Wednesday, October 31, 2007

What is for dinner?

Am I the only one who gets asked this question before he even gets the back door shut or at least by the time he takes his work boots off? he never seems to care what I have cooking... nothing makes him happier then when he opens the oven door and sees this....


looking back at him. I don't know how, but my guy would eat pizza seven days a week if I would let him. Actually it is a toss up between steak and cheese submarine/hoagie sandwiches or pizza that he would live on if he could. I made the steak sandwiches last night for dinner (sorry they didn't last long enough for a picture...lol).

Ginger has a new shadow





This has been the scene in our pasture since Sunday evening when *T* first let Ginger into Lacy's pasture. Lacy is so happy to have another horse here at Seldom Seen Acres. The poor girl probably thought that she was the last living horse on the planet, she has not had an equine companion since the pony died in December of 1998. At times I think I need some alone time, but nine years is a long time to go without seeing another member of your species. Ther are times Ginger looks at Lacy as if to say "will you just leave me alone, already!". I'm glad that they are getting along, I must admit that I was a bit worried because the transaction was rather quick and I had not met Ginger. *T* did all the dealing.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Bbbrrrrrrr....


At 5:30 a.m. the temperature outside was 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Everything was covered in a layer of ice. Here is a picture of one of the rose bushes in the back lawn.

Meet Ginger



Look who was waiting for me when I got home from work on Saturday! This is Ginger. *T* had seen an ad in the paper a couple of months ago for a horse who needed a new home... I don't recall the reason. He had called about her but the owner said that someone had already taken her. We were looking for a companion for Lacy (mom's twenty five year old paint). Then about a week ago a lady called *T* and asked if he was still interested in the horse he had called about. For one reason or another things were not working out with the family that had taken her and they must have talked to the original owner and gotten our phone number. *T* was really excited that we were going to get Ginger after all. They brought her to our farm on Saturday while I was at work, so she was here when I got home. She seems to be a very nice horse, but time will tell.

LOL .... *T* is convinced that we are going to ride her. Yeah, okay. I have not been on a horse in about 16 years and its been longer since he has ridden.... so we'll see.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Who are you?


Okay people, according to my sitemeter, this site gets an average of 45 hits per week. So, that means someone must be reading this blog, right? Who are you? Leave me a comment every so often so I know what you are thinking. Are you thinking "this lady should just stop already!" or are you liking what you see... or... let me guess... you are just speechless at what you see that is why I rarely get comments. ;-)

Picture of the day

This is a scene that I have looked at nearly every day for the past eight years but never thought to take a picture until the other day. When I moved here that old barrel was sitting at the end of the garage with that old calf feeder bucket turned upside down on top of it. I don't know why I have never moved them ... guess I just kinda liked the way it reminds me of Ernie, the farmer who used to own this farm, that barrel and bucket have been there since he lived here back in the 80's. It is kind of sad how I hang on to things like that isn't it?

Friday, October 19, 2007

The Leaves Are So Pretty


Here are a few pics I took yesterday afternoon. Even with a hazy sky, the leaves were still very vibrant. I actually think they were brighter today but I didn't get any Pictures taken.

Fall is my favorite season.I just love all the colors... just wish it wasn't followed by such a gloomy look when all the leaves fall.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Ways to do nothing

Great Ways to Do NothingDon't know how to do "nothing?" Here are lots of ideas for de-stressing, relaxing, enjoying, appreciating and otherwise living like you mean it. When you are done reading the list add one of your favorite ways to do nothing and pass it on!

