tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11709722602755958372024-03-13T20:33:25.449-07:00Over Good Groundfarmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.comBlogger1363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-22799358514387029922019-11-25T09:11:00.003-08:002019-11-25T09:11:47.313-08:00<div class="_5pcp _5lel _2jyu _232_" data-testid="story-subtitle" id="feed_subtitle_100001181615306:349129160370254332">
<span class="f_vs_3tedjj"><span class="fsm fwn fcg"><a class="_5pcq" href="https://www.facebook.com/connie.collins.961/posts/2530903266959036" target=""><abbr class="_5ptz timestamp livetimestamp" data-shorten="1" data-utime="1574631669" title="11/24/19, 1:41 PM"><span class="timestampContent" id="js_xi">Puppy Problems</span></abbr></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="f_vs_3tedjj"><span class="fsm fwn fcg"><abbr class="_5ptz timestamp livetimestamp" data-shorten="1" data-utime="1574631669" title="11/24/19, 1:41 PM"><span class="timestampContent" id="js_xi"><br /></span></abbr></span></span><span aria-hidden="true" class="_6spk" role="presentation"> </span><div class="_6a _43_1 _4f-9 _nws _21o- _fol" id="u_jsonp_4_j">
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Here
it is.... the "sad dog being abused by his humans" story. I want to
preface this by saying that no dogs were harmed physically. <br /> This is
Dexter in his new harness. Dexter is growing out of the carrier that we
take him to the vet in and it was just time for him to learn about
collars and harnesses. Is that too much to ask of a small puppy? ... to
just try out the new vest harness and see how it fits? This only took
about 15 minutes but you would have thought that he was b<span class="text_exposed_show">eing horrifically tormented for hours.<br />
I saw a video of a dog that was introduced to a harness for the first
time. You hand a biscuit to the dog through the opening that goes around
the dogs neck and while he's eating the biscuit you slip the harness
over the dog's head and snap the rest around his belly. It looked easy
and the dog just took the biscuit, put his head through the opening...
and DONE. I really suspect this was not the first time they put the
harness on. That dog sat there, took the biscuit and without any
running, hiding or evasive tactics, that dog sat there and let the
person put the harness on. First time my a$$. Not so with Dexter. He
didn't even want the biscuit. This, in fact, is not how it goes when you
have a smart puppy. Dexter would not take the bate. <br /> We both had to
hold him and try again. We finally got it on him OMG! He turned in
circles for a few minutes, bucked like a wild horse and finally sat dead
still... not moving at all.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6WTBe3MWY2k/XdwJioyus0I/AAAAAAAAXto/KT59sBFDj408ueFvjJfdF6w1UQy3oJ0sACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/02-_DSC0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6WTBe3MWY2k/XdwJioyus0I/AAAAAAAAXto/KT59sBFDj408ueFvjJfdF6w1UQy3oJ0sACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/02-_DSC0045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show"> Abby came over to comfort him
and he softened a bit but he didn't move... he just looked pathetic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzRwfjrzIPo/XdwJvLlLL_I/AAAAAAAAXts/s64Fr8M_pjYJJCCVSNi8aKOpTrJvU2D3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/04-_DSC0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KzRwfjrzIPo/XdwJvLlLL_I/AAAAAAAAXts/s64Fr8M_pjYJJCCVSNi8aKOpTrJvU2D3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/04-_DSC0051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhEGZ4XRTH4/XdwKJc-neCI/AAAAAAAAXt8/DwY5SO8C7EYUnE265pg2iZBdPzN3cYbnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/07-_DSC0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FhEGZ4XRTH4/XdwKJc-neCI/AAAAAAAAXt8/DwY5SO8C7EYUnE265pg2iZBdPzN3cYbnACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/07-_DSC0054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show">He
played this like John Barrymore. in one of those old silent films....
and out of the corner of his eyes dribbled distrust and fear. I could
hardly stand it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1F0ygCorxps/XdwKRKBhg1I/AAAAAAAAXuE/e-e0kCcUurULZFRJeSd6cMpm0MvNOKU0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/03-_DSC0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1024" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1F0ygCorxps/XdwKRKBhg1I/AAAAAAAAXuE/e-e0kCcUurULZFRJeSd6cMpm0MvNOKU0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/03-_DSC0048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> I think we have been put on notice that this
little boy is not going to put up with being restrained. We took the
vest off and talked about it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nRmtyE0-940/XdwKayDI9sI/AAAAAAAAXuM/c7ilPpZKm906YE55JK9_IKKrTnCXkrbDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/10-_DSC0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nRmtyE0-940/XdwKayDI9sI/AAAAAAAAXuM/c7ilPpZKm906YE55JK9_IKKrTnCXkrbDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/10-_DSC0058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBGPzhJ8700/XdwKhTToHhI/AAAAAAAAXuU/93j-gGy7b38eFaGHMtYpbBfctFxLSrxpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/11-_DSC0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBGPzhJ8700/XdwKhTToHhI/AAAAAAAAXuU/93j-gGy7b38eFaGHMtYpbBfctFxLSrxpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/11-_DSC0060.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show">Steve sat with him explaining why this
seeming abuse has a purpose. Going for walks, going to the river and
parks... fun stuff that requires a leash and some restriction. This time
he took another biscuit and now he's sleeping in the bedroom with one
eye open. <br /> This may take a while... but we will try again. We will
also let him wear a small collar to get use to having something around
his neck. <br /> We love his wild little puppy butt.... but he WILL wear a
harness and life will be filled with all kinds of fun... and trips. ...
and rivers... and parks. He will find that this is not a bad thing.
