MORE Tales From Table Rock

Through the Christmas and Thanksgiving Holidays.... Back to work....

2012-01-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

I started "vacation" on the 16th of December, 2011. I return to work tomorrow (I did work a bit two days last week).

The Christmas Holidays were really nice, most of the family came for a visit, except for Ed who had to work, you know, that EVIL corporation Halliburton forced him to do whatever it is he does to DESTROY the environment. ROFLOL (and still typing).Susan and I had a very peaceful and private Christmas Eve, prime rib and lobster who cares about the "sides". All five grand kids and Allisa's kids were here, while quite a ruckus, made the entire holiday well worth while...

My father is improving and they are making plans for him to go home. My mother-in-law on the other hand is in the hospital but scheduled to come home tomorrow (maybe today).

I got to spend multiple hours down the "septic tank" hole, replacing the lift station pump, don't ask you don't want to know. Talk about a sh**ty job, changing the pump qualifies. So why not hire a plumber? good question. The pump cost almost $600.00 and really takes just a couple of hours to install once you've done it. A plumber wants almost $2000.00 to do the same thing, Hmmm I can deal with a lot of sh*t for $1400 bucks, besides I have a washer (for the clothing I didn't toss) AND a shower. In reality it's not nearly as bad as one would assume, well considering the $1400 dollars.

I went to the eye doctor, fortunately I can still see fine HOWEVER I have developed diabetic retinopothy in both eyes. This is where blood and/or plasma leak into the eyeball and cause damage to the retina which causes blindness. Fortunately it seems that the leakage has stopped for the time being and no real vision damage has occurred. I can however see the ghosts (in eyeball photos) of the damage that has already occurred.

As for going back to work tomorrow. I truly love my job, you know, working for another EVIL UNREGULATED corporation, ripping off the general public (right). I feel fortunate to have liked my work at Digital Equipment, running my own consulting firm etc., and now working for Wells Fargo. I can honestly say that I learn AT LEAST one new thing (significant thing) every day, that alone makes it worthwhile? BUT there's nothing like time off to spend with friends and family....

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas Holiday and hope you have a grand 2012. (*NOTE* no political comments) lol.

So, Tomorrow is Thanksgiving....The Traditional Begining of the Holiday Season (for me anyway).

2011-11-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow is Thanksgiving, like most people we have plenty to be thankful for. First my 81 year old father is in the hospital, the bad news is he has twelve(12) broken ribs, the GOOD news is they broke his ribs doing CPR to revive him, and it worked....

Thanksgiving is usually pretty interesting around here. HOWEVER last year we had a great Thanksgiving at James and Solitares. Why you ask... Well the year before, as some of you probably remember the Turkey in the turkey bag, caught on fire and scared the heck out of me. "Susan, where's the flippin (not the real word) fire extinguisher?", yup the one I kept one on the kitchen counter for YEARS. "Well I got rid of it a few years ago, we never used it", CLEARLY I never checked it either... dang....

A few years back we tried the deep frier. Turns out that they don't work too good when it's windy and 8 degree above zero. FAIL... plus that too scared the heck out of me as we had to move it to the garage to keep it lit. It took nearly a 20 pound tank of propane to get the oil hot, and then... we stuck the turkey in.... Hmmm (not Mmm Mmm good, just Hmmm).

In any case most of the family usually come by, of course work schedules are tough for us 53% so occasionally not everyone makes it. Usually a bunch of friends drop by, Susie, Mitch, Brandi, Allisa Sam, Lex... ect.....

In any case I started cooking stuff yesterday, more today.... Oh hold on, phones ringing......... Hmmm that was Santa Claus, he wants to know if he can take a test run and use my barn to refuel (read feed) Rudolf and the other reindeer. I told him no problem, I'll keep the young 'un in the house..... Stay tuned for pictures... lol.

How a Great Day Quickly Deteriorates into Panic, Fear and ?

2011-11-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

So, Friday the 18th of November I spent the day at Freemont Elementary, got to visit with Molly, Gabe and Isis. Susan even came at had lunch with them while I helped out around the school as a "Watch D.O.G.S" volunteer (Dads Of Great Students, in this case a grand-dad.

So schools over and I'm exhausted, drive home and get ready to go to a "practice" cutting (on one of the horses), I feed the horses at the house, Susan is going to meet me there so she doesn't have to wait till the wee hours for me...

Robert, the horse trainer and I get there early, I saddle up Betty (Chic's Betty Crocker) and have a quick bite of fabulous green chili at the arena grill. I go out and start warming Betty up as people trickle in and start getting ready. We set up the arena for "cutting" and bring the cattle in, in this case we had 16 head of probably 700 pounds, maybe a little bigger...

A brief side note on cutting. A horse and rider enter a herd of cattle, select one and only one to separate from the herd and physically intervene the "cow" from returning to the herd. Of course this sounds simple BUT cattle are very herd oriented and will try all kinds of back and forth running, slamming on the brakes etc. moves to try and by-pass the horse and rider to return to the herd. The rider has a couple of jobs. First, select a cow that the rider thinks will help the horse show "his" stuff to the judge. Second, hang the hell on and stay outta the way...

The horse, 1200 pounds of pure muscle, physically places itself in front of the "cow", "reading" the cow to try and determine what it'll do next.Moving in gut wrenching side to side motions to "block" the cows path. This may seem like the hard part, but let me assure you that the hanging on is hard for anyone, but for a 58 year old man that thinks he's 26, well that's "wrenching" to say the least.

So we get a couple of chances, each one lasting 2.5 minutes, that seems like hours and we didn't get dumped even once, Betty was FABULOUS, she is VERY, Very good at this "job"...

It gets to be about 10:30, cold and windy outside I loosen Betty's saddle, take off the bridle and leave her tied to a hitching rail while we get stuff cleaned up and she has a few minutes to dry off (it is a lot of work for the horses).

I go outside, get the trailer ready, turn around and come up by the door. THEN I go in to get my saddle to put it in the trailer and I can't FIND the saddle, worse yet I can't find Betty, the lead rope and halter are both gone too. About 30 feet away is the "overhead door" and it's open (of course, so people can get horses in and out of the arena).

So I ask Robert, "where's Betty", thinking he moved her, he thinks I'm joking and I can't believe she's gone.

another side note - Betty is very, very good at all she does including making fine foals. In addition to having her for the last 12-13 years, we paid $30,000.00 in cash for her in 1999. She was a 1998 NRHA Futurity Finalist finishing 10th out of over 400 horses. I wouldn't sell her for $60,000.00 dollars today and that's a fair price. In addition I had loosened my $3,500.00 dollar custom made (fits my ass like a glove) saddle and hung oh maybe $1200.00 dollars worth of headgear on the saddle horn...

The Latigo arena is about 12 miles from the horse ranch.

So everyone goes outside (about 20 people or so) and walk around the Latigo grounds (some driving), checking every place we could, two hours, not a single sign except you could see a trail from the lead rope leaving the arena.

About one AM after driving EVERY road in the Latigo housing development (surrounds the arena) we took the other three horses back to the ranch. NOPE, she wasn't there..... Put everyone else away, dropped Robert off, went home and broke the bad news to Susan. We had bought Betty for Susan in 1999 so she could learn to rein from and experienced horse, Betty bucked her off the first day).

I set my alarm for 5:30AM so I could be at the arena at sun-up. From experience we knew she probably hadn't gone far, but there's so many fences and barbed wire around, one has to be worried about her getting scared and tangled in some bad thing... (I set the alarm but didn't get much (any) sleep).

So I drive to Latigo as the suns coming up, drive in and take a quick circle (with the truck and trailer) around the outdoors arena, low and behold, there's Betty, the saddle (still just like I left it) and headstall still hanging on the horn. She's munching on grass next to another horse in the Latigo stalling area (they board horses), about 100 yards from the arena door she wandered out of.

I pull up the truck, jump out and call "Betty", her head flies up, she takes one look and runs over to the trailer pawing the door to get into the trailer... I let her in and we (I should say I) had a good cry...

One really good thing to know about horses is they usually stop at the first place they can find food and wander around that eating...

So after an anxious night with little sleep (for me or Susan), Betty and the rest are home waiting to torture the old man next month with another practice cutting... December 16th at the Latigo arena if you want to have a good laugh... (an old man acting like he 26). OH YEAH, I'll check and double check the knot...

Eighteen Years ago TODAY!

2011-06-12T12:25:00.000-06:00

18 Years Ago Today, June 12th, 1993

Eighteen(18( years ago today, just about this time of the day, friends and family were starting to gather at our nearly brand new house in Black Forest. The occasions was our wedding. It wasn't big, we had at the most a couple dozen people, BUT we were married outside our house in the forest on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Susan & I had already been together for eight(8) years when we decided marriage might be a reasonable option. It has proven to be a good choice, especially for me since I'm fairly certain I'd have driven most anyone else off by now.

I proposed to Susan while we still lived in the old house in town. Becky and James were BOTH there for that too.

Note that Ed is not in ANY of these photos. He was honorably serving our country as a United State Marine.

Not a huge wedding but all of the family that could make it. (Hmmm time travel).

We were going to sell this house. I would have regretted that decision every time I saw these photos. This is really OUR place, we picked the lot, designed the house and chose the forest and "mother nature" for our life long commitment...

Guess we all know what happens to a "long haired hippy" when he gets old? dang had a lot of hair once...

Happy Anniversary Sweety

What Sets Us Apart From the Other Animals on This Planet is Our Infinite Capacity to Love...

2011-05-08T12:28:00.007-06:00

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mothers out there. Thank You..

Just went outside with the chainsaw and cut a bunch of unhealthy trees down, including one that had been killed by pine beetles. After bending over cutting down dozens of little trees (1" to 6") I stood up and nearly went down myself, thought my heart was going to explode, guess I better get back on the wind trainer. Dang.

Being outside in the "yard" reminded me of how exceptionally lucky we are to live here. 100 foot plus trees, beutiful wild flowers, great topology, I don't think we could have found a nicer place to live... and it's SO quiet just the wind in the trees. While sitting on the ground recovering I looked up at some of the older trees (140+ years) and noticed how many had been struck by lightning over the years.... Simply amazing...

Two nights ago I was outside feeding the horses and heard an owl, hooting. I looked across the road, 30 feet or so and there was a HUGE (2.5 foot tall (guess)) Great Horned Owl with something it had scrounged for dinner, no not one of our cats.

We can certainly claim Spring has sprung when the "birds of prey" start there annual migration, soon we'll see the geese and the most amazing of all, "Sand Hill Cranes". They fly in GIANT flocks making incredible noise, then periodically they fly in a giant whirlwing circular pattern before continuing on their way to the "Sand Hills of Nebraska" along the Platte River. Twice in the eighteen years we've lived here they've landed in great hordes all around us for the night.

Grizzly and Gnarly are the best of friends, Gnarly has really settled down since Griz has been here. Everyday after dinner the wrestle like two huge bears for about an hour... Both are covers with teeth marks and scabs from playing too rough. Never seem to hurt each other though...

OMGoodness Gnarley FINALLY has a playmate

2011-03-22T20:14:00.000-06:00

It's pretty amazing to watch 257 pounds of newfoundland "play". As Griz feels better and as he's started adjusting to his new home he not only puts up with Gnarley's instigation but actually plays back. Griz is the FIRST dog to actually play with Gnarf.

So today we went for a walk, newfs are not only water dogs but draft dogs too. Used for pulling in fishing nets and extensively in Newfoundland for pulling milk carts and other carts around. Newfs hold the world record for pulling over 8,000 pounds. So we're walking around the circle, well sorta walking, two yellow labs jump our neighbors fence (she's a vet) and come charging out like they're attacking. Of course the newfs wanted to play and started chasing them, back to their yard, back over the fence The choice, let go of the leash or bite the dust. Now I gotta chase the dang dogs chasing the dang dogs.... dang.

So I'm trimming the hair on Griz's front paws, they look like he has on fuzzy slippers, I should say looked like. In any case his paws are as big as my palms and I recalled a conversation I had with James a few days ago. Our first newfoundsland was "Windwalkers Feel The Thunder" after her daddy and the Air Force Football "theme". We called her "Windy". Her daddy's name was "Windwalker Thunder Paws", but try as we might neither James or I, certainly none of the rest of the family could recall our second newfoundlands "proper" AKC name. It suddenly dawned on me during a "Thundersnow" we had the other day. We called her "Rainy" (We also had a Sunny, a Stormy and a Snowy the half newf), but her long name was "Riverfronts Delicate Sound of Thunder". ( a Pink Floyd live album, for those that don't know).

Well both dogs are passed out, I'm next!

It's "Grizzly" aka "Griz" and yes, he lives here

2011-03-20T08:47:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been a little over four weeks since Darth > X > Grizzly came to live with us. I still can't believe how massive he is. Even more than his giant size, he is amazingly gentle and laid back. When James and Solitare came down with O.C. and Baxter it at first seemed like there might be a little excitement but it turned out good, all four dogs got along fine with Gnarley being the top instigator, well "play" instigator.

