RAIN, RAIN, RAIN............

and more rain.  I am SSSOOO glad I mowed yesterday.  This should help with getting the burn ban off.  So, sitting here, having a second cuppa, with Elijah (20+ lb cat) on my lap, trying to type, trying to think about what to get into. 
Feeling a little better today except for the dizzy feeling.  And, NO I was never a blond, back in the day, I was a red head.  Went with my irish temper, Irish from my paternal, great grandmother, Agnes.  Although I don't remember her having a temper, just being a sweet and quiet lady.  And Irish from my maternal grandmother, Elzina, also a sweet, sweet lady.  Throw in a tad of German and the rest English and there you have ME.  AAHHH, I love genealogy.
Got an email from Mike, a lady I worked with.  She wanted to know if I was available sometime in May,  for a visit from her and Marie, my old boss.  Great gals, we have lunch once in a while.  Geesh, now I'll really have to clean house and get the rest of the yard done.  PRESSURE!!!!!  STRESS!!!!!
I'm 2/3's thru my bucket list for this spring.  Good thing it was a cool.

Later...............

WHAT THE...........

heck.  Now I'm down to 23 with a new follower, Craig.  At least I think you're new.  Who knows.  Anyhow, thanks for hitting the follow button no matter when you did.

Looks like Romney's gonna get the nod, doesn't it. 

Gotta email this morn, some people are still going after the fact that O is not a citizen.  Pulled his college loan records.  Good luck with all of that.  You won't hear about it from the MSM, for sure.  Such a mixed-up, crazy world this is.

Nasty cold this morn.  Temp shows 38 degrees.  I need to finish the yard work before we start with the hellish temps.  I don't do heat very well.

Took dad's GMC to the garage for a LOF yesterday.  $90!!  He insisted on Mobil Oil.  A case of six was $53 and change.  And, that was Sam's price.  They didn't even charge him to rotate the tires. 

Sam told me that a while back he called the dealership to make sure what kind of oil they used in my vehicles.  I had told Sam they always used Mobil.  They told him...Penzoil.  Lying bastards.  It's no wonder I quit going there.  However, I do wish they'd call to see why I stopped using their services.  Especially if I'm having a bad day. 

More coffee,
Later................

OOOPS!

now I'm back up to 24 followers.  Sometimes I think Blogger is haunted. 

Dogs are driving me bonkers.  In and Out every hour.  Don't know why.  Could leave them out but they bark and carry on at the Amish buggies. 

Beautiful, sun-shiny day.  Guess Mother Nature ran out of water.  We had almost 2 1/2" of rain in two days.  Not enuf, but, it helps.  Still have the burn ban on for the county.

Just went out and got another armload of wood.  Silly weather.

Gotta go vote and take dad's GMC to Sam's for LOF.

Later................

WELL, DANG..........

looks like I lost two followers.  Down to 22.  Now, I know some of you people have hundreds and two doesn't mean much.  But to my little blog, two is a lot.  Oh well, sorry to see you go.  Thanks for stopping by.

Not raining today but is darn cold.  Two weeks ago, it was so hot in the house that I turned off the two gas furnaces.  The next day it dropped 20 degrees.  Not to worry, got two wood stoves, however, will have to get the chain saw out to saw some for the stove in the bird room where I spend most of my time.  S'pose to be cold (for April) all week.  Best get busy, cats are all curled up into fur balls.   But, wait, got plenty of wood left in the wood box for the stove in the living room.  If I fire that one up, it'll take the chill of in no time.  Sounds like a plan.

Later.................

RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Started raining Saturday evening and has been raining ever since.  Knowing this rain was forcasted, I was busy Friday and Saturday with grass 'plugs'.  Got one more bed to do and it's the worse.  Part of the upper yard is done.  S'pose to be cool all week, but rain most of the week.  We sure do need it, burn ban in effect, or is it affect?, those two always confused me.  I told my friend, who lives in the next county, that when I do get to burn that trash pile, she will see the flames.

Not much else to tell, babies all doing well, took Coco to the vet for alergies and she has lost a total of 20 pounds.  Still having pain in my left leg, but the hip pain is gone. 

Dad is struggling with preparing for this sale.  He is just not into it, I think he's tired of the whole mess and we're not even getting close to getting ready. 

Need to pee the pups and go to bed............

Later............

THIS AND THAT........

First, a big 'Hi there' to    Frugal Canadian Hermit.   I've been following your blog for a long time, nice to see you've hit the 'follow' button.

So now, sitting here on this beautiful Saturday morning having my first cuppa.  Fred is coming down to do some more work.  If he gets the lattuce enclosures done today, then all I have to do is paint the big boards that go around the bottom of the porch, paint the Bilco door and pressure was the house.  Then the outside is done.  Still have two more flower bed to do and finish raking the upper yard.  Worse is done.  I bet we will go from this cold spring right into a hot summer.  Weather seems as screwed up as the rest of this country. 

