Red Sky at Morning

Red sky at night

Sailor's delight.

Red sky at morning

Sailor's warning.

It was a BEAUTIFUL sunrise.

And the rest of the day went downhill from there.

LOL

It rained.

And rained.

And rained.

There was even HAIL!

(Kyle grabbed a couple of the hail stones

and put them in the freezer to show Rod)

But it WAS a beautiful sunrise!

Attack of the Hungry Moths

What a wonderful weekend!

It was so nice to have a weekend off.

And to be able to celebrate Easter 

with my family.

Traditionally that is the weekend 

we clip Andy.

I didn't take any photos.

First because I was busy clipping.

And also because I was covered

in teeny tiny itchy hairs.

And also because he looks

AWFUL!

It was entertaining.

Friday night we headed to Tractor Supply 

to pick up some fence posts and wood.

We looked at new blades, but I forgot to 

actually PURCHASE them.

Saturday morning I went to Sams to do

some grocery shopping before the hordes 

arrived.  And since it's right down the road

from Tractor Supply I stopped in for a new blade.

But in the 15 years since we bought our clippers

they have changed the design. So the new blades

didn't fit.

Sigh.

I decided to just use the old blades.

I got about 1/3 of him done

when my clippers stopped cutting.

I am sure my blades are super dull.

I called my neighbor and

asked to borrow her set.

They are cordless.

And the battery only lasts for

3 swipes.

And then it takes 30 minutes to recharge.

Uh, Nope.

Back to Tractor Supply to get more posts

and a set of new clippers.

Turns out I bought the wrong ones.

These are "medium grade". 

Which means they are good for bridle paths

(the spot right behind their ears where some people

like to remove the mane so it doesn't get in the 

way of the bridle...) and muzzles and fetlocks.

I need sheep shearers.

LOL

So.

My poor horse FEELS better.

I'm sure.

He was much less sweaty yesterday.

But he also looks like he was attacked

by a horde of moths.

Or a woman with REALLY dull clippers.

So... tonight after work I'll probably be

heading back to Tractor Supply to return the

ones I bought and get some new ones.

They are EXPENSIVE.

But necessary.

Meanwhile.

The guys built a nice little "corral" around our

new baby mango tree.

The steer has discovered the yummy tender leaves

and also discovered that the aluminum stall panels

we have around the tree aren't all that heavy.

He just hooks his horns around them and slides them

out of the way.  Munch munch munch.

Then they built the frame for a "lean to" to

protect the cows from the hot summer sun

and the cold winter winds. 

(ha ha ha)

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

Happy Birthday Gary!

Today is my little brother's birthday.

He is a good dad!

And he has cute daughters!

(Cute sons too - I just don't have a photo!)

When he was little, I called him Bean.

Who remembers why...

That was nearly a half century ago.

(I'm having trouble remembering breakfast...)

He is busy moving his family back to Utah

after a three year adventure in Canada.

Brrrrrr.

What's the cold equivalent of 

"out of the frying pan into the fire"?

Out of the ice tray into the freezer?????

LOL

(Yah, I live in Florida - not much call for 

cold expressions...)

Anyhow.

He's a good guy.

And a good brother.

And still young.

Although he's pretty darn GREY!

(or gray, depending on which side of the 

border he is standing on at the moment.)

Happy Birthday Bean!

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

In other news

Rod FINALLY got recognized for the

IA Certification he earned last year.

And his big brother, Scott, passed HIS

exam today!

Congrats to the Herd!

Not Dead

Howdy.

I'm not dead.

Just BURIED in work.

But my computer is tied up applying

some money so I'm sneaking into

my blog to say Hello!!!

It has been a CRAZY week.

Lots of people are out this week.

Flu

Spring Break

Medical Procedures

Vacation

And the rest of us are "trying"

to pick up the slack.

Whew!

Luckily I have this weekend off.

I have a list as long as your arm

of things that I need to do.

But Heavenly Father said

TAKE A BREAK

so there is a 70% chance of rain.

I'll still clip Andy.

I can do that IN the barn.

But the rabbits and chickens 

might have gotten

a short "stay of execution".

LOL

Enjoy your day!

Is It Time for Vacation Again?????????

While I was gone,

the stuff I do at work

got broken.

So pretty much nothing got done.

I've been posting as fast as my fingers

will post all day every day.