Abby too. The adventures begin..</span>farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-13134062512061963612019-11-19T10:42:00.001-08:002019-11-19T10:42:22.381-08:00There was a walnut orchard behind my house when I was a kid. It was
paradise for the kids on our block. I remember climbing and playing in
the tree branches... and in the spring running around in the endless
mustard grass that turned the orchard into a yellow maze of fun for all
of us. <br /> We would play hide and seek in the tall grass and I remember
lying very still, looking up at the blue sky, though yellow flowers and
green stems, hoping that no one would find me... that my hi<span class="text_exposed_show">ding
place would be safe from whoever was IT. I remember breathing in the
mustard fragrance... thick, strong and wild. Sometimes I would be found
and tagged... "You're it." someone would yell and then I would have to
hunt for the other's hiding in their own 'safe places'. It was a
wonderful game we played. An innocent game that keeps us busy for hours
but close to home. Then toward dinner... one by one... we would here our
parents call us in. The days were long and we were young. It was a good
place to grow up. <br /> The orchard became houses and they built a
school at the end of the street called Strandwood. The town became
incorporated, roads widened, Grayson Creek became concrete and
controlled so it wouldn't flood every Winter. We all grew up.<br /> They
named a park after my best friend's grandfather and a lot of us moved
away. The last farm became a mall, The drugstore at Pleasant Hill and
Gregory La. that my dad worked at as an extra job, became a produce
market and the barber shop disappeared. The town is different but the
same. The roads have the same names, but there's a downtown now with
theaters, Peet's and all the stores that you can imagine. <br /> I love the little town I remember with its drive-in movie and muddy creeks... with walnut orchards and miles of Mustard grass. <br />
I have photos of smiling faces that are faded with age now, but I know
that I had the best of times there... where the backyard led to an
orchard though a gate my dad built, just for us. I played all day with
my friends... playing hide and seek until dark...and life was good.</span><br />
<br />
farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-77778196313032393252019-03-30T14:06:00.000-07:002019-03-30T14:06:20.302-07:00Our Corgi puppy Abigail (mostly called Abby) was outside with me last night around sunset and I was pretending to "get" her and grabbed her as she ran by me. We were having such fun. Then she disappeared. I walked over to the deck stairs and saw her. She was standing completely still at the top of the steps. I think she thought she was hiding. She didn't move. I took this shot of her playing hide and seek with me. What a character. I love this puppy.<br />
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-34790750465490096882019-02-11T23:33:00.000-08:002019-02-11T23:33:41.968-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My robe hangs in the garden,<br />
dripping like a tree.<br />
One day I'll step<br />
out of my body<br />
exactly like this.<br />
It's easy to die.<br />
Just give your breath<br />
back to the trees<br />
and the wind.<br />
- Peter Levitt, <em>100 Butterflies </em></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It snowed yesterday. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was too much for the geranium.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The cold... the snow... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Too much.</div>
farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-91593354485083367342019-02-03T20:45:00.001-08:002019-02-03T20:45:51.850-08:00The most extraordinary thing happen this afternoon. We had a rain storm that was, as they say, a gully washer. It rained so hard that new small "creeks" formed on the road and down the hillside. We also had a thunderstorm that rattled and rolled across the foothills and scared every animal far and wide.... including us. Surprisingly... it all settled down and for a very short time a sliver of sun hit the ridges on the other side of highways 49. Then I noticed something ...<br />
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Toward the southeast, a rainbow was forming. It was just a flag of color that looked like it was coming right out of my neighbor's pasture... like one of his cows was turning into a magical unicorn.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YcRDGkZlG0k/XFe0CWPHRII/AAAAAAAAXiA/HkN4T7fXLzk7v1YmbtKwhN0vA-3OqHW4gCLcBGAs/s1600/_DSC0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="425" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YcRDGkZlG0k/XFe0CWPHRII/AAAAAAAAXiA/HkN4T7fXLzk7v1YmbtKwhN0vA-3OqHW4gCLcBGAs/s640/_DSC0008.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
At the same time, from the north end of this rancher's property... right over his house, another rainbow started. Another cow exploded. It was as if something very special was going to happen... you know... one of those magical experiences that changes your whole life. I expected small spaceships to arise from both of these colorful spots.<br />
Then it kind of did. The color grew and lengthened. I tried to find a place to take pictures that would do this whole transformation justice but I wasn't far enough away. I had to split the images up because I could not capture the whole scope of this.<br />
A huge rainbow grew before my eyes. It rose over south Jackson and came together high in the air.<br />
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From north to south, this rainbow arched over our hills like a beautiful luminous ribbon of color and at the top, right in the middle, was a star like light.<br />
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Maybe the rainbow was going through a cloud or something but I think this is what they call a sundog. It wasn't very strong and didn't show up in my photo very well but it was there at the very top of the rainbow.<br />
<br />
This was such a pretty rainbow but a little off its feed because the idea that a rainbow is a sign of the rain ending was not true... it rained again later and it's suppose to rain for days.., but while it lasted it was lovely.<br />
I should check with my neighbor and see if there's a pot of gold at each end of the rainbow where it first appeared. We live in Gold country and you never know what might be laying on the ground over there besides cow patties.<br />
Here are more photos of the rainbow. What a cool experience. What a magical happening.<br />
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Do you see the violet color?</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you see the second rainbow forming on the right?</div>
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Oh my...</div>
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farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-74893890301834092662019-01-28T19:34:00.000-08:002019-01-28T19:34:08.198-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
“You know, rust is just oxidation. The same chemical process as fire.</div>
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Oxygen interacts with steel, electrons drift from one element to the
other.</div>
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So really, rust is a slow fire.</div>
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Isn't that weird?</div>
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Water causes
something to burn.”
