It was wonderful to sleep in my own bed with the kits last night. I arrived home around 4, and left at 6 to pick up the key in North Boulder for Frippet the frog and 3 dogs. Met with the family and retrieved the key and returned home; then checked out TV (nothing on), so started reading Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith. The kits snuggled close, and the next thing I knew it was morning. I've had my walk, fed the kits, cleaned the litter boxes, and turned the kits loose in the backyard. Three minutes after I opened the patio door, Gimpy was at his place on the mat in the living room eating peanuts.
We had a whopper of a thunderstorm around 8:30 last night - lots of lightning and thunder and heavy rain. Yesterday afternoon in Parker (just south of Denver), there was such a heavy hail that it was piled up on the yards and streets more than 3 inches deep - kids were outside afterwards wearing shorts and their winter coats. And northeast of Greeley, the farmers have been happy (until yesterday) with the increased amount of rain we've had lately; but yesterday they had a 30-minute hail storm that ruined, at one farm, over 800 acres of cabbage, peas, and carrots... A little more rain we can always use - Hail, however, destroys the farmers' tender young crops - And tornadoes are friends of no one. We've had funnel clouds and tornadoes every day since Sunday this week. The forecasters say it might clear up by Monday...
A large raven followed me for several blocks during my walk this morning - it cackled and cawed and clicked most of the time it was doing so. I think it was Jeff checking up on me - he always said he'd come back as a crow or raven and haunt me!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Cold Rain and Hail
I can personally attest that a June Colorado thunderstorm produces hail, wind, and very cold rain - not to mention the lightning and thunder. I walked over two miles during one yesterday, getting from the bus stop back to Walt and Sophie's house. Luckily, the hail came down first, and was small (compared to the baseball and golf ball sized stuff that's been falling), but cold, and it stung a bit when it hit. (I was wearing sneakers, jeans, a T shirt, and a sweater.) - It was uncomfortable when a particularly heavy fall hit my head before I could get my arms up... And, other than being sopping wet when I arrived, everything turned out well. I put my clothes in the wash, and upended my shoes over the heat vents. Yeah - it's still pretty cool outside. It was 55 at 10 a.m. this morning, and we might reach 60. There are reports of funnel clouds and tornadoes all over the eastern half of the state, and folks are sending in a lot of video and digital photos to the news channels. Other than having a few small tree limbs come down, this place has suffered zero damage.
I spent a couple of hours with the kits yesterday after walking Rosie and Remy. The kits ate voraciously, and then snuggled up next to me, so we took a 90 minute nap together. And just before I left, I heard Gimpy at the window, doing his darnedest to get inside. (I put a few nuts on the patio for him before I left.) Neither Lovey nor Banichi were happy with me leaving again, but I promised them I'd spend tonight, in our own bed, with them. I do miss them! Tonight I go home and tomorrow around noon, I go to stay with 3 dogs and a frog; and Sunday I move in with Rosie and Remy for 10 days (directly from the 3 dogs plus frog house).... Busy, busy, busy....
Not much else going on... Sheik Mohammad, owner of Darley Stud, has purchased Rachel Alexandra's sire, Medaglio d'Oro, and has moved him to the Darley farm in Lexington. And Overbrook Farm, who bred, raced and stood Storm Cat, is selling all of their breeding stock and youngsters. Storm Cat was pensioned from stud last year, but three stallions will be on the block as well as over 200 other horses. The owners of Overbrook hope to lease the Farm out, with it continuing to be a working thoroughbred farm. - Oh, and for the next 12 days, I will only be able to access the internet when I am at home with the kits.... I might not get around to blogging every day, but I will try to!
I spent a couple of hours with the kits yesterday after walking Rosie and Remy. The kits ate voraciously, and then snuggled up next to me, so we took a 90 minute nap together. And just before I left, I heard Gimpy at the window, doing his darnedest to get inside. (I put a few nuts on the patio for him before I left.) Neither Lovey nor Banichi were happy with me leaving again, but I promised them I'd spend tonight, in our own bed, with them. I do miss them! Tonight I go home and tomorrow around noon, I go to stay with 3 dogs and a frog; and Sunday I move in with Rosie and Remy for 10 days (directly from the 3 dogs plus frog house).... Busy, busy, busy....
