Rounding the far turn...

We're almost there folks!

A new friend helped me think 'outside the blog template' back in July of 2009. She guided me from an "OK" blog presentation to something more fun with bigger pictures. More 'me'.

I put one of those cool little counters on the bottom of the main page. The kind that tells me each time one of you comes by for a visit. I started it at zero, zip --- nada.

Well, we're rounding the far turn!



Tonight, as I type, we're really, really close to 5000 visits! Only 25 visits away.

You might be wondering, "Why does she keep referring to 'we' when she really means 'me'?" Uhhh, 'cause this is what blogging is all about. Doing your own thing and then sharing.

It's about me AND you.

Thanks for stopping by!

With a Little help from my friends

It's Friday and I'm at work.

The laptop glares back at me when I ask it to do something it's done hundreds of thousands of times. I click on something, begging. The screen blinks and tells me I'm stupid and says I don't understand computers. It tells me I'm clueless. My Mac fingers try to coax a Dell and Microsoft ensemble to work with me (please) for just 2 more hours.



I sigh, dejected and alone in a world of cold, cruel machines.

I glance over to my friends under the mouse. I smile 'cause they're there for me, standing stoic in the desert, like bookends. They've traveled all the way from The 7MSN Ranch in New Mexico to help me through my work day.

George and Alan are their names and "being-burro" is their game. They're such huge celebrities they have their own brand of gear at The 7MSN Ranch Mercantile . Gear you can own yourself and have handy when you need to shade your eyes, journal an important day in your life or give you courage when the machines are out to get you.



Thanks guys. I really count on you and you come through for me every time. Heck, The Beatles and Joe Cocker would be proud of you too.

For me --- you've never sung outta tune.

Livin' Life Better Through (Plant) Chemistry

Lazy cats can become fat cats.

Biscuit is one such kitty. Behind his back we sometimes call him "Buttered Biscuit". I know, we should be ashamed but we're not. It's just a fact. The cat is fat.



He was to such a point of chubbiness, something had to be done. Something clever, something soft and purple, something involving CATNIP!

Enter the Catnip Body Pillow from Carla at thespoiledcat.com . Yeehaw!



So --- You sniff it.



And --- You give it a big hug.



Ahhh --- You revel in the delights of nepeta cataria as euphoria sets in.



And you decide: Your new Catnip Body Pillow is a gift from your people because they love you --- ALL of you.

Can you see where I'm going with this?

Can you hear it?

Can you hear it?



A collective sigh from the masses. Ahhh...it's Friday and here comes the weekend.

Bring it!

Spring has sprung!

Spring has sprung,

The grass has riz.

I wonder where

The birdies is.

(author anonymous --- and I can see why --- his/her meter needs some work!)

On the farm I look for early signs of spring. Most anything will brighten up my day and give me hope Winter will soon be just a cold, drizzly memory.

(Granted, I didn't suffer the same way some of you did this time 'round...sorry 'bout that. I tried too. I tried to suffer just to sympathize with you, but just couldn't. I didn't have 2-3 feet of snow to slog through everyday.)



Day lilies, the darlings of the barn porch, poke their leaves up when the ground thaws. With the services of our new sight hound, "Creel" , maybe the deer won't dine on my day lilies this Spring.



Terrific, resilient tulips reach through the soil to grab a couple rays of sunshine.



Faithful crowds of clematis change woody stems into little green leaves.



Even the despicable dandelion holds a place of honor on the farm...the first flower of Spring!

Made in America!

Preparation for winter in the food department is important.

To some it's having the canning finished and the pantry bulging with homegrown goodies. Others bake and bake and freeze the good stuff. Many spread homemade preserves on warm buttered toast, remembering the fruit they picked from their little orchards.

I own miniature horses and a donkey so the "comfort food" for my guys is hay. Nothin' says lovin' more than having yummy fine-stemmed second cutting timothy stacked in the barn for the winter. Yum...



I picked up some of my hay last weekend and had to smile when I off loaded the 3-string bales of pale green gorgeous-ness.

I know the man who baled my hay. His name's Ken and he's a burly kind of guy...the kind of guy you'd see doing a guest appearance on "Dirty Jobs". He'd toss the 120 pound bales like pieces of firewood and not break a sweat. He'd grin and ask if you needed help loading your truck and then have eighteen bales stacked before you finished grunting and dragging your two bales into place.

But I didn't know he was so patriotic. He took extra time when he baled his hay and made a statement.

Thanks Ken --- I feel the same way!

Fat Butts

This time of year all the horses and the donkey are asking some pretty important fashion sense questions.

Namely ---



"Does this winter coat make my butt look fat?"



"Does this full, lovely tail make my butt look fat?"



"Does this svelte, tasseled tail make my butt look fat?"

Seriously, Pete. You call that a tail?

On the Other Hand

The other day a strange thing happened in my kitchen --- at my garden window. A Christmas cactus bloomed, all pink and beautiful.



She didn't know it was January 31st. She couldn't see my 7MSN calendar across the room above my kitchen desk. She just knew she was velvety and a scrumptious color...and wanted to share. And I appreciate that.

Could Spring be on it's way to western Washington? Day lilies are sending up shoots. Buds are swelling on the trees. I heard frogs ribbeting across the road on January 16th --- a full 15 days earlier than normal. Today I heard Seattle had it's warmest January on record, ever.



I guess the answer is out the window. That's green grass folks. Despite the confused Christmas cactus, I think I'll place my bet on grass color as a better indicator of seasons.

Unless it's covered with snow. (Please, please no.)