<br /> ―
<span class="authorOrTitle">
Leah Raeder,
</span>
<span id="quote_book_link_23430483">
<a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/42991007">Cam Girl</a>
</span></div>
farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-86794126970789085972019-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:002019-01-27T14:41:31.540-08:00I have made a pact with a blogging friend to be more diligent about posting on my blog. She has set the bar and both of us will work hard to post more often.<br />
It's been over a year now since my last writing. Disgraceful. I promise to do better. I love blogging but Facebook has taken over my time and energy. It started slowly and then I wasn't posting blog posts at all. Beware the FB takeover.<br />
This is Carl. He is still with us in his 11th year. He moves slower now and naps hard...<br />
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We lost our other Corgi, Cutter, last year to cancer and the sadness was overwhelming. He was a dear member of the family. We mourned for months... the sadness still lingers...<br />
So, as with all dog lovers, and the fact that Carl was wasting away with a kind of canine <span class="st">“<i>melancholy</i>”, we called the breeder and and found out that she had a litter of Corgi puppies. We drove down to the valley one day and met the charming little girl that we named Abby. She is the love of our lives and has given Carl a new reason to get up in the morning.</span><br />
<span class="st">Abigail Elizabeth Windsor ( in honor of the Queen's Corgis) is five months old now...</span><br />
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She is a beautiful female Pembroke Corgi.<br />
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Carl is overwhelmed with this little spitfire puppy but he's warming up to her and she defers to him on all things... so far.<br />
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He is constantly correcting her behavior. She is constantly testing his patience.<br />
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She loves her toys and the living room looks like we have a small child living with us. I guess we kind of do.<br />
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<span class="st">One of her favorite games is pushing toys under furniture and then waiting for us to get them out. This goes on all day... unless she gets tired and goes to sleep. She is very smart and we laugh and call her a puppy of the "Me too." movement. She truly has a mind of her own and a typical Corgi attitude. We love her... Carl is working on a new perspective. He's warming up to her.... slowly.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">In March I will have a knee replacement so that I can be all I can be in my 70's. I'm hoping for a new lease on life and renewed energy. Old knees just give out at some point and need to be fixed. Not looking forward to this operation but I know that it will improve the quality of my life. </span><br />
<span class="st">Well... here's to being a more faithful blogger and reconnecting with everyone. It's a new year and we can all hopefully receive some blessings and fortitude for the long haul.</span><br />
<span class="st">Have a wonderful Sunday...</span>farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-21358032347255009782017-12-13T21:17:00.001-08:002017-12-13T21:17:50.926-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Long summer... lot's of fires in Napa, Santa Rosa and surrounding areas</div>
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Horrible destruction of homes... lost human lives and dead animals.</div>
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Now the fires ravaged Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County.. </div>
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and continue to burn. </div>
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So, as we head toward Christmas and a New Year...</div>
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lets be thankful for the gifts that we have in our lives.</div>
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It's hard to see the blessings when so many suffer around us,</div>
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but do what you can do and try to make someone's life easier.</div>
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Put up that Christmas tree</div>
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and decorate the heck out of it.</div>
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Life is short and we don't know what is around the corner...</div>
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so be happy and live in the moment. </div>
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It's all we have. </div>
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farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-34115032667033162982017-02-28T20:37:00.000-08:002017-02-28T23:21:18.775-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Don't you marvel at how nature works... </div>
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how it all seems to find a way to be a part of this world. </div>
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How it pushes it's way through obstacles</div>
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and leaves without the fears that we, the humans, seem to get caught up in.</div>
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How it makes allowances </div>
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How it knows things. </div>
<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-75416629664620061922017-02-01T21:25:00.002-08:002017-02-01T21:25:58.302-08:00Wordless Wednesday- Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-55981320586374682362016-11-03T12:05:00.001-07:002016-11-03T12:05:27.847-07:00Well... look who posted. Amazing.... but I'm back.<br />
It's November and I just returned from a visit with my sister and my grandchildren.<br />
I always do too much. I eat too much... and I get too tired... but I love going down there and I always have a good time.<br />
This is what my Sister's house looks like. Halloween is her favorite holiday. These are some of the photos from her decorations and spooky corners of her house.<br />
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A small table with all the gifts I have made for her over the years..<br />
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The pin, made from a piece of gourd...<br />
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The dead storybook reconstructed doll...<br />
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The happy little "Boo." gourd...<br />
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... and the ugly, burnt face mask with a zippered scar and flaming eyes.<br />
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Got a little bit carried away with this one.<br />
