Monday, May 11, 2009

We Walk!

Each Mother’s Day, for the last several years, we Race for the Cure at the Mall of America and yesterday was no different. Though it always seems to start out in a bit of a hassle, in the end I think we are pretty pleased and happy with ourselves for doing it. Well at least I am, and I am very thankful that my OH, daughter, son-in-law and grandson join in with me in my support for ‘the cure’. Breast Cancer is an awful disease and has touched just about everyone I know in one way or another.

DSC03313

Part of our ‘team’ getting ready for the walk.

DSC03314

Getting placards in place.

DSC03311

I am all set.

DSC03334

Readyyyy….Set…… Go!

DSC03323

DSC03324

Though the subject is dead serious, people can still have fun! There is a very upbeat atmosphere for the most part.

DSC03346

It is over before you know it and it is photo op time!

DSC03359

DSC03361

Before leaving we always stop by a pond for a few reflective moments which never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It is filled with memories of loved ones lost to this disease.

Though upbeat…..

We do NOT lose sight of why ‘WE WALK’!

DSC03341

Pats on the back to all for a job well done and heading out to meet the rest of the day. We celebrate Mothers on this day….we celebrate life… we celebrate ourselves!

We live, We love, WE WALK!

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Greyhounds Share

This afternoon Vinni decided, like he often does, to take over a dog bed in the sun. Generally this leads to pacing and whining at me to let me know that one of the kitties have taken their bed. Occasionally though, the hounds just find a way to sleep around the cat. Due to the limited sunshine streaking though the windows, today was one of those ‘sharing days’

Blue shares with Vinni

They took turns sharing. Here is Blew with Vinni.

Scooter shares with Vinni

Here Scooter shares with Vinni.

Renner shares with Vinni

Renner is now sharing with Vinni.

And if you look closely you will notice that during all these hound transitions, Vinni doesn’t give an inch….doesn’t move from his spot. He is large and in charge!

Scooter and Vinni sleep

Greyhounds and Cats get along pretty well most of the time as long as the hounds don’t mind sharing. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzz…….

True Color Thursday Celebrates Cerise!

The color for this True Color Thursday is one I had never heard of before, so first I had to define the color: Cerise.

ce-rise - n. A deep to vivid purplish red.


[French, from Old French, cherry; see cherry.]


Adj.
1.
cerise - of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

Noun
1.
cerise - a red the color of ripe cherries

There are many Shades Of Pink, just click on the link and you will see an array.

And upon definition of the color all my notions about today’s blog went down the drain. It is a purplish cherry red, and at least for me, much harder to find.

Here is a pair of Cerise earrings:

C E R I S E

I knew this shirt would come in handy one day. There is some Cerise in there somewhere…just have a look! Cerise

A close up of Cherry Blossoms.

And what about this smiling critter….the Cheshire Cat!

chesire-cat “We’re All Mad Here!”

In ‘Lite’ of Current Events…..

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was pretty funny. (Caution…a ‘discouraging word’ is within its contents)

clip_image001

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Kudos To Starbucks!

My husband just sent me a link to view an article on Starbucks blog about a delicious new treat aimed at people who have to maintain a gluten-free diet due to gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease. (Me Me Me!)

Gluten-free Valencia Orange Cake is the name of this yummy looking treat created by Starbucks and by clicking on the link provide you can read about it being made as well as see plenty of photos of the actual production of them. If you go to the Starbucks Newsroom you can view other Nutrition Facts further information about the tasty looking new cake.

I am going to be trying one of these out just as soon as I get out to a Starbucks and I will let you know just *how* yummy it really is. Can’t wait!

ABC Wednesday – The Letter ‘P’

My first inclination is to say this ABC Wednesday Letter is ‘P’ for ‘Pain’! My back is still causing a lot of Pain and I am hoping soon it will GO AWAY so I can get back to normal. That said …I’ll move on.

Meet A Puddle Monster!

Puddle Mosterpuddle Monster2

puddle monster3

Some lovely Peonies growing outside my daughter’s house.

peonies

Sitting Poolside

Sitting Poolside

Playing In the Pool

Playing In the Pool

Pipestone at Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone, Minnesota.

