Rocket

There was a rocket launch tonight!

It's such fun to watch those go off at night.

Sabrina had never seen a night launch.

How do you live in Florida and not see a launch?

I don't know.

But it's not a problem now...

Jim took a couple of pictures with his phone,

but while it's cool to look at,

on the camera it just looks like a little blob.

So trust me.

It was nifty!

Not as big or as loud as a shuttle, 

but since those days are over,

it was good enough.

Yet Another Chicken Coop

The boys are going to build me another chicken coop.

This time it will be tall enough for me to walk in.

It's going to be next to the barn.

So far they are building up the dirt foundation.

They are bringing it in one little trailer load at a time.

This is how long it is going to be.

(And possibly the only picture in existence of Kyle "standing around" while others work!)

They are making a nice dent in the compost pile.

(Not "real" compost... just horse poop scraped up with the top layer of sand.)

They had an audience.

And a random photo of the middle pasture.

And the Legacy Continues

It might have skipped a generation.

Possibly.

I know I never learned...

But a Hanna tradition continues.

Kyle ordered himself a ukulele on Friday.

And has been learning to play it every since.

He now plays The Camptown Races,

Three Blind Mice,

and

Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

He's a Maestro!

It's hard work!

But he's having fun....

A day of Surprises!

Yesterday was a day full of surprises!

I came home from work and found THESE...

My darling husband bought me some beautiful pink roses.

Gorgeous!

And they smell marvelous!!!

Then I headed out to feed the horses.

I guess I let the chickens out too early in the day.

One of them wasn't "done"...

This is what the hay room looks like in our barn.

Look a little closer....

Yup, an EGG!

In my hay wagon!

Silly girl.

And then we got a call from Rod's brother Tim.

Dad fell and knocked himself out.

He was up at the E.R. and they were admitting him for observation overnight.

So we got cleaned up and headed up to the hospital.

He's got a knot on his head that looks a lot like one of the girl's eggs.

They think he stood up, and since his blood pressure was low (60/30)

he passed out and fell.

Which is good, because he didn't try to break his fall, so there are no broken bones.

Tim's daughter, Courtney is a CNA at the hospital and was luckily home.

And his home health nurse was there as well.

And Tim had hernia surgery earlier this week, so he was there too.

So lots of people to take care of him, right away.

(And then 911 sent 4 firemen and 2 EMTs...)

This morning his blood pressure is up a little, but still low.

His sodium levels are still way too low.

The doctor is concerned about his heart and kidneys,

so there will be Cardiologists and Neurologists and

who knows what other kinds of ologists.....

But for now he's eating his lunch and feeling a little better.

Prayers would be appreciated.

Spring?

The property next door was making a LOT of noise.

I looked over the fence and their horse pasture was FULL of robins!

Those are some noisy birds.

But they herald spring.

Even if it's January.

It was pretty chilly yesterday.

And this morning.

(42)

(Yeah, I know...)

MY birds, however, were too busy eating to make noise.

I moved a couple of old pieces of wood and they found BUGS!

They were having a great time digging through the grass

and finding yummy things to eat.

I sat out on my chair and read some Lord of the Rings.

I just opened the book to anyplace and ended up

at the scene in Moria where they discovered 

the graves of the dwarves.

And the battle with the orcs and the Balrog.

One of my favorite parts!

Meanwhile, Jim baked some yummy pork ribs,

candied some carrots and baked some onions.

Can you tell we've been watching lots of Chopped?

WHAT?????

Not Sick.

Not Dead.

Not Away.

Just not writing.

LOL

Back to the office yesterday after a busy long weekend teaching four really nice,

interesting ladies.

I am required to have 5 students to run class.

Last month I had 5.

For one hour.

Ran the balance of the 4 days with 2 people.

This month I sent a text to the recruiter.

"It is 7:45.  I am alone."

(Registration starts at 7:00, class starts at 8:00.)

Luckily, about 2 minutes later, they started showing up.

One of them mentioned that our address is wrong on the website.

Several months ago we moved to a different suite.

For some reason, this month the website went back to our old address.

So at 7:15, one of the students (who owns the bakery next door)

noticed a man pull up, walk to the old suite, try the door, peak inside at an obviously

empty office, get back in his car and drive away.

Eventually, by just after 8:00, I had 4 students.

But I called and claimed five, since the other guy "might" come back.

(grin)

Anyhow.

It was a good class.

They were fun.

They were funny.

They were interesting.

They were interested.

But they were NOT getting it!

I go through a pile of flashcards that we use throughout class to reinforce the information.

Each time, I read the question.

Then I pause and wait for a response.

