I know you are there.

This is to Mystery Guy out there, I am following your blog, but I can't leave comments. Any suggestions, I tried twice. Anyway good luck to your college daze.

What the heck!

I was walking past a mental home today and heard them all shouting 13..13..13..13..13...... I wanted to know what was going on, so I looked through a hole in the fence, and some guy poked me in the eye and then they all started shouting 14..14..14..14.....!

Our privacy?

I wonder how others feel about their privacy on their blogs. I have tried over the years to maintain my privacy on this blog as far as saying names of family, where I really live and all that. Like maybe someone will stalk me and steal my computer or husband.
Is anything really safe when you put yourself out there on the internet in a blog site? Probably if someone really wanted my husband they could figure out who I was and come ring my door bell.
The reason I am pondering is that I have started another blog about my book store and want it to be open with all my info on it sort of to promote it. Other family members with a business seem to be doing it, complete with phone numbers, hours, specials, and all the rest.
So I am thinking I am just a tiny grain of sand in this big universe of internet jibberish and who really cares except the few who wonder my way and may find I have something interesting to say.
So there you are. Do you feel safe with putting yourself out THERE?

Small hands can move mountains

Within just a few minutes of this big horsefly hitting the window and knocking itself out this army of ants jumped into action and proceeded to carry it across the sidewalk and down into the rocks. It is amazing what their strength is when they all work together. Can't you just hear them?

Hey Charlie grab that wing and lets go! Come on guys keep up, lets get this hidden before that creature with the camera gets that big spray gun out again! Joe, run ahead and get a room cleared out for this mother!

Oh, it doesn't take much to entertain me! Maybe I need to wash that window.

A bird in the hand!

Isn't this a pretty little guy? I was sitting on my front porch having my morning coffee and this guy crashed into our living room window. He laid on his back for a bit, so I turned him over and went for the cell phone to take this picture. I left him sitting on the sidewalk for awhile and about an hour later I walked up to him and he flew off into the tree. So I guess he is ok. Tough little guy. The cardinal that hit one of the windows a couple weeks ago wasn't so lucky.

Looks like we might be getting some change in weather here in the midwest. Have had enough rain now that the lawn will need mowed again. Everyone is so ready for a cooler fall. To big brother in NC batten down the hatches! Hope you don't get to bad a hit from this hurricane coming your way.

Thought for the day: The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. Its not that we seize them, but that they seize us---Ashley Montague

Minor Miracle (is that an oxymoran?)

Boy, on Monday I was up to my armpits in books!! I was lucky enough to get a tip on an estate sale about 50 miles away. I ended up getting some pictures of a room full of books via the phone and made an offer, sight unseen. That was on Sat. So on Monday I wrangled the hubby to go with me with a two wheeler and his new knee to go haul books. Ended up we couldn't get them all in the small pickup, oh, I had added a bookcase on top too.

Since we were fairly close to my daughter we went over there, picking up burgers and frys on the way.After we had been there awhile, hubby noticed that he was missing his pocket knife. He had used it to cut a rope to tie down the book case. Well dang, it was old anyway, he had carried it for at least 50 years. Well you won't believe this but as we were admiring our load with the "kids" there was his knife, with blade open, laying on the back bumper!! We had driven 10 miles on a freeway, made several turns and a big bump at McDonalds. Isn't that something??

I went back down to get the rest of the books on Tue. and the "kids" met me at Dennys and fed me some eggs and coffee. Wasn't that sweet of them? They followed me to help with the books and the gal running the sale ended up donating a lift chair and some other handicapped equip to the ALS group that the "kids" are affiliated with. See he as ALS and they can all use the help and support they can get.

So its a beautiful world, don't care if the stock market is in the drink. Shouldn't have bought stock anyway, What Was I Thinking??

Thought for the day: Everyday people are straying away from church and going back to God--Lenny Bruce

Maybe we need this for a new flag

Today the government announced that it's changing the flag to a condom, because it more accurately reflects the governments political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed!

How do you spell relief??

Hey I'm from Iowa and I love the thunder! What a good show the other day and we were so hungry for some rain that I sat on the front porch and captured this. It has helped cool us down so that 90's sound pretty darn good. We got a little over 2 inches out of this rain and have had another 1/2 inch since. Our yard that was crunchy as cornflakes is greening up again.

Hope my little thunder show plays ok.

Thought for the day: The meek shall inherit the earth, but not the mineral rights---John Paul Getty

Can your heart feel sick?

This is a picture taken (2007) of part of our 20 acres little farm that we owned from 1989 to 1996 then again from 2005 to 2007. We put alot of money, heart, and soul into that place. The last time we sold it, we thought we had good buyers, so we floated their down payment, and they have been good to make their payments to us. But, (there is always a but) the couple separated last year and the wife has struggled to keep the place. This month she gave up and has put it back on the market to sell. She has to get enough to pay off the orig loan, pay us, plus the realtor. I don't think it will happen.