Pipestone

Path Up Pipestone Stairs

Path Up Pipestone stairs

Pups At Pipestone National Monument

pups in pipestone national park

AND

A Pissed Off Pussy Cat (Vinni)

Pissed Off Pussy Cat

Sunday, May 03, 2009

What a Week

I am at the last couple of weeks in this session of school, trying to finish things, taking exams, just one hassle after another pops up. I’m just trying to fit everything into what, sometimes, seems like an impossible time frame. To add to this more ‘normal’ bustle, TA-DA, camping season has begun for us.

TA-DAA

“TA-DAA! Let The Camping Begin!”

We start a little earlier than others do because ‘we can’. Yes, no kids in school and the heat of a furnace in our RV…in Minnesota it is still in the 30’s Fahrenheit at night right now. That temp is only for the hardiest tent campers to be sure.

ANYWAY so it is like running two houses then, instead of one and I am all into getting the house on wheels ready, washing up things that had been stuffed away, getting food in and so on. Though very tired at that point, it is worth it just to GET AWAY!, go some place else, walk some trails, have a campfire….ROAST MARSHMALLOWS (which I am well known for!). So it has come time to go, OH home from work is changing his clothes then we will be off. He moves a cargo trailer, which sits in front of the RV most of the time while parked by the house, to drive the RV down to the road. Then I generally push the trailer back to where it belongs so I can drive the car down as we hitch the car to the back of the RV.

The problem came when I pushed the front trailer wheel right over my right foot. OUCH! Couldn’t move or even breath there for minute or 5. Yep…I got it off, but couldn’t even utter a word. I have broken my little toe and caused a lot of bruising. Then after the first pain came and went, my foot was numb. Even though my OH had then suggested we call off the trip, heck…I couldn’t feel my foot (not much pain in that) so I was GOING! I’d done a lot of work to get this thing in gear, and wasn’t stopping for anything. Once inside the RV I took some Alieve and the pain had returned….I rode with my foot up on the dash the whole way.

trailer

Here is the culprit, the little hard wheel in the front , that did in my foot and started this whole messy week!

I hobbled around pretty well though considering and my two year old grandson (we met my kids there at the park they have a tent trailer) wanted to walk so fortunately his small steps were a really good excuse for me *not* to hurry along the trails.

rainy hiking

We didn’t do much trail walking though, turned out to be a rainy weekend, so the hiking was off and on small trips. I used a hiking stick that we have tucked away in the closet most of the time and relied on it so heavily that my arm muscles were sore. I must have walked so oddly trying to protect my right foot that my back began to ache.

Once home I went about normal chores both for the RV and house until Friday. When, after mopping the tile in the kitchen and rolling around with the vacuum cleaner on the floor to clean under the couch, I suddenly was in so much pain I could hardly stand taking a deep breath. My back decided enough was enough and was protesting it the loudest voice it had. PAIN!

Pain visualization

(Ok, that’s not me and he is really not in a lot of pain…just being forced to wear a cow rain slicker and boots…but thought you could use a little visualization at this point.)

I was miserable and could hardly find a position to sleep in. Saturday I woke up only to feed the animals, take them out and then went back to sleep. By Saturday afternoon it was better, but I was still having problems moving and this has pretty much persisted and is ongoing as I am taking time to sit here and write about it. Most likely I will give it a little more time and then if it doesn’t improve go to see a doctor, though I have not a lot of faith that they will do much. Not big on going to doctors and have seen way more of them than I ever wanted to.

So that is the way it is here right now…. to think that all this because I was an idiot who pushed a trailer over her foot…. from now on I will let someone else do the pushing….or my daughter suggested steel toed boots, that might be the ticket.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

With Just a Couple of Good Showers

We see the flower garden starting to ‘POP’!

DSC03266

Grass starting to grow and trees starting to sprout bright green leaves.

Tree blooming

Finally, proof that spring has indeed sprung!