If I get nothing, then I give a couple of multiple choice answers.

Sometimes I do some "pantomime hints".

(What modifies a policy?  Answer:  Rider. 

Hint?  Make a horse with your hand and use your other hand to add a rider..... elementary, but it works!)

Usually when I offer the right answer choice the light comes on and they jump on it.

By the end of the 4 days, they generally need no prompts and often answer before I finish the question.

Not this group.

Read the question.

Nothing.

Prompts.

Nothing.

Facial / arm gestures.

Nothing.

Like blank stares and crickets.

So, I wasn't too surprised that 2 passed and 2 didn't.

One passed with a 73.5 and the other with a 75.

Usually I get nearly everyone passed with high 90's.

I have NO idea what went wrong.

But I didn't like it.

I'm really happy to have this weekend off.

And I'll hit the ground running the following weekend.

And THESE people SHALL PASS!

Poor Rod

So.  

We discovered there is a  s l o w  leak in our water bed bladder.

But it's a   s l o w   leak.

So we ignored it.

But yesterday I noticed a puddle at the foot of the bed.

And I had to climb UP to get out of bed.

(Normally I just roll off...)

But.

I came home from work,

packed my suitcase,

and left for the weekend.

On the way to Orlando, I heard an ad on the radio.

Monday is Martin Luther King Day.

And all the mattress places are having sales.

Rod wants to ditch the waterbed.

(I LOVE the waterbed, but whatever, I sleep on a hotel bed half my life...)

So.

Poor Rod is in charge of emptying the waterbed.

Shopping for a new mattress.

Getting it delivered.

Getting the OLD waterbed bladder out.

(It weighs a GAZILLION tons - has a foam inset in it, and when wet, it is seriously heavy...)

And I'm out of town.

Oh yah,

and he has to sleep on the couch tonight.

But he (King of Google) found us a SWEET deal on a Sealey pillow top.

He is now in charge of all shopping.

Thanks Darling!

Love you!

(She says, from her comfy hotel bed...)

****************************

Update:
And now my amazingly, awesome husband is buying SHEETS!
What a guy!
(especially since he has better taste than I do...)

Score!!!

We decided to supplement our hunting for racooons

with a "Havahart" trap.

Kyle baited it with a tin of tuna

and set it up next to the garbage can.

Then he came inside to eat dinner.

Jim and Sabrina made a yummy dinner tonight.

It was DELICIOUS!

And then Kyle went back outside to check his trap.

SCORE!

We got something!

Hmmm

Probably should have brought the dogs in first.

Ozzie.

Get out of the trap.

We'll have to get more tuna and try again.

Hopefully I'll have a REAL score to show in the morning.

Wish us luck.

The Babies Have Moved, AGAIN...

Rod called me yesterday.

Him:  "Where are the babies?"

Me:  "In the rabbit hutch, where you put them..."

Him:  "The hutch is empty."

Me:  crickets...

Looks like the local raccoons discovered the babies.

And they are, no more.

Last night Kyle and Jim went hunting.

They saw 4 raccoons on the property.

But their pellet gun wasn't sighted in properly.

But tonight...

Watch out Rocky Raccoon et al!

The Babies Have MOVED!

The babies have gotten too big for their dog kennel.

When I went out to feed them this morning

(they have been in a dog crate in the tack room)

they were ALL 4 lined up, trying to bust through the bars.

It was hysterical!

BOY I wish I had my camera!

Rod just sent me an email with this attachment.

Enjoying their breakfast.


Outside, in the rabbit hutch.

It's a little roomier and has a wire bottom, so it will stay MUCH cleaner.
And my tack room won't

STINK

anymore.

Phew!

We can go back to working out and hanging upside down in there.

Ssssssh - Don't Tell!

BONUS POST!
(I already did one for today...)

My computer at work, works!

I checked a blog I love, and it loaded with no problems!

So, I crossed my fingers, (toes and eyes) and opened MINE.

YIPPEEEEEEEEE!

We are back in the land of morning blog posts!

Not that I have anything to say this morning.

But whatever.

I'm EXCITED!

(I also left my iPod on the piano this morning, so no chance of a picture today...)

(And somehow, the "add pictures from your files" features isn't working.)

(But beggars can't be choosers....)

Happy Friday!

Blast From The Past

I was in the break room today with a co-worker.

She was re-stocking our supply cabinet.

I asked her if it felt like she was playing "store" 

like when we were little girls.

I told her about playing store in the cold room.

Mom would send us downstairs with all the groceries 

and we would stock the shelves.

And then later she would send us down to get stuff for dinner.

And Every. Single. Time.

We would stand at the bottom of the stairs

And Yell.