1. Make a date with nature once every week.
2. Brew a pot of sun tea and invite your neighbor over for a taste.
3. Invest in a hammock.
4. Spend an hour in the sunshine to boost your brain's "happiness" chemistry.
5. Grow an aloe vera plant to heal sunburns next summer.
6. Get conversations started at your next party by serving Popsicles as hors d'oeuvres.
7. Let your kids pick out your next outfit.
8. Hire a kid in the neighborhood to run your errands this week.
9. Think of a change as a workout for your creativity.
10. Burn off extra "worry" adrenaline by exercising.
11. Laugh 100 times to work out your abdomen, neck, back and even your legs.
12. Rent a comedy and invite over that friend with the great laugh.
13. Next time you buy groceries, get yourself something from the toy aisle.
14. Buy a postcard and mail yourself a compliment.
15. Memorize a new joke and try it on a complete stranger.
16. Make a list of your blessings and mail it to yourself.
17. Once a week, substitute the nightly news with recordings of your favorite comedians.
18. Give the universe time to answer all your questions.
19. On your next vacation, put down the camera and try sketching.
20. Have a family contest to see who can spot the most birds on your street.
21. Watch the sunset with your kids tonight.
22. Make a wish on the first star to come out.
23. Breathe deeply to reduce stress.
24. Take a deep breath and hold it until you think of five people who make you laugh.
25. Take a hike and shoot a whole roll of film on nothing but bugs.
26. Treat your best friend to a gourmet picnic.
27. Spend an afternoon kite racing.
28. Send yourself flowers, with a card.
29. Pick a mantra just for vacations.
30. Using Crayons, draw a picture of your pet.
31. Do nothing for an hour to replenish your brain chemistry.
32. Watch reruns of I Love Lucy for an hour to replenish your brain chemistry.
33. Mail a present to someone you love.
34. Cleanse your digestive system by eating a mango, which is loaded with antioxidants.
35. Make and drink a mango smoothie.
36. Sing your favorite Broadway musical hit out loud.
37. Add a dance routine.
38. Get your feet wet.
39. Make time each week to infuse your body with a wild setting.
40. Count your down time as real time.
41. Make a list of your top ten priorities; cut it down to five.
42. Play jacks.
43. See if you can skip for a block without giggling.
44. Go barefoot.
45. Help to prevent heart attacks, depression, arthritis and ulcers with a spoonful of fish oil.
46. Take a 15-minute catnap to recharge yourself for three hours.
47. Make a date with your inner artist.
48. Spend some of your home improvement budget on original art.
49. Frame your favorite travel photos.
50. Ask your houseplants how they feel today.
51. Build a bird feeder.
52. Blow a whole roll of film on flowers.
53. Have an ice cream cone today.
54. Throw a Frisbee.
55. Take a tango lesson with your sweetheart.
56. Make a CD of the songs you sang along with in high school, and play it in traffic.
57. Practice yoga by lying very still to calm the mind.
58. Pay extra for home delivery.
59. Ask a kid if you can play, too.
60. Keep Crayons at work.
61. Learn which part of your body tells you when you reach your stress limit.
62. Two more months before you have to, rake leaves again.
63. Book yourself some hammock time.
64. Make a date with your feet to take your toes for a wiggle in the sand.
65. Make optimism your mind's default setting.
66. Spend the day complimenting each person you meet.
67. Talk yourself into living in the moment.
68. "Present time" is the only place the universe can ship your presents.
69. Spend ten minutes eating a pear.
70. Make a Coral Rita: 1 part lime juice, six parts good tequila, 2 parts cointreau; blend with ice.
71. Let a friend take you for a walk blindfolded.
72. Learn the art of arranging flowers.
73. Keep a foot massage kit near the couch.
74. Make a CD of silly songs and play it on your way to work.
75. Make a Shark Bite: 1 part dark rum, 2 parts orange juice, a splash of sour mix; blend with ice.
76. Start a sketchbook. If you can't draw, use crayons.
77. Throw a party to invent a new cocktail. Name it after yourself.
78. Spend the day in your cutest pajamas.
79. Eat your dinner out of order.
80. Read a poem out loud to a friend.
81. Hire a musician to serenade your sweetie at work.
82. Have a happy "childhood" by eating an ice cream sundae.
83. Don't skimp on the whipped cream.
84. Learn to throw a boomerang.
85. Make sure you have your own superhero costume.
86. Buy and wear a dramatic hat.
87. Replace should with could for a week.
88. Treat yourself to lunch with that friend who always compliments you.
89. Learn to play your favorite song on the guitar.
90. Make a fruit salad entirely out of fruit you've never had before.
91. Boost your immune system by laughing a lot.
92. Have a bad joke tournament with your friends.
93. Make a list of things you've accomplished that you never thought you could do.
94. Have a sunset picnic.
95. Imagine the universe as a waiter ready to take your order. Make sure to order dessert.
96. Strand yourself on a desert island by unplugging your phone for an hour.
97. Hold a garage sale as an excuse to meet your neighbors.
98. Spend the profits on a Slip 'N Slide. (Yes, you can still get them and they're only about $14.)
99. Play Frisbee.
100. Design a bouquet out of wildflowers.
101. Have a family art show.
102. Dance the Calypso.
103. Let the kids plan your next adventure day.
104. Try juggling, starting with rolled-up socks.
105. Throw a sunset dinner party in a park.
106. Give your kids disposable cameras and have them shoot a day in their life.
107. See who in your family can invent the most ridiculous laugh.
108. E-mail a list of compliments to your sweetheart.
109. Spend five minutes today sitting perfectly still — it's harder than it sounds.
110. Make mud pies.
111. Make your own field guide to the wildlife in your city.
112. Invent the perfect salad.
113. Write a poem.
114. Take a nap with your dog — on the floor.
115. Make time in the morning to visualize your day.
116. Go skinny-dipping.
117. Put a basket of toys in the break room at work.
118. Blow a whole roll of film on the house from your dog's point of view.
119. Treat yourself to a sunrise.
120. Give the universe time to get back to you when you ask for something.
121. E-mail yourself 10 things you admire about you. Schedule it for delivery a week from now.
122. Grow a houseplant from a seed.
123. Read the biography of your favorite person in history.
124. Throw an ice cream sundae-building party.
125. Write your "to do" list for the week in crayon.
126. Stimulate your chi by eating fish.
127. Enjoy the moments in-between.
128. Skip rocks.
129. Embrace your animal qualities.
130. Give anger an expiration date.
131. Reduce stress by throwing a water balloon.
132. Spend your loose change at a batting cage.
133. Rub warm sesame oil on your feet before bedtime to cure insomnia.
134. Describe your favorite shining moment to someone in the third person.
135. Ask your inner child to write out a "to do" list for the week.
136. Stage a breakfast feast that lasts till well past noon.
137. Relish the things you are still learning to master.
138. Think of your name as a verb, not a noun.
139. Fish without a hook and just meditate.
140. Schedule a mud bath.
141. Spend the a couple of hours sitting in the barn, after the chores are done, talking to one of your best friends.... even if she is your mother

