Early morning sun over Freemantle, Australia
Early morning view of the Hill of Persie, Scotland
An early morning rainbow along the River Lark footpath in Suffolk, England
Monday, June 4, 2012
Monday Morning Sun
It looks like the beginning of a gorgeous week; even though I still want rain. The sun is shining, it's in the low 60s, crows and ravens are calling, robins and sparrows are singing, squirrels are talking, and my kits are outside, observing all of it. I've had a turkey and sage sausage and a mango-pineapple smoothie for breakfast; and have taken care of the critters, plants and gardens at both houses I'm caring for. I need to be back at one by 8:30 to let the housekeeper inside, then I'll walk next door and grab the red kids for their walk. Sister Kathy begins work again today - her first day back since she broke her shoulder on April 14. Sunflower is "easing" her back into work - this week, instead of working 10 to 6, Monday through Friday, she'll be working from 10 to 2 on each day except Wednesday, when she'll be off, to assess her strength. And if her left arm gives her problems, she can cut back her scheduled hours of work; they are really being kind to her rehabilitation work.
I've read all of my library books, and need to go visit that public institution again. Since I'm not at home, I'm not getting any work done on the Snow and Sanborn family tree on-line. That's the only "bad" thing about being away from home - except for the awful part of not being with the kits as much as I want to be. I really don't think that Lovey and Nedi would mind moving into the house with Tessa, Lily, Dhisana, and Lyra; but I know that Lily would be upset, and, as she is queen of the house, I don't want to upset her.
I'm also looking into the birth parents of a friend who was adopted - I've been able to trace her mothers families to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, France, and South Africa. I've just discovered her father's information, and will soon be at work on his roots.
Saturday is the running of the Belmont Stakes. I really hope that I'll Have Another becomes the newest Triple Crown winner. And I'm also looking forward to July 25 and 26 - this year's dates of the annual Chincoteague Pony Penning and auction. As always, I'll want to be there.....
I've read all of my library books, and need to go visit that public institution again. Since I'm not at home, I'm not getting any work done on the Snow and Sanborn family tree on-line. That's the only "bad" thing about being away from home - except for the awful part of not being with the kits as much as I want to be. I really don't think that Lovey and Nedi would mind moving into the house with Tessa, Lily, Dhisana, and Lyra; but I know that Lily would be upset, and, as she is queen of the house, I don't want to upset her.
I'm also looking into the birth parents of a friend who was adopted - I've been able to trace her mothers families to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, France, and South Africa. I've just discovered her father's information, and will soon be at work on his roots.
Saturday is the running of the Belmont Stakes. I really hope that I'll Have Another becomes the newest Triple Crown winner. And I'm also looking forward to July 25 and 26 - this year's dates of the annual Chincoteague Pony Penning and auction. As always, I'll want to be there.....
Sunday, June 3, 2012
East Coast Harbors (+ 1 Nearby Scene)
Annisquam Harbor, Ipswich Bay, Massachusetts at sunrise
Center Harbor, New Hampshire at sunset
Flag Harbor, Calvert County, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay
Flowers outside the Channel Bass Inn on Chincoteague Island, Virginia
We Need Rain!
I know that, right now, most folks in northern Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Maryland do not want more rain at the moment - after quite a drought, they were dumped on by the tropical storm. But we need rain here in the southwest. We had a mini-shower yesterday evening - just enough to dampen the ground, but under tree branches, the ground stayed dry... It was just enough to tantalize. I'm spending 45 minutes each morning and evening watering the garden, and then watering all the potted and hanging plants - so a nice rain would be appreciated!
The sun is shining and the kits are outside, playing in the back yard. I fed and watered the Thore critters, then watered the garden and plants, and was still at Aiko and Yoshi's for a walk and breakfast before 6:15. We had a nice stroll, and then a play period before I headed home for my kits. Lovey and Nedi greeted me at the door, and talked to me the entire time I was producing their breakfast. After eating, they both got lots of love and stroking. I miss them immensely.
I know that as I gotten older, I've gotten more absent-minded. I put something down, and can't remember where; sometimes I put things in strange places, where they don't normally go; and I do occasionally walk into a room and find I've forgotten why I'm in that room... But. BUT. But, I have never done what a 19-year-old mother did the other night. She placed her baby, in its car seat, on top of the car, and then drove off - with the baby on the roof. She never noticed that it fell off the roof, behind her vehicle. She had been drinking and smoking pot - with the baby's father, and with other friends. She realized that she no longer had the baby when she got home. So she called her friends, and then back-tracked herself. She found the police and her baby. The baby is in the custody of Protective Services and the mother is in jail. I hope that I never get that bad, regarding my memory!