Gnarley really likes having the big guy around they lay out on the front porch most of the day and now both sleep around our bed ay night. We take them everywhere we can while it's still cool outside, they run out and jump into the van then when they get home they run to the house. Fabulous.

Poor Griz lost his "family jewels" about ten days ago and it's been quite an ordeal. They were the size of tangarines and after removal he got all swollen and bruised. Of course after a week they became infected so he's now on anti-biotics. This underscores the reason to have this procedure done when they're young.

It is still amazingly sad that such a well behaved, loving and handsome dogs would simply be dumped. That's right DUMPED, we haven't heard a single thing from the humaneless society, (except they now send me solicitation mail since I gave them my address), nothing from Craigslist, neither of the two newf rescue groups have heard anything and not a SINGLE "lost dog" sign....

gotta go feed the equine, then take the pups to Castle Rock so WE can have some Dream Pasties for breakfast... bye....

Miles, thought he died and went to hell! Poor pussy cat...

2011-02-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

So we had a very exciting Sunday. The Bannfield" vet clinic at the Monument Petsmart had (I guess has regularly) a rabies vaccine clinic from 11:00AM to 1:00PM on Sundays, at a pretty darn good price, $19.05, regularly $50.00 at Bannfield, over $60.00 dollars at our regular vets. It just takes a long time.

BUT not as long as we thought, Since we had not gotten "X" (for eXtra-Gnarley) to come into the house tht I thought we'd need the entire two hours to get him into Petsmart, especially to the back of the store.

So we move the seat in the van so both Gnarf and X can fit, we then head for Petsmart a little after 10 for the 11:00 slot. Stop and get some coffee at my favorite coffee shop, no not Fourbucks (nothing against Starbucks though), then to get a newspaper. We actually got the Petsmart just a little before 11. I went in to warn them of the impending potential disaster. Filled out the paperwork came out for the rodeo. Susan took Gnarf, I took X and followed Susan right through the door... Got a little hesitation after he got inside, but followed Gnarf to the vet clinic with not a single issue.

He didn't really think he wanted to go through the exam room door, so Susan, Gnarf and I went in, left the door open. He laid outside for a bit then ever so cautiously slithered in.

He got his rabies shot and back to the car, which he was real happy to see. He just jumped right in. So on the way home we devised the "get the newf in the house" strategy. Susan would get out first and take Gnarley through the garage and into the house. hmmm... X and I would follow.

Well Gnarf is VERY good about staying in the car till he's told to get out. X on the other hand jumped right out and headed for the gate to get back into the yard. Well at least he wants in. He burned my hand pulling the nylon leash through my fingers which were too stupid to let go, well too stupid and too slow.

Susan and Gnarf go in, and X follows RIGHT into the house. I kept him on the leash for a bit but NO issues. I finaly turned him loose, Gnarf showed him around the house and introduced him to Miles the Russian Blue pussy cat that was peacefully sleeping on our bed. Miles actualy belongs to Allisa Elliott but seems to have taken up long term residence with us.

So X spots Miles on the bed and gently puts his feet up with his ear perked up, as much as a newf can perk up his ears. Meanwhile Gnarley was on the opposite side of the bed just having a look. Miles jumped up when he saw X and headed right for Gnarley and was absolutely beside himself when he ran face to face into Gnarf.... Somehow he jumped to the floor and tried to make a break for it but they caught him. Standing over his poor cowering little kitty body BOTH barking at the poor thing, a total of 257 pounds of Newf and he can't be more than 8 pounds wet. Hence the title of this post, I have no doubt that Miles was afraid he'd died and gone to kitty hell. I did pull X back and let Miles escape, to where, I have no idea...

I did muscle X onto the vet scale, I was a little over, he actually weighs 147 pounds. Bet he weighs at least a pound less when he gets neutered.

I am fighting the urge to tell the rest of the story, X at Petsmart. Susan took some photos that are really touching. I'm trying to encourage her to post the verbiage and the photos.

Oh, BTW ask her to post the painting she hung at the pastry shop with a couple of Brandi's. They are simply wonderful. My Susan and Brandi are amazingly talented. I simply can't believe the work that comes out of them.

http://talesfromtablerock.blogspot.com/

See what susan has to say AND some of her most recent artwork at the above link.

New subject, the Maine Coon Cat Susie rescued last year - FurB (fur-bee)

2011-02-27T08:16:00.001-07:00

FurB, short for furbag or perhaps furburger is the largest of the cats that live inside, or nearly inside as he has laid claim to the laundry room and occasionally scoots outside for five or ten minutes. He weighs over fifteen pounds and is the laziest animal I've ever seen.

FurB is absolutely the dumbest, or perhaps the smartest cat in existence. He is terrified of three of the other indoor cats. all weighing only bout ten pounds. They chase him till he hides in the laundry room or in the bookshelf in our beds headboard.

Now this cat is absolutely hilarious running, hissing and spitting at the other cats. hmmm.... enter Gnarley who frequently goes into the laundry room to search for kitty Tootsie-roll treats. Fortunately he rarely finds any as Susan is fastidious about keeping the litter box clean.

In any case enter Gnarley, FurB jumps down from his perch on the drier and sometimes actually comes out of the laundry room to rub up against Gnarf. That's right, Gnarf steps on him, tries to play with him, drenches his with wet tongue. other than an occasional squack or hiss when Gnarley steps on FurB. This interaction is completely beyond me. Not afraid of the 110 pound Newf, but terrified of the 10 pound cats....

Life is truly an amazing mystery, the observation of the things around us an the study of nature is truly fascinating.Of course some might say I'm easily humored.

FurB on his lofty washer/drier perch

Judgement....

2011-02-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

I really do try hard not to proclaim judgement on people but on occasion I just can't help myself. Fortunately the last time we found a dog, sitting in the middle of Walker Road, it turned out she HADN'T been abandon as we suspected, she actually belonged to one of our neighbors, she was chipped but the information was old, finally found a lost ad on Craigslist. We had just about resigned ourselves to being the owner of a very gentle and easy going pit bull we called Brownie.

But I'm really disgusted with the current situation, Brownie was a pit bull so we avoided the humane society as Pit bulls aren't generally kept for adoption, or so I'm told. She did have a chip so perhaps that would have changed the situation but no sense in taking chances, besides many pit bulls are used as penis extenders for the less well endowed of our society.

But this is really pathetic. One would never believe how absolutely gentle and docile this huge newf is, I've been calling him Darth but I don't really like it. I did in fact call the humane society and put "Darth" on the found dog list, newf rescue put a found ad on Craigslist and we've talked to people regarding him. not a SINGLE call, not one....

We've made some progress as all four feet have actually come into the house but he immediately leaves when you stop petting him or bribing him with treats. I'm fairly certain I could force him in, one pushing and one pulling, but it seems he would really be traumatized. He's perfectly content to sleep on he front porch in the 10 degree weather. Sure doesn't appear to be suffering from the cold. He has a tremendously heavy coat and I suspect he would be uncomfortable in the house at a balmy 68. Regardless, I want him to have the opportunity.

We're going to go to Petsmart Sunday for a rabies clinic, he desperately needs to be groomed but they won't touch him without a rabies vaccination certificate. Gnarley freaked out at the Petsmart door, I'm not sure how "Darth" will do, but I'm not optimistic. Come to think about it I wonder how we're going to get him groomed. Dang... We may try the garage door to the mud room since it's a lot smaller and he can survey it from the door. Plus FurB kinda hangs out in the mud room/laundry room and loves Gnarf (Gnarley + Newf)

How about Extra-Gnarley and calling him X? He truly is HUGE...

So, Exactly Where Did The Design For Darth Vaders Helmet Come From!

2011-02-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

I got the answer.....

Well a little, very liitle story first. Last night Susan was at the Equine Vets annual dinner and presentation on "what's new in equine medicine", accupuncture, that's really true... but not this story....

It was about 7PM, I had finished my microeconomics class and just laid on the bed to watch an episode of "Dead Like Me" (look it up on the internet). kinda dozing and the phone rings. Hmmm dang... It's the guy that fostered Gnarley, so I answered.

"Clyde! do you know who this is?" Sure. Brian with Truman, the biggest dog I've ever seen. "Yes", I have a problem... uuuh ohhh!!! I love solving problems but this sounds ugly.

"We got called regarding a Black Newfoundland living in Black Forest Park. We went to get him but have no place for him to go. You had said that perhaps you could keep one even if for a short time."

OK where are you. ..... off I go, I meet them in greater Black Forest and low and behold in the back of Brian's Volvo station wagon is a monster. No, really a huge black newf, but still much smaller than Truman (30 or more pounds smaller). We don't know if it's a male or female so Brian checks to see if "it" has any "junk". DANG does he... So of course now I have to see if he has the rest of his "junk". Dang he size of tangerines. Now what, a fully intact male newfoundland at probably 160 or so pounds. whewww...

He sits between the van seats with his chin on the dash, looking out the windshield.

I decide I'd bring him home and let him stay in the barn in the foaling stall until I could check him out and make sure he didn't eat Gnarley, or at least try. I'm serious here!

In the morning I held Gnarley on one side of the fence and let 'em sniff noses, and all I got was waggin tails. I tied Darth (that's what I call him) to a tree on a longe line and took old Gnarf in. WOW to Gnarf it was love at first site, someone that's finally big enough to play with me... I finally got around to letting both off the leashes and after a little butt sniffin, and tree peeing it was off to play, and play, and play. Darth got a little tired of it but Gnarf was still going strong.

Darth is very very gentle. Really a gentle giant of a dog. HOWEVER push pull or bribe he will NOT come into the house. I'm fairly sure he's never seen the inside of a house before. He comes to the door, looks inside then leaves. In any case, no collar, no chip and not a single response to craigslist or the humane society. BTW Susan has already said NO! you can't keep him. Dang, I didn't even ask, I ain't stupid, well maybe a little.

He's in kind rough shape, big mats on the bottom half, smelly and kinda dirty. The fact that he's not neutered is also a bit concerning, Why would someone keep a 160 pound newf intact, clearly he isn't being shown or being put on display for stud, he's in pretty bad condition for that.

In any case I did get a couple of pictures this morning....

Anyone that knows Gnarley knows how big he is but I bet Darth outweighs him by 50 or 60 pounts easy

Check out that face, whoever made the Darth Vader helmet musta known a newf, a big newf

And no, all that isn't his slobber, like any newf he has his drool but a lot of this is snow from plowing furrows.

Dang, Global Warming Strikes Again....

2011-02-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Ah, the main stream media, and how they love "global warming". Pretty dang funny, yesterday set a new low of -2. Today the HIGH was -13 degrees, -19 when I fed the horses at 6AM in the dark.... Not to worry, they're all pretty good. Don't even seem to notice. *NOTE* these are NOT windchill temperatures.

We have to use 8' florecent "freezer" bulbs in the barn or they won't start when it's colder than 20 degrees. I turned them on couple days ago when it was "relatively" warm. Today it's so cold in the barn that the bulbs can't even stay lit.

The diesel truck was plugged in and started pretty easy this morning but it wouldn't stay running because the fuel in the lines were turning to geletin.

We drove 45 minutes to the 7:00AM Dr. appointment and never got even close to warm.

What REALLY amazes me is the global warming mongers aka "climate change" fear mongers now blame the chilling cold on man made CO2. Certainly one can say the "climate" is changing it most certainly is, always has... Sure wish they'd send some of the warmth our way. I'll tell you what, we are certainly pouring out the carbon, heaters running nearly non-stop.

Hmmm Hmm Hm homemade cream of mushroom soup for dinner....

Believe me, I've tried to be more timely with posts.......

2011-01-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

...... but I always have to decide, sleep or post.. guess what wins.

Well as you can see my last post was shortly after Thanksgiving last year. well Christmas came and went, we enjoyed all of the kids and grandkids, not all at one time but over the holidays.

I got hurt in Grand Junction, nothing too serious but I had to go to the urgent care facility to get some pain meds.

I still have the old job and doing a new job (same company, same boss). But I did finally get some relief, we hired a guy to help out with the old stuff.

I started a macroeconomics class early in January which is very time consuming as it's compressed into five weeks, it's really very interesting.

Gnarly is doing real well, he's going to start a refresher course (I guess a refresher) in doggie obedience next week. I'm really enjoying him, just wish he wasn't so rough when he plays, but if past Newfoundlands are any indicator, he'll turn into a rug by age four. The funniest thing is we spend all kinds of money on doggy toys, Susan says $12.00 to $20.00 on each, they have a very short life expectancy. I don't don't know why but Susan threw an empty plastic gallon milk container out for him. He carried it around, smashed it up, chewed it and generally had a great time with it. He'll have a brand new one real soon... dang dogs. Amanda really loved them when she was his age too.

Gabriel is here without his younger siblings and it's VERY peaceful.

