18:51:00.010-06:00

So how could you NOT just love this little guy? He's the sweetest, mushiest, softest little cutie you can imagine...and Schiz doesn't like him even a little bit!!!! This is Bandit and he owns the people next door. I'm dogsitting this weekend.

Schiz and Bandit has known each other since September. This is NOT a new acquaintance. And Bandit would just do anything to be buddies with her....but she's just not interested. Schiz likes everyone. I've always said you couldn't MAKE her bite....until we met Bandit. She growls and snaps and makes it very clear that he's not her friend.

The two pictures below will give you an idea of the dynamics between them. Remember these are still shots and it never ends well. There's never been any damage but they both know their limits.

Wouldn't you think she'd be nuts about him? He's adorable. He's mushy. He's just the sweetest little guy you can imagine! My theory: he's about year old; she's almost 7. She likes older men obviously!

60 Degrees & a Bank Robbery !

2011-01-28T08:53:00.002-06:00

And people say Kansas is DULL!!!! Ha!

Yesterday was gorgeous (and today's supposed to be even better!!)....60 degrees, sunshine, no snow left, very little breeze...really lovely. I went for a short bicycle ride - up to the bike path, down and back (and sorry, counted 45...yes, 45!!!...dog piles...people, you're there for exercise...if your dog goes, bend over and pick up the poop!!!!...Oh well, that's maybe an editorial for the Hutch News)...anyway, all in all a wonderful afternoon.

After I got home I took Schiz for a walk down to the soccer park (about 1/2 mile maybe) and all of a sudden there were cops everywhere..going this way and that. One stopped and asked me if I'd seen a two-toned tan car. "No...not that I remember...." Then my neighbor was out and they asked him too. Thinking someone was probably drag-racing or something, I continued my walk and was happy as a clam.

I'm babysitting for my neighbor's little Shih tzu, Bandit....who's a doll but Schiz does NOT like him AT ALL....so about 6pm I went down to take him for a short walk. As we wandered around the yards I noticed two people in similar uniforms walk across the intersection a block south of me. I thought they looked like cops. ??? No biggie.....

After taking Bandit back home and coming inside, I heard car doors slamming. It was dark by then so I just peeked out my kitchen blinds. Two cop cars and two officers walking across the lawn right across the street from me. They went to Dwight's door, talked with him, and then he opened his garage door for them. Then they continued around the cul de sac having everyone do the same thing..opening their garage doors.

I'm a firm believer a nosy neighbor is the best insurance policy you can have so I continued to watch...not even trying to hide the fact that I was watching. I had turned on all my outside lights (and living on the corner that's quite a few). Shortly they got to my place and I found out what was going on: there had been a robbery up on 30th street (I found out later it was an armed robbery at the drive-up window to a bank) and they thought the vehicle was still in the area. I opened my garage door, then my neighbor's who I'm dogsitting for, then back across the cul de sac circle to open one where they didn't receive an answer and I had the code for the door. Nope, none of us robbed the bank! Guess we're all in the clear!

When I found out details later, I heard that it was a woman who had robbed the bank....and those cops didn't even frisk me or anything!

My big question now is: how does one hold-up a bank from a drive-up window????? Isn't that bullet-proof glass???? Couldn't the teller just duck and ring an alarm or something? What's wrong with this picture???

Well...so today's supposed to be near 70 degrees with very little wind. I already have a bicycle ride scheduled with a friend, so I'd better get busy around here so I can play hard later. Count your blessings....and your money if you robbed the bank!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before and After

2011-01-24T22:15:00.010-06:00

I've redone my ironing room...well, in real life, it's supposed to be a bedroom. But I didn't need it for another bedroom, so it's my ironing room...and my bicycle/trainer room. It was, in my opinion, U-G-L-Y!!!! This is the old way...complete with the previous owner's really poor job of covering up nail holes. And truly, it was worse than this looks...it's was a southwest peachy-orange color.

Below is the new way. I'm pretty sure this is a "love it or hate thing"...no middle ground. Since I'm pretty much the only person that spends any time in there, that's ok...'cause I love it!!!

The wall with the window is a darker shade of green, as well as the area around the closets and bathroom doorway. The wall with the mirror on it is the same color as the wall with the clothes rack ... except that the wall with the mirror has a faux treatment of bronze ragged onto it. (You should be able to double click on these and see them better.)

So...that's how I spent my Saturday evening and most of the day Sunday. I also put about an hour into it today (Monday) to apply the bronze glaze. Hope you like it...I do.

Now....about that bathroom........I was happy with it until I used that darker shade of green...hmmmmmmmmm

Round-Soled Shoes

2011-01-18T15:35:00.008-06:00

Love 'em!!!! Love 'em so much that I bought a second pair. The white ones are Filas and I bought those first at Kohl's in Wichita for $29.99....in fact, they were a little less than that because I got a senior discount too!

After wearing the white Filas for a few days, I decided I wanted some Skecher Shape Ups. They'd had those at Kohl's too. $109.99, on sale for $69.99. But you know, I really love Ebay...so I went shopping. I had copied down the style numbers, etc. when I was at Kohl's so I knew exactly what I wanted. I found this black pair - absolutely brand new - and paid WITH shipping charges, $31.98!!!!!

I've worn the white ones quite a bit, but today decided to wear the black ones. The black Skechers do have quite a lot more padding, but as far as comfort, I really didn't notice a difference. I love the way they feel. Very, very comfortable.

I had some people tell me that I'd have trouble getting used to walking in them, especially on stairs, but I really didn't. I could feel a difference for a few days (the rounded sole) but was never uncomfortable or felt "off balance" (well...at least not in my feet!)

Monday I had an appointment with my chiropractor (who I openly adore!) and asked him what he thought of them. He stuck his foot up and said, "I like 'em too!!" as he showed me the pair he had on. He believes that they not only work your leg muscles, but he said that you stand straighter in them! That your back is straighter. Great, huh?

B O R E D O M.......

2011-01-16T15:23:00.003-06:00

Boredom Deluxe!!! I think I genuinely HATE winter. It's cold, it's dreary, it's no fun!!! Schiz and I went for a ride today. I tried to convince her these were "puppies"....but I don't think she bought it!

