Odds and Ends

We're half-way through February in a new year, Thoroughbred foals are being born all over the country, horse racing enthusiasts are starting to talk about the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown in the United States, and the British Triple Crown in the United Kingdom.  I am looking forward to Saturday, the 20th, when Ziconic will make his racing debut.  Unlike his elder brother, Cozmic One, Ziconic seems to realize that racing, and going under the wire first, is the name of the game in his current life.  Cozmic One, the oldest son of Zenyatta (by Bernardini), has raced twice but not with his Mom's need to win.  In his first race, he finished last in a field of six; in his second race, he was seventh of nine contenders.  Cozmic One doesn't seem to be able to focus on his job.  Ziconic, the younger brother, by Tapit, seems to enjoy racing much more.  I'm looking forward to his race on Saturday.   Zenyatta, herself, is due some time in March with a second foal by War Front.  This foal is eagerly awaited, as her last foal (also by War Front) died from injuries in a paddock accident.  I hope her progeny can continue her winning ways.
   One of my four granddaughters, a pre-teen, has just won the National Cheerleading Team title with her squad.   She is certainly making her parents and grandparents proud.  I only wish my husband could be here to express his encouragement to her and the other participants.
   I can start collecting my retirement pay from working at Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida in a few months.  They have given me the choice of a lump-sum payment, or a monthly stipend for the rest of my life.  The lump-sum payment is enticing, but I'd lose 30% of it due to federal taxes, and then there are state taxes, too.  I'm pretty sure I'll choose the monthly stipend over the lump-sum.
   I had to laugh this morning - I have on my calendar that, beginning tomorrow, I walk the DD dogs every morning for at least an hour.  Another woman is house-sitting, but she is recovering from a back and hip injury, so I'm to walk two of the dogs while she walks one.  I sent an e-mail to both the dog owners and to the house-sitter earlier today, asking for confirmation that the trip was still going to be taken, and stating the dates.  I also asked the house-sitter at what time she wished to walk the dogs each morning.  The house-sitter called me back, almost immediately, and said she'd visited the people and critters (3 dogs, 1 cat) yesterday, and that I had the dates wrong.  The family was returning on the 25th, not the 23rd...  I read her my three letters from the owner, which designated the dates each time - she looked her original contact notes and found she'd made a mistake - I was correct.  Then she asked if I could meet her to walk the dogs at 7 each morning, in order to avoid the middle school students.  I told her that I could, but that I would have to arrive later on the weekend days.  She asked why, and I told her the first buses that ran by my house on the weekend came by at 7:30 - there was an earlier one, but it heads east, while the dogs' home is west of me.  She was completely taken aback by the fact that I don't have a car.  She wanted to know how I got around, and I told her, by bus or by foot.  She was also amazed that I don't own a smart phone....
    I guess I live to the beat of a different drummer in more ways than one.

Just Stuff and Some Photos

I am, well, .... miffed.  I'm not really angry, but I just can't understand why someone would steal our pumpkin.  Three weeks before Halloween, we got a nice, round, large pumpkin to sit outside the entrance to our second floor apartment.  We also purchased ten smaller gourds, squash, and tiny pumpkins to heap around the large one.  It wasn't touched through Halloween, nor on All Saints Day.  Monday morning, when I left to walk doggies, the pumpkin was sitting outside the door, with it's entourage.  When I returned, the small items were still there, but the pumpkin was gone.
   I thought that, maybe, Beatrice had decided to cut into the pumpkin and then put it out for our local squirrels.  I walked around, but saw no pumpkin.  I asked Bea about it when she returned home - and she thought I had taken the pumpkin down for the squirrels.  We both looked again, but no pumpkin was evident.  We had planned on using the pumpkin and gourds as a display through Thanksgiving, to celebrate the harvest.  But someone stole our big pumpkin.  Why?  We live on the "back" side of the building - away from the street and sidewalk.  Our door, and the display, is not visible from the front of the building.  The pumpkin was visible from the parking lot and mail-box area - why let it sit peacefully until November 2nd, and then steal it?  It just doesn't make sense to me...