Went to the doctors on Wednesday, seems all this hip pain is coming from my back.  He changed my anti-inflam meds and the hip pain is gone.  Knee pain is still there but not as bad.  X-rays showed old arthur in the knees, so it'll be something to put up with like the rest of my family.  What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger, eh?

So, Santorum has bit the dust.  'They' must've threatened him with something, 'cause he sure quit in a hurry.  They're all a bunch of bananas, not a good one in the bunch, both parties.  Our forefathers must be rolling over in their graves.  All though some of them were kinda cheesy too.

Gotta go, get more coffee,
Later..............

HAPPY EASTER.........

Have spent the past two weeks working in the yard, taking advantage of this cool weather.  Spread about 50 bags of mulch, restored the stone walk where the propane guy dug the trench last fall for the gas line.  Then redid the stone walls, one more to go around the big flower bed, mulch it and then the bed on the north side of the barn.  Don't know about the south bed.  It's gonna take some time for sure.  Still need to rake the upper yard, but I'll do that next week.

Going to Sue and Sarah's mom's tomorrow, at the farm.  Friend Sheila is coming down, so we'll have a blast, no doubt. 

Had two more shootings in the city north of me.  The little store where I get the mulch was broken into, but they ran when the alarm sounded.  Dave, the owner, told me that through first twenty years he never had a problem.  In the last ten, he has lost count of the break ins.  They were probably after lottery tickets or cigs.  Can't imagine there be any money in the tills.  Glad I have these three mouthy dogs.

Dad is starting to sort stuff for the sale.  He is really not into this one.  I think his 'keep' pile is bigger than his 'sell' pile.  And, getting bigger.  Oh well, what he doesn't sell this time, I'll have to sell after he's gone.  Doesn't much matter and no use fussin' with him about it.

Gotta go, put air in the wheelbarrel tire, again.

Later..................

SWIMMING EAGLE OF BATON ROUGE, LA

Been watching the baby eaglets hatching via the Decorah Eagle Cam.  Too cool.  Then, my friend Sarah sends me this video.  Gotta love them eagles!  And, I ain't talking about the football team. YUK.

Later............

TRIP

Just got back from meeting my cousin for the very first time.  We met thru Ancestry.Com.  What a hoot.  She brought her sister-in-law and we met at the historical society, then had lunch at an irish pub.  We are the same age, have the same haircut, wear the same watch and have similiar glasses.  I'm a little heavier and have white hair, she has salt 'n pepper grey.  Had a great time.  We have the same great-great-great-great-great grandfather.  Even when her sister-in-law wanted to take a second pic of just a 'head shot', we both said, at the same time, ''all jeeze!!''
Started out extremely foggy this morning.  Sun came out for about 3 minutes.  Spose to rain all weekend.  I should mow the yard but what-the-heck.  I'm beat, that hour's drive and all the traffic has wore me out.  Definitely not use to it.  Back when I was working, I wouldn't have given it a second thought.  Guess I'm getting lax and laid back, finally.

Later...............

SOLVING HEALTH PROBLEM MYSTERY............

Took Archie to the vets last Monday.  Little brat wouldn't stop licking his front left paw, checked it and he had it raw.  She shaved the hair away and it looked worse.  Treatment of hydro-perox and some special, anti-biotic powder.  Took about 4 days and it is starting to look better.
Had my own doctor's appointment on Wednesday.  Now he wants x-rays of my knees and hips.  Cut back my one med, as I eventually want off of it.  Put me on a new med for my vertigo.  Too soon to tell if it's working.  What doesn't kill ya, makes ya stronger.
Thursday the auctioneer came down to see Dad's tractors.  He moved the date to the next Saturday.  Got a lot to do  now, make sure all are running smooth, and, wax-on, wax-off.
Had breakfast on Friday with the gang.  Dad and Sara finally joined us!  Everyone was thrilled to finally meet him.  The food was outstanding, and, as usual, the 10 of us had a great time.
This coming Thursday I'm meeting my cousin for the first time.  We hooked up thru ancestry.com and she lives in New Jersey.  We seem to have a lot in common and email each other everyday.

Later..............

BUSY BUT BEAUTIFUL DAY.......

today had to go to town for blood work and a boob-a-gram.  Haven't had one of those in 15 or more years.  The last time was at one of the hospitals in town.  The tech and I started talking and she had 3 mo old twins, her husband had just left her and the more she talked about him, the tighter that machine squeezed.  YEOW!!  I told the doctor when I went in and he poo-pood it and said ''Oh, that can't hurt ya that bad!"  To which I said to him something about 'let's put your balls in one and see how it feels'.

Then, stopped for breakfast.   Mmmmmmm, dried beef gravy on toast and a POT of coffee.  Did I mention it was 'fasting' blood work?  I was extremely hungery.  So, I skipped lunch and had supper tonight with the gang.  Wednesday is Chicken-Pot-Pie night.  I sure do eat good.  If I didn't go out to eat, I wouldn't have anything to write about, huh.