Talk about peaceful, Gnarly the couch potato in his favorite resting place.

Couch Potato

It's been a long time, years and years, sometime around the age of 30 I weighed in at more than 200 pounds. Got up to near 300 at one point (but not quite). Changed my eating patterns thanks to Dr Akins, in general simply eating less processed carbs and junk. I don't drink soda or eat very much "junk" food. Like the endo Dr. suggested I eat 2-3 eggs and plenty of bacon nearly every morning.

Finally, payoff. I vowed (to myself) that the first day I didn't see a 2 as the first digit I would take a picture for all to see. I don't check daily and I've been stuck around 208 for MANY months, but a couple weeks ago I fired up the old scale and low and behold...

Hmmm what ugly feet, hairy

I got on the scale first thing in the morning, 5AM, thought I was seeing things the scale said 199.0, amazed I ran out got the camera and got back on, 8ozs for the camera is probably about right.

Few days later I went to the Dr. for a physical and the scale in his office said 204 fully clothed sans shoes.

Well, well.... Thanksgiving is here again....

2010-11-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving has to rank right up their as one of my favorite holidays. THIS year however it's going to be a little different. NOT for as long as I can remember, BUT for a long time, we've cooked a Turkey, and frequently a ham too and had anyone that wanted to join us to feel free. Mostly we've had the family and friends and friends of friends. It's always been a fun day for, well for ME. My lovely wife usually (always) feels obligated to "clean up the mess", and it ALWAYS a huge mess, before bed time. This year we're taking Gnarly and driving to Loveland where our wonderful (one of two wonderful) daughter in-law is fixing dinner, I'm sure with James hindrance (I mean assistance). Mitchman is going to feed the horses for us, and his mother, Minnesota Susie is stuck doing homework... Other than that we expect we'll see pretty much the same folks we always see, maybe some new additions from he Loveland area...

The Gnarly update. - What a nice, nice dog... he is exceptionally easy to get along with. He really tries hard to please both of us. He still chases the cats, but not nearly as much, it's especially funny to watch him try and get them to run when he does catch one... he's sure the hissing and swatting are the cats wanting to play with him. He has a few little annoyances but nothing serious. He has a VERY HEAVY paw and uses it when he wants to play. He plays VERY ROUGH, but is EXTREMELY gentle to LITTLE children and cats. 105 pounds of Newf is quite the treat to play fetch with, well it's actually more like "I'll chase the ball, then you can try and catch me" haha... We've shredded several old t-shirts playing tug-of-war... Hmmm he's learned that he likes people food and is a very annoying beggar. Sits there and stares Newf like, with those big brown Newf eyeballs, hard to resist.

Horses are all pretty good. The crippled "Kat" that was scheduled for execution a few months ago is doing VERY well all thing considered. All the babies are going to be a bit chilly tonight -1 to -11 degrees is forecast... No worries, horses are especially designed for the cold as long as they can get out of the wind...

Watercolor painting is going OK for me, BUT Susan has painted a beautiful "Urban Landscape" based on downtown Colorado Springs at a "famous" ice cream parlor, Josh & Johns. It features Gnarly and some scraggly old man feeding Gnarly some ice-cream.... she's almost finished....

We're going to go see the most recent "Harry Potter" movie in a little while. we rarely go to the theater as we usually watch Netflix, or nothing but we've always enjoyed the Harry Potter books and movies... Hmmm kids books my ...

Had a power failure Monday night, a couple of hours in the dark, all of our "emergency" items, except ONE(1) flashlight failed. The generator wouldn't start, the camping lantern was corroded and unusable etc. etc. We went to Wal-mart (since it was to dark to do anything in the house) and replaced the stuff with new LED technology... wasn't too long ago the camping lantern was propane or white gas and had a silk mantle, hmmm... Now it's a single very bright LED and 8 "D" cell batteries. I did get the stuff to get the generator running, if we don't have electricity, we don't even have water.... The generator will at least keep a few lights on and run the well pump (straining) and the heaters, if we're desperate for heat we can always light the stove...

In any case I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving...

Oh. The camera is not working at the moment, BUT I'm going to appropriate a couple of the pictures Susan took for her latest and greatest watercolor....

Gnarly meets the grand kids, well three of the grand kids

2010-10-10T18:06:00.000-06:00

Gabriel, Molly and Connel came over for a visit and got to meet Gnarly.... It all went MUCH better than I had thought it would. Susan picked 'em up, Gnarly and I met them at the gate with Gnarly wearing his leash and collar, just to make sure there was SOME control... Face it Gnarly wants to sniff and lick see what these guys are all about. Problem is the littlest two look him right in the eyes and have a tongue level face perfect for licking.

Well as it should be, Gnarly behaved exactly like a newf should, he LOVED the kids, even played subservient to Molly, laying on his belly and woofing little woofs....

Of course when Connel ran, Gnarly followed . When Connel jumped out of the way, Gnarly was invariably in Molly's face... Licking...

All in all they all settled down pretty good, none of the grand children even got knocked down (bumped into) by Gnarly.... You know what they say, "Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best"... I can't express how Gnarly has more than met my hopes and expectations, he's 99% newf (the other 1%, well he just doesn't "eat anything" like most newfs. He is expanding his taste a little).

It makes me cry to think he spent two(2) years in a "bad situation", but I'm sure glad he came to be with us...

Been a little over a week since Gnarly came to live here...... Hmmmm....

2010-10-08T16:28:00.000-06:00

.... Well it's been just a little over a week since we "rescued" Gnarly (was Marley). He likes Gnarly better. Gnarly chases the cats, but that's kind winding down as the cats are running less and he's getting kinda tired of them. When he catches one he wags his tail and barks, they usually let him have it with the claws if he gets too close.

He sleeps on our bed but he's WAY TOO MUCH when we're in it.

He hasn't eaten the cat food, either before or after they eat it? He actually doesn't eat much of anything but liver snacks and dog food, potato chips...

He's VERY gentle, loves everyone he met. He does have a definite play time, about 7AM & 7PM then he's ready for bed shortly after 8PM and out like a light until morning. He is a rough player....

We've left him at home a couple of times, closed him in the bedroom and expected to come back to at least SOMETHING ripped up... nope, he's just happy to see us and ready to curl up at my feet and sleep some more....

All in all we probably couldn't have picked a better match for our family.

And he's very small as far as male newfs go

"I think I'll stay, I like it here"

AGAIN, this house goes to the dogs, or dog...

2010-10-01T20:40:00.000-06:00

As my lovely wife pointed out a couple days ago a new (used but new to us) newf came to live with us. He's a two year old solid black neutered male newfoundland that came with the name "Marley". He's more than welcome to stay as he's very very nice. HOWEVER his name has got to go.... at the very least it's kinda "feminine".

So the first order of business is to pin down a new name. I immediately thought hmmmm Harley sounds like Marley, Susan nixed that as one of the horses is named Harley...

So we crossed several off the list - Harry (hairy), Darth, Gizmo, Buddy, and a few more...

Currently our short list is Chewie (Chubacca), Bailey, Riley - I'm leaning toward Chewie myself...

So if you have ideas, please post them under the FB pointer to this blog, well if you're my FB friend, you can use he comment here if not, OR you can become my FB friend. If you don't have any new ideas how about telling us which of the short list you like...

He has a fabulous personality, typical newf. He weighs a little over a hundred pounds, about the same as Amanda. He looks a lot like Amanda but with an obvious male head...

He does chase the cats so they've been hiding... When he catches them he just barks and wags his tail...

The camera has experienced a few issues. Susan used it and somehow, who knows how she changed all the autofocus settings so all the photos she took of him playing fetch with a ball are blurred. It's true, a newfoundland that likes to play fetch. If he's like the others he'll outgrow it at about four(4) when he turns into a black rug.

I DID however get one OK photo that follows. That gnarly looking thing on the right is a HUGE bone he drags around.

I don't care what they call me as long as they call me for dinner!
Newfs aren't generally very photogenic being black and rather camera shy!

His general story is that a "service dog trainer" was looking for a newf, found him in Denver full of mats and left outside without too much contact. While she didn't think he would be a good "service dog" (for allergy alert & companion) for a four year old girl, she gave the $300.00 they were getting for him and turned him over to the newf rescue group.
Well all I can say is I think he'll be happy here, actually I'm pretty darn sure he's already happy.

Well, We did come home!

2010-09-22T19:03:00.000-06:00

The train ride back from Grand Junction was nice too... Unfortunately we got a good view of the Four Mile Canyon fire just after it started... It had only burned about four acres at that time.

Ah, so now we're home, all is pretty good.

I saw my lovely wife made a FB entry that said she put some paintings at the "Dream Pastry & Crepe" shop in Castle Rock.

I had pointed out that she FAILED to post a picture to go along with it....

BUT, not only did she FAIL to post a picture, she FAILED to tell everyone that after THREE(3) days she sold one of the paintings for the asking price.

I was going to let her post it since I didn't want to "steal her THUNDER", but I haven't seen anything about the sale. Ahhh perhaps she didn't want to brag too much..... hmmmm.... That's OK I can rag for her. congratulations lovely wife....

On the weather front. It's been hotter since we returned from Grand Junction than it's been all summer. No rain in about a month, VERY HIGH fire danger, it finally did rain today.

We got TWO(2) smallish acorn squash from our garden. At least they were good. NO tomatoes, NO melons and NO peppers.

The Hollyhocks is 6 foot tall and has several dark red blooms.

The squirrels have shared he sunflower heads with the Stellar Jays.

The Cherry Tree, which did great as did the rhubarb, is starting to turn yellow and lose her leaves (I call her Virginia). I did find out that MOST varieties of cherry require TWO trees to fruit... hmmm...

I almost forgot. We went to the "water dog" trials at Chatfield Reservoir. We didn't stay long as we had the grandchildren and they get hot and bored rather easily.

Brown Newf retrieving the paddle

Same Newfy pulling the "stranded" boat

Grand Junction, Home to TWO of the FIVE Grand Children

2010-09-09T14:35:00.000-06:00

part II .........

Rachel went to WalMart for me and ordered a cake for the NO surprise birthday, well it woulda been a surprise but it "leaked" out. In any case Rachel told 'em yellow with sunflowers. As you can see it's yellow with sunflowers, I think it's great, taste pretty darn good too...

Happy Birthday, dear Grandma, Happy Birthday to you!

So, picked up the cake and called "Famous Dave's BBQ" (Rachel Suggested and it was good) to get food for a dozen, to go.... Got there right on time to pick it up, expected it to be ready and waiting and figured Becca, Brent and the other three grand kids would be there when we (Cordelia went with me) got back.

Went to the Famous Dave's bar, just like they told me. The bartender looks at me like I'm outta my mind, says "I'll get my manager, I don't HAVE an order for you"... While I was waiting for the manager I pulled out my cell phone and re-dialed the number I had called.... "Hello, Famous Dave's BBQ, FT COLLINS"... oooohhh nooo... Well I placed an order to feed twelve that I was suppose to pick up at 3:15. Well the problem is I'm at the Famous Dave's in Grand Junction, 300 miles away... DUH!! "Oh no problem sir, we'll use it all". So I ask him to read me the order so I can place it in Grand Junction... OK so everyone got a laugh at my expense... At least Cordelia and I had a strawberry shortcake while we waited... hmmm hmmm good.

Well after dinner and cake, between eating too much cake and drinking too much of Becca's $6.00 bottle of cheap spiced rum, I felt kinda bad, went in, laid down and promptly "fell asleep" (read - passed out) till morning... cake, rum and don't forget the "run Forest, run" to the front of the train.... mild case of shin splints....

Woke up to a major slumber party, kids and Becca in the living room....

We were SUPPOSE to get up and go to the Colorado National Monument for morning photos (it's the light). too bad, so sad perhaps tomorrow.

We did however make the butterfly pavilion, ONE that's right ONE butterfly but hundreds of fabulous flowers.... and a fruiting cherry tree, beautiful.

Water Lillie's

Exotic Red Orchid

My favorite - Cherries, probably Sour Cherries

More later.....

The train ride to the first annual NO surprise birthday party

2010-09-08T13:53:00.004-06:00

Hmmm Am I the ONLY one I can surprise? must be... Last time we drove to Grand Junction we saw the Amtrak going into the tunnels through Glenwood Canyon.... Hmmm I smell an adventure, sure enough the train stops at Denver and Grand junction on it's way from Chicago to San Francisco (EmeryVille)... $184.00 round trip for BOTH of us...

I made the tickets for the weekend of Susie's birthday. Conspired with Rachel to "surprise" her.

Left Friday morning in the dark to drive to the Denver Union Station, got there and learned the train was two(2) hours late for down trees in Iowa (some storm). No problem off to breakfast we go, followed by a trip to the corner three story ancient book store, the "Tattered Cover". Susie bought books...