I went out to the place last nite to barter with her to buy a big floor loom that she has. She only wanted 200$ for it. I am getting a good deal, took 200$ off what she owes for this month. But(there is that But again) when I got there, my heart just broke. The place is so run down, the pasture ruined, hasn't been baled in 3 years. The yard is a mess, big holes in it where the 2 big dogs dig. The flower beds are just big weed patches. The garage is a mess, and the big loft above the garage is trashed up. That's where the loom is.

We go out Monday to get the loom and I hate for hubby to see the place. He took such pride in keeping the yard mowed and edged. Even mowed around the edge of the pasture fence. Now grass is growing up in the asphalt driveway. piles of firewood by the back door and the flower beds beside the deck have been plowed up by the dogs to be dusting beds for them.

I saw the pictures she put on the Internet and the inside looked pretty nice, but anyone without alot of imagination will not be able to see any potential there.

I am just sick, almost hard to find joy in finding the loom. Have been wanting a big floor loom for along time and this looks like a nice one. She had moved it from Nebraska last year after her great aunt died.

Of course now the worry we have is that we will have to fight to get our money from her now. Going to check with the realtor to see if she sells it for less to cover her bank mortgage are we just left with her owing us the loan we made. I know if she defaults on the loan (and that could happen) we set it up for us to have first option to pick up the loan and keep the farm to try to re-sell. But at our age we don't have it in us to clean that mess up. (I think) Besides we wouldn't be able to take over the high payments that they have.

So my hope is that someone will buy it.

Thought for the day: Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

Super Slid

This picture "could" be my daughter at about this same age, doing this same thing. Sliding down a humongous slide on a gunny sack. I remember standing at the bottom (out of the way) where they let folks stand and I think she had that same look on her face. I probably scarred her for life. Probably she has blocked this event from her memory to avoid wanting to come looking for me some dark night to get revenge! LOL

Thought for the day: All Kookies aren't in a jar

The Journey

It is good to have an end to journey toward: but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
Ursula K. LeGuin

Catch of the day!

This is the smallest fish I have ever caught! It even swallowed the hook and worm, only the tip end of the hook was showing. It has blue in its mouth and the fins have a sort of prehistoric look as they fan out. We were told that in the lake where we fished these are the primary food source for the German Brown Trout.

I actually thought I caught a German Brown, as I was reeling in what felt like a pretty good size fish, hubby netted it for me and I saw the brown sides and was wow, I finally caught one. Well it turned out to be the biggest sucker fish I ever caught. So two for two!

We were at a lake about 75 miles from home. It was so good to leave early Sun. when the sky was cloudy and as we got deeper into the Ozarks we noticed that the outside temp was only climbing into the low to mid 80's and it was raining off to the east of us. We fished twice on Sunday from the marina dock at the resort where we stayed. It was so good to get sprinkled on and feel the cool breeze coming to us off the lake. Was worth the drive. At home it is still over 100 every day.
Only stayed the one night as we were sharing the resort with my brother and his wife, they came in later on Monday and stayed over till sometime on Tue. It was a little wedding gift to them that finally got used.

When we got home found that SIL was not feeling well, so got her a Dr. apt lined up and took her to get some lab done. At 86 she is doing pretty well but has some trouble with swallowing and feeling full way to soon. (she barely weighs 100 #) I know the Dr. will run a bunch of tests, but my diagnosis is stenosis of the esophagus but will wait and see as she also has a heart condition and high pressure in her lungs that could be causing it. She will just hate it if she has to have more medication.

Thought for the day: Everyone has a photographic memory----some just don't have film.

Two fish swam into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says "Dam!"

All any one wants to talk about here is the heat and the beetles. The heat we can't control, but hubby is waging war on the beetles. They are the small Japanese beetles. They love blooms and tender leaves. Especially fond of roses and crepe myrtle. Hubby makes several rounds a day with a spray bottle of insecticide and give them spritzes. Seems spraying the whole bush doesn't last very long. I made the rounds last pm and lost track after counting 120 on 6 bushes. Late evening is a good time to get a bunch.

Headed out to our timeshare this weekend. Wish we could know what the weather will be when I book these things. Have another booking in Sept. Maybe it will be cooler by then. Hope to fish early morning in the lake close to the resort. At least drown a worm or two.

Thought for the day: Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears!

Creative totes

These are tote bags in Europe. I want some!! They must have a great sense of humor over there.

Patriotic Sunday

This is the view off my front porch this last weekend. What a beautiful day. Of course it got up to 100 by 1pm. But the mornings are wonderful.