Stopped at Dad's and he's still fussing about the neighbor logging out the woods behind his house.  I keep telling him, 'It's not our woods, dad.'

Archie has been licking his left front paw all week. So, today, Dad held him and I finally got a look at it.  He has it raw between his toes.  So, left dad's and stopped at the vet's to make an appointment.  She and her assistant were in the middle of a spay on a 9 year old Rotty, with 2 dead, deformed puppies inside.  So, after we all trashed the Amish for how they treat their animals, I stayed and watched the procedure.  The dog came thru great and I'm sure she'll feel a lot better.  Wish I had that mammo machine for about 10 minutes, I know whose balls would go in it.  I am amazed he spent the money to save the dog.  Creep.

Later.............

GGGRRRRRRRRRRRR

Just got a call from the insurance company.  Didn't recognize the number so I let it go to voice mail.  It was the claims department.  They had just got the police report and IT WAS MY FAULT!!!  I am so pissed, how can it be my fault when HE hit the side of my truck.  I did not hit him.  Oh, this ain't over.

On a better note.......Saturday, I cut up a wheel barrel load of fire wood and chop some kindling in the morning, as it was raining.  Later the sun came out, I washed the truck and the car.  I think it's been at least 10 years since I've washed them at home.  The car wash is convenient but at $10 a clip, not going there.  Only took an hour for both, but, my back wasn't happy.  The fire company was selling speghetti dinners, I went for take out.  Wasn't bad, good cause.

Sunday, cleaned house. Well, half of it.  Will attack the rest a day at a time.  Expect snow, with blowing, gusting winds, any day now.  Sue and Sarah came over from the farm so Sarah could cut Coco's nails.  Suzy brought me a piece of lemon pie and veggie chili.  MMMMM good.  I gave them a bag of books that Fred's wife had sent down.  Told them to take what they want and pass them on.

Need to finish cleaning the bathroom and take a shower, head to PO and then dad's.

Pray for the folks that went thru the terrible storms.

Later.................

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.....

Woke up around 5:30, took the dogs out and hit the chair for a nap, sinus' were rampaging and trying to give me a headache.  Real foggy this morning, I was glad I didn't have to drive to work!  Around 10 the sun came out so I'm washing bed sheets and blankets to hang on the line.  However, over towards the river it's getting kinda black looking.  If this was August, I'd swear we were in for a thunderstorm.

March has certainly come in like a lamb.  It's is calm and kinda warm out, almost 50.  More rain heading this way for Saturday, that's OK, I don't have anything planned but to clean house.

Furkids all doing OK.  I think Mary-Fiona is going to be a problem once it warms up.  I let Lily out 'cause she is road-wise and stays in the back yard or at the barn.  The other 4 wouldn't last a day.  I can't let Elijah out unless I'm out.  Charlie and Lucy want no parts of the outdoors.  They were both just about dead when I found each of them.  But, that wild child Fiona is edging towards the door when I go out.  And, she won't listen to me like the other cats.  Gotta go, hang wash.

Later................

TRUCK'S HOME............

and it's looks great.  I found two places that he should've taken care of.  But, I'll forgive him. 

It started raining about an hour ago, so, I'll take the car today.  Drove the truck all day yesterday, felt good to be back in my baby.  I love that thing.  Even Rich, the body shop guy, said how much fun it was to drive and what power it has for a Dakota. 

Dad found a puddle under his GMC on Monday.  We think it's anti-freeze.  So, after he took me down to pick up my truck.  We went over to Sam's garage.  I'd called them earlier to see if they had the time to take a look.  Both Sam and Jim were all over the thing and couldn't find any moisture.  So, Dad went home and put a piece of cardboard under it.  Nothing showed up as of yesterday afternoon.

I just can't seem to get warm this winter.  And, it's not been a bad winter at all.  Don't know what is wrong.  I guess if winter does hit, ie....snow, blowing winds etc., I'll move my bed out to the wood stove and hybernate until spring.  Ha!

Stopped at a lady's house yesterday who lives down in the village.  My friend Trudy use to work for a government agency and she had her as a client.  Trudy asked me last Friday if I ever see her and Cindy was out in her yard yesterday when I was coming home that way.  So I stopped and told her who I was and that Trudy was asking for her.  She was thrilled and said to tell her HI.  She then told me ALL of her health problems and she has 6 dogs, 2 ducks, chickens etc.  The old house is full of termites and the landlady won't buy the permits to tear it down and move a trailer in.  She was robbed a few months ago so she bought a 45.  The cop told her to shoot 'em next time and drag them in the house.  And on, and on.  I feel bad for her, she works at that place all the time, and it's not even hers.  Oh well, I'd better do something myself....

Later..............

STANDING GUARD

Picture was taken at the National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN on a June morning - as it appeared in the Minneapolis Star/Tribune.

Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words!  It says everything.......