We boarded the train, found our coach seats and promptly moved to the "lounge" car. It was a GREAT eight(8) hour ride.... never did go back to our "reserved" seats... Met lots of people, 1 couple flew from London to Denver, the train from Denver to Salt Lake City where they are going to rent a car and drive to the western national monuments.... sounds like fun to me... The other couple, also from England, brought their two teenage kids and were going all the way to San Fransisco to drive down the California coast... I reminded me of our family vacation to Europe.... OH YEAH, they don't hate Americans like the MSM would have you believe... They say that's just the elitist politicians, which I already knew...

Two(2) shots from the lounge car, the second in one of 28 tunnels before Winter Park, one is 6.2 miles long and takes 12 minutes to traverse.

So we're going to stop at Winterpark/Frazier for five(5) minutes. "If the whistle blows two(2) short, make sure you get on because it's LEAVING".... Hmmm...

Me being the type that likes LOTS of pictures for "documentation" decided I was going to the front of the train engine and taking a picture back along the length of the train...

my, oh my.... who would have guessed it would be THAT far away? Certainly not me....

So there are two(2) engines, a baggage car, three sleepers, a diner, the lounge and finally our car, the 510 coach followed by two more coach cars.... You can't leave from the diner or the lounge car so I went back to our car, got out on the platform and thought WOW that's a long way, better RUN....

when I got there I was in a full blown asthma attack (which I haven't had in over five(5) years) standing there wondering how the heck I was going to get back.... DANG, dang.....

Got the shot Hmmm, at what cost. The 510 car was PAST the people on the platform.

NOW all I gotta do is get back before it leaves. On the return run, I notice the door on the first sleeper, no one guarding it, I'll try that... So no sooner did the door close, toot... tooot... and it's away... I walk through the train to the lounge car and there's my lovely wife sitting there patiently waiting. guess she knew I'd make it. Unfortunately the next 3 hours of asthma made it questionable as to the worth....

I did take quite a few photos, but the following out of the back of the train was of particular interest to me. I actually DIDN'T notice the rock standing in the pond when I took the photo, I found it later.

We are on the last leg of the journey to Grand Junction, I'm just taking photos out of the back of the train and happen to get the rock balanced in the middle of the pond. Watercolor reference photo...

More to come........

Cats!!!, Why??? & the continuing EPIC truck/brake story. (whine)

2010-08-29T15:50:00.001-06:00

EPIC truck/brake story.... Hmmm, Finally got the entire right side apart, now I'm just plain sore and tired from fighting with it. I put the caliper on the left side and tried for 30 minutes to attach the brake line. Hmmm this is weird, wonder why the "banjo" bolt won't go back in. FINALLLY in disgust I try the bolt from the other side, same deal so I take the dang thing off. set it next to the other new caliper and low and behold they (Chinese I'm sure) had re-threaded the hole (looked like a heli-coil job) the WRONG FRIGIN SIZE, too small....

Went BACK the the parts store for the THIRD time, and showed them. Hmmmm.... well we don't have another in stock but we can get one by Monday or err...Tuesday. Fine.... It's ALMOST together, just waiting on the replacement caliper.... So for all those that wonder why we pay $85 to $135 dollars per hour for our mechanics to do this HORRIBLE, FILTHY, GREASY, THANKLESS task (or any vehicular task for that matter). Just come and help me work on truck brakes and it'll ALL be crystal clear.... BTW I'll be making the FOURTH trip to the parts store to pick up the replacement caliper (this is at 30+ miles round trip)...

Cats.... A couple of years ago we decided to let a couple of kittens live in the house with us.... I have NO IDEA what I was thinking....

Today there are a total of SIX(6), that's right SIX(6) frigen feline CATS.... Now don't get me wrong I have affection for all of them, each is unique in it's own little feline personality, each is physically attractive... The PROBLEMS however seem to far out weigh any benefit.

1. We have MICE in the kitchen (I have caught two(2) cats ZERO).
2. The white cat (Cream) self apppointed queen of the house and cat that LOVED Amanda, picks on all the other cats, well one of them (the grey cat, Miles), hooked her in the eye almost to the vitreous humour, the clear gel that fills the eye ball. That was nearly $100.00 dollar trip to the vet.
3. Try and pick up a cat, any of the cats to get them a little love and attention and all they want is DOWN.
4. Try and keep a cat away because your busy or something and all they do is NAG to be held.
5. We have to close all six(6) cats OUT of the bedroom at night or they climb up on me and play "king of the ass", (good thing I sleep on my stomach).... they fight over who sleeping where, the purr, claw with that annoying "kneading" action, they PLAY in the dresser drawers and generally cause trouble..... OH and don't forget, eat the cut flowers knocking over the VERY EXPENSIVE one of a kind vase we picked up from Waterford Ireland. I finally tossed the flowers after the fifth or sixth time.
6. I almost forgot, they've lived in this house (well mostly) their entire lives, at the minimum a heck of a long time, They are AFRAID of people (UPS Guy) knocking on he door, afraid of planes flying overhead, helicopters, noises the horses make, the ESPRESSO machine.... They take off like cats out of hell skidding, sliding and failing to gain traction on the hardwood floor..... This I gotta say is at least FUNNY...... stupid, but FUNNY!

Some people point out this behavior and tell me "cats are SO independent" personally I find them, well rather STUPID, relative to the other animals I have or have had around here.... No this doesn't mean I'd get rid of them, BUT I just can't see what I get from them relative to what I get from a dog or a horse (or seventeen) for that matter....

We have one(1) cat (Garfield) that's SO STUPID all he does is purr, NEVER stops except PERHAPS when he sleeps. Doesn't matter WHAT you do to him, he keeps right on purring, I think he's broken.

A couple of things... In cronological order

2010-08-04T19:09:00.001-06:00

So, last night I go feed the horses as usual. It's getting dark and Susan calls the outdoor cats into the garage so they don't get eaten by the foxes trying to feed their young.... Almost EVERY night I "nag" Susan to get them in and close the door. Well July is the month the mama creatures teach their younguns the ways of the world. I'm getting, uhm... my "pajamas on" (scary huh?) and getting ready to crawl into the warm bed (it's about 50 and "cold"). Susan open the people door to the garage and SCREAMS running back inside doing the "woman hop" telling me there are two HUGE ones out in the garage. "Ones?" .... uhhh raccoons.... DANG or the other word.... (this is a family friendly blog site).

So I go out to see one little baby raccoon scooting to the door. I see a SECOND baby on the shelf, scared and looking for an escape route so I can kinda cleared a path and number two scoots out. Well I stand there trying to see if any more are around, sure enough little cooing, whimpering under the wooden pallets holding all the expensive, boxed stuff from Ireland.... hmmm.... I could see the little eye peeking out and these desperate little noises. Well this one was much harder to clear a path for and I thought for SURE I'd get bitten and have to take the rabies series..... In any case it FINALLY decided to venture out and I kinda scooted it toward the door with a broom.... TONIGHT if Susie doesn't call the cats (they like her), I'm closing the overhead door and the fox family can have some tasty morsels for dinner.

So this morning I get a call from the mother of the young lady that Squirt went to live with. She's in tears telling me that their California home is being foreclosed and Squirt is coming back. While I'll be glad to see Squirt I am broken hearted for him, Carson (the girl) and the entire family. They've lived in the house for over 20 years. Scott, the dad, has been a landscaper for his entire working life, owns his own business and just can't make it in the California economy..... This is a real nice family who's entire life is being upended and turn upside down by the liberal policies that have wrecked California and are wrecking THE REST OF AMERICA as we speak.... To me this is an more pathetic than I can possibly describe.... Please Pray for Scott, Georgan, Max and Carson.... I told them Squirt will be here for them if and when they can take him back.... PLEASE go out and vote conservative in November.... Help a family survive....

An Interesting Week in the Forest....

2010-07-24T13:18:00.000-06:00

Well the BEST news is that Susie's (she WAS mine BUT SHE chose Susie), 22 year old mare, Kat, is STILL with us. She was scheduled for ah, "termination" last Wednesday. The vet arrived but the grave digger had a broken hose and couldn't make it till later. In the mean time I started giving her extra large doses of pain meds and she seems to be MUCH better. the PROBLEM is that the pain meds are like aspirin and will eventually cause other issues that will kill her. BUT she's good for now..... I did take a few pictures Wednesday morning I'll post at the end.

Kats Eye

The mama doe that's been hanging around, I call her "Notch" because she has a rather large notch in her left ear, has FINALLY exposed her fawn. I saw it once several weeks ago, just a fleeting glance. Subsequently we've seen Notch all the way up into our "yard". She's been acting very strange, we thought that perhaps the fawn had died, but Susan saw the fawn (Spot) out playing and eating with mom. Sorry no pictures, well Susie may have one or two but Spot's nearly impossible to find... Pictures of "Notch" will follow.

Notch

So I get up this morning to 50 degrees. That's right, heater weather in July. It's suppose to get up to a glorious 64 degrees with "flash flood" warnings from noon until Sunday Evening..... Hmmm more rain...... Well at least the grass will grow (if it warms up) to feed the equine. Guess I'll just have to stay indoors and watch NetFlix....

I'm a little concerned with our garden, because it's been so cool this "summer", all the plants are rather stunted. The Daisies are just starting to open, the Sunflowers are half as tall as they need to be before they bloom. We are getting plenty of Basil and Chives and ONE(1) of the tomatoes is starting to produce "licopene" (what makes them red). None of the squash plants or melon plants has even produced a flower yet. The shiny garden spot is the Cherry tree we planted last year. No Cherries just yet but it's gotten MUCH larger and has a lot of new growth, I thought it froze to death last winter, all last years growth had been killed but the root system survived.... This year I'll use Solitares solution and put a plastic trash can over it, well her, I call her Virginia, she still has all her Cherries. lol.... (how stupid)!

Cats, six, yes six cats live in the house full time, one lives in the house when the weather is bad, but stays outside when it's nice.... I finally had to run them ALL out of the bedroom at night to get sleep. If they stay, they play.... and play....and play, inevitably one of them offends another and they start a fight.... this went on night after night until I got the can of "air" (compressed air for cleaning the cameras and the computer), they simply haul ass out of the bedroom with one TINY squirt, then I close 'em out.... Hmmm.... a good nights sleep at last.

So we go to the farmers market in Monument and the sun comes out for a beautiful morning, still only 61 degrees, but sunny is always good.

When we get back, Susan decides to take some "slash" (branches and limbs) to the slash recycling center They grind it into mulch and essentially give it away.... Well you can load it yourself or pay a skip-loader dude $2.00 per bucket, BIG bucket....

In any case I'm working on other things and Susie is loading the truck with the slash.

Clearly one can see the slash pile BEHIND Susie. She's loading the truck from about 30 feet. Hmmmm....

NOW, I am NOT "making fun" of Susan, this is a serious matter. I'm wondering why it SEEMS like MOST women would rather walk the 30 feet than take the 20 seconds it took me to back the truck up to the pile. Personally I admit I'm way to lazy to walk the 30 feet.

For further clarification, Susie cut the branches off the tree, made the pile and is OBVIOUSLY loading the truck while I'm taking pictures....

It just seems to me that in the name of efficiency backing the truck... well.......

I did find a shot that Susie took of Notch and Spot. It's hard to tell from the full frame photo, BUT through the magic of photoshop and the really high pixel rate of Susan's camera, we could crop out all the extraneous stuff and zoom right in.

You can see more photos including Notch and Spot

Some days it just doesn't pay | and to our Military Heros

2010-07-03T11:02:00.000-06:00

So this has been a VERY annoying month. (well June and so far July). First the Red Dodge Ram finally died. The fuel transfer pump was bad, several hundred dollars. and subsequently caused the injection pump to fail (diesel stuff), Over $1,700.. just for the pump. One of the back windows is ALSO broken.

Then the White Dodge (Susie's truck) had the transmission rebuilt for $3,500.00+, BUT it runs real nice though. NOW the brake caliber on the right front side hung and destroyed the rotor. Figured may as well replace both calibers, at least the destroyed rotor (probably both as it'll be all new) and obviously the brake pads.

So what am I doing on our 4th of July holiday weekend, replacing the brake components on the white truck, a little over $400.00 so far, just in parts.

GggggRrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Well I suppose the good news is the brakes on the white 3/4 ton are MUCH easier than on the red 1 ton....

On seconds thought, I suppose it could always be worse, think about and pray for the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in afganistan, iraq and around the world.... Hmmmm Much much worse for them. I (and I hope you too) thank them for thier service and sacrafice.....

His and Hers Riding Lawn Mowers.... | lol

2010-06-13T15:27:00.004-06:00

So we've had two consecutive days of rain. It's really nice because it was getting rather dry here... BUT even better, my neighbors who have HIS and HER's riding lawns mowers, AREN'T out making a hell of a racket mowing the "lawn" (really it's pasture grass that looks like #$%& cut to 2 inches....).