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This year I did a collage with a story about witches and the ghosts of the woman who were burned for being witches back in the early days of intolerance and religious zeal... oh, I guess that kind of behavior is still going on... but we don't burn them now, we just fry them on Facebook and boycott Halloween.<br />
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I always have a relaxing time at my sister's. I have a comfortable bed upstairs and a safe, warm place to stay... with really good food and I always feel welcome.<br />
On my behalf... I did save the quiche a few nights ago by making a homemade crust for the pie... because someone left the frozen pie crust in the microwave too long. We won't mention any names... right sis?<br />
Good old Joy of Cooking cookbook. It has all the basics. I still know how to make a pie dough from scratch. All is not lost on this old lady's skills. The quiche was delicious. It was a great joint effort.<br />
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This is my sister and her dog, Stella, a German Short hair. She's trying to tell Sis that she has been on the computer too long and it's time for a walk. <br />
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She's trying to get some eye to eye contact.<br />
It finally worked. <br />
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-54325777947442384792016-05-25T19:58:00.000-07:002016-05-25T19:58:24.512-07:00The Agony of DefeatI went to see my grandson's last game of the season. It wasn't going very well and this picture says it all.<br />
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So, before the last inning, Evan's brother, Andrew, stepped in and gave him a pep talk. I love this.<br />
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Evan sat on his dad's lap while his brother talked to him. I didn't hear what was said. <br />
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They ate some sunflower seeds and I saw Evan shake his head up and down every once in a while. <br />
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Finally Andrew said something funny and Evan laughed. It was all good... and even thought they didn't win the game, Evan went back out with his team and finished the game.<br />
I love this wonderful, not always perfect, relationship they have with one another.<br />
This makes my heart happy.farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-68601446361129355172016-04-19T21:44:00.000-07:002016-04-19T21:44:29.429-07:00Well, miracle of miracles, I finally finished something.Here is a dirty little secret about me. I'm notorious for starting a project and not finishing it. I can't tell you how many knitted, fabric and felted things sit in a box or container waiting for completion. How many unfinished pieces of jewelry and well thought out craft projects sit in bags in my closet. I'm the queen of incompleteness, the CEO of corporate level shortfall. I love the process but I'm not a finisher. Unless there's a deadline or someone says, "Bring the project we started last month for show and tell.." or "What price would you like to put on this piece." Then I'm all about game plans, procedures, stratagem or plot line. <br />
So...<br />
The fact that I sat down and finished one of two necklaces that my SCAT group worked on over the last two months is a 'you know what' miracle... and I did this without a deadline or being paid.<br />
I still have another to finish, but I'm very happy with this one.<br />
So, without further ado, I want to show you my necklace.... against the background of Buddha who said,<br />
“Having gone on his almsround, the sage should then go to the forest,
standing or taking a seat at the foot of a tree. The enlightened one,
intent on jhana, should find delight in the forest, should practice
jhana at the foot of a tree, attaining his own satisfaction.”<br />
Oh, I'm sorry... that doesn't really have anything to do with my finished necklace... will maybe a little... I just like what it says.<br />
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So... without further ado...<br />
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This is the finished necklace. I made it out of Fimo clay. I rolled the clay out flat using a pasta maker. Then I cut out the shape I wanted and added other pieces to the base. The base was stamped with a leaf pattern before I baked it. <br />
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Buddha did says, "You yourself must strive.The Buddhas only point the way." So I did. <br />
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After the pieces were baked, the fun began. I used a technique that I learned using layers of paint in a workshop with Michael deMeng. This technique teaches you how to distress and alter anything, make it look old, and replicate stone. After I added layers of color, I scratch the dry clay lightly with a wire brush.<br />
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I had added some of the coral pieces that I brought back from Maui last year. They added the perfect touch to the dark background... as if they were still lying in the sand on the beach.<br />
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I found a chain at Walmart, for $3.33, that fit through the top. <br />
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The hardest part was connecting the two pieces with thread and needle. The holes were made before the clay was baked, but getting the thread to hang right and not too tight was difficult. There must be an easier way to do this.<br />
I'm not sure if I want to spray a protective coating over the whole necklace or not. I don't want any shine but I do want to keep the finish safe from chipping. <br />
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As Buddha says, "“Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes.”<br />
I know... that's a little heavy handed for a blogpost about a necklace, but I'm never going to finish all the projects I have around here. I need to tidy things up, throw some things out or give them away and "ardently do what must be done" to get my house in order... 'cause you never know when you go sit under the tree that Buddha talks about and, all of a sudden, get attacked by a bear or something.<br />
Don't laugh. Where I live, it's a possibility.<br />
And then...<br />
Someone would come to help clean out this mess and say, "My goodness. She sure had a lot of unfinished projects laying around. I wonder why she didn't finish them?"<br />
This hangs greatly over my head.<br />
I have work to do.<br />
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
Of those beings who
live in ignorance, shut up and confined, as it were, in an egg, I have
first broken the eggshell of ignorance and alone in the universe
obtained the most exalted, universal Buddhahood.