"What was I supposed to get, Mom?"

Every. Single. Time.

It's a wonder she didn't go nuts!

*******************************

Update:  SIX eggs today!

Awesome!

(I only have 7 layers... wonder who was slacking:)

Three Weeks

The new little girls are 3 weeks old today.

I've been feeding them Fermented Starter Feed.

They are growing quite quickly.

Their combs are starting to get a little more pronounced.

Their feathers are coming in.

Their tail tufts are getting bigger.

And they are LOUD!

Peeping and peeping until Kyle came outside to see what was going on.

Meanwhile, the big girls are back online!

Yippeeeee!!

Diploma

My (day job) company was purchased by our insurance company.

February 15 in the last day for our company.

After 43 years.

February 16 we start over again as a new company.

So this week we all had to do "transitional" procedures.

Which basically meant fill out a bunch of papers,

Have a new picture taken for badges,

Give FIVE vials of blood

And a urine sample.

Then provide documentation.

Drivers license.

Social Security card.

Proof of citizenship (or in my case, resident alien card)

And

proof of education.

We are a medical practice,

so it makes sense they would want to see nurses degrees,

doctors licenses,

etc.

Nope.

They want High School Diplomas.

SERIOUSLY???????

Surprisingly, 

Henry Wise Wood High School

in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

does not have a data bank that goes back to 1977.

(I know this, because I spoke with them today.)

So I mailed a request to

Education Alberta.

They promised it would be processed within a week of receipt.

Here's hoping!

The Grass IS Greener on the Other Side!

We put down some winter rye seed in our back pasture a month or so ago.

And then we fenced it off to keep the horses off it until it gets established.

They eye it longingly.

It's pretty and green!

This morning, this is what I found!

 Notice the wire running just above his knees.

I have NO idea how he got out there.

(It's not hot wire, well, it is, but it's not hooked up...)

Little stinker!

Meanwhile.

Bison was running up and down the fence line with the neighbor's horses on Saturday.

We think he pulled a muscle or twisted something.

He's limping.

He's walking, eating and drinking, just not putting lots of weight on his leg.

There's no heat in the leg though.

So we'll just let him rest and see how it goes.

He's really milking it for all it's worth though.

"Look how cute I am!  I think I need bacon!"

SO Spoiled!!!

Yes, I am spoiled.

And I freely admit it.

(and I'm getting more and more spoiled all the time...)

Last year my Mom and Dad gave me an awesome iPod for Christmas.

It has definitely made it on my "favorite things" list.

I love to use it to take pictures.

And I LOVE to have my music with me wherever I go.

Several years ago I bought a little mini speaker thingie.

It zips open so you can put your mp3 player inside.

My iPod fits in there.

And it hangs nicely on my saddle.

But it's getting a little old and the sound is getting crackly.

So this year I got myself (and Rod and Sabrina) a little "Cube".

It looks like a little cube, but plugs into your iPod (etc) and works as a 

pretty good quality speaker.

Great for hanging off your pocket or belt loop or saddle.

But then, for Christmas this year,

Mom and Dad for me (and Rod) a super fabulous docking station/speaker system

for my iPod.

WOW!  What amazing sound!

I put it in the kitchen and rock out the house.

It's portable, so sometimes I take it down to the barn if I'm hanging out watching the chickens.

But BOY did I miss it when I was in my hotel room this weekend!

I've always loved listening to my iPod.

But now I'm so spoiled!

My poor little iPod sounded so tinny!

LOL

Tonight I have it in my bedroom.

I'm listening to John Schmidt's "Hymns Without Words" and

totally rocking (loud) (it has a remote control jobbie)

to "Praise To The Man" and "Come Come Ye Saints".

My two favorites!

Meanwhile, it's probably 75.

I have the window open.

The ceiling fan going.

It's January.

I am SO spoiled.

And I love it!

I'm Hungry, That's Available

So.

I was reading one of the blogs I sort of casually follow.

Marks Daily Apple

It's a Paleo blog.

Now, I don't follow the Paleo method of eating.

I follow the "I'm hungry, that's available" method of eating.

I am certainly educated about what food hits the naughty and the nice lists.

This week.

I pay attention and eat well.

Mostly.

But I also definitely eat at McDonald's.

More than I should.

But remember, I live in a hotel every weekend.

Which means I'm one of those wierdos who eats out 6+ meals each week.

And 4 (or 5) of them are going to be fast food.

So, sometimes, "I'm hungry, that's available".  

Anyhow.

I was reading Marks Daily Apple the other day.

He was talking about food we don't eat often enough and should eat more of.

He mentioned oysters.