She looked...then turned and looked at me like, "And you're driving?" Then we went down to Carey Park and watched the ducks and geese for awhile. I called those "ducks" and she was really into those. We were a lot closer for one thing, and they were walking around. She watched very intently for about 8-10 minutes. She had a good time!

The temps are in the 30's, the snow is melting, the sun is shining brightly....and I'm bored. You know what they say: If you're bored, it's because you're boring!!! How RIGHT!!!!!

Signs of My Times

2011-01-11T15:18:00.006-06:00

I purchased the above sign several years ago in a little store in Joplin, Missouri. Some people see the humor to it....others don't. I personally find it funny.

A couple of weeks ago I was out at a local greenhouse and saw the sign below. I've been single for about 25 years, and am often asked about "why." This sign isn't exactly right for me...mainly because it's putting the blame on my ex-husband and he really doesn't deserve it. It's the "others" I've seen since then that this sign applies to.

And then last Friday when I was in Paxico with my cousins we went to eat at the only eatin' place which happened to be a bar. They had a wooden version of this sign and I actually tried to get the owner to sell it to me. Nope! So I came home and went to ebay....and look what I got in the mail today. Love it!!!! Perfect!!!!!

My life is pretty simple, isn't it? Or is it just me?

And for those of you who know me....yes, there are other signs and I'm not displaying them here!!!

S N O W ! ! ! ! ! ! !

2011-01-10T13:11:00.002-06:00

Looks like we had about 2 to 3 inches of snow late yesterday. We surely need the moisture but I'm already bored and feel cooped up.

I went outside about 8am and shoveled the first 3/4 of my double driveway and the sidewalk around the end of the house and the sidewalk from the front door to the street. No big deal...nice exercise.

About noon I decided I'd go out and finish the driveway. All that was left to be shoveled was the part that kind of angles down to the street. About the time I finished my drive, my 96 year old neighbor came home. His driveway is "with" mine...but his driveway and garage are single car width. Well, he cut the corner, jumped the curb, revved his little Honda up and came on up into the driveway....driving about six feet into his yard. He went ahead and pulled into his garage, then came out to talk. Now, he's 96, and absolutely stone deaf!!!

He told me he'd just driven back from "the farm" (up by Salina - 60 miles or so). As we talked I started shoveling his drive and porch. He thanked me and was super nice about it.

When I finished, I came in and was getting ready to nuke some soup when I saw him walking his two little dogs south down the street!!!! They walk EVERY day...but I didn't think he'd walk in the snow and slush! He's 96!!!!!

While I was watching him and wondering who was nuttier - him or me - a truck pulled up in front of my house. Then another one. GUESS WHAT!?!?!?! They had snow blowers! GUESS WHAT!?!?! The Homeowner's Association evidently clears snow!!! Oh well...I had good exercise...that's what I'm calling it!!!! I talked to one of the guys and he said, "Well, when we pulled up I kind of thought 'someone's already done them'....then I saw it was just yours."

Live and learn....live and learn...live and learn!!!! BTW: Soup was good!!!!

Twisted Mind?

2011-01-09T12:20:00.005-06:00

Do you ever wonder about how the mind works? I do.

I'm a "puzzle" person. I love crosswords, sudoku, scrambles, text twist, mah jong ... any kind of puzzle or game!!!

One glance....and this is why I wonder about my mind....I "unscramble" L I G O D F E ......and I get the reason a lot of people probably give when they miss church on Sunday morning: I GOLFED.

Should I seek help?

A Trip to Paxico

2011-01-07T19:21:00.004-06:00

I went to Paxico - Maple Hill today. What FUN!!!!

I picked up one cousin at her home near Alma...and we met my other cousin (her sister) at Paxico and did the "antique-shopping" routine. None of us bought a whole lot but we had a good time doing it. The quarter-of-a-cow on the plate was Shon's lunch...well...actually if was PART of Shon's lunch...she'd already eaten about 1/4 of it when I thought to take a picture! It was HUGE!!! Plus I think there was a cup of slaw with it too. I didn't taste it but both Shon and Becky agreed it was "the buy of the day." It was evidently very very good!!!

We met a super nice lady at one of the antique stores in Paxico and had a great visit with her. Then crossed the street to look around in another shop where there was the cutest little dog. He was 1/2 West Highland White Terrier and 1/2 long-haired Dachshund. He was blackish-grey with brown feather-y spots and huge ears and really, really cute. RV...or maybe that's Arvie...was his name.

And the wind blew!!! Holy cow...did the wind ever blow!!!!! Between Maple Hill (where we went after the antiquing) and Salina I was fighting to stay on the road. After turning south at Salina it was pretty smooth sailing the rest of the way home.

Great day....great fun!!! Looking forward to doing more in the near future!

January 6, 2011 - 19 miles - WOW!!!

2011-01-06T15:18:00.003-06:00

I'm having a great day!!! A friend called yesterday to see if I'd be interested in a little bicycle ride today and I said, "Sure!" I've been riding a trainer inside but only doing about 6 miles a day...just to keep the old legs goin' around.

So...today is here...it's about 55 degrees with a fairly strong wind out of the west-north-west. Carol suggested to the Highlands and maybe "a couple of laps". So to the Highlands it was. Entrance to Highlands is about 7 miles, lap is about 3 miles. We were about 1/2 way around the first lap when she said, "This may count as two day's worth of riding!" The wind was a little gustier than we'd perhaps calculated!

At the end of the first lap, IF we were going to do another lap we needed to turn north again. As we're heading out, I asked, "Were we going to do another lap?" (Mind you, I'm on the north side of Carol.) Carol said, "I don't care; what do you want to do?" I just kept going straight and never turned north...finally, after we're past the road, I said, "Guess!"

Nineteen miles by the time I got home (rode a little past my house and back to round it up to 19) and I'm feeling GREAT about it!!! Super ride....super friend.....super time.... which reminds me: it's almost SUPPER time!!!! (Go put all those calories back in!!)