Buddha<br /> Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/buddha_2.html</div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
Of those beings who
live in ignorance, shut up and confined, as it were, in an egg, I have
first broken the eggshell of ignorance and alone in the universe
obtained the most exalted, universal Buddhahood.<br /> Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/buddha_2.html</div>
farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-31967846033413507192016-04-04T14:00:00.000-07:002016-04-04T14:08:24.672-07:00Morning with the GoatsAs I sat on a rock next to an oak tree we cut down, I thought to myself that life couldn't get too much better than this moment.<br />
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Our grandsons had been here visiting all week and both our grown sons came up on the weekend... one to visit and pick up the Beans... the other one to go skiing and visit too. We had such a wonderful time with the grandsons this visit. They are getting older. There's less supervision and more fun, less whining and more," OK, I will try that." More "We're happy to be here"...and they were. My neighbor's grandchild, Jocelyn, had something to do with this. They found a friend. It was wonderful.<br />
But, when they leave, it's so quiet. It takes a little getting use to... not too long... and then we sit down and smile at each other.<br />
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This morning the Prospector asked me if I would come out with him and watch the goats while he did some sawing on a cover in the goat yard.... just to supervise them. It seems that our fencing for the big Nubians was perfect with the big goats but Moo, our littlest goat, decided to see if the grass was greener on the other side of the fence and took his cute little goat body through the fence last week... and then he couldn't figured out how to get back in. The Prospector had to chase him down and finally Moo found a way back through the fence and returned to his friends. So we are being extra vigilant now.<br />
Steve's new job is called GOATHERD. I'm backup. We let them out into the field for an hour or so and we watch them. Also, they don't gorge themselves on grass and the grand assortment of spring goodies that are growing now, so we limit their time in the field. They seems to think this will be their last meal. Moo was getting bloated so we had to control the intake.<br />
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I love watching Steve. He talks to them and, well... they actually talk back. <br />
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So, this morning, we spent more than an hour out there with the babies and Annie... who was helping keep an eye on them too. She comes through the fence and hangs with us, until she gets bored, then she's off to herd the chickens or wild turkey. She's a busy cat.<br />
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The little guys all have names now. We named Moo right away because he looked like a cow. When the Beans were here last week we named the other two Rocky and Kobi. I thank all my friends who offered names, but my grandkids rule and they made the final choices. So this is Moo...<br />
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I love this little guy. He's a month younger than the other two. He's off on his own, investigating and exploring... and he's just such a little 'moo cow' goat.<br />
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His two cohorts, Kobi and Rocky tend to stick together, even though they weren't from the same mother. They look very much alike, except Kobi has a bigger patch of white on his forehead. They are covered with grass hay that they were eating from the bin before we let them out into the field.<br />
This is what goats do... eat, poop and rest... and look adorable. Then, they eat more.<br />
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It's a sight to see... these little babies romping through the grass, looking for that special flower or leaf. <br />
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They love the Oak leaves.<br />
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They keep moving around ... <br />
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...looking for the next wonderful and tasty thing.<br />
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Reminds me of Robert Browning's verse...<br />
<dl><dd>The year’s at the spring,</dd><dd>And day’s at the morn;</dd><dd>Morning’s at seven;</dd><dd>The hill-side’s dew-pearled;</dd><dd>The lark’s on the wing;</dd><dd>The snail’s on the thorn;</dd><dd>God’s in His heaven—</dd><dd>All’s right with the world!</dd><dd></dd><dd>At least for now... on this mountain. </dd></dl>
farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-55168422750337215152016-03-21T22:48:00.000-07:002016-03-21T22:48:01.034-07:00Springtime giftsOh dear... I haven't posted since after Christmas. I can't believe after so many years that I can be this neglectful about something that I enjoyed so much. I make promises that I will write, but I don't.<br />
I love this place and I will always return to it. It's my sanctuary of words, images and thoughts. It has grieved with me and laughed with me. I live in fear of loosing all of this. I need to find a blog to book site and save these blog posts for my grandchildren.<br />
I need to give more time to this and less to Facebook. Facebook eats time but it's easy and quick. Facebook responds almost instantaneously and it keeps me connected to my friends and family. I admit that I have kind of an addiction to it... OK, yes, it's an addiction. <br />
This is not a promise but more a way of saying that I will be here as much as I can. Everything moves faster now and I'm moving slower. The days are filled with animals, friends, family and my life, with all its old age aches and pains... but I'm happy.<br />
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So, just when I thought that things were slowing down here and the excitement of raising animals was basically over, except for the chickens and our dogs... The Prospector decided that goats would, again, be a good idea. I was delighted.<br />
Well, on Saturday, we picked up three new baby Pygmy goats. My sister was here to help. She helped paint the new goat house and she helped us bring them home.<br />
The adventure begins again and hopefully we will be more fortunate with these little guys as they become a part of our lives. I never got over loosing Brownie and Murphy. The sadness clung to the fencing and empty goat run. It never really went away until these little goats came on Saturday. Now, only the good memories of the wonderful, magical Murphy and our beloved Brownie will stay with us and the space will be filled with these joyful little Pygmy goats.<br />
I will post some photos and call it a night.<br />
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Two of the babies are not named yet, but this one above, is Moo... because he looks like a little cow. farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-85109279669043126332015-12-30T12:24:00.000-08:002015-12-30T12:24:01.851-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Some of my wonderful family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-3305652677276140402015-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:002015-12-30T12:16:15.190-08:00Merry Christmas to all.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Twenty days of not posting here. I use to post everyday. I think I can
blame this on Facebook. It's so much easier to post there and I do it.