Every single sunny day (most days in Colorado) he and his woman are out cutting 10+ acres with a puny little riding mower. If it wasn't so funny it would be pathetic.... You know move to the country and bring your lawn mowers... roflmao

NOT to be outdone, the Smith's (me and Susie) ran out and got our very own riding lawn mowers.... Not only are they RIDING mowers but they can be used in full AUTOMATIC mode (fairly reliable). In addition these are ALL weather mowers that double as snowmobiles in the winter.... The very best part however is the automatic fertalizer attachment, well come to think of it, it's actually always attached and operational. Some might say it's a rather #$%&ty design.

RedMan & Nic Supervised by "Fur B" the cat

This actually works out pretty good, while Susan is in cleaning the house, I'm cutting the grass!!! lol...

In reality Susan cuts the small amount of lawn (pasture grass cut to 2 inches) we have!!!! we DO turn the equine loose to eat down the growth around the driveway and cloths line....!

My 3rd annual "SURPRISE" Birthday Party

2010-05-30T18:45:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been a week since the first of our family showed up, James and Solitare were closely followed by Edward, Rachel, Cordelia and Wyatt...

We started the celebration with baked corrned beef with carrots and cabbage.... hmmm... hmmm... good. Of course I wasn't expecting that many for dinner, I was truley and pleasantly surprised that Ed, Rachel and their kids were able to make the trip from Grand Junction.

As it usually happens when the family gets together, bedtime didn't come early. I had to get up and put the "pork shoulder" (for pulled pork if you're from NC, carnitas if you're from the southwest) an 8lb roast cooks for up to 8 hours, until it's falling off the bone, getting turned every hour.

Saturday morning, got up late but already had the pork ready to go....

VERY shortly after the pork was in the oven, Gabriel came though the door. I had no idea Becky aka Becca knew that morning even existed. That's not really true she goes to work pretty early some mornings.

Went to get ice and a couple of other things with James and Solitare.... Got back and was getting ready to start "peach margaritas" when I noticed the 10 Avacados waiting for me to make guacamole'. Decided that in the interest of accuracy, in makig the guac that I should do that BEFORE starting peach margaritas....

Minnesota Susie (not to be confused with MY Susie) came with a TURKEY she had cooked and de-boned. Mike and Cindy along with their oldest daughter, Gina and her two girls arrived.

Of course by this time I had been working on the peach margaritas (and some beer) for a hour or so.

Robert(the horse whisperer/trainer) and Linda Hartford show up and it just happens to be their 10th wedding anniversary. Of course I tried to toast them and spilled TWO peach margaritas.... dang, waste of good liquor and better peaches....

In any case we had a lot of folks for quite a while. We eventually got around to "GAME TIME" just like we always do... We played the REALLY STUPID, but REALLY FUNNY game called "Quelf"...

As always happens, Sunday came and everyone headed home.... dang, another year older and a WHOLE LOT OF FUN....

Hmmm photos..........

Cordelia, Wyatt, Gabe(the big one), Connell and Molly

Becca playing the "air drums" with household items and Connells help (the game -Quelf)

James & Solitare - Also playing "the game"

Rachel, ALSO playing "the game" - Note the dogs leash? hmmm....

Wyatt & Ed NOT playing "the game" - look like twins to me... check out them eyes

A REALLY "Old Man From Black Forest" OLD and tired.

and of course, not ONE single photo of my lovely wife, her camera!

Chapter 6 | Bed & Breakfasts + Global Warming Strikes Southern Colorado

2010-05-12T18:30:00.000-06:00

I'll start with the "global warming" issues - It's the 11th of May, 2010 (last night). We're in bed watching the "thunder-snow", Spring-time in the Rockys brings THUNDER-SNOW... woke up to two inches of WET, SLOPPY, SLUSHY, SLICK SNOW and we're expecting up to three more inches tonight and even more tomorrow night.... It may sound like I'm complaining, but it's really only an observation.

Back to Ireland.... As I had mentioned earlier in this "recollection", we stayed in Bed & Breakfasts through our entire Ireland visit.... So before you leave the U.S. you find a bed & breakfast in the vacinity you'd like to start your trek. These are the hardest to find, but not to hard if you start early. The Bed & Breakfast "organization" that most belong to send you an inch thick listing with photos, directions, and descriptions of literally hundreds of possibilities.

When we arrived for our evening stay we'd speak with the owners and get recommendations on the next days adventures and where they recommended we stay. Make a phone call to the next days B&B and see if they can accomodate us, if not we simply tried another. Both times we did this (it was VERY easy with just Susan and myself) we NEVER encountered any lodging issues.

Most also had "dinner" as well as breakfast so we did get a good deal of Irish home cooking.

Usually the families were very talkative and seemed to enjoy our conversation. Of course me being me, my favorite topic was the Protestant vs. Catholic "conflict" that none of the Irish really cared about.

For those that haven't travelled outside the US I think the thing you'd find most perplexing is the plumbing, especially showers.

As we explored central Ireland, headed for Donegal we decided it was time to do laundry (yup, unlike in the movies, they do laundry, (and go to the bathroom) in Ireland too). and one of the highlights of the trip (for me anyway) Belleek, Northern Ireland, just outside Donegal....

Chapter 5 | Dublin, Republic of Ireland

2010-05-09T19:48:00.000-06:00

Well I have a few minutes... So here I am, trying yet again. I'm behind in my watercolor class, but I don't think I'm as far behind as Susan... Maybe, but I don't think so.... HOWEVER in terms of quality Susan is unsurpassed...

Well we FINISHED the watercolor class, Susan has some EXCELLENT examples of what watercolor should look like....

On to Dublin....

The Dublin airport hence the bed and brekfast we stayed at were on the East side of the city... We were headed West. In general we were headed to Donegal by way of bed and breakfasts along the way.... Dublin is a big city, just like other big cities, there are lots of people, lots of stores lots of traffic.... There's also a lot of history and of course Guiness (which we never got to, but drank our share, well, I drank our share....

We did visit Trinity College, Dublin with the beutiful old library and the "Book of Kells". for more information on the "Book of Kells" see http://www.bookofkells.ie/book-of-kells/ . Four gospels in very ornate "caligraphy" and in Latin (circa 800).

On leaving Dublin heading toward Donegal, we just drove and stopped when we saw things of interest. Same thing we did on our Colorado vacations.

So what did we find? Castles, castles and more castles. Big castles, OLD castles (and some forts).... I think we must have stopped and explored, I don't know, maybe twenty different castles.

This was one of the first, as you can see a real tourist mecca, the tourist buses actually swarm onto some of the better known castles like the Blarney Castle.... So this out of the way castle was great fun. No one showed up the entire time we were there, as was the case with MOST.

We parked the car and walked

The three "children" Ed is off in the distance

and NO, it didn't rain the entire time we were there, but it was clear why Ireland is so green....

REMINDER - Third annual "surprise" birthday party for ME.... Saturday, May 22nd noonish.... Pulled Pork, aka Carnitas um Guacamole, Peach Margaritas and we'll see what else..... Don't tell me, it's a surprise..... 719.499.7758 for directions....

Amanda Memorial Photos

2010-04-19T21:07:00.001-06:00

Many of you know Amanda, you know how truly HUGE she was. You do get use to how big newfs are after a couple of years... Amanda was actually the smallest of the newfs we had, the photos just don't do justice....

This was taken during one of our snow storms... I went out to see how she was doing. You can imagine my thoughts when I saw this.

Newfoundlands LOVE sleeping in the snow!!!

This photo was taken just a couple of weeks before she died...

Just laying in the driveway

Finally no memorial of Amanda would be complete without a tribute to how absolutely gentle she was... All seven cats really liked her. But Cream just adored her. They use to go out the screen door together, Amanda would open the door and Cream would follow.

Amanda 110 lbs. & Cream 10.5 lbs This cat followed her EVERYWHERE, well except in front of Amandas fan.

It's been really hard, different and lonely (when Susan goes to work). Every time I hear a dog bark I jump up to check on her. We went to a picnic in Fort Collin Sunday (the 18th) with James and Solitare and lots of dogs, but alas no Amanda... ;-( We really do miss her.

18 Years of Newfoundlands, 13 Year with Amanda....

2010-04-07T19:15:00.000-06:00

We got our first Newfoundland 18 years ago, Windy.... Our last Newfoundland has been with us for 13 of those 18 years, Amanda died today the month of her birthday 13 years ago....

She couldn't walk and was starting to have breathing problems.... I called the Vet Monday and we agreed on Today (Wednesday), Susan and I spent all day with her...

About 2PM the vet called and said she was on her way.... We went in to say our final good-byes and Amanda was all happy, glad to be pet and fed carrots and liver snacks (she quit eating her regular chow)...

About 15 minutes before the vet came she laid down with me, went to sleep... The vet came, gave her some 'ace' (tranquilizer), got everything ready and administered the injection, Amanda NEVER woke up. I guess she too had decided it was time.....

We are both VERY sad, but also very relieved as she wasn't in very good shape and going fast.....

Chapter 4 | Republic of Ireland | "Shades of Green"

2010-02-17T19:33:00.001-07:00

So... the high speed ferry arrives in Dublin Ireland.... We collect our loggage and head for the "rental car" location.... After arriving I present the confirmation for a "full size" rental vehicle.... Right this way.....

The look of disgust | Hmmm...

Five(5) adults in this "full size" vehicle... No amount of complaining did any good.

But we did make the entire time without too much friction. the three took turns in the middle of the back seat. Ed and Becky both tried the drivers seat. James and Susan, well they just rode....

So from the ferry dock to the "bed and breakfast" and it's starting to get late... Fortunately I had driven around Dublin on previous visits. When I looked for a bread and breakfast I looked for someplace near something I knew,... the airport...

The roads in Dublin are very hard to navigate. the street name changes every couple of blocks. No street names on the corner. The street names are carved into SOMETHING, usually stone near the street... Needless to say Dublin is NOT easy to get around... Not only was Susan impressed, the the guy that ran the bed and breakfast (with his wife) couldn't believe a yank could find them that easily... Big secret.. follow the signs to the airport...

So, we spent the night at the B&B, had breakfast and headed off to Donigal...

Sorry it took so long to post this, been kinda busy... I'll TRY and do better....

Chapter 3 - London England

2010-01-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

So the plane lands and we get off to go through customs, the United 1st class attendent had already gotten all of our stuff off and it was ready to go through the "VIP" customs line. The five of us and maybe a half dozen others went through customs in about 1 minute. The remainder of the passengers were in this HUGE gaggle waiting for their bags and we were done. It pays to fly United and save those frequent flier miles.

In case you never get to fly international 1st class, it doesn't end with the flight. Once through customs we were all treated to a little (fairly large for an airport) private "refresh room". Showers, heated towels, toiletries and a chance to look human again after the long and arduous flight from the US...

We had decided that we'd take the "tube", aka subway, from the airport to the stop closest to our "bed and breakfast" destination. I found an ATM, stuck my debit card in and son-of-a-gun the right color money came out. We had decided early (based on my previous trips) to put our money into our checking account and just use the ATM, much cheaper than money exchanges. I think between the five of us we may have had $50.00 in cash. The ATM might be one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century...

We finally leave the airport on the tube destined for downtown London. It's quite a long ride but the tube stop is clearly marked and we had an excellent map London Tube Map, our stop was Glouchester Road. We arrive at the bed and breakfast at 10:00AM London time, DEAD TIRED because it's 3:00AM Moutain Time. Didn't matter that it was a sunny, warm day the body's clock said sleep, SCREAMED SLEEP... dang we can't check in until at least 1:00PM. We did however leave our luggage while Susan and I walked around like zombies, the kids were off to fix Eddies tongue piercing...

We finally pass out on the bed for a short nap before we head to the theater for Cats.

I don't know why Rebecca HAD to see Cats, I didn't want to and the boys were pretty ambivalent. James seemed OK with it but still not overly excited.

So we get to the theaer, I expect reasonably good seats, but these are like front row (maybe second) center. The stage/set is built right into the seats, the whole thing moves for scene changes.

The "Cats" or the actresses (and I suppose actors but I didn't notice) were all dressed in SKIN tight leotards that looked like kitty cats, wiskers, ears the whole thing. BUT the most noticable part was the skin tight. and DARN if those kitty cats couldn't resist rubbing up against the two boys mostly. They kinda stayed away from me as I'm OLD and my wife was sitting right next to me. By rub up against I mean use your wildest imagination nd you might get the idea.... It looked like they both had catnip sprinkled all over them.... haha, it was great.

But really the play was fabulous. I never imagined a play could be this much fun... I saw "Cats" again a couple years later in Charlotte and I was very disappointed....

Dragging back to bed (didn't care about breakfast) it was like sleep heaven... But up the next morning to tour London. Very nice, I'd recommend the "New" Old Globe Theater. It wasn't open for performances when we went but we looked around and the museum was open, we saw a Shakespearian play there the following year, highly recommended... At least as good as Cats, probably even better.... Maybe we'll talk about that if I ever get to our "romantic" (without kids) trip.