All in all, it's a beautiful day. As someone I know used to say: for every day we get like this, it's just one less day of snow and cold.

Count your blessings!! I sure am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

2010-12-31T22:34:00.002-06:00

It's 10:45 pm...rapidly approaching the New Year.

It's been a great year. Each month has brought challenges and changes, some joys, some sorrows. Lots of changes, lots of learning.

I'm looking forward to 2011. I hope to make more changes, learn more, get out more, do more things, and of course, the standard, exercise more!

I hope your New Year's Eve is safe and sound and that 2011 will bring you lots and lots of happiness and joys. Don't forget to count your blessings....they're abundant!

Recent Happenings

2010-12-20T08:26:00.014-06:00

The cypress tree is gone - gone - gone!!!! I know all you tree huggers will think it's just terrible to remove a perfectly good, live tree. (See photo of full tree a few posts earlier than this.) Get a long-haired Shih tzu and THEN talk to me. Schiz loves to be brushed...and she doesn't go outside more than 2 or 3 times a day unless we're just goofing off outside together. But cypress leaves (? - are those called leaves ?) are highly attracted to all that hair. Cypress "droppings" are kind of like little cedar branches..not really sticker-y, but when you try to pull them loose they come off in pieces. I hated that tree!!! So earlier this week a friend with a couple of chain saws and a trailer came by and we removed it. This is all that's left...hopefully in the spring it'll be rotted enough to remove most of it (we've treated it to kill it and will do more in the spring to tear it up.)

And, speaking of "tearing up"....last Friday some jackass ruined a tire on my car....oh yeah...that was ME!!! I was on a schedule, you know: places to go, people to sniff....and it was about 10 after 11. I had lunch plans with a couple of friends at 11:30 on the northeast side of town. I was downtown, needed to go to Dollar General (and I won't go to the one that's close to me because the manager is a ........oh you know!). So I was going to run by the one at Sherman and Adams. Well....there was this "person" that was poking along in front of me and so I decided to turn in an earlier driveway to get to where I was going. Honda Fit Sports have a spoiler on the front end so they're low anyway. The driveway has always been pretty smooth there. I'm 99.9% sure I did not hit the curb...but I did take the driveway a little faster than I probably needed to. Anywho...BANG!!!! By the time I tried to park in front of Dollar General, I knew I had a problem. Hopped out, looked, hopped back in, and eased it across the street to Cooper Tire.

Now, Cooper Tire has EVERYTHING anyone would ever need for tires!!! They've always been my "go to" place. They got my car right in and pretty soon the guy came back and said, "I've got good news and bad news!" (I was honest and told him what I'd done to cause this problem.) So, I didn't ruin the wheel or anything else, but I ruined a tire. AND they don't have that tire, can't get that tire, etc. He had a used tire, different brand, little bigger, that he could put on the back and put one of my originals on the front. I suggested we call Conklin Cars (local Honda dealer). They did...and Conklin has that size. So Cooper put on my spare (ha ha ha...talk about a donut!!!) And...typical Cooper's....they didn't charge me a single dime for all their work!!! Good place...good people!

I went on to lunch with my friends...then to Conklin's to get a tire...which turned into two tires! Seems they didn't have a matching tire (Dunlop 185 55R16)...but they did have the right size. But I had two years wear on my original tires (23,000 miles) and if I put on just one the difference would cause the differential to do something weird. And to this I say, "Yeah. boys...I'm a mere woman...I won't know if you lie to me....." I called a guy I know for advice and because he's male he knows everything too, he said I'd probably be better off to get 2 new tires. So I did. $356!!!! And I didn't even get kissed first! They're not Dunlop's, they're Bridgestones, but I guess they'll do the job just the same. Today I went online and probably could have bought exactly what I had had for $94 each. Oh well..............

Anyway....it's December in Kansas. Today is supposed to be 58 degrees!!! I'm going to get my car cleaned up and go for a bicycle ride before the day is over! Christmas is less than a week away and it's a beautiful time of year! And next Sunday I can take all the Christmas decorations down and clean house! I love the way the house looks all decorated and pretty....but by Christmas day I'm SOOOOOO ready to get back to normal.

Have a very Merry Christmas and please....count your blessings!!!! I do every day!

December & Craft Fairs

2010-12-05T18:22:00.002-06:00

Ahhhh....'tis the season. I've been doing LOTS of craft shows lately. I did three shows in October, then the Prairie Patch at Gypsum on November 13th, followed by a two-day show on November 19th and 20th called Christmas in the Foothills held in the Domestic Arts Building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Another GREAT show! Then this past week end (Dec 4) I was at the Hutchinson Recreation Commission Christmas Fair at Memorial Hall.

There's just something about getting out and doing these things that draws me. I genuinely enjoy getting to meet to all the people. Because it's getting close to the end of the year, my inventory is way down, so I asked my friend Mark to supply me with some more of his wonderful goats' milk soaps for this last show. (I also had those at the Gypsum show.) Again...a very very successful show.

So now there's just one more before year end. Last year some friends and I decided to have a craft show at my home. Well...since then I've moved and downsized considerably. So when the subject came up this year, I was hesitant. But....we're doing it again. I agreed to and thought we'd have only four vendors (I had 11 vendors last year - and a much bigger house.) So as I talked to people (vendors) they're all the same place I am....low on inventory. So we've decided to have a lot of different vendors...all with smaller inventories!!! So far, I have thirteen people lined up to bring items for our show! Some will stay with them, some will just drop them off and we'll watch their items for them.

Some of the goodies we'll have available will be: plasma-cut metal artwork, goats' milk soaps, Iris-folded greeting cards, candles, Tastefully Simple food products, painted gourds, embroidery work, jellies and salsas, painted screen-art, sterling silver jewelry, beaded jewelry, purses, Christmas ornaments and more.....plus we'll be giving door prizes and having lots of treats to sample.

All this is on Saturday, December 11th, from 10 am til 4 pm. If you're in Hutchinson, drive out east 30th, watch for signs around the Health Equip area and follow the directions....or email me and I'll send you an address. Should be a fun time!!!!!!!