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Our Beef Cows




My new - used camera




I finally got myself a better digital camera. So it's used and I won it on eBay, but I'm so exited!

Here are some pictures of Ace who was the first "victim" of my camera. I didn't realize that the camera was going to have such clear pics or I would have made Ace get down out of the chair before taking the photos. That chair is probably older then I am and the dogs have taken it over as "their chair" and I try to keep it covered with a sheet....oops! Now that you have all seen the rattiest chair I own I can post any pic ...right?

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Old Fashioned Pancakes


1½ cups All purpose Flour
3½ teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon White Sugar
1¼ cups Milk
1 egg
3 tablespoon Butter – Melted

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, and melted butter. Mix until smooth.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Meet Nickie....

Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of Nickie coming to live with me perminately.
I first met her on August 28th, 2003. That was my first day working at the SPCA and she had been brought in with a litter of 11 puppies. We were told that she had been a stray on the indian reservation, for quite some time and, they had finally trapped her in a barn (where she had her litter of pups), and brought her to the shelter.
Since the puppies were still nursing (only a few days old) they were in need of a foster home until the puppies were old enough to be away from their mom. It was late in the day, near closing time, when Nickie and her babiess were brought in. The kennel mangager did not have a chance to make phone calls to see if she could find someone willing to provide foster care to the shelter's newest family, so they asked all staff memebers if anyone could take this family home. "Just for tonight, until we have a chance to find a foster home". I brought them home, and decided to foster them until the puppies were old enough to find new forever homes of their own. Then we even found a new forever home for Nickie, or so we thought ... two weeks later we got a call from the guy who had adopted her, and told us he no longer had Nickie... she had gotten away from him and couldn't catch her. Well, to make a long story short, on October 1st, 2003 ..... Nickie came to live with me FOREVER!!!!
I adopted her and she has been with me ever since.

LOL... I have to laugh every time I think of how scared she was of men... until she met *T*. You see when he started coming to the house I told him that my one dog hates all men, and it was kind of a joke that if he could win Nickie's trust then I'd give him a chance (to renew MY trust in men). Within a couple weeks, if he and I were on opposite sides of the room and both of us called her, she would go to him and not me. I could not believe it, but I kept up my end of the deal and gave our relationship a chance ... what can I say.... He and I have been together ever since too :-)

Thank You Nickie, for showing me everyone needs a second (or third) chance in life. I love you babe!

Monday, October 01, 2007

What do you think???

What do you think of the new look??? I've done some rearranging and redecorating. I'm not sure if I like it yet so let me know your thoughts... any suggestions?