I'm surely an addict. I'm sorry.<br />
This was a long month, but it
seems like it went by fast. It's the 29th and almost over. I just got
back from my sister's home where I spent Christmas Day and the weekend. We had a
wonderful time. She always has the house decorated so beautifully.<br />
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We all had a wonderful dinner and exchanged gifts. We sat around in the "new kitchen" and had dessert.</div>
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I made an orange, walnut, coconut cake in a new molded Bundt cake pan that looks like mountains... and dusted it with powered sugar that looked like snow in honor of the snow that finally fell in the Sierras last week... A tribute cake, if you will, to all the prayers that were said and rain dances that we danced over the last few months. </div>
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The cake slowly disappeared... snow and all. </div>
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Sis and I braved the crowds in downtown Walnut Creek for an hour or so on Saturday. It was a mad house. We lucked out and found a parking space so we decided this was a sign that we should go find the absolutely one most beautiful item waiting for us in J Jill's or Crate and Barrel.</div>
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After all, everything was on sale. </div>
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I have been having some serious knee problems so I had a brace on and this anticipated trip didn't last very long... but I did manage to get a $90. sweater for $29. at J Jill's. It was already on sale, then I got a 25% in store discount on top of that and 10% more for my birthday. That just made my day. We had lunch and went home to nap.</div>
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On Sunday I drove to Alhambra High School in Martinez to see my oldest grandson, The Bean, play a serious game of basketball. This kid is good and I'm not saying this because he's mine. He's really good... he is tall and he's fast...and they won. Here are some highlights...</div>
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Some of these are a bit blurry. I have not had a lot of experience with fast action shots. This kind of shot need a fast shutter speed and good focus, which I thought I did. I think I need more practice. But you can see that The Bean was moving the ball down the court. I was so proud of him. He's only in 5th grade. Give him a few years and the Warriors will be knocking at his door. This was really exciting watching my grandson play the Prospector's favorite sport. I'll work on the action shots.</div>
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Later in the day I watched The Beans while Mom and Dad when out for dinner. I love doing this. We do have fun. </div>
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First I drove to the Catholic Cemetery to tell my mom "Merry Christmas". It was so beautiful. Very cold and the sun was setting. </div>
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This statue is at the entrance. They had given Mary a gold crown and a blue cape that moved in the breeze. Blue flowers were at her feet. </div>
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Mom would have loved this.</div>
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I left Mom some candy. She loved candy. </div>
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We talked for a while and then I said goodbye and drove away. I felt sad, but OK.</div>
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She's all right. There's a good feeling in this place. I love being there alone and I always feel her presence. </div>
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This is the house that I was raised in. I moved here in 1950 with my Mom and Dad. I was five years old. My son and his wife bought it after my mom pass away. They're happy here and plan to add more space to this rather small home. I feel very comfortable being in this home. </div>
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I have good memories here. Our sons had wonderful memories here with his Noni and Grandpa. Now my grandchildren will make memories as well. Seems so right, doesn't it?</div>
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I used a different setting on my camera and got some interesting images... just for fun. </div>
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Above was the tree in the boys bedroom... It had a special star light on top that reflected a light show on the ceiling. It was really cool.<br />
This is the same tree with the "color sketch" effect on my Nikon.<br />
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This was the boys playing with their electronic games.<br />
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The Christmas tree in the living room.<br />
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And a sign that said, sadly, that Christmas was over... no more days until... <br />
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I left for home the next morning.<br />
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It's good to be home.<br />
I will try to post more often.<br />
I need to stop eating candy.<br />
I need to stop eating...<br />
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you. May the New Year bring you many blessings.<br />
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farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-62816172124901365352015-12-09T21:38:00.000-08:002015-12-09T21:38:06.790-08:00Wordless Wednesday: Virginia Creeper after a recent rain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-88450749164367804092015-12-07T22:30:00.000-08:002015-12-08T09:29:56.498-08:00What a weekend... Life is Good.On Friday I had a birthday. I turned 71. When my grandmother was in her 70's I thought that was <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">REALLY OLD.</span></span> I suppose it still looks old to some... but now that I'm here, and the reality of it is apparent, I don't feel this old. I don't feel like I did a few years ago when the BIG 70 was looming like a huge slow motion title wave. I have a year of this under my belt now and I think I'm going to be OK...if...<br />
I can find my glasses, car keys and the really comfortable pair of shoes that I put somewhere so Carl, our Corgi, wouldn't find them and chew on them. The ones I still can't find.<br />
And then... there's my left knee. It seems that nothing heals on its own after 70. You hurt yourself without doing anything that you can remember ...and there lies the rub. You can't remember how you hurt yourself so you can't tell the doctor what happen... so they have to probe, test, examine and stab at a guess about what might have caused this injury. Then you start with ice packs and Tylenol, and hope for weeks, that this will be the answer... but it's not. Then an xray finds the beginnings of <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">DEGERERATIVE ARTHRITIS and BONE DEBRIS</span></span> and they tell you that you may have to try some cortisone shots and possibly have a knee replacement... "...down the road". I call it my "road" of discontent. The ragged road of being older than dirt. It's an ongoing saga. I'm trying to be positive about this but pain sucks.<br />
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So... enough of this... <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I had a great weekend. </span></span>My sister was here. It's kind of a tradition that she be here and, in January, I will drive down to celebrate her birthday. We do this because we love each other and because we need to support each other during these trying years and cheer each other on. I have good friends and they are wonderful... but there's nothing like a sister for whining and crying. We have history. We understand each other.<br />