Perfect Hit!

2010-11-18T14:22:00.002-06:00

Patsy's blog this morning makes a LOT of sense to me . See what you think:
http://www.patsyterrell.com/blog.htm

Does that sound like anyone YOU know?

FIRST SNOW!!!!! November 17, 2010

2010-11-17T14:31:00.004-06:00

I'm kind of hoping this is just going to pass us by....but right now it's looking pretty serious! We need the moisture. We had 2-3 inches of rain last Friday, but we can still use more! So, Kansas Farmers, be happy!!!!!

Prairie Patchwork - Gypsum, Kansas - Southeast Saline Craft Show

2010-11-17T14:04:00.005-06:00

Another day, another craft show! And I'm still lovin' it! It's really a lot of fun...not only making a little money, but even more, getting to talk to people and enjoy the camaraderie of the crowd.

Last Saturday was the HUGE annual craft show at Gypsum, Kansas...actually I think it's just west of the actual town of Gypsum. Southeast Saline School - Prairie Patchwork Craft Show! WOW! I went a year ago as a "shopper"...and immediately emailed Cindy and asked her to put me on their mailing list. I knew it was someplace I needed to be.

To begin with....I was assigned to a parking lot. A nice man directed me to back in...right into the unloading area. Before I could get out of the car, young men were opening the back hatch of my car and getting ready to carry stuff in for me! Honor students, football players, debate team, FFA, FHA, cheerleaders....I don't know all the groups that were involved, but they were wonderful. I think I carried my vendor's kit envelope and my diet Coke. They even set up the tables for me! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

The booths are a large 12 x 12 feet...and feel even larger. Their aisles are wide and easy to navigate. They boast they are accessible by wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc. There are three large gymnasiums, plus a lot of the hallways have booths sponsored/manned by the school teams mentioned above. The cafeteria is set up with food; vegetable soups, chili, pies, cookies, etc.

Prices are wonderful. The people are awesome! The crowd is exceptionally large and friendly. This is the "dream craft show" we are all looking for!!

The show opens at 10 am and closes at 4 pm. There didn't ever seem to be a lull in activity/crowd. I had planned to share the booth but that didn't work out, so I offered to take inventory for two other crafters. Probably a little busier than I wanted to be at times, and probably could have sold more if I could have been two places at once. But, NO complaints!!! I had a terrific day!!!! And my friend's goats' milk soaps went over very well too! He had been at a show in Wichita and on my drive home I spoke with him on the phone. He said he'd had "a pretty good day." So I questioned, "What do you call 'pretty good'?" He thought $70 was "pretty good." When I told him I'd had a VERY good day with his soaps (over 4 times better than his pretty good day), he was one happy camper!!!! As was I!!!! Jewelry sales were up too!

I just have to tell you...next year go to the Prairie Patchwork Craft Show at Gypsum. If you can't find it there, you just don't need it. I saw some really neat Christmas "stuff" that others had purchased and were carrying around with them. I didn't get out of my booth during shopping hours to really look around, but I could see a lot a great stuff even from where I was at.

I think the people who organize and work this craft show deserve a huge round of applause for all of their hard work. Great show!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Mixed Bag

2010-11-05T17:38:00.005-05:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here so decided today should be the day. It's been an extremely good day for me.

A couple of weeks ago (after my dermotologist appointment) I had an appointment to see my "regular" doctor (actually I don't know if she's regular or not :) ) At that time she had me do a fasting lab blood test. I hadn't received the results of it yet.

Also at that time, because I had become ULTRA-aware of every little bump on my body, I had found a small skin tag on my hip, just below my pantie line. I showed it to her and she assured me it was merely a seborrheic keratosis and we'd freeze it off. We scheduled another appointment and that was for today.

I considered cancelling the appointment as the little skin tag had nearly disappeared, however, I'd found a rough spot in the middle of my back at my waistline and decided to have her look at that too. All of a sudden, I'm very aware of these! I also wanted to check on the results of my blood work.

Bottom line: both places are seborrheic keratosis. Neither anything to be concerned about, and I chose not to have either removed/frozen off. Both are in areas that never see the light of day...and anyone who did have the "opportunity" (ha ha ha) would be so appalled at all the blood veins popping out all over my legs they'd never notice a little skin bump!

But the good news: My lab tests!!! My "everything" is great! My cholesterol is fantastic! My bad cholesterol is low, my good cholesterol is high. I've lost about 20 pounds for no apparent reason other that I've been biking a lot more. When I commented that I was happy about my cholesterol but couldn't understand it, as my diet is horrible, she responded, "But you exercise!" She assures me that's what keeping it so good. Ok...a 20 pound weight loss, my lab tests are all good news...I'm one happy camper!!!

So after I got home I called Carol and she was already out on the road. I met her up on 82nd between Monroe and Hendricks and we rode a while longer. Great ride! Great company! We plan to ride again tomorrow if the weather holds.

Then...here's a picture of the tree in my front yard. I believe it to be a Cypress. It's just beginning to drop it's "leaves"....and Schiz seems to be a magnet for them. Long haired dog and Cypress leaves are NOT a good match. Luckily she loves to be brushed!

Enough for today! Hope your day's been as good as mine. Count your blessings!!!!

Basal Cell Carcinoma ...... Oh-oh!

2010-10-08T21:57:00.003-05:00

Getting older seems to bring a few not-so-great surprises with it. I had one Thursday.

I went to my dermatologist for my yearly "look-over." (Always makes me think of monkeys looking for bugs on one another.) Dr. Kelly checked my face, my hairline, my ears, my arms, my legs, and then while looking at my back said, "Oh-oh."

No, no, no....no "oh-ohs"!!!! He'd found a tiny basal cell carcinoma on my shoulder blade. At first I thought it was like the ones he'd frozen off on previous visit....once on my upper cheekbone and once at the top of my nose right where my sunglasses sit. But "No," he said, "those were pre-cancerous. This one is cancerous!"

I felt my stomach flip. Thank God I hadn't had breakfast. It just wasn't a very good feeling. I said, "So...what happens now?"