Trying to catch up.

My TYPICAL day looks like:

Arrive at 7:30.

Finish drinking my breakfast smoothie

while wandering around the office

delivering all my co-workers stuff from yesterday.

Finish up random stuff from the previous day.

My mail arrives around 8:30.

Open mail from 8:30 til 11:30.

Eat my snack.

Finish opening and start posting $ 

from 11:30-ish until 2:30.

2:30 - 3:00 LUNCH

3:00 - 4:00 finish posting and balance out.

Kind of relaxing.

This week it has looked like this.

Drink my smoothie while driving to work.

Arrive 7:26.

Start posting insurance money.

Notice it is 10:30.

Snarf snack.

Keep posting insurance money.

Notice it is 2:30.

Clock out, snarf lunch and keep posting $.

Clock back in at 3:00.

Keep posting until 3:55.

Balance.

Clock out at 4:00.

DIE.

LOL

Monday night I had a town committee meeting.

I couldn't skip out since the town clerk wasn't

going to be there and I agreed to take the minutes.

Tuesday night I had "the meeting 

formerly known as Homemaking".

I couldn't skip out since Rod's "cousin" gave him 

a personal invitation for me.

And it was dinner.

(And ended up being fun and relaxing...)

Wednesday night I had to wash 34 dozen

eggs and Kyle and I had to go grocery shopping.

(Mother Hubbard's cupboards and fridge

were looking pretty bare!)

Thursday night I had to run next door to get paid

and then Rod, Kyle and I had to go to Sams Club

to do the rest of our grocery shopping.

Luckily Jim called me just as we were arriving home

and Kyle graciously cooked up the steaks 

and mushrooms.  It was DELICIOUS.

And I got to sit on the couch and talk to Jim.

Tonight.

I'm driving down to West Palm Beach to teach.

I plan to be in my hotel bed by 9:00.

Oh.

And yesterday I finished posting the insurance $.

Of course, then I got another $1m.

But the files haven't shown up yet.

I have spent the first 4 hours today

(and the final 4 hours yesterday)

opening all the mail from this past week.

And now I'm going to post it.

Excuse me while I put my head down.

(Thank goodness for a GOOD BOOK

on my Kindle!)

However, yesterday I DID spend a few minutes

luxuriating in the lovely late afternoon shade

and breeze in the back yard.

(Rod and Kyle chatting)

(Rod is leaning on our 2 week hay supply)

(A SMALL selection of chickens)

(Notice the orange "upside down traffic cone"

on the right side above the chickens.)

"end of the road"

It's Nancy's Day!

I just got back from a week long 

VACATION

with my fabulous family in Arizona.

It was so much fun getting to spend

lots of relaxing time with them!

Visiting with Rozann while we were 

eating Mexican food, working on her

Primary class handouts,

driving to church,

and checking out her gorgeous

house renovations!

(And of course, living in the lap of

luxury in their awesome doll house!)

I LOVE their casita!

It suits me to a "T"!

Spending hours chatting with Mom and Dad

over delicious smoothies and creamy

scrambled eggs.

Chatting on the patio.

Chatting down by the horse.

Chatting while shopping.

Chatting while eating.

And LOTS and LOTS of laughing!

Lots of visits with family members.

Horse races and BBQs, Family Night and

lunches with Sam, Randy, Kurt, Michelle,

their adorable boys and of course Chris.

Such a fun guy!

(And I STILL love my haircut!

I STILL have yet to wear it up!

That's a STATEMENT!)

BUT

Today is all about my darling sister Nancy.

We had some of the BEST conversations.

Lots of laughing.

Crying.

Heart to hearts.

Flashes of brilliance.

And SHOPPING!

(from the person who shops for clothes

every third year.  Coincidentally when I 

visit Arizona...  LOL)

Today is the day we get to celebrate Nancy.

The contribution she makes to our family.

The impact she makes on the lives of those she touches.

I don't think she is aware.

I don't think she knows.

So I want to shout it.

YOU ARE AMAZING!

(I was trying to prove her eyes were exactly the same

color as her jacket...)

BEAUTIFUL!

A great cook!

Comfortable in her own skin.

And FUNNY!

(Yes, we did more than eat.  Not much more though... lol)

Happy Birthday Nancy.

I LOVE YOU BUNCHES!