I'm Too Busy Today

Today is my big "crazy" day of the week - besides taking care of my own kits, and the Thore critters, plus Lucy, and staying at the Barrera's (not to mention walking Rosie and Remy), I get to see my therapist at 11 this morning, see my fistula surgeon at 2 this afternoon, and then pick up Lynn and Ed from the Denver Airport around 5.  Sheesh!  I need to remember that I don't like being rushed, and that I want to cut back on taking care of several places at one time.  -  It got up to 98 degrees yesterday, the humidity was at 7%, and there was a drying, warm breeze blowing from the northwest most of the afternoon. It was hot. Even though there was a fireworks ban , the people behind Maggie May's house shot off fireworks from 8 p.m. until almost midnight.  I know that at least two families were ticketed last night for not observing the moratorium, as the paper reported them. 
My kits were very happy to see me this morning - they jumped on me and rubbed their scent all over me as soon as I got in the door.  I fed, loved and played with all of them.  - Maggie May awoke me at 5 this morning, wanting her breakfast, and demanding that I open the pet door for her.  -  Then at 6, I went over to Lucy's, and found she had left me three poop piles since 11 last night.  I fed her, cleaned up the poop, and took her for a walk. - Then it was over to the Thore house, where I loved and fed the 3 cats and one dog.  I'll feed the koi at the Thore house later this morning, and take care of the rats and fish at the Barrera house when I return. - Since Lovey and Nedi are outside on the patio, Mocha is stretched out on the love seat.  Nedi still just hisses at her, but Lovey removed some of Mocha's fur in a spat yesterday.
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department's Carnival began running Saturday night, and will end this year on the 31st.  Of course, the crowning moments are the three days of Pony Penning, which will happen on July 27, 28 and 29 this year.  I hope the Fire guys make good money this year!

I Support the USA

I whole heartedly support all of the men and women who have served, are serving, and will serve in any and all branches of the United States military.  Each and every serviceman and servicewoman deserves our respect and honor.

Happy Fourth of July!

I'm very happy to have been born a citizen of the United States of America.  I have the right of free speech, the right to carry a firearm (if I should desire to do so), and the right to publicly meet with other like-minded people.  As far as I can tell, my earliest direct ancestor came from England in 1624 and joined in with the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts (that's on Dad's side of the family); the earliest person I've found on Mom's side of the family came to America as a bond servant and served six years working on a tobacco farm near St. Mary's, Maryland.  He gained his freedom in 1646, made a few bad choices, and ended up near what is now Oak Hall, Virginia on the Eastern Shore.  Supposedly, one of my father's ancestors took a Native American to wife back in the 1650's, when it was illegal to do so, in Virginia - there is still a continuing controversy about my 13-times- great-grandmother's bloodline.  The two latest immigrants in my family were my maternal great-great-grandfather and maternal grandfather. Andreas Pedersen, came from Denmark in 1852, trying to avoid war service between Denmark and Germany. (And ended up here for the American Civil War... and Anglicized his name to Andrew Peterson.)  My grandfather's parents came to New Jersey before his birth, so that Cap'n Walt would be both an American and Swedish citizen.  They returned to Sweden when Pop-pop was 3 weeks old; he returned to America when he was 20, to "really" become an American citizen.
My ancestors and relatives have served in most Wars and skirmishes that the British Colonies and the United States have been in since 1630.  A great many of the men in my father's family served in the United States Navy, even if they were farmers from the mid-West; in researching the family tree, it amazed me that that so many Nocks men served as sailors.  The Lancaster's (Dad's maternal line) served mostly in militias and the Army.  On Mom's side, everyone lived on the Eastern Shore, and served in the Navy or Coast Guard.
It all boils down to the fact that I am proud and happy to be a citizen of the United States!

Third White Buffalo Calf

On May 12, on a ranch near Greenville, Texas, an American bison gave birth.  Both of the parents are the usual brown and black color one sees across the West.  Lightning Medicine Cloud was born during a thunder storm; he is a white buffalo calf, but is not an albino, having dark eyes and skin.  According to Native Americans, this calf is only the third white bison calf to have been born.  More than 2,000 Native Americans (mostly Lakota Sioux) appeared at the ranch where the calf was born for his naming day ceremony. Medicine men and warriors performed ceremonies to bless this rare occurrence.  The ceremonies took hours to perform and the heat of the day was intense - more than three-quatrters of the white crowd who came to observe left very early, leaving the native tribesmen.