He said, very calmly, "We'll get it out of there...right now...today!"

As it turns out, it was tiny. I got a look in a hand mirror...and had I seen it before I went I wouldn't have thought anything of it. It looked like a tiny pink scratch..about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long...just slightly pink. Anyway, he removed it completely after numbing the area, and they'll send it in for a biopsy. I can call in for the lab results "if I want to" after a week. The nurse said, "If there's anything odd or unusual, WE'LL CALL YOU! But if you just want to hear the lab results, you can call in."

I was assured they don't think there will be anything odd or unusual and that it's GONE and nothing further will occur with this. However, now I go for checkups every six months instead of once a year.

I commented that I'd just a month ago sold the house with the swimming pool and that maybe it was just as well. He said, "Well, I can nearly guarantee you that this was caused by a bad sunburn at some time in your life." 'Nuff said!

Anyway tonight was the first time that I got to see the remnants of his work. Not bad. Kind of looks like I leaned back into a burning cigarette...about that big around and just a nice clean scab (does that qualify as an oxymoron?)

Well, now that I've probably grossed you out completely, here's my message: Go get checked out! Basal cell carcinoma is the most common, is usually caused by UV rays, and if caught early is almost always "fixable." Dr. Kelly said if you have to have a skin cancer, this is the best one to have!

Go get checked out! I counted my blessings that I went! Go!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

2010-10-05T21:54:00.003-05:00

Yeah....I'm another year older!!!! SIXTY-SIX!!! How did I ever get to be this old?? I don't remember getting this old. It's been a great day though...full of fun and interesting things.

Started with breakfast with Mary, then ran into a guy I didn't remember who opened the conversation with, "So, who's that sexy old bag?".... and then had to tell me who he was.

Then I ran into my ex-husband at the post office and he was surprised today was my birthday. He always was surprised. He believed it was the 7th or the 12th...and never could remember it's the 5th!!!

I received a bunch of neat birthday cards...one especially emotionally moving for me. Sprinkle in a bunch of phone calls and a lot of laughs.

Then this evening the townhouse group went out to eat again....and they sang "Happy Birthday" to me....what a fun group.

After that I came home, walked the dog, decided it was too early to just quit...so I went over to a friend's house for a good visit. A great day, all in all. Happy Birthday to me!

Hope all of your's are as nice as mine was today...I count my blessings...and they're plentiful.

Clarification

2010-09-30T11:40:00.004-05:00

Just a brief thing: the "Pat" that passed away was NOT the same "Pat" who I share craft show booths with. Pat that makes iris-folded cards is still alive and well...and ornerier than ever. She wasn't at the Lyons Fair on the Square because she woke up that morning with a sty on her eye.

2010-09-29T16:07:00.003-05:00

Well, the weekend has passed and everything is moving on.

Saturday was Pat's funeral...it was a difficult time. It was a huge funeral and the procession line must have been 3 to 4 miles long. After the cemetary services, I spoke with her husband for a few minutes, then I headed on up to Lyons.

I didn't get to Lyons until nearly 1pm and thought I wouldn't set up, but while walking partway around the square I ran into some friends who questioned, "where are you?" I told them I have a booth but didn't think I'd even set up. Well, they convinced me to give it a shot. So I did. I was there about an hour and 10 minutes when it began to rain. Completely unexpected ... and totally needed! I tossed everything in cases and "hit the road." I'd had a fairly successful show and didn't want to get everything wet!

After a quick stop at the convenience store (for necessities: bathroom, cheese curls, and a candy bar) I headed back to Hutch. And it POURED on me!!! About Nickerson it kind of let up and I thought I'd be fine...just a normal light to medium rain. About 43rd and Plum it opened up again and by 30th and Plum I was doing 20mph and just guessing where the street might be. It was a toad-strangler! Someone said we had about an inch of rain...in about 15 minutes! I pulled in my driveway, sat there a minute, then pulled on into the garage. My car was ultra-clean...so I got out my chamois and started wipin' her down! Looked great! God's car wash!

Yesterday I went for a little bicycle ride (15.55 miles) and stopped by my friend's house to see how he's doing. He's just kind of in a fog - not sure what to do next - or why. Wish there was a miracle, fast cure for this.

Last night the townhouse group went out for dinner again. Dutch Kitchen. I promised myself I wasn't going to have a whole big meal because then I'm just miserable afterwards. So I had sweet potato fries. It was absolutely embarrassing!!! There was a HUGE tray of fries brought to me. I passed them around and still had way too many to finish. And they were delicious. They were served with ranch dressing...and I tried them both plain and with dressing. Much better just plain: I LIKE sweet potatoes and I could really taste them!

Well, that's all for now. Hope your week is going well. Don't forget to count your blessings! Even when you feel down and out, there's always something good. Walk in someone else's shoes for a few hours and you'll appreciate your own!

What a Week!

2010-09-24T21:01:00.002-05:00

Don't even know quite where to start. Guess I'll go with chronological.

A week ago last night (Thursday) Mary Lou and I went to the Taste It Hutchinson event. It was a lot of fun, and quite a lot a pretty good eats.

The next morning (Friday) a friend called and told me a mutual friend of ours had had a stroke at work Thursday morning. This - throughout the week - only got worse. She passed away this past Tuesday morning. Tonight was the family gathering at the funeral home and tomorrow is her funeral. It was all extremely fast and unexpected.

The week has been full of thoughts and memories and concern for her family. Her husband and I are good friends from my old Home Depot days. He's about 12-13 years older than she was and has said several times that he always thought he'd go first. It's going to be tough for him, I'm afraid. Just last month they'd celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Hopefully, his faith and time will help him heal. He's a very popular, personable guy so he'll have a great support system there for him too.

On to other topics: The house is beginning to come together a little bit. I've hung pictures and an ox yoke in my living room...although I may change where they're all at yet. Today I deep-cleaned a bathroom, changing out the "picture frame" on the toilet, and using "Goof Off" on some uk-em-puck that was marring the side of the tub and the base of the toilet. It sure looks better! And I hung a shower curtain (we've had liners, but no curtains.) Also removed and washed the venetian blind in the downstairs bedroom. Man, it was filthy!!!!!