The "tube" is just plain fun to ride around, goes everywhere... "Mind The Gap" as the conductor says.

Also the art museums are top notch. I'm not going to bore everyone with the details, I'm not going to put all the tourist landmark pictures up... But they look just like the movies...

So Monday morning we're headed for Ireland, via Wales in a rental car... I told them I wanted the largest sedan they had. It was, well shall we say, NOT big enough for five adults and all our luggage. Stuff was packed everywhere, the trunk barely closed... But never fear we have to turn this rental in as rentals don't go from England/Wales to the Republic of Ireland, or Northern Ireland for that matter. Something about the IRA (at that time). hmmm...

The drive through Wales was the most nondescript, boring drive I can remeber, It's almost like driving through southern New Mexico, desolate. We stopped at one place, I think to get something to eat. We went in and all the folks were chatting rather loudly in "Welsh" I guess. It was instantly quiet, the entire time we were there they all spoke in wispers, like we could understand them....

After what seemed like forever we arrived at Holyhead, Wales where we were to catch the "High Speed" ferry to Dublin.... Sounded interesting to me... ended up being pretty amazing. We checked our luggage then went to the ferry dock... Oh My Goodness, this thing is maybe 110' at the beam (across) and at least 300 feet long, maybe longer. It held 30 or so full size tour busses and over a hundred cars on the lower deck. It's said that you can ride across in your car but it didn't look like fun to me.

The "ferry is a flat front semi-hydro catmeran (it has two narrow hulls on the outside and rides mostly out of the water on hydrofoils). It must reach close to fifty mph as the wind outside is intense. There's a little deck on the very back where passengers can stand and see the water purpulsion jets, I kid you not this "ferry" is a technological marvel. It's powered by turbine engines (same as a jet plane)which in turn pump HUGE columns of water out of the back... check out the movie clip (not mine). Off the back deck of the "ferry"
The entire front window goes from side to side you can be seated for a meal, sit at a bar, or just stand at the window. The "ferry" has a complete casino and one-arm bandits all over, shops, snacks and just about anything one could want. It was so impressive Susan and I did it again the following year too.

If I remember correctly the trip takes about an hour and forty-five miuutes, seemed like 10 minutes... So we arrive in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland... hmmmm what a treat....

AND what a suprise, the rental car was even SMALLER than the one we left in Wales.... joy....

I do have a single photo, I'm skipping all the photots of things you've already seen in the movies (or on TV). This photo happens to be the place we stayed at in London. It couldn't properly be called a bed & breakfast as it was mainly used by students visiting and touring Europe, it had a bed but no breakfast.. It was certainly exactly right for us, not too fancy but served the purpose well....

Bed no Breakfast - London England

It really was more than adequate, we stayed the same place the following year, right in the neighborhood.....

Cheers

Chapter 2 - The Big days arrives.....

2010-01-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well before I get to the "Big Day" a couple of side commentaries....

First if you didn't get the Pioneer Womans cook book for Christmas, either buy it or put it on you Birthday list.. I made the Rib-Eye with wiskey sauce for the second time and it was just as good as the first, maybe better.

Second thank you Ed and Rachel for the bottle of Jameson Irish Wiskey you gave me Christmas 2008. Since I ran out of "Jack Daniels" for cooking I snuck a little of the Jameson into the Rib-eye. Started with a little over half a bottle and have about an inch left. Good thing about cooking with Jameson is it's REALLY tempting to taste... Needless to say this may be a little confusing, at least to the readers....

The big day... I don't remember the date but it was the last weekend in May 1997 something. Oh by the way I guess I'm going to have to dig out the old film camera photos, that'll be fun....

Everyone was at the house on Wilde right on time with a lot of luggage. We were going for two(2) weeks so we packed at least enough for one(1) week and we planned on laundery. Question, do they have laudromats in Ireland, guess you'll need to read more to know,, haha.... It's the Jameson...

We arrive at the airport the required two(2) hours in advance for international travel. We check in and wait, and wait etc.. Nothing really interesting at the Colorado Springs airport... Our flight is to DIA for a connection to Washington Dulles continuing on to London Heathrow.... The five of use took most of the first class seats to Denver, boy were they (the kids ) ever rowdy, Susan was terrified as usual as it was a "small" plane a local hop 737... But it was only a thirty minute flight from gate to gate, still white knuckled all the way....

We connected to a HUGE, brand new Boeing 777. Check it out, the first class section was bigger than our living room with only eleven(11) seats. Much better for Susan, she FINALLY decided she could stand up and get to the bio-break facilities without panic. The kids are now in the bussiness class, all with window seats in seperate rows to eliminate any fighting, bickering or kid stuff... There really isn't anything to see from 35,000 ft and it's Dark over the Atlantic.... All three were VERY well behaved...

Well first things first, we arrive in Washington Dulles and have to get off and actually go to the terminal. No problem there's an International 1st class lounge, which they let the kids into, with just about every kind of food and liquor you could ask for. I don't know about James but I'm pretty sure Rebecca and Edward helped themselves to EVERYTHING they could "drink" and certainly everything all three of them could eat..

After waiting in the 1st class lounge for what seemed like forever, we boarded the 777 for Heathrow. Of course they had a seperate jet-way for the eleven(11) 1st class passengers as well as the thirty or so business class passengers. The HUNDREDS of coach passengers loaded by the other jet-way (aka cattle shoot).

Hmmm. there is a flight attendent for just about every two(2) passengers in 1st class. They're waiting with wine, champaign (the fancy stuff I can't even recall the name of). and pre-flight snacks. The seats recline to a full 180 degrees, all the liqour and food you can eat is shuttled right to your fully reclining seat.... asppetizers, Filet Mignon, Lobster, crab, you name it they got it. I suppose that's why people pay over $12,000.00 dollars for a 1st class seat/ (ours were on frequent flier miles)... Almost forgot the personal entertainment facilities with movies, games and other superferlous stuff....

It is an eight(8) or so hour flight. I HAD made it once before in coach (aka cattle car) once in business and and several times upgraded to 1st class. which I can assure you I wouldn't do unless I had plenty of frequent flier miles (all due to expire in the next few months).

I think the key is the HUGE space for only eleven(11) seats, Susan felt right at home, like she was in our living room... It was luxerious. (but not worht $12,000.00 dollars per seat, at least MY money)... Susan even drank some Champaign without using the bag usually provided in the seat back pouch....

So the plane finally arrives at Heathrow London and we break through the clouds just after sun-rise (they had already served a huge breakfast).... It looks like the movies, you know all the shots you see with the cameras flying overhead... Quite impressive and since the pattern is SO BIG with all the arriving flights it's almost a tour unto itself....

OK, gotta go get some MORE Jameson and watch "House".... more soon

Cheers.... Might even be pictures to go with chapter 3...

Chapter 1 | The Greatest Family Vacation EVER!!!! - well for us anyway!

2010-01-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

I was talking with James today, he was recollecting places we had visited when the kids were younger. He brought up what he called the "Family Trip to Europe". I told him, see that's something you could write about on "Your Blog" (which he's never created because he has nothing to write about), Well I thought that I might like to write about it myself!

First of all most of you know that I traveled thousands of miles while I was consulting, factually I traveled over 1,500,000 frequent flier miles. Keep in mind that at the time any trip under 500 miles was credited as 500 miles... OK it was still alot. To get an even better perspective the two(2) first class tickets, and three(3) business class tickets (we didn't want to put up with the kids in the same cabin) I got on "frequent flier miles" would have sold for over $50,000.00 at the going discounted business and first class rates. Yes I flew alot, and yes my wife suffered the most, taking care everything on the homefront... Now that we're past that.....

The concept of going to "Ireland" started in January of James senior year of high school, he was seventeen at the time, he's now thirty, so it's been awhile and hopefully I can be accurate...well mostly accurate....

So the first thing we did was decide that WE (Susan and I) wanted to go. We decided we'd go around June when the days were longest. We then asked each of the kids if THEY would like to go, dumb, dumb question... OK we're all going what do WE want to do???

Well actually before we get to that the first thing is make sure we ALL get passports as I was the only one that had one. Of course it was REAL wise that we started early as James had a bit of a birth certificate issue. For reasons unknown his birth wasn't legally registered until he was five(5), trying to get into kindergarten. Looks kinda weird to the passport folks when your birth was registered in 1984 and you were born in1979... Needles to say it was a hassle and it did take several months, but it arrived just in time...

Back to what do you want to do in Europe. Susan and I had decided that we'd fly into London then drive through Wales and catch a ferry to Dublin, the Republic or Ireland... hmmm no problem there. Rebecca decided that we should all go see the live play "Cats" while in London, then fly back through Paris to go to some cemetary where ????????? was buried... hmmm joys... Once James and Edward heard this, they jumped right on the bandwagon. talk as I might I couldn't talk them out of Paris, OR the cemetary...

We decided that we were going to stay in bed and breakfast inns for the entire stay. We made reservations at one in London well in advance and made a reservation in Dubln for one night. We purchased front row seats at about $80.00 each for "Cats" I scoffed at that too, but everyone else (Susan) that counts thought it would be OK...

In retrospec, all of the planning went amazingly well, we weren't stranded, weren't without a place to stay, NOTHING went seriously wrong, that may depend on ones perspetive, but from mine it went as smooth as anything I'd ever done.... NOW we wait. Chapter 2 - The day arrives.....

cheers.

So the 2010 New Year is here, there and everywhere....

2010-01-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

Way back on New Years day when I started this post..., got sidetracked which is EASY when you're old.

And where was I when the New Year arrived, sleeping next to my lovely wife..That's right sleeping.... We went to Minnesota Suzi's for "taco bar", she fixed Peach Margaritas, Pork, Beef and chicken, we brought guacamole and other people brought various sides, I really can't remember everything that was there. While I cut up the avacados I drank two, or three peach margaitas, ok maybe four, regardless I sat in the chair next to the Christmas tree and consumed some pork and beef on nacho chips...hmmm...hmmm....hmmm.. I had to get the margaritas out of the way early OR let Susan drive home... enough about that...

Slept late the first day of the New Year, until 7 or so... fixed "Sour Cream Pancakes" out of Susans "new" cookbook... boy are those good,... and easy...

Now I'm just bummin' around for the remainder of the day.

Fast Forward to 10-January-2010

James commented that I hadn't posted anything in several weeks. It's true, it's not that I don't have anything to post it's just that I seem to have other things to do, things that "get in the way", like taking a nap... (don't tell), or watering the equine when it's 6 degrees outside...

We've had some BRUTAL cold day, one where the HIGH was 6 degrees and the overnight lows were in the negative double digits.

We have two(2) diesel trucks and the van with no heater motor. Of course the van started right up, the trucks turned over but wouldn't start, well they turned over until Susie ran the battery down on "her" truck. YES, they do have block heaters but it's hard to find extension cords and outlets around here as the horse water tanks need to be heated or they freeze SOLID. I had used all of the long extension cords on those leaving none for the vehicles. Believe it or not we have NEVER had the trucks not start because it was just too cold.

Santa left me a GREAT espresso maker and Mary (my mother-in-law) bought me a deep fat frier. Between the lattes and french fries I still haven't gotten down to 199. Yup, that's right just a couple (1.5 actually) pounds over 200 and the New Years resolution is to break the 200 barrier.. Actually the reality is it's probably not as much the espresso machine and lattes as it is the "Pioneer Woman" cookbook Rachel bought Susie (who rarely cooks). Check this out - Sour Cream Pancackes, Rib-eye with wiskey sauce, Blackberry cobbler, and the list goes on. We've tried (I've cooked) many and all are very good.

Enough about food, I'm making myself hungry and I'll have to run out and cook up some french fries....

Squirt is still is California. Carson has sent a couple of updates and a few more pictures. He seems to really be content, at least in the pictures. Carson gets along with him just fine. They are getting to know each other so Squirt can take Carson "down the fence" at a reined cow horse show, very popular in California... I've put this link out here before so if you really want to know what we (mostly I, and Robert) do with our horses see the web-site that I created just for reined cow horses, http://www.rch.table-rock.com/ . The cow horse site has links to other interesting Quarter Horse, and "horse" sites...

Susan brought home YET ANOTHER cat the other day, a neutered male "Maine coon". He's really BIG and really hairy, VERY gentle and friendly. The word on the street is that he "sprays" in the house. I'm betting he just holds his tail up and twitches (making it LOOK like he's spratying) time will tell... I guess it doesn't really matter too much he's living in the "barn/garage", too many cats in the house already....

Amanda made it through ANOTHER Christmas. She seems quite content and happy. She loves to lay in the snow at 6 degrees. She is starting to show her age around her muzzle and in her eyes, Sometimes I think she might be dead because she doesn't hear too well (well I'm not sure about this, she seems to hear me get in the treat bucket (liver snacks) just fine). I have to touch her to make sure she's still breathing.