Yesterday marked the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee; she was crowned 60 years ago, and only her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, has had a longer reign sitting on the British throne. Two spectacular races were run yesterday at Epsom Downs, with the Queen in attendance, and the two most historical races were both won by a son of Montjeau. St. Nicholas Abbey won the Coronation Cup (for the second time) and Camelot won the Investec Epsom Derby. Both colts are cousins of I'll Have Another, who will try to win America's Triple Crown this coming Saturday. (And, of course, all of these three thoroughbreds have the bloodline of *Forli and Hyperion - like FancyFax, at Sleepy Hollow in Micanopy, Florida.)
And, finally, a surprise archaeological find at Burnt Mound, near Dunstaffnage, on the west coast of Scotland - A dig on the site of a new housing development near Oban has uncovered what are believed to be some of Scotland’s earliest cold storage larders in six Bronze Age roundhouses. A team led by Dr Clare Ellis, from Argyll Archaeology, claim the roundhouses at Dunstaffnage are the first in Scotland to have ring ditches inside the structure. These may have been used as cellars to cool food – a precursor to the refrigerator. They also have vents leading into the central hearths which would have allowed the occupants to regulate their heating, while outside are the remnants of what could be a very simple form of sauna.
The sun is shining and the kits are outside, playing in the back yard. I fed and watered the Thore critters, then watered the garden and plants, and was still at Aiko and Yoshi's for a walk and breakfast before 6:15. We had a nice stroll, and then a play period before I headed home for my kits. Lovey and Nedi greeted me at the door, and talked to me the entire time I was producing their breakfast. After eating, they both got lots of love and stroking. I miss them immensely.
I know that as I gotten older, I've gotten more absent-minded. I put something down, and can't remember where; sometimes I put things in strange places, where they don't normally go; and I do occasionally walk into a room and find I've forgotten why I'm in that room... But. BUT. But, I have never done what a 19-year-old mother did the other night. She placed her baby, in its car seat, on top of the car, and then drove off - with the baby on the roof. She never noticed that it fell off the roof, behind her vehicle. She had been drinking and smoking pot - with the baby's father, and with other friends. She realized that she no longer had the baby when she got home. So she called her friends, and then back-tracked herself. She found the police and her baby. The baby is in the custody of Protective Services and the mother is in jail. I hope that I never get that bad, regarding my memory!
Yesterday marked the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee; she was crowned 60 years ago, and only her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, has had a longer reign sitting on the British throne. Two spectacular races were run yesterday at Epsom Downs, with the Queen in attendance, and the two most historical races were both won by a son of Montjeau. St. Nicholas Abbey won the Coronation Cup (for the second time) and Camelot won the Investec Epsom Derby. Both colts are cousins of I'll Have Another, who will try to win America's Triple Crown this coming Saturday. (And, of course, all of these three thoroughbreds have the bloodline of *Forli and Hyperion - like FancyFax, at Sleepy Hollow in Micanopy, Florida.)
And, finally, a surprise archaeological find at Burnt Mound, near Dunstaffnage, on the west coast of Scotland - A dig on the site of a new housing development near Oban has uncovered what are believed to be some of Scotland’s earliest cold storage larders in six Bronze Age roundhouses. A team led by Dr Clare Ellis, from Argyll Archaeology, claim the roundhouses at Dunstaffnage are the first in Scotland to have ring ditches inside the structure. These may have been used as cellars to cool food – a precursor to the refrigerator. They also have vents leading into the central hearths which would have allowed the occupants to regulate their heating, while outside are the remnants of what could be a very simple form of sauna.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
English Countryside Photos
... and a wish for a wonderful Diamond Jubilee extravaganza for Her Highness, Queen Elizabeth II!
A Week Away From 56...
Next Saturday I will celebrate my 56th birthday. I'm spending the early morning with my kits, and then the rest of the day with Aiko and Yoshi, watching the races at Belmont Park. It would be nice if we had a new Triple Crown racing winner on that day... The main reason I bring up my birthday is because I developed a big, fat zit on my chin two days ago. Who knew you'd get zits in your 50s? I really never thought about it, but I wish the "zit stage" of my life was over.