Slowly but surely I'm hoping it'll all come together and be home. I just keep telling myself that it'll be here when I get around to it! And sure 'nuff, it is!!! Darnit!

Monday night we had a townhouse association meeting. That was nice. Got to meet most of my new neighbors.

Then Tuesday night we all went out to eat together. We went to Carlos O'Kelly's and I wound up sitting across the table from Lou and Ed. Now Ed is an absolute riot!!! Very sharp, very quick...we were all laughing all the time at his comments! Someone mentioned that Lou does line dancing and she admitted that she'd danced at the State Fair last week. Really a neat couple. My guesstimate was they were probably about 80. She's 10 days older than him (he likes older women!) Well, before the evening was over, it was told they will be 93 in January!!! I would NEVER have guessed that!! THAT'S what I wanna be like!

I really like all my neighbors...I think I'll like it here very much, once I get my house in order.

Tomorrow is the Fair on the Square in Lyons, and Pat and I were to share a booth. Not sure whether I'll get there or not. I've loaded a couple of cases in my car, but I'll have to wait and see. The funeral is at 10:30...the cemetary is north of Nickerson...so I may go on to Lyons from there. (From Hutch, it's kind of Hutch-Nickerson-Sterling-Lyons...each about 10 miles further than the last.) Wait and see what time it is and how I'm feeling about it.

Well, enough for tonight. Count your blessings and remember that life is short and should never be taken for granted.

Getting settled....NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-15T08:24:00.003-05:00

Several of you have asked if I'm all moved and settled. Ha Ha Ha!!!! Not even close!

I closed on Friday, Sept 3 and moved that same day. All my stuff is located at the same address. That's about as close as it gets.

On Saturday, Sept 4 I was in the garage, picked up a dining room chair (light-weight) from my left side, lifted it over a tote, and sat it down on my right side, with a GASP! I truly looked upward and said aloud, "OK, OK...I got the message!" But then I brought all 4 chairs into the house. Then the coffee table...at which point I received a second message! Since then I've been to the chiropractor three times! Still hurting, but I truly believe I'm getting better. But no painting, no ladder climbing, not much bending over to pull weeds from the flower beds, etc. I can still iron a little at a time and can still do a few things, but not my "normal". I hate this. Getting old IS hell!!!

I told my doctor yesterday that I was going to try for a bicycle ride this a.m. and he was in complete agreement...but this a.m. it's drizzly here. Maybe later. Plus this is state fair week so the traffic is moronic! (Well...only TO the bike path...the cars don't drive on the bike path...well...they aren't SUPPOSED to anyway!)

Speaking of bicycling...my goal for August was 400 miles. On August 31 I had several early-mid-morning appointments and went out early to get my miles. Rode through an area that I KNEW they had mowed the day before and sure enough, I had a flat. I can change a flat in about 5 minutes (literally) at home, and usually about 15 on the road...but I simply didn't have time nor inclination, so I called my son and he came and picked me up. I wound up with 390 miles for August...short of my goal by 10 miles...but I was still happy about it. However, since then, I haven't ridden..not once...too busy...gotta get back to it! I had lost about 14 pounds and was pretty happy about that. i got weighed this a.m. and the 14 pounds are still gone but they won't stay gone if I don't get busy soon.

Ok...back to the move....the woman (aka "pig" & "skank") that lived here wasn't much of a housekeeper...fresh paint and new carpet show well. But move in to filthy ceiling fans, EVERY ceiling light with 4 bulbs has at least 2, usually 3 different kinds of bulbs. The two spotlights over the fireplace: one orange, one blue. Lots of weeds in the uncared for flower beds. I think (and my son agrees) the new carpet had probably NEVER had a sweeper ran over it...canister filled up rapidly!

So, today I'm going to try to rearrange the living room a little. I may have to wait for J to help with the sofa, but I need to get a chair by a window. Schiz has no window view from which she can see the street...and she's needing a chair to sleep on/watch for company from/etc. Heck of a reason to arrange a room a certain way, huh?

I want to do some faux treatments here and there...not sure where/what yet, but somewhere down the road it'll happen. Not this week, I'm sure. Also my bedroom desparately needs painting. Everything was fresh paint...but my bedroom is a color I don't like AT ALL!!! Fresh paint, yes; color, NO!

I've met several of my neighbors and really think I'm going to like the area. Every Tuesday evening they all go out to eat together. I haven't gone yet. Considered it yesterday, but went to chiropractor yesterday and only craved ice and loafing last night. Maybe next week. Most of them are about in my age range, i think. Neat little group. There's one triplex and 6 duplexes in this townhouse association.

I don't know how many couples/singles yet. I do know the man right next door to me is single. He just celebrated his 96th birthday!!! He walks every day - at a pretty good pace! He's a pretty small man and wears hiking boots. Makes me think of those dolls with the really big feet. He's a cutie! He has a couple of terriers...may be Jack Russells...but I've never ever heard them even once...and that's GOOD!

The couple in Unit C (I'm in Unit A) have a Shih tzu, male, about a year old. First time Schiz saw him she was all set to play. About a minute, she quit. Don't know why. She looks at him and he'll sniff her and get in her face. She just stands there...no friendliness, no agressiveness, no growl, no NOTHING!!!! Just...hmmmmmmm. Maybe they'll become friends later.

Well..if I'm going to get stuff done I need to get started...so I better get after it. Remember to count your blessings. I do count mine...even if I'm griping about a bunch of other stuff. Yeah, my back makes me tired...but hey, I GOT a back and it'll be ok soon. Have a great day!

The Big Move

2010-09-02T17:10:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow's the day!!!! This place is beginning to look pretty bare. 8 a.m. tomorrow morning I go for a "walk-thru" at the new place; 9 a.m. we close on the sale of this place; 10 a.m. we close on the sale of the one I'm buying.

The woman I'm buying from has movers from 8 am til noon, but supposedly she'll be all done by noon....at which time my trailer will get pulled to the new house...and over the next three days unloaded. At 2 p.m. I have movers coming to move the couch and chair, the armoire, and the washer and the dryer.