I spent last night with Maggie May, the rats and fish.  At 10:30 p.m., I made a last trip around to take Lucy and Tess out to use the bathroom before bed-time, then took a shower and collapsed. (Having spent time with Rosie and Remy between 5:30 and 7 p.m.)  I got up this morning at 5:30, took care of Maggie, et al, and then went to the Thore house, where I fed and loved the cats and the dog. Then I took Tess out for a walk.  Once she was finished, I visited Lucy, walked and fed her, and then cleaned up the messes she had left for me.  Cathy told me that Terence would care for Lucy while he was home - but he leaves by 8 a.m. each morning, and usually doesn't return until between midnight  and 3 a.m.  So Lucy is alone a lot, and cries when I arrive and also when I leave now.  I feel terrible.





The kits were happy to see me this morning - and I was so anxious to see them and get inside that I forgot to unlock the deadbolt, and I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the door open...  I need to clean the litter boxes and get back to North Boulder.  But I'd much rather stay here and play with the kits and read and nap...  so goes my holiday weekend!

Simmering Saturday

Whew!  Just returned from taking Christine to the Denver airport - it's warm, humid, and I drove through five different rain showers on  the way home. Maggie May, Tensington, and Haku  were glad to see me when I arrived at the Barrera house - I couldn't tell  about the fish. I spent time with Lovey, Nedi and Mocha this morning - loved and fed and played with all of them.  When I returned to Lucy's, she had left me "presents" both in the basement and the living room; and Terence had left me a note about them, he having left while I was gone. Arrived at Lynn's at 2, and had time to play with Dhisana, Lilly, Lyra and Tess before Christine was packed. Getting ready to feed Lucy dinner, then go over to the red kids' until 7:30, returning to feed the Thore critters, then Maggie May. From now through the 5th, I'll be running from house to house to house to house.....
Knowing I was going to be baking for  my bus drivers, I asked Darcie what she would prefer to have: brownies, cobbler, or Berry Uglies.  She said since she had never had Berry Uglies, she'd opt for them, and that she never turned down a cobbler, either.  So I guess I'll be making all three - brownies and Berry Uglies for the drivers, and cobbler and Berry Uglies for for Darcie's family. - It's fine with me - her kitchen is tremendously well equipped, so all I have to do is provide the makings for the goodies.
State rescue teams have been searching  Missouri Mountain, looking for a 53-year-old doctor and his 20 year-old daughter, who went missing during a hike on June 24.  Bodies matching their descriptions have been found 5,000 feet above the one of the trails there.  -  And another young woman slipped and fell off a trail yesterday, falling her her death. -  Why don't people use due caution?  I know I'm not immortal...

I am a Navy Brat...

                                              A U S Navy aircraft carrier, probably the USS Kitty Hawk.  Dad served aboard the USS Forrestal  on her maiden voyage.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Yesterday was hot and muggy by Colorado standards. Today we have bright sunshine, little to no cloud cover, and a nice breeze.  It was very nice out while walking the red kids early this morning, but by 10 a.m., it felt warm.  I am still staying with Lucy (at the moment); I move in with Maggie May about 10 tomorrow, and then begin caring for the Thore pets at 2 p.m.  I'll also be walking the red kids twice a day through the 4th of July, so, in essence, I'm taking care of 4 houses, with the exception of feeding Rosie and Remy.  I'll have Lynn's van to use for transport through Tuesday evening, so that will  make things much easier to get back and forth from seeing my kits during the holiday weekend.  (I'm spoiled.  I'm used to the buses I regularly use running every 15 to 30 minutes - on holiday weekends, they only run once an hour, and if you miss your connection, you've got another hour added on just to go one way....)
My regular bus drivers asked me to bake for them again.  I'll bake next Thursday, and will make Berry Uglies and brownies.  I'll make the Berry Uglies because fresh berries are currently on sale - buy one, get one free, for strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.  And I'll eat whatever I don't use in baking. -  And we've got lots of fresh, locally grown corn available, too.  Mmmm -Mmmmm. Five ears for a dollar. (Of course, I can remember 2 dozen for a dollar - but that was long ago.)
The kits were very happy to see me arrive this morning - all three talked and talked and talked to me.  I fed them, loved them, and cleaned the litter boxes, then sat at my desk.  Nedi has been nursing on my right arm and Lovey sprawled over the divider counter, and spoke to me while I read my e-mail.  And this is happening while the door to the patio is wide open...
The man who stabbed his five-month-old puppy (Diamond) has been placed in solitary confinement in the Denver jail because the other inmates want to kill him.  He still says he did nothing wrong and was protecting himself because the puppy had bitten and scratched him.  The poor pup has a lot of healing and rehab to look forward to, even though calls are pouring in from people wanting to adopt her.
Here's hoping you a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!  (And please remember all  of those who have served, and are now serving, our country!)