So... We spent four days doing fun stuff. On Friday, my birthday, I strapped on my knee brace and we went to an antique store, in Jackson, just for fun. The Prospector took us to dinner that night.<br />
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Sis brought me a <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a hand packed box of See's candy. </span></span><br />
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Yeah... it was a good day.<br />
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We went shopping in Sutter Creek for the <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Christmas Open House</span></span> on Saturday. I kind of over did it with the walking, but we sure had fun.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bERxtRS7tuE/VmZZxn-uDDI/AAAAAAAAWlM/9qqWFisLGBQ/s1600/Sister%2527s%2Bvisit%2B019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bERxtRS7tuE/VmZZxn-uDDI/AAAAAAAAWlM/9qqWFisLGBQ/s640/Sister%2527s%2Bvisit%2B019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also, on Saturday, we cut some <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Manzanita Branches</span></span> for decorations. We do this every year before Christmas. I use one as a Christmas tree. Sis uses hers over her kitchen window. Then we decorate them with homemade items and favorite ornaments.<br />
This is my "tree" on the buffet.<br />
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We also made <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">paper wreaths</span></span> out of old song book pages.<br />
This is the progression of rolling and gluing the pages onto a backing and the final results of my sister's wreath. She used small twigs, brown packing grass, some gold paint and a sparkly silver ornament. <br />
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It's so beautiful.<br />
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Mine was done a little differently. I used smaller pages from an old Christian songbook.<br />
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Instead of making cones, I rolled the pages and shredded one end of each rolled page before hot gluing them to a round cardboard backing.<br />
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Finally a few pieces of mossy twigs, and three star ornaments. I'm quite pleased with the wreath.<br />
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I want to try more of these. The possibilities are endless.<br />
After dinner we started <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Christmas boxes.</span></span> It's the technique that I used on the Halloween boxes that I've made before.<br />
You start with any old box or book and hot glue plastic toys and fake flowers and, in this case, plastic words like JOY and MERRY CHRISTMAS on the top of the box. Then you separate two ply paper towels, wet them and lay them over the top of everything that you have attached to the box and use Mod Podge glue to attach the paper towels and tuck, fold and push the towels into all the nooks and crannies of the figures on the box. We did this last night so it would be dry this morning.<br />
I should have taken more photos because the transition is really amazing.<br />
I went from a plain box like this...<br />
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To a colorful, painted box with Joy written all over it... and a dragonfly... and a little frog. In the right top, the word, the frog and the dragonfly didn't seem to stand out, so I added some black paint with a dry brush and more gold. I also added a bit of gold sparkle glue too, which isn't that noticeable in the photo, but added some real bling bling to the whole box. The darker color brought out the letters and accents more. Compare the upper right photo with the lower left. You can see the difference in the two of them. This whole process gets easier with practice.<br />
My sister nailed it on her first try. She used and old soap box that hinged. She had a dollar store "Merry Christmas" ornament that took forever to tuck and wrap with the paper towel, but she did it and it turned out so festive and gorgeous.<br />
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I love this technique. It can be a bit labor intensive on a late Sunday night, when we did the wet paper towel/ Mod Podge part, but the results are always worth it. Here's a link to Pinterest and the original site were I got the idea.<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/22025485651218573/"> Just click here.</a><br />
Sis went home this morning and I miss her all ready. As a distraction, I went to the dentist. Two hours in a dentist chair with Novocaine was not my idea of the way to end this wonderful weekend, but it did give me something else to do for a few hours. At one point, I was looking out of the window. I noticed an incident across the road. The dentist, his assistant and I watched as two woman have a knock down, dragged out, kicking and screaming fight in front of the library across the street. Someone called the police. One of the women got arrested. Real drama in downtown Jackson. That doesn't happen very often in our small town... in broad daylight. It was kind of comic relief for all of us.<br />
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<span class="st"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">I miss you Sis. Thanks for everything... you are a dear person, even if you were a pain in the arse when you were little. You grew up to be my very special friend. I love you. See you at Christmas. </span></span></span><br />
<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-28694814186506581382015-12-01T22:05:00.000-08:002015-12-01T22:05:03.929-08:00A little dog named Lizzy<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you see her?</div>
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Her name is Lizzy. </div>
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This was her first visit to our home.</div>
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She's a very big dog in a very little body. </div>
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I think our Corgi boys wore her out.</div>
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She ran in the garden with them...</div>
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ate Thanksgiving Dinner with them... </div>
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ran around with them everywhere. </div>
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So, when she napped...</div>
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She napped hard.</div>
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I think she was happy to be heading home.</div>
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Guarding her own territory will be easier. </div>
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This was a great adventure, but there's no place like home.</div>
farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-14244479007243108792015-11-16T09:21:00.000-08:002015-11-16T09:46:55.503-08:00First FrostThe rain came day before yesterday. It was a good soaking rain that replenished the earth and gave us hope.<br />
This morning the air is very cold... you feel it before you see it. The cold creeps under the bed covers and reminds me that the California Winter is almost here. The furnace comes on earlier... an extra blanket had been added... and the first glimpse of sunshine rises from the east.<br />
The Prospector says, "There's frost on the pumpkin this morning."<br />
I throw on my warmest coat over my PJ's, slip into some boots and take the camera out to find the beauty of our first frost... the subtle sparkle of mossy frost that edges leaves and freezes raindrops.<br />
This is the first frost of the season and I hunt, in wonder, for its beauty.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It
is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the
frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it.