Currently the buyer is here cleaning out the shed and putting some of his things in it. They're really nice people and have been a delight to work with.

As my dad used to say, "I'm making three tracks!" I slept on the couch...too short...last night and my son slept on the floor in the basement. Beds with mattresses will surely seem wonderful!!!

And on a different note....I saw Carol go by on her bicycle earlier today and so I called and she's back from New York. Will have to have a complete update on that a little later but sounds like they had a really wonderful time.

Well...gotta go....still have a few things to pack and a lot of odds and ends to tie up. See you at the new spot!!!

Count your blessings......this could be you moving!!!!!!

Yoder Heritage Day

2010-08-30T10:20:00.002-05:00

Saturday was Yoder Heritage Day. A big day in a very small town. Yoder is a settlement of Amish people. Many (probably most) of them drive horse and buggies and are very conservative. Some still do not have electricity. They have a very simple, pure lifestyle.

But once a year they have Yoder Heritage Day. And it's LARGE!!!! The estimate this year that I heard was that there would be over 7,000 people in Yoder. That's about 6,300 more than they usually have.

People come from miles around to set up tents and booths to sell their wares. I attended last year and had a booth right about in the middle of things....and it was good!

This year my booth was third from the end..with no one across from me even. A lot of people kind of looked down that way, decided they were at the end, and turned and went back the other way.

First two pictures show what the pathway looked like going toward Main street, and the third picture is the other direction. Big difference.

However....you won't hear me complaining...as I did nearly 40% better than I did last year even!!!! Great day!!! For a community who main residents sport long dresses and high collars and bonnets, they certainly brought in the people who like sterling silver jewelry!

The crowd was great, the temperatures were perfect, and the wind was "do-able." It could have been a little less windy, but it really wasn't bad at all. It was the first time out for my new E-Z Up canopy, and it withstood the breezes and did very well.

My neighbor to the west of me was selling Joe's Special Blend. A spice blend made originally as a rub for meats, but you can virtually put it on anything. I listened for a couple of hours and all I could think was, "I have to go home and cook something....ribs, steaks, chicken, turkey, pork chops...." Then he started talking about putting it on sliced potatoes and putting them either in the oven or on the grill....and he went on to zucchini in butter sauce with this spice combo on it. Yeah...I bought a bottle. It's WONDERFUL!!!! So far I haven't even cooked with it...but I've used it like pepper (only heavier)(his mantra was "the more the better") on a deli turkey sandwich and even on some potato salad. Did I mention it's WONDERFUL!!!! Joe said he wasn't a salesman, just a "griller".....but listen to him for 10 minutes and you realize he's a great salesman....and/or his product is so good that it just sells itself.

The technique he used was something like this: Potential buyer approaches tent. Joe hands potential buyer the "sample" jar and suggests he smells/tastes it. PB does just that....and as the flavor began to melt into his taste buds, his right hand automatically began to reach for his wallet! Gotta have it!!! Joe's goal was to sell 50 bottles that day. By 4pm he had only one bottle left! Plus he was also selling his own cookbook and some really cute aprons! So...if you run into Joe from El Dorado selling Joe's Special Blend, check it out. It's WONDERFUL!!!!

All in all, a great day all the way around. Lots of fun, interesting people at these events and I absolutely love attending them. The negative people are few and far between and usually I find you get back what you put out there. (The only one that really bugged me was the woman who said, "Who does she think she's kidding?".....and...not to her face...but to her fat ass, I said, "You, Lardo! Mooooooooo") All in all, a fun, fun day...and profitable too!!! What more can you ask for? Count your blessings!!!!

A Note from Carol

2010-08-17T17:13:00.003-05:00

Wanted to keep you all posted as to where my friend Carol is and what's she doing. (She's the one touring New York state for a month - by bicycle!) Today I received the following email:

Hi Barbara,
We're in Middlebury, VT, right now waiting for Barbara's bike cable to be replaced. We hadn't planned to come this far east, but she needed a bike shop so here we are, an additional 24 miles with hills added to our day.
It is very hilly here, we were through here in 2008 when we did the northern tier so we knew what we were in for. We will spend the night in Shoreham, VT, at the Shoreham Inn B&B.
Tomorrow it's back to New York to go south toward NYC. We plan to be there by 8-25-10, just seven more riding days.
We've had such a great tour spending much of the time on or near Lake Champlain. We've come across some very helpful and gracious people. It's amazing how the local people love to talk about their home town and area.
Keep in touch.
Carol

And as I've said several times about Carol, WOW!!!! You go, girl! Awesome!!!!!

Day by Day

2010-08-12T10:38:00.003-05:00

Well, things are progressing right along!!! Sometimes I get confused what's happening on which house...inspection here, inspection there. Need to fill out paperwork here, answer questions there. Yesterday, for instance, I was upset somewhat because the termite inspection was scheduled for 10 am and the guy didn't show up until 2:45 pm. Then I read my calendar and found he really wasn't due until 1 pm...still late, but not nearly AS late.

Moving day is September 3, I guess. I've been trying to get early possession and my realtor seems to be kind of avoiding the issue. Finally I gave up and called a friend and am going to borrow their enclosed trailer (which I've used before) and so the 3rd won't be a problem for me. I haven't bothered to tell my realtor that!

Still riding every morning...and I've seen the mama deer and one baby (or maybe it's a whole 'nother family?!) a couple of times. I've been leaving very early because it's been so very, very hot here. I said this morning to some walkers I see each morning, "It's ridiculous to have to get up in the middle of the night to go exercise just so you don't fry!"

I'm still doing 15 miles...and am usually home well before 8 am. This am I did my miles, edged the back yard, took a quick swim, then a shower, and talked to a friend on the phone....and still made it to an appointment downtown by 6 minutes til 9! Yeah...I could use a nap now, but that'll have to wait.

A couple of weeks ago I thought maybe I was losing weight...just seemed like it. I finally brought my scales upstairs to my bathroom so I'd be reminded to weigh myself first thing in the morning. Sure enough...I've lost 11 pounds! I'm delighted. My diet is outrageous, so it has to be the bicycling. Another reason to continue...that and my knees almost don't hurt at all ever and I'm not limping and I just feel better all over.