Which got my juices flowing.

I knew I was going to eat at Red Lobster tonight.

I'm a creature of habit.

And it's between the school and the hotel.

And it's on the right side of the road.

And it serves a good steamed broccoli.

So it hits lots of my preferences.

I usually have a bowl of soup, a house salad, and 

a pound of crab legs with a side of broccoli.

Hold the cheddar bay biscuits.

(I love them, but they make my face swell.)

But tonight I REALLY wanted raw oysters.

How is it that 6 raw oysters costs $8.99.

While nearly 2 dozen breaded cooked ranch shrimp, 

another 2 dozen grilled with mango/jalapeno, 

wild rice pilaf,

a large pile of broccoli,

and a house salad costs $11.99?????

All the "diet gurus" recommend instead of ordering an entree at a restaurant,

you order 2 appetizers.

Yeah right.

Most appetizers cost the same or just slightly less than an entree.

So you can have dinner for $12

Or 2 appetizers for $18.

I wanted raw oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktail, a small house salad and a bowl of soup.

I'm on an expense account.

But REALLY?

$9 for the oysters, another $9 for the shrimp, another $5 for the soup and $3 for a salad.

Crazy.

The oysters were EXCELLENT.

The shrimp was probably good.

But after I ordered it, I remembered I don't really like "hot" shrimp.

I love "peel 'n eats" or shrimp cocktail.

Cold shrimp is tasty!

Hot shrimp - not as much.

I ate enough to get full.

The brocolli was really good.

The wild rice pilaf was really good.

And, yes, I ate a biscuit.

It was excellent.

I'll be sorry tomorrow.

What Ever.

This post had nothing to do with anything.

But, there you go!

Resolutions

I don't often do the whole "new year resolutions" thing.

I prefer to do shorter goal setting.

More likely to succeed.

A number of years ago, I set a couple of goals

And then at the end of each month I would journal on my progress.

That seemed to work pretty well for me.

So this year I'm resurrecting my journal.

I haven't done one in quite some time.

I got lazy and started using my daytimer as my "journal".

Recording my daily activity, but no thoughts.

I'm shooting for a quick nightly entry.

Including ONE gratitude thought.

I have so much to be thankful for.

I find myself tossing quick "Thank You" prayers throughout the day.

But it can't hurt to write them down!

Especially as we head into some challenging times.

Today I am grateful for the opportunity to brighten another's day.

As I was leaving WalMart this evening,

there was a traffic snarl in the parking lot.

A truck trying to leave possibly bumped a customer's cart, or maybe 

the customer himself.

I didn't see it.

Just the aftermath.

The gentleman was VERY upset.

Yelling at the truck as it drove away.

Tossing his last few bags into the back of his vehicle.

Shoving the basket out of the way.

Harumphing into his seat.

As I passed, I glanced into his basket and noticed a bank bag.

I grabbed it and waited for him to open his door.

(It felt like it had quite a bit of cash/papers in it...)

He was SO thankful to have it back!

I was grateful to be able to change what had been a bad experience for him,

into one that put a smile on his face.

One down.

362 left to go.

Sondra

Today is my big sister's birthday.

I have two sisters older than me

And I have one sister younger than me.

(And a sister-in-law younger too...)

Our family is a little "girl heavy".

Sorry Gary!

Anyhow - today is my big sister's birthday.

(It's not polite to say my Biggest, since she's pretty darn svelte, nor is it 

ok to say my Oldest, since... well... whatever.)

Anyhow.

She sent me some GORGEOUS pictures today.

So I'm sharing them with you.

She lives at the polar opposite end of the world from me.

In a beautiful, winter wonderland.

She has taken up snow shoeing!

In the SNOW.

It really is beautiful.

I like it best just like this.

In a photo.

I can look at, while sitting under a ceiling fan.

Cuz it's hot in here. 

LOL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONI!

Happy New Year!

2013 is here.

It came in quietly.

Rod was working.

Jim and Sabrina were at a party.

Kyle and I were sitting on the couch watching TV.

Kyle went outside at midnight and let off a couple of firecrackers.

Rod called to wish us Happy New Year.

Jim and Sabrina came home.

And we went to bed.

This morning I'm making some bacon in the oven.

*The BEST way to cook bacon.

Then I'll fry up some fresh eggs.

And bake some biscuits.

Then I think Kyle and I (and anybody else who is up) are going for a walk in the woods.

We might ride the horses,

but it's a beautiful day,

so there will probably be a bunch of bikes out there.

So maybe we'll just take a dog (or 2) for a walk.

Have a WONDERFUL day

And a Fabulous New year!

2013 - Bring it on!