We are in trouble here.

Over five thousand years ago,

Moses said to the children of Israel "Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land."

Nearly 75 years ago, (when Welfare was introduced),
Roosevelt said "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel.
This is the Promised Land."

Today,
Congress has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels, and mortgaged the Promised Land!

I was so depressed last night thinking about Health Care Plans, the economy, multiple wars, lost jobs and savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc.,

I called a Suicide Hotline. I had to press "1" for English.

I was connected to a Call Center in Pakistan. I told them I was suicidal.

They got excited, and asked if I could drive a truck!


Folks, we're in trouble!

My old college

Went out to the college this morning to find a guy who teaches weaving.  I am hoping he can help me with my problems with my floor loom. Still having trouble getting treddles adjusted.
This is the college that I graduated from for my LPN nursing program back in 1973.  It has changed so much,  The old building on the right and way back one on the left were the main buildings when I went there.  Now there are so many more buildings, I think it is awesome. Alot of this lawn was parking lot I believe.  I would have liked to be a college student forever.  Could a person make a career out of going to college?  I went back to school in 1986 to finish up for my RN degree in Carson City Nv.  Have been back to that campus a few years ago and it has changed alot too.

Thought for the day:  If it happens twice, its not a fluke___ but it could be 2 flukes. 

copy-paste, copy-paste! Hey!!

Three friends from a local congregation were asked, 'when you're in your casket, and friends are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?


Artie said: 'I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.'

Eugene commented: 'I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and a servant of God who made a huge difference in people's lives.'

Tom said: 'I'd like them to say, 'Look, he's moving!'
 
This was in some e-mail sent to me.  I am just so dang happy that I can copy and paste onto my blog now it is hard to tell what might show up here.  Look Out CoffeePot!
 

It has been great to be back in my little book store after our vacation.  Sometimes togetherness just gets to be a little much and you need some space.  But have to say the store has been pretty busy.  Don't know if its the cooler weather or what.  But I will take it!
Been working most of the day off and on to get my Oct. column done for the newspaper.  I read the trilogy by Steig Larsson this last month: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. That was quite a feat to get all three of them done on time.  What happened to the time I just read for the fun???
 
Thought for the day:
The reason Politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would 'hate' to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.

Out of the mouth of babes

Subject: Truth

I was eating lunch on the 20th of February with my 7 year-old granddaughter and I asked her, "What day is tomorrow?"

She said, "It's President's Day!" (She is a smart kid.)

I asked, "What does President's Day mean?" I was waiting for something about Washington or Lincoln... etc.

She replied, "President's Day is when President Obama steps out of the White House, and if he sees his shadow we have one more year of unemployment."


You know, it hurts when hot coffee spurts out your nose...

Wyoming trip

Been gone for a week.  Hubby and I took his sister with us on a trip to Wyoming.  We had a good cloudy day to start with, then second day headed north from Limon Co. and drove many miles in heavy fog and drizzle.  It was my turn to be driving.  Hubby didn't like me following a truck and I know he wanted me to go around but I liked following something to look at and not stare at that fog.  Anyway that was the only bad weather. Got to Saratoga on Thurs evening and stayed till Mon AM. 

The picture is of the Platte River at Saratoga.  On Sat. we did a float trip with a guide down 6 miles of the river, it was 37 degrees when we started.  Caught quite a few fish.  Hubby caught all German Brown Trout and I caught the Rainbows.  BUT, they were all over 16 inches so were released back to the river.  (POUT)  The guide said we might have to go to the lake to "kill" some fish.  We did try that the next day (twice) but only "killed" one nice big rainbow.  So didn't have to worry about how to get "all" the fish home.   We were watch by 4 young bald eagles as they circled above us, then we say a mature one in a tree with his beautiful white head.  I took some video but with my little camera it left alot to be desired.

We drove up into the Medicine Bow forest in the Snowy Mountain range east of Saratoga.  It is awesome up there.  It was a clear beautiful day.  I took this picture from up near the top.

I just did Blogger's update and I think I am liking it.  I see I can now add pictures in the middle of my text instead of all of them being stacked together.  Always wondered how other folks did that.  LOL
I don't think that you will find these heads in your local grocery store, unless you are in Wyoming!

We toured the museum at Encampment, south of Saratoga and were treated with this 2 story outhouse.

Of course the guy told the story of how it was used.  See when the snow gets deep in the winter they closed off the lower level, (after raising the seats). Then you had to go up the stairs and use the upper level.  Now how cleaver was that?                                                                                                      

Thought for the day:  The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Men!

Can't live with them, can't live without them. Right? At least that is how the old saying goes. Oh, I think the rest of it is that you can't shoot them either.

I think men really are from Mars. How can we say something and have it so distorted in their minds that what they end up thinking is not at all what we said or meant. An example that I can use is one of my own.

Me: Honey we are about out of milk.

He hears: Why didn't you buy milk today instead of sitting on your butt watching TV all day.

And the other thing, they are supposed to be so tough and macho. But if that is the case why do we have to be so careful about their feelings? We try to avoid saying things that might let them think they are not manly. My hubby thinks that only woosies take a nap. So he tries real hard to not take a "nap" when I am around. I try to tell him that at his age it is actually good for him to take a little nap after lunch. All the Dr. reports say it is. But he grew up tough and was taught that you didn't cry, nap, or let your shoes go unshined.

So tell me do men really come from Mars?

Who is blond?

My friend Llynn and I were doing some carpenter work on a Habitat for Humanity House.

Lynn was nailing down house siding, she would reach into her nail pouch, pull out a nail and either toss it over her shoulder or nail it in.

I figured this was worth looking into, so asked "why are you throwing those nails away?"

Lynn explained, "when I pull a nail out of my pouch, about half of them have the head on the wrong end and I throw them away." (dumb blond)

I got upset and yelled, "you moron! Those nails aren't defective? They're for the other side of the house!"

thought for the day: The statics on sanity in America is that 1 out of every 4 suffer from some form of mental illness. Think of your 3 best friends, if they are OK then it's YOU.

A good haul

Looks like we are finally going to get some cooler weather and maybe get into fall without dehydrating ourselves down to one of those dried apple people that you see in the fall.

Stopped at 2 garage sales this morning on way to store, after I made a trip to the recycle center to leave off all our "stuff". Got a new leather purse for $2. Then used a Walmart bag for the "fill your bag for $3" Got 2 pair of jeans, a new pair of cool shoes for grand daughter that are high top with lots of those silver studs all up the sides, plus 2 large items that I loved the color and will cut up for my crafting. So I think I did pretty dang good.

I will post a picture of what I do with alot of my fabric. I really enjoy making these bowls on the sewing machine. Must have about 30 of them now. When my sister tries to get me to quilt, I say I need projects where I get instant gratification. I am just that way!

Thought for the day: Our life is frittered away by detail..... Simplify, simplify--- Thoreau

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.