The heat here is truly oppresive with most days hitting the three digits. My yard is suffering...as well as everyone elses. It's mid-August so soon we'll be shoveling snow I suppose, but this heat is really bad. I heard the other day if your shadow is shorter than you are, you shouldn't be out in the sun.

Gotta run...boxes to pack..garage sale stuff to find, mark, sort...you know the routine. Count your blessings...it's a beautiful world!

Double News

2010-08-09T14:29:00.003-05:00

First an update (a new email) from Carol, my friend who's riding around New York state this month. She writes:
Hi
Wanted to send a quick email from the public library. We're enjoying Lake Placid, NY, seeing the Olympic venues here. They continue to be used for practice, ski jumps into special water pools, ice skating great fun to watch. We took the ski lift and elevator to the top of the ski jump facility - amazing! Our trip is going great with short days and lots of sight seeing. Yesterday we did 15 miles. Tomorrow probably 45 or 50 into Port Henry on Lake Champlain.
We will soon head south along the Hudson River Valley back to NYC. We plan to be there August 25th. We so enjoyed camping on the Lake Champlain Islands - Grand Isle, North and South Hero Islands. So many bicyclists there and great day rides.
Hope all is well with each of you.
Keep in touch.

Love, Carol

I just think that is SOOO AWESOME!!!!! She's incredible!

And then, my big news...I bought a new house and sold my current house and it's all happening very fast. Basics: I found ad for new place online Thursday. I called realtor and we went to look Friday at 2pm. I made offer contingent on my house selling. Saturday morning he came over and we did the paperwork to sell my house. He put sign in yard at 10 am. Second realtor (also someone I've known a long time) showed house at noon. Got offer. At 2:30 pm my realtor came and added a "SOLD" to my sign. Four and a half hours..not bad, huh? I'm moving by September 3! More on the new place later...I'm delighted and really happy about it all.

If I don't blog for awhile, I'm just packing...or pitching stuff out...I'm even going to have a 4 hour moving/garage sale on September 21!!! (I'd do it September 28, but that's the Yoder Heritage Day and I've got a craft booth over there....like I have nothin' to do, huh?)

That's it for now...have to go clean out more STUFF!!!!! Count your blessings!

I TOLD You So....

2010-08-01T09:46:00.002-05:00

It was 10-11 days ago..back on July 20 when I first saw the mama deer and her triplets..and only had a cell phone for a camera. But today, Sunday, August 8...first lap of three...and there they were. This morning I only saw two babies and they were much less friendly than last time. Between the flash of my camera and I moved my feet once and my cleat on my shoe "clacked" on the asphalt, they didn't hang around long.

But long enough for me to get a couple of pictures of them.

Deer are "no big deal" around here...but I find it extremely pleasing to see babies right next to the bike path. Just a real treat!

I met my goal and completed July with over 310 bicycle miles...310.55 to be exact! My goal for August is 400 miles. I went back over past years (and I ridden for MANY years)..but in the past few years my miles have really diminished...and that needed to change. In 2007 I rode regularly and fairly good miles...more like what I'm doing now. But 2008 and 2009 were a flop! So...back at it and plan to continue........and I really love the new northeast bike trail...and they're talking about continuing it with "The Medical Mile" that will go down around the hospital and all the clinics. Hurrah!

Well...like the last picture...I'm high-tailing it out of here. Count your blessings!

(Double-click on pictures to see them better.)

More on NY by Bicycle

2010-07-25T20:23:00.002-05:00

Another note from my traveling cyclist friend today...

....... As planned today we visited the Roosevelt's estates, both Eleanor's and Franklin's. It took all day to see what was there. Tomorrow it's on to Hudson, NY, where we'll stay for the night. We're hoping for clear skies during our ride. We will spend five days in NYC after we finish our ride. We are due back in Brooklyn August 25th then we'll take in the sights of the big city. Actually we rode a portion of the Manhattan greenway trail along the west shoreline so technically we've been to Manhattan on the first leg of our ride. When we return to Brooklyn, we'll take the bikes to the bike shop to be shipped home. We'll explore Manhattan on foot and via subway. .......

I'm sure she'll have plenty of photos and tales to tell when she returns. What an adventure, huh?

My Hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-24T18:57:00.004-05:00

I have a friend that I've written about here before. She's gone trans-continental on a bicycle four times. She's always doing something independent and important and exciting. I rode with her a couple of weeks ago and she told me she was going to go to New York for a month long bicycle ride. I just received the following email and thought I would share it will all of you. She's terrific!!!!!!!!! A very independent, strong woman! (The "Barbara" she refers to in the following email is a woman that she rode trans-continental with last summer.)

Hi Barbara,> > We are in Hyde Park, NY for tonight and tomorrow. We plan to see Eleanor Roosevelt's residence and also the FDR estate and museum. > I made the subway ride without incident. Actually a couple was very helpful when I needed to transfer. Barbara and I started our bike ride right from Adam and Victoria's apartment in Brooklyn. We had help from another bicyclist who commutes over the Brooklyn Bridge everyday. He showed us where to access the pedestrian portion of the bridge. We spent our first night in Fort Lee, NJ, just across the Hudson (we rode over the George Washington Bridge at the end of the day). We stayed with Barbara's cousin who lives in Fort Lee near the bridge. Our second night was spent in Fort Montgomery, NY, where we found a B&B (circa 1751). We thought there was camping available near there, but found out differently. It was raining anyway, so we were glad to have a dry place. We don't move very fast on this trip. Our daily mileage has been 28, 40, and 44. We stop a lot and we've gone off route a couple times. Today we spent an hour at a farmer's market. So much Revolutionary War history here. We plan to go north along the Hudson then pick up the Erie Canal route west and meet another bicyclist. She may ride with us into Adirondack State Park for a few days. > Keep in touch. > Carol

She Is Woman...Hear Her ROAR!!!! You Go, Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh...yeah...and she's 66 years young too!!!