~John Burroughs, "Winter Sunshine"</span></div>
<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-55563303312115692722015-11-04T22:10:00.002-08:002015-11-04T22:10:41.884-08:00Wordless Wednesday: My sister's house on Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3m2hC5UcP0/VjryVkUQXqI/AAAAAAAAWh8/WZzpElMrgfQ/s1600/Halloween%2Band%2Bhome%2B075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3m2hC5UcP0/VjryVkUQXqI/AAAAAAAAWh8/WZzpElMrgfQ/s640/Halloween%2Band%2Bhome%2B075.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-70108208133763242432015-10-28T14:31:00.000-07:002015-10-28T14:35:55.176-07:00Wordless Wednesday: Mustangs at the Bunny Ranch. (Dayton, NV.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-46227078461753716602015-10-14T20:48:00.000-07:002015-10-14T20:48:33.852-07:00Wordless Wednesday: My world at Sunset<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3ZzlzxA4H0/Vh8hFzskWtI/AAAAAAAAWfM/inp64Y8VJeg/s1600/sunrise%252C%2Bsunset%252C%2Bhalloween%2Bcrafts%2B039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3ZzlzxA4H0/Vh8hFzskWtI/AAAAAAAAWfM/inp64Y8VJeg/s640/sunrise%252C%2Bsunset%252C%2Bhalloween%2Bcrafts%2B039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1170972260275595837.post-16799030199949356122015-10-01T23:18:00.000-07:002015-10-01T23:30:45.192-07:00A kiss of rain.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <span style="color: #666666;">It rained today. We have wished for, prayed and danced for this miracle. It came from the west and after announcing its presence with one huge clap of thunder, the rain hit hard. It was powerful and steady... settling the dust and dryness of summer and blending the ash and sadness of the Butte fire into the earth... to begin the healing. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">This is my tribute to a beautiful day of rain. The poem below belongs to Langston Hughes, but the images are mine. I presumed to use his words because I felt the rain kiss the earth today and I know he would understand.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>"Let the rain kiss you.</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TMvHj1WQps/Vg4MdFtd8yI/AAAAAAAAWdE/Uu_Fw8Y9rEk/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TMvHj1WQps/Vg4MdFtd8yI/AAAAAAAAWdE/Uu_Fw8Y9rEk/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Let the rain beat upon your head...</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RquppjDwiDM/Vg4MxQAQh8I/AAAAAAAAWdQ/OAyFsYQ747E/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RquppjDwiDM/Vg4MxQAQh8I/AAAAAAAAWdQ/OAyFsYQ747E/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>with silver liquid drops.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Let the rain...</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOU5zrhiIdw/Vg4NflWhkfI/AAAAAAAAWdc/2YOn90S5A4s/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOU5zrhiIdw/Vg4NflWhkfI/AAAAAAAAWdc/2YOn90S5A4s/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>sing you a lullaby.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sS_9dZM3F3o/Vg4YiDY1RhI/AAAAAAAAWd8/g2rrm4iTfSA/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sS_9dZM3F3o/Vg4YiDY1RhI/AAAAAAAAWd8/g2rrm4iTfSA/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><big><b><span style="background-color: white;"></span></b></big></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09E5ERrNszM/Vg4fmOMdp8I/AAAAAAAAWeY/stzhCHrcl-4/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09E5ERrNszM/Vg4fmOMdp8I/AAAAAAAAWeY/stzhCHrcl-4/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">The rain makes running pools in the gutter</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iR8YzlQG0yg/Vg4f15X6k6I/AAAAAAAAWeg/LyX2Wbpd7o0/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iR8YzlQG0yg/Vg4f15X6k6I/AAAAAAAAWeg/LyX2Wbpd7o0/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B014.JPG" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">The rain plays a little sleep song</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> on our roof at night</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><br />And I love the rain." </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvR5_POhxGQ/Vg4gcVZvLfI/AAAAAAAAWeo/96FgYNfVNlE/s1600/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IvR5_POhxGQ/Vg4gcVZvLfI/AAAAAAAAWeo/96FgYNfVNlE/s640/Rain%2Bafter%2Bthe%2Bfire%2B007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><big><b></b></big></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><big><b>
</b></big>A poem by ~Langston Hughes~</span>farmladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10516462251842458511noreply@blogger.com7