Hopefully by mid-June it will look like this:

DSC00036

And I am trying something new this year! We used to have a garden plot as well where we grew tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and a variety of peppers like banana peppers. Years ago we gave that up. However, I have really been missing the home grown tomatoes so this year, inspired partially by a tour of a place that grows veggies and such in a hanging position, I am going to give this a try! We purchased this little device that I will try growing tomatoes while they hang ‘upside-down’ .

The container I will use for this looks like this:

Upside down tomato growingI will try and keep posting on how it goes. I already have the tomato plant (starting with just one) and am keeping it inside until it is warm enough to plant it outside. Here in Minnesota the general rule of thumb is not to put tender plants out until Memorial Day weekend (end of May). So just before that I will be moving the plant in and out in order to harden the plant and acclimate it to the outside. Then will put it out the end of May. It will hang from the eaves of our house over our deck. Should be interesting and I hope will yield some yummy tasting home grown tomatoes.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

True Colors Thursday - Rainbow

Rainbow is the color of choice for this True Colors Thursday. Rainbow, to me, can mean a plethora of colors. They don’t have to be the brightest colors, just a range of colors. So for my first photo for this week’s True Colors I give you:

A Rainbow of Greyhounds! All reporting for their monthly heartworm preventative.

Robfeedscropped

Wrapping paper with a Rainbow of Colors.

rainbowwrapping

A Rainbow of Balls In Motion

Balls in Motion

Rainbow colors of a handmade music box doll.

Rainbow Doll

Last but certainly not least is a True Rainbow during a spring storm.

Rainbow and Spring Storm

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Sistertex.com

Sistertex.com is a website I have that is dedicated to our camping in Minnesota State Parks over the last few years. However, last year’s adventures I just didn’t get around to posting information about, but I will get to that AND try to keep up with this year’s trips as well. Our idea is to camp in every Minnesota State Park that allows camping. I recently changed providers for my site and it is also in dire need of updating (as I explained) but thought I would mention the site here and provide a link as further ‘incentive’ for me to GET IT DONE!

Sistertex

Sistertex welcomes you:

The above is basically how you are greeted upon arrival at the site but other than that, the site is very basic…nothing fancy about it at all.

It was begun as a school project in my HTML classes, so no fancy software tools went into creating the site…as you can probably tell when perusing it. Perhaps someday I will get some fancier design going with it, but for now it serves the purpose. Mostly I’m using it for photographs from the parks we have visited. If you are interested and have a little time, I hope you will have a look.

The name Sistertex is something I am asked about occasionally, so might as well throw that in here too. Sistertex is a name created from combining two of my first Greyhounds’ names (Sister and Tex!) They inspired me greatly (along with my Blaze girl) to become a Retired Racing Greyhound advocate and rescue person. Though they are no longer with us, they will forever live on in my heart (as will all of the many hounds that have passed through my doors.)

By the way…that is Renner giving you his ‘come-hither’ look in the photo.

ABC Wednesday – The Letter ‘O’

This ABC Wednesday brings us the letter ‘O’ and I will start of with a photo of a friendly little Opossum.

opossum

Also an Owl who occasionally hangs out…maybe looking for an Opossum for its lunch. (Yikes!)

DSC00028cropped

A scene from an apple Orchard

Keeganapple orchard

A bright Orange bird at Busch Gardens, Florida

brightorangebird

A Greyhound Outside

DSC00112

More Greyhounds looking Outside from an Open door.

DSC00132

Thursday, April 23, 2009

True Colors Thursday – Rust

I give you Rust, which is the color of choice for this week’s True Colors Thursday.

Cat Feet On Rust Rug

cat feet on a rust colored rug

Rust Colored Pipestone At Pipestone National Park

rust rock pipestone

Leaves of Fall – Camden State Park, MN

rust colored leaves of fall

True Rust of an old Railroad bridge spanning high over a trail at Camden State Park, MN.

true rust

Rust Painted Walls

rust walls

A Greyhound With Rust Spots

Ruby

Rust Colored Greyhound

Rust colored greyhound

 

 

Blog Directory for Minnesota