I just laughed after reading a list of the "Top Ten Worst-Dressed Cities" in the US. At least Boulder, Gainesville, and Chincoteague aren't on the list! The Top ten are: (1) Anchorage, Alaska, (2) Salt Lake City, Utah, (3) Baltimore, Maryland, (4) Orlando, Florida, (5) San Antonio, Texas, (6) Dallas, Texas, (7) Atlanta, Georgia, (8) Portland, Maine, (9) Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and (10) Kansas City, Missouri. I'm just glad the people who voted on this list don't see me day by day! I do not dress to impress. I dress strictly for comfort, and for whatever activities I have planned. Most of this summer will see me in shorts and T-shirts every day. When it gets cooler, the shorts change to jeans... When you walk and play with dogs and critters, and house-sit, easy wash-and-wear clothes are a must.
I spent 4 hours with the kits yesterday - I let them run outside and play for 2 hours, and then I took a 2 hour nap with them, in our own bed. It felt wonderful. They are out in the sun, chasing birds and insects, at the moment. Aiko and Yoshi have been wonderful, as have Tessa, Lily, Dhisana, and Lyra. But I had to laugh yesterday, because when the Thore house-cleaner came in, she was walking straight and tall and easily. As soon as she made eye contact with me, she collapsed (very gracefully) into a little heap and told me her back was killing her her, and could I do her work for her, while she supervised me? I told her no - and that I had already cleaned and changed the kitty litter boxes for her, as well as having done all the laundry and the dishes; then I left to take care of Aiko and Yoshi and then walk Rosie and Remy.
Brandi is about to leave us. Her owners and their son have been discussing putting her down for several weeks now. She's more than 14, and has multiple medical problems, besides being blind and deaf. The son can't remember a time without her as a companion, and is having difficulty in accepting that her quality of life is just about nil. He has admitted that she doesn't greet him any more, and half of the time seems not to recognize any family member; that she has difficulty in moving; that she can't control her bladder and bowels anymore. I hope and pray that he comes around soon - Brandi is simply not enjoying life any more, and we should let her go. She is a truly sweet dog, and I will miss her greatly.
I just laughed after reading a list of the "Top Ten Worst-Dressed Cities" in the US. At least Boulder, Gainesville, and Chincoteague aren't on the list! The Top ten are: (1) Anchorage, Alaska, (2) Salt Lake City, Utah, (3) Baltimore, Maryland, (4) Orlando, Florida, (5) San Antonio, Texas, (6) Dallas, Texas, (7) Atlanta, Georgia, (8) Portland, Maine, (9) Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and (10) Kansas City, Missouri. I'm just glad the people who voted on this list don't see me day by day! I do not dress to impress. I dress strictly for comfort, and for whatever activities I have planned. Most of this summer will see me in shorts and T-shirts every day. When it gets cooler, the shorts change to jeans... When you walk and play with dogs and critters, and house-sit, easy wash-and-wear clothes are a must.
I spent 4 hours with the kits yesterday - I let them run outside and play for 2 hours, and then I took a 2 hour nap with them, in our own bed. It felt wonderful. They are out in the sun, chasing birds and insects, at the moment. Aiko and Yoshi have been wonderful, as have Tessa, Lily, Dhisana, and Lyra. But I had to laugh yesterday, because when the Thore house-cleaner came in, she was walking straight and tall and easily. As soon as she made eye contact with me, she collapsed (very gracefully) into a little heap and told me her back was killing her her, and could I do her work for her, while she supervised me? I told her no - and that I had already cleaned and changed the kitty litter boxes for her, as well as having done all the laundry and the dishes; then I left to take care of Aiko and Yoshi and then walk Rosie and Remy.
Brandi is about to leave us. Her owners and their son have been discussing putting her down for several weeks now. She's more than 14, and has multiple medical problems, besides being blind and deaf. The son can't remember a time without her as a companion, and is having difficulty in accepting that her quality of life is just about nil. He has admitted that she doesn't greet him any more, and half of the time seems not to recognize any family member; that she has difficulty in moving; that she can't control her bladder and bowels anymore. I hope and pray that he comes around soon - Brandi is simply not enjoying life any more, and we should let her go. She is a truly sweet dog, and I will miss her greatly.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Free Feline Adoptions All of June!
The Boulder Valley Humane Society, once again, has a capacity load of cats. There are 84 waiting for adoption - and, through the entire month of June, adoption of any kitten or cat, 6 months of age (or older), is completely free. College is out for the summer, and there has been a large influx of felines from students, as well as those who can no longer afford to care for their furry friend. Please spread the word. And, as always, if you have the time, money, and love to give one of the kitties a new forever home, please do so. Thank you.
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