Not much else going on... Sheik Mohammad, owner of Darley Stud, has purchased Rachel Alexandra's sire, Medaglio d'Oro, and has moved him to the Darley farm in Lexington. And Overbrook Farm, who bred, raced and stood Storm Cat, is selling all of their breeding stock and youngsters. Storm Cat was pensioned from stud last year, but three stallions will be on the block as well as over 200 other horses. The owners of Overbrook hope to lease the Farm out, with it continuing to be a working thoroughbred farm. - Oh, and for the next 12 days, I will only be able to access the internet when I am at home with the kits.... I might not get around to blogging every day, but I will try to!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Cool Days, Chilly Nights
Last June was hot and dry. I've had to turn the heat on in Sophie and Walt's house - our high today might be 65 and maybe 60 tomorrow. I love the coolness, but it has come with rain and high humidity - 96% - which makes things feel much cooler up here. The other day, I was so chilly inside in mid-afternoon, that I finally looked at the thermostat and realized it was 56 degrees inside the house - that's when I turned the heat up to 65. And the heater has turned on at least 10 times in the last two hours..... But at least it makes for good dog-walking weather!
My sister took the day off from her job yesterday to spend some of the time with me - she came over about 2, and we took Walt and Sophie out for a walk. When we returned to the house, I handed the key to Kathy and went 'round the side to get rid of poop bags... and Kathy suddenly yelled. The door key had broken off in the lock. She was able to remove the piece that broke, but we couldn't get back inside the house - I'd locked everything up tight. I just laughed and she was upset with herself.... So I went round to the neighbors' and found that one did, indeed, have a spare key to the house. I told her that if the key hadn't broken on her, it would have broken on me - and not to worry about it. So we got back inside, and I showed her how to play games on Facebook. She had a ball buying properties and armaments in both Age of Chivalry and Mafia Wars - and enjoyed thumping someone who had robbed us. She also got a kick out of Lovey and Banichi's Facebook pages... and had to admit they very aptly described each kit without any exaggeration. Then we picked up Jim and Connie and had dinner at Applebee's , where we were joined by Sarah and her Michael. It was a very nice birthday. I hope your day today is as pleasant as mine was yesterday!
My sister took the day off from her job yesterday to spend some of the time with me - she came over about 2, and we took Walt and Sophie out for a walk. When we returned to the house, I handed the key to Kathy and went 'round the side to get rid of poop bags... and Kathy suddenly yelled. The door key had broken off in the lock. She was able to remove the piece that broke, but we couldn't get back inside the house - I'd locked everything up tight. I just laughed and she was upset with herself.... So I went round to the neighbors' and found that one did, indeed, have a spare key to the house. I told her that if the key hadn't broken on her, it would have broken on me - and not to worry about it. So we got back inside, and I showed her how to play games on Facebook. She had a ball buying properties and armaments in both Age of Chivalry and Mafia Wars - and enjoyed thumping someone who had robbed us. She also got a kick out of Lovey and Banichi's Facebook pages... and had to admit they very aptly described each kit without any exaggeration. Then we picked up Jim and Connie and had dinner at Applebee's , where we were joined by Sarah and her Michael. It was a very nice birthday. I hope your day today is as pleasant as mine was yesterday!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A Normal Tuesday
I had a very enjoyable talk with my therapist yesterday - Nancy is one of the best! It was grey, drizzly, rainy, and just plain miserable yesterday. And the weather folks are now saying that it's going to be like this through Thursday - ugh! Walt and Sophie are absolute dolls, as are Sparky and Susan... I visited my apartment yesterday and loved my kits; and plan on seeing them again today to love, feed, play, and spend a couple of hours with them. I miss their snuggly bodies in bed!
There really isn't that much to write about - Dunkirk, the grey colt who finished second in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, is having surgery on his left hind cannon bone, as he finished the race with a condylar fracture. Mine That Bird has been driven back to Churchill Downs. The next big series for North American racing is the Breeder's Cup in November at Santa Anita.
Being me, I hope to settle back into writing about the beauty and wildlife that I see on a daily basis, and will probably start writing about Chincoteague "calling me home" as it does every summer. Hope you have a great day!
There really isn't that much to write about - Dunkirk, the grey colt who finished second in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, is having surgery on his left hind cannon bone, as he finished the race with a condylar fracture. Mine That Bird has been driven back to Churchill Downs. The next big series for North American racing is the Breeder's Cup in November at Santa Anita.
Being me, I hope to settle back into writing about the beauty and wildlife that I see on a daily basis, and will probably start writing about Chincoteague "calling me home" as it does every summer. Hope you have a great day!
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