My Granddaughter

Checking out the Christmas tree

With her Dad before her first appearance on stage

A quick, last minute dance rehearsal

Pumped up, after being on stage

"Mutts" comic strip by Patrick McDonnell

- And how I feel about hugging my granddaughter! - 

Family Matters

It's a nice, bright, sun-shiny day out - which has already caused the set of muddy paw-prints on my jeans and T-shirt. They start at the ankle and walk right up my right leg, then onto my chest... Lovey then licked my face and marked my jaw line with her chin. I visited Maggie May yesterday and was delighted that she remembered me; I start caring for her on Friday. I sent off a collection of children's books to my granddaughter yesterday, as well as a Hello Kitty activity book and a Carousel of Happiness coloring book. Then I had found some nice, old-fashioned coloring pages for Easter, so they went into the package as well. I sent it Priority mail, so Kennedy will receive it before Easter.

   I spent most of yesterday finalizing my plans for the making of a baby quilt for Sarah's daughter... One side will be an (almost, but not quite true) recreation of my baby quilt that had galloping horses in separate diamond-shaped fields. Instead of the one galloping horse shape, this one will have five shapes of horses, one in each of the 21 diamonds. The reverse side of the quilt will be in a dog and cat (or other animals) print. I know the amounts and sizes of the material I need, and will head off to the fabric store for cloth and batting later this morning.

   I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the NCIS episode last night, in which McGee finally came to terms with his father, the Admiral. I've known a lot of people that are like both the Admiral and his son, McGee. I respect McGee more, but I also know that the times that the Admiral grew up and lived in molded the man he became. I try to keep an open mind and heart toward all of my new, and old, acquaintances. I know my own demons, and I know that I can be a trial to everyone on certain days - those are the days I try to isolate myself, so my nastiness won't spread to others...

   Right now, I'll just wish you a happy hump day!

Winds, Bookings, and Vote

The local Chinook winds began about 3 this morning, and are still blowing. They average about 35 miles per hour at all times, and have gusts up to 89 mph. I was out in that with the dogs for two and a half hours this morning - and you can be assured that I was wearing an ear scarf. My niece Sarah has a new dog, whose name is Woodsley. He looks as if he's part blue heeler - a very compact and energetic young man. I'd guess he's between one and two years old; and he's a "bolter." If he sees an open gate, an open door, or a hole in the fence, then he is flat-out gone. Jim and I spent quite a bit of time chasing him around the neighborhood this morning, and fixing holes in the fence that the Samoyeds and Irish Setters can't get through. The Sammies and the reds just sat back and watched as Jim and I ran all over looking for Woodsley, only to find, that each and every time, he had returned to the yard on his own. At least he knows where his temporary home is! - Sarah and Mike are away on an all-expenses-paid trip via his work place, and will pick Woodsley up on Monday evening.
Tomorrow and Sunday I'll be walking Tessa and playing with the three kitties that are her housemates (Lilly, Lyra, and Dhisana), and tomorrow afternoon I'll probably end up with Rosie and Remy. The Rs' parents are hoping to get away for the day.... I just took bookings for a client for one week each month through May, and another client has asked if I'd house sit for 6 to 8 weeks in June and July. Then there's the Rs' family summer vacation, too. I'm almost fully booked through next Christmas. And, of course, I am booked for Christmas and New Years' through January 5, 2014. I guess I'm doing something right. I need to take photos of all my clients for Christmas, and it was Nedi's 8th-month birthday on Wednesday. I need to get photos of him and Lovey wearing their collars and tags. - Have a great weekend!
Oh! And my granddaughter, Kennedy Grace Devine, is in the running to be a Gerber's baby. If you can find the time, please vote for this little cutie on the Gerber website, found at: http://www.gerber.com/photo/#/gallery There are literally thousands of entries, but you can narrow things down by entering the name Kennedy and the city of Brandywine - that'll get you to the photo and page to vote for my littlest grandchild! - Many, many thanks !!