Refrigerator Pickles

Wow 2 posts in one day. But wanted to share this really good, really easy pickle receipt for those who have cucumbers coming out their ears by now.

6 cups sliced cucumbers
2 cups sliced onions
Layer these in a big crock or glass bowl
Mix:
1 1/2 cups vinegar (apple cider type)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. celery seed
1/2 t. mustard seed
1/2 t. tumeric
Bring to boil then pour over cucumbers and onions. Let cool, then cover and store in refrigerator.
The biggest problem is to try not to eat any for at least one week.
They are crisp and yummy and keep well in the refrig unless of course you eat them up to fast, then you just have to make more.
I have a freezer receipt I will have to find and it is really good and works wonderfully even though you can't imagine making pickles in the freezer.

Thought for the day: A sign I saw once: If idiots were airplanes, this would be an airport!

It is so Hot, How hot is it?

Its so hot the squirrels are handling their nuts with pot holders!

The picture is of a humming bird moth that was lunching on my flowers in front of my store. You may have to click on it to enlarge it and also turn your head sideways. Heck while you are at it you may as well just stand on your head! What do you expect from a cheap camera phone?

Heat:: No end in site for now, I feel sorry for any one who may not have air conditioning, and what about all the people who have to work outside? It must be brutal. Volunteers are still coming into Joplin to help with cleaning up the debris. They say that about 60% has been hauled to land fills. They hope to have all cleared up by the first of Aug. Some are rebuilding homes, the city is working hard to try to plan things out, as this is an opportunity to make changes, like more parks, sidewalks, wider streets, and such. I noticed that Home Depot has a humongous tent up that they are working out of as they start to build the new store.

Well better go, got other fish to fry, may try the sidewalk with a little pam sprayed on first.

Thought for the day: Its so hot I discovered that it only takes 2 fingers to drive the car.

Shouldn't have been surprised!

For our amusement (I think) hubby put cracked corn in the yellow tub for the deer. Since they come up to drink from the bird bath and now are nibbling on the tomato vines. Why not lure them further by putting a tub out for them.

Well it didn't take but a couple hours before a squirrel decided it was his private stash. Boy was he in heaven, well tub. I tried several times to post a video clip here (wouldn't work) as it was so much fun watching the squirrel pop his head up and eat from his paws then disappear down in the tub. He kept it up for at least 30 min. But now at nite the tub is knocked over and I spotted a raccoon one nite after dark, so the tub will have to go.

You know when you get old and bored you do nutty things. Like when we lived out on our little farm a few years ago we were washing off the big propane tank and found that the big horse flys liked to land on the wet tank. Since we had horses and they were pestered by the dang flys, we started wetting the tank in the evening and stood by with our fly swatters. Bet the neighbors thought we were nuts.

Thought for the day:

A smile- is a sign of joy.

A hug- is a sign of love.

A laugh- is a sign of happiness.

And a friend like me??

Heck...that's just a sign of good taste!!

Not so wild

Took this pic from my bedroom window, so sorry about the screen. Hubby has been putting extra cracked corn in our back driveway for the deer. We have one nursing Momma that is real thin and are glad to feed her. But this pair has been showing up lately just to get a drink from the bird bath. That is a young doe to the right at the bird bath, and on the left is a pretty little buck with forked horns that are in velvet. That is a black rubber pan on the ground for them to drink from. But the little girl just drained the birdbath. That is my little city garden that I hope they stay out of. I hung some old cd's on the tomato racks but they have nipped the tops off.
Wish I could get a pic of the "FAT" squirrels that love the deer corn too. Pretty soon they won't be able to climb the tree.

Update on the house wren that is nesting in the gourd off the deck. They have been carrying little bugs and worms into that nest for several weeks. Well it seems like it. Hubby thinks that the Mrs. is to lazy and Mr. is just feeding her. I say they have teenagers that won't leave home.

Thought for the day. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO EVERYONE. BE SAFE!

Great Grand Daughter has a new Daddy

Here they are headed to the church to get ready for the wedding and start their new lives together as a family.

I know I wasn't going to write anymore about the tornado, but the paper is so full of stories every day and it is hard to still not be attuned to all of it. I just read that 18,000 cars were destroyed! 18,000! When we were in Joplin last week we saw several really battered autos on the streets. I sort of felt like driving them was a badge of courage for those folks. I don't think I would get body work done if it still ran! There was a picture of a van (couldn't tell from the pic) They were thinking of keeping it somewhere where they are collecting stuff to form a sort of museum to show what damage a tornado can do. The guy had just bought it and didn't have insurance transferred yet. Went into Walmart to shop and was lucky he was alive!

There was also a long article about the areas hardest hit and destroyed that had been some of the oldest historic part of the city. So with the loss of these buildings goes the loss of alot of Joplin's history.

Thought for the day:: Good things are worth taking care of!