Kat is still hobbling along and seems very content. I will in the next couple of days take Harley and "RedMan" over to the 80 and bring back the the "two year olds" (they just had a birthday on January 1st, same as ALL horses)... I'll probably bring Cory (Squirts younger sister) over with them... Oh the two year olds are Belle, named after the race horse Eight Belles, Love Muffin (Roberts horse from Kat, her last baby) I call her Love Muffin (or Muffin) because her daddy's name is "The Love Man", haha..... I think Linda, Roberts wife calls her Miss Kitty, nice name but I've always called her Muffin and probably always will, the third one is hmmm can't recall her name, but she is also one of Roberts babies... Dang hate it when that happens.....

I really enjoyed the days off over the last couple of weeks. I consumed the remainder of 2009 vacation and just hung out with Susie (well one day I hung out ALL DAY while she went to work hmmm)...

I've decided that I really like my "Demand Planning" job. A lot more interaction with people than the previous IT job. But interesting, challenging and it keeps me on my toes. I think it's the "Going where no man has gone before" thing that makes it the most interesting. No one can really "train me", it's pretty much "learn" and pretty self directed... I still don't like "meetings" but at least I can ride my "wind-trainer" (fancy term for stationary bike), and maybe get to the 199 goal, soon....

It's Saturday morning, Susan went to her Palmer Lake Art Group meeting (she's the treasurer) so I have the house and the computer to myself. When she returns we're going to get the Rebecca grandchildren and spend the day playing in the sunshine (42.8 degrees today, higher tomorrow)... We're thinking about taking them to the zoo i n the morning, mostly so Gabe can use his new camera on something more interesting than "stuffed animals".

Oh yeah, I gave myself one other Christmas present... well or Santa brought another, whichever you choose... Susan painted this REAL NICE watercolor of California Poppies. I don't know if she posted it on her blog-site so I'm not going to, BUT I took a picture of the SECOND best thing I see from my pillow when I wake up in the morning (too dark to see at night).

Anyone care to guess what the BEST thing I wake up to is?

Susan will have to upload the image (which has no reflections)

Gabe the photographer, Yes it WAS as cold as it looks

Playing ON Palmer Lake, the ice is 4-6 inches thick enough to hold a car

As you can see he isn't too afraid, Bambis daddy, I think?

Squirt & Carson, bareback... Note the contrast between CA and CO. I'm convinced Squirt is really in heaven, he looks VERY content...

Cheers.....

Merry Christmas.... Squirt in California....

2009-12-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

Well, Squirt and his new family made it back to California last Sunday, the 20th of December, just in time to enjoy a nice warm Califonia Christmas day. Current temperature here is 10 degrees, the high yesterday 13... Seems like Squirt REALLY got the best Christmas present this year, Carson and her entire family and a new home in sunny California... Never have to stand in the cold again, (Californians might think it's cold but us Coloradans know better).

Carson & Squirt just arriving in California

Must be strange to get in a trailer, have no idea where your going and pop out of the trailer 1100 miles away at a brand new place, with brand new people. Hmmm....

Carson has already gone to a reined cow horse trainer and tried Squirt on a cow (calf)... and she said they're going back next week for a lesson with Doug Ingersoll... It's been a while since Squirts been riden, but I'm sure Carson will get him legged up and back in shape in no time...

I have a lot to be thanksfull for this year as most... Amanda is still with us and still relatively healthy (relative to being nearly 13), Squirt has a new home and someone to give him the attention he deserves... All of my family and friends are doing A-OK, and the sun came up again this morning...

And the grass is green

One of Squirts other new friends Havanna

Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy and Safe New Year

Cheers

Squirt goes to a new home

2009-12-19T15:46:00.001-07:00

Robert called just a few days ago and asked me if I'd like to sell Squirt, I said Maybe... He said he had a friend in Sacramento CA that was looking for a good, reliable quarter horse for his soon to be teenage daughter. I asked Robert who it was and he told me Scott, Georgeanne and their daughter Carson.

I had met Scott and Georgeanne on the trip to purchase PorkChop in Napa Valley. We stopped by their house is near Sacramento, actually Loomis CA. At the time their two children were a toddler and a relative newborn.

Well like all of our horses I really love Squirt, he was the first horse born on the ranch, as I said last post. He certainly wouldn't win any beauty contest, he has short legs and a powerful build all topped off with a rather large head.

I have riden Squirt more than any of the other horses, shown him in dozens of reinings and cow horse shows. He won the cow horse regional championship a few years back. He is exceptionally reliable, maybe not as flashy as some but he always finished in the money.

In all the time we've had Squirt he has NEVER bucked anyone off and I've never fallen off him, he's very careful and pays close attention to me, probably any rider. Robert's nine(9) year old daughter, Kristy, has riden Squirt bareback for several years.

Despite his short legs he can run like the wind, he'll catch ANY cow as long as you've got the nerve... He NEVER gives up or balks, he's got a HUGE heart and really tries to be just right.

We were at the county fair horse show a few years back. Squirt noticed the draft horses pulling a rather big, loud wagon. He was very concerned about the wagon and was very nervous and visibly upset. I finally saddled him up and rode him behind the wagon so he'd know it wasn't going to get him. We did this for hours, everyone that we went past at the fair got to pet him and give him treats. He finally got a little more comfortable but always watched the wagon so he knew exactly where it was. Well my turn in the arena came up, I rode him over to the arena and OH NO the wagon pulls up right outside the arena and parks. I thought for sure he'd dump me when we started our reining run. Nope, he kept watching, I could tell he was constantly aware of the wagon but he did his stuff just right. We didn't finish too good because the rider was so distracted by him being distracted that I lost count on the spins...

Today starts a new chapter in Squirts life. He's going to have Carson all to himself. I have to believe that it's a recuring horse dream to belong to a young horse loving girl.

Carson and family arrived yesterday, they picked up Squirt to go over to the 80 and give him a try... After going around the "block" a few times he was brought home to us for his final night here. He was already in a nice warm horse blanket that Carson had brought just waiting for this morning.

Well the suns coming up and I'm headed out to feed him, all teary eyed, for the last time. I'll take a couple of peppermints (which he and most of our horses love).

One thing is for sure, I know he's going to a great place, probably heaven on earth for a horse...

Merry Christmas Carson, Squirt.... Everyone.... and Happy New Year...

Squirt & Carson

Another horse story that needs telling...

2009-12-14T18:48:00.002-07:00

I had mentioned that Robert and I flew to Napa valley to look and Porkchop and found Kat... Well that story continues. We left Napa Valley for Seattle Washington. We were going to look at another brood mare. This mare lived in Puyallup Washington.

We went to visit a nice family, Nancy, Greg and a ten year old KayCee (KC). They had a mare for sale because they wanted to use the proceeds to campaign (train and show) Compact CD a two year old stud colt out of Hiccup aka "Lil Dun Hickory". Dun is a color variation that manifest itself as a tan colored horse with a dorsal stripe (line down it's back). Hiccup was a "red" dun meaning she had a red stripe and a red mane and tail.

Hiccup was also a trained cutter that both Nancy and ten year old KC rode.

Well Robert took Hiccup for a spin and liked her. He did say I should stay off as she was rather "hot", hot defined as in "wound as tight as a spring", I was truly a beginning rider and chances are good I would have fallen off, or been tossed.

In any case we negotiated a bit and I thought I'd buy her too. Nancy was REALLY excited about the two year old, Compact CD and determined to show him off. He was (and is) very handsome. Well Nancy saddles him up and climbs on in the "round pen". CD took one fast run around the round pen, then EXPLODED, bucking and kicking, tossing Nancy to the ground. We found out later that she had broken her shoulder... It sure looked like it hurt... bummer.

Hiccup was shipped home to us. She had several nice babies, the first born at Table Rock was "Squirt", more on him later. Here is a photo of hiccup with squirt shortly after he was born.

Hiccup and Squirt as he sees his very first human (Susan)

Hiccup went on the have Kory, "RedMan", Lacy, Yoda and Dunny before her untimely death. I drove her from our house, one dark winter night in a full blown blizzard, to CSU where they did everything possible, but no luck... We do miss her...

I always wanted to ride hiccup, she was certainly a "well broke" cutting horse, shortly after she had Squirt she was out in a pasture and injured her hock. Then she had Kory, we went to the vet one day and the vet noticed she looked a little off, she had foundered so no one ever rode her again (some founder horses can be ridden we probably could have ridden her).

Kory was born right in our barn, Kory was the first foal we saw come into the world. I looked out the window about 8PM one night, Hiccup is pacing, laying down, standing up over and over. I thought I'd go take a look to see if she was OK, we weren't really expecting any new lifw that evening. When I got to the barn I found the two front legs sticking out about 6 inches, by time I called Susan (on the cell phone) and Susan arrived, Kory was almost all the way out, about five(5) minutes.

This story is really to set up another horse story regarding Squirt. It will be a really sad story for me, BUT I'm thinking a real happy story for someone else....

PS - While I was looking for some pictures of Squirt I found this photo, taken by Susan of me on the way to the ground. The horse happens tp be Kat, the runniing W is almost visible on her thigh...

Ouch

When it's brutaly cold and you have horses... and fire wood :-)

2009-12-11T18:02:00.002-07:00

This is NOT a posting about "horses" per se. It's about what the human(s) have to go through so the horses stay OK. Horses by design, are cold weather, VERY cold weather animals... When it's -18F (yup minus 18 and that's NOT the wind chill), they still need to eat and even more joyous, get water...

So around Table Rock Quarter Horses this is a brief idea of what kind of misery one can encounter.

When it's this cold outside, even with insulated coveralls and Sorrel boots, well you're just NOT going to stay warm, or for that matter get warm (outside). Just a mild wind plunges the "wind-chill" value into the minus 40s or 50s.

The first and most obvious thing is neither truck, the van, the semi or the tractor will start. The old propane John Deere however does start, it's at the 80 acres 4 miles away. The diesel pickups have an engine block heater, BUT we never use them and they are parked too far way from the house to get electricity. The barn tractor, despite the "glow plug" and ether (engine starter fluid) just doesn't get up enough RMP to fire off.

Just one little bit of water in a 100' hose, blocks the whole thing. With the hose not only blocked but as hard as a (trying to think of something polite) fence post, it's a LONG cold battle to get one into the house and thawed. FORTUNATELY over the years I've learned this lesson and I did have the hoses completely drained, thank goodness... Just an interesting observation, without water tank heaters over 2 inches of ice forms overnight when it's this cold. Four inch thick ice will support a car.

The electric garage door opener will not lift or lower the garage door. It is kinda old but it's been working OK until now. I think the door binds because of ice in the rollers. Now it is completely dead...

I have a 1300 pound bale of alfalfa in the driveway that I can't move because the tractor won't start. I don't want to open it or it'll never move, it will just turn into a pile of "lawn clippings" and it's no where near the horses.

I do have some 70 pound bales stored in the barn for just this kind of emergency BUT that's not the real issue. The "small" bales still have to be hauled from the barn in the cold, wind and snow, BUT still not the issue...

What is the issue? would you believe Bambi, his mother, father, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, his friends, their friends. All in all a herd of about 60 including some pretty good size bucks, complete with antlers... They all stand around in the driveway "arguing" about who's going to eat off the 1300 (soon to be 1000) pound bale of alfalfa. I still haven't figured it out, three days before one doe and her two fawns were taking tiny nibbles and being VERY peaceful, three days later the whole herd. How did they all know? the doe tell 'em? I guess it really doesn't matter BUT if they get use to feeding here they'll start defending the food source... no thanks...

To make matters worse a small herd of elk have been through, leaving the fence in tatters as they just run right through it, Bambi and company at least try and jump over it. How do I know, Elk prints... I guess I should point out santas reindeer tracks to the kids huh? hmmm.

Now for the firewood. we rarely burn the stove as we've had little kids around for years and it's just too dangerous. Plus the heat will drive you out of the house if it's not REAL cold outside (it is). So I trudge down to where I DIDN'T decide to store the wood, and bring some back to the garage. I managed one load as my feet froze. I must say that it sure made it toasty in the house... I am however going to move the wood back to where I decided to store it...

Ahh now the best part. Every day, 365 days a year, 7-8:00 in the morning, then again around 4:30 in the evening (it gets dark at 5:00). Feed the equine friends... It's a Looong boring story, feel free to visit for a first hand look... I won't even make you help.

The real good thing is that this was not a SNOW event for us, maybe a couple inches of fine powder, not really a wind event either. A little wind when it wasn't snowing so no big deal. IF it had been a snow event, I'd STILL be digging out the firewood, stored where I DIDN'T decide to store it.

The Watercolor class comes to an end...

2009-12-06T18:21:00.001-07:00

The final watercolor class was Saturday, the 5th of December... The last day everyone puts up the work they did during the semester. I like the art EVERYONE does, BUT it's clear that Susan has a fabulous grasp of the subject. Her paintings are really Nice. Hopefully she'll get the one she did for Christmas cards out this year. It's painted but .... Hmmm maybe I'll just take it to Kinkos and let them make the cards... Hmmm... she MIGHT even put some up on her blog.

In any case I asked Susan if it's OK to be "pleased" with yourself? she said "I don't think so", Ohhh that's too bad because I'm pretty pleased with myself... I got the idea for this paining a couple weeks ago and I'm pleased with the way it came out. Lots of ego here..., good thing considering the "failures"...

I call it "watercolor work place" complete with coffee cups rings (up by the orange brush at the top).

Chics Betty Crocker

2009-12-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Another horse tale...

The first time I saw Chicks Betty Crocker was at the 1998 National Reining Horse Association Futurity. She was a three year old being shown in the Worlds largest reining competition. NRHA

I had never been to a real big show, this particular show paid $100,000.00 for first place in the open division... Robert Hartford, Linda Hartford, Susan and I all flew down to Oklahoma City just to watch the show. Both Susan and I were REAL novices at riding, and even novices at "watching" the show.

I was sitting next to Robert who was slinking down in the chair because I was yelling "SEND 'EM" a reining thing for go really fast and slam on the brakes...

In anycase we saw hundreds of beautiful horses doing "reining" patterns.

Reining is like dressage at full speed, or maybe like figure skating on horseback. Spins, stops, lead changes, rollbacks, a lot of "cowboy" stuff... All of this is done with no visible queuing to the horse. It's kinda funny they call it reining when the use of the reins is minimal. Most of the control is done by the riders legs and "seat". Robert (the professional) has ridden both Kat and Betty (and others) with his arms crossed, doing all the elemants of a reining pattern without even touching the reins...

So I'm having a great time watching, Robert is still trying to slink away and they announce next out is "Chicks Betty Crocker" ridden by Bryan Pace, owned by Jim Babcock... OK first words out of my mouth were - "what a stupid name for a horse". Oh but look at that cool brand, looks almost like a "chevy" logo. Babcock Ranch It's the red symbol between Babcock and Ranch at this link.

Anyway Bryant and "Betty" scored well enough to qualify for the finals. over four hundred horses, the top twenty-five(25) are finalists. The then compete for the grandprize, $100,000.00 (that's actually increased by quite a bit since then).

Fast-Forward One Year... (or so).

We (mostly me) decide that it's time to buy a reining horse so Susan can learn to ride on a "broke" reiner...

We head to Dallas so we can drive to Bob Loomis Ranch to look at the great reining mare "Miss Gee Wiz", by TopSail Wiz, a Horse Bob Loomis had won a previous reining futurity on...The day comes, we call Loomis to remind him we're coming, Whoever it was I talked with said come on up, but Bob had been bucked off a two year old and wasn't getting around too good, he might be laid-up.

We get to the Loomis Ranch on the Texas and Oklahoma border, Bob never did make it out he was stuck in bed, barely moving. His assistant informed us that someone had just bought Miss Gee Wiz while we were on our way... Dang. He didn't really have anything that would work so we visited a few other ranches in the heart of Quarter Horse Country. I'll skip the details for now, but we just couldn't find anything. OH wait we have three(3) hours before the plane leaves lets look in the "Quarter Horse News". We find Babcock Ranch not to far from where we are. So it's off to see Jim Babcock, he thinks he might have a horse that is what we're looking for.

We get to his ranch, the barn must have 60 stalls, sure was a lot anyway. So Jim invites us in to his office and we talk a little. He has another couple from Colorado there looking at a stud...

I tell him we're looking for a broke reiner Susan can learn to ride and rein... He tells one of the stable hands to "go get Betty"... I knew IMMEDIATELY who he was going to bring out. Yup, Chicks Betty Crocker and boy was she beutiful...

Robert and Susan both took Betty for a spin, I stayed off. Bryant Pace, Bettys trainer was out of commision from a jetski incident the day before.

It was a lot of money and Susan looked a little reluctant so we said OK we'll think about it and give you a call. We RUSHED to the airport, went through security, go on the plane at the last minute. We were still talking about Betty, sitting on the plane just before the door closed I said "I'm calling him back and buying her". Neither one (Robert or Susan) objected. I made the call and told him We'd take her... I told him I'd send a check when I got home... Done Deal...

Betty came to live with us. She was Susans reining horse. Boy is she cool, fun to ride and athletic.

Susan was still learning and Betty is a pretty HOT mare. We are out riding one day shortly after Betty arrived, Susans just a little leary and Betty can sense her discomfort. Robert and I INSISTED that she have one more go around the arena. BAD CHOICE, worse that Susan really wasn't in to it, and Robert and I "INSISTED". Boy, BAD, BAD CHOICE...

Susy coaxed Betty to start around the arena, Betty did something that alarmed Susy and she tightened up on the reains, which Betty really didn't care for and probably wasn't use to.

Betty unloaded Susan, smack right to the ground... OUCH. (this wasn't anywhere NEAR the worst encounter Susan has had with our equine friends)... But it kinda soured Susie to Betty, she adopted KAT... Robert and I mostly road Betty.

Susie wasn't the only one Betty dumped. She had been up to Colorado State University (CSU) for at least a month, for breeding and embryo transfer. While she was gone I had a brand new saddle I thought I should try. So her first day home Robert calls and says "bring a horse and help me round up the cattle". Hmm oh boy. Put Betty in the trailer, put the new saddle in the trailer and off I went. Unloaded Betty, saddled her up all is going good. Step up into the stirrup, everything seems OK. Throw my leg over and have a seat. HMMM pretty nice. Betty EXPLOADED I'm trying to hang on for dear life, but when 1200 pounds of pure muscle decides you're getting off, well your getting off. I'm laying on the granite slab, Betty puts her head down, has a sniff, takes a close look with one eye, then the other "Gee what are you doing down there". This trip to the ground required knee surgery, OUCH!!

Betty is sired by Smart Chic Olena, who Jim Babcock owns. "Chic" has sired horses that have won over 9 million dollars as reiners and another 1 million dollars as "reined cowhorse" .
Just the "breeding" fee for Smart Chic is $25,000.00. That's right 25 grand for a little tube of semenal fluid... Hmmm shoulda been a ~~cowboy~~ horse.

Wal-Mart...

2009-11-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

We went to Wal-mart and bought a brand new red fire extinguisher....

hmmm... short and sweet

Hmm Thanksgiving day and boy are we giving thanks!!!

2009-11-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the actual Thanksgiving day festivities, a couple of things I left off regarding our Newfoundlands.

Actually they are pretty bright and pretty physical. Wizard (Gandolf the Grey Wizard) use to eat fruit out of the fruit bowl on the breakfast bar. We put it there because it was WAY to easy on the counter top. He decided he really liked fruit so when we weren't looking he'd help himself to just about anything, except bananas, he didn't like the peel.

So we moved it to the TOP of the refrigerator, about 5 feet 6 inches above the floor. Well you guessed it, Wizard soon found it on top of the fridge he. Stood on his back legs, and helped himself as he pleased..

But really amazing was Amanda. She can literally open ANY door that's not locked, lever, door knob, screen door... Open in or opens out. Well she can't open them anymore as she's to old to have much balance, but boy have I seen some jaws drop.

OK on to Thanksgiving...

Gabriel and I went to Loveland to go to a Colorado Eagles hockey game. James and Solitare work as off ice officials (not office). They got us front row, on the glass, seats from a friend of theirs that works as the team photographer. It was great fun, Eagle won 10 to 4. BUT we didn't get home until almost 1AM, James and Solitare came with us.

I woke up a few miserable hours later at about 5:30AM, tired and grouchy, back hurting from all the sitting.

I knew it was going to be a long day so i got started with my Thanksgiving day chores, cooking...
I just decided I'd start early, take my time and get it all taken care of without any rushing or hassles.

Susan fixed breakfast, good plan, James slept in, another good plan... Why you ask, well I didn't start the peach margaritas at 10AM and I had something to eat. Good thing to...

Got the turkey and dressing ready and popped it in the oven by oh, 11:30 for a 3PM "dinner"!
It's going along pretty good, made the traditional guacamole, made the cranberry relish (turkeys cooking). Put the yams on to boil and finally stared the potatoes for mashing. Going along pretty good, James had gotten up and mentioned the Peach Margaritas. OK I think I can handle one or two of those about now, mostly everything is going along great...

I'm in the kitchen checking the yams and I hear a strange noise, looked at the potatoes to see if they might be boiling over, nope... Hmmm, noticed a little smoke coming out of the oven door... FOOLISHLY flung the door open and it was like flashback, fire in the face.... OK the kids are gathering, the adults are wondering what's going on. I asked for the fire extinguisher I knew we DIDN'T have... Hmmm what to do... OK Get the kids outside, everyone outside. The smoke alarm goes off, dang... Susie and Solitare start opening windows as I again fling open the door to try and get the turkey out. The grease fire died down just enough for me to reach in and pull it out. The dang cooking bag had burst and spewed grease everywhere, which of course started burning. Black smoke fills the kitchen and living room. hmmm... hmmm ...hmmm.

I slide the turkey out of the oven and thank the Lord the grease had mostly burned off

It turned out to be rather benign. The bag kinda stuck on the the legs, but the turkey was nearly ready to come out anyway. No real damage to the dinner...

Hmmm try and burn the house down on Thanksgiving Day. I was however thankful that I wasn't already two sheets to the wind, mostly because I had eaten the fine breakfast Susan fixed, it really was quit tastey and didn't get started on peach margaritas or beer until James got up. My lips weren't numb yet!!!...

Susie of course took pictures up to the time I tried to burn the house down. See pictures here

Yup, I think it's time to pass the baton to the younger generation, I've been doing this entirely too long... BTW they are willing it's just that Amanda doesn't travel well..

now... some words about Amanda and our Newfoundlands

2009-11-25T14:06:00.003-07:00

I'm so excited, Thankgiving day is tomorrow. I love thanksgiving, I can't decide which I like best, Thanksgiving or Christmas. I like both for the same reasons and it's not presents... Usually all the kids and kids-in-law bring their families and come to eat, drink peach margaritas and play board games...and maybe a little beer.

It looks like Ed, Rachel and family won't be able to make it this year, Eddie has to work. Halliburton seems to pay him pretty good, but it seems like they aren't to generous with PTO (vacation). We'll miss all four of them. I'll especially miss my little, or I should say BIG princess, Cordelia.

But today what I'm most thankful for is that Amanda, our nearly 13 year old Newfoundland is still with us. I am stunned that she's lived this long and she's still happy every day. A little slow, a little weak in the back legs but happy. I'm thankful...

In 18 years we've had 7 Newfoundlands. The first Windy (Windwalkers Feel The Thunder) was puchased in Ogden Utah. The family took the mini-van for kind of a mini vacation to pick her up. Eddie and I tried to ski at "Park City", he had more luck than me, but that's another story.

We picked up Windy and brought her home. A 12 week old Newfounfland is very cute and weighs about 12 pounds.

We took Windy to the vet for a puppy exam. She was diagnosed with SAS (sub-aortic stenosis) a genetic defect of the upper heart. It manifests itself as a "heart murmur".

We called the breeder who said "send her back and we'll send you the other one we have" (Bullet a grey newf). But of course we had fallen in love with her and thought she ought to live out her life in peace, whatever it might be. Typically they euthanize (a polite word for kill) newfs that suffer from this condition. More on this later.

A bit later (really can't remember exactly how long) we found a breeder in Loveland CO that had a single newf left. We went up and got Rainey, who NEVER learned to like riding in the car. Rainey had a slight corneal defect caused by a fungal infection early in her life. She subsequently had a little white spot on one of her eyes.

By this time Susan had already started training Windy in "Search and Rescue".

Turns out Rainey was pretty timid BUT loved children especially little children.

Windy was a little over a year and a half old when out of the blue the SAS killed her without warning.
By this time we had moved to Black Forest where we live now.

We looked around for another newf and found a litter of twelve(12), not unusual for a newf but quite a sight for us. Twelve newfs and mom.. They tie a different colored ribbon on each one to identify who's who. There was always a huge waiting list to obtain a newf puppy, we had our name on the list for a female. Out of the twelve, there were only 2 females and one was destined for us. We couldn't take her home until she was weaned at about 12 weeks or so. The guy called a couple days before and told me that his vet had detected an SAS murmur in the female we selected, they were going to have her destroyed, BUT he happily told me they had a male we could take in her place. We went to look at the male and agreed to take him. While we were there I begged that he not have the little female killed. He said he'd think about it and talk with his vet. FORTUNATELY the vet agreed with me, let her live out her life, she has no clue she's got SAS.

So we brought home Stormy to replace Windy for Susan, and Sunny the red ribbon "SAS" puppy. Happily Sunny lived to a pretty old age for a newf, over nine(9), longer than her littermate Stormy who died of bone cancer.

Somehow we heard about a year old Landseer (black and white) that lived in Denver and needed a home. Seems they got her as a 12 pound puppy, then had a child. The excuse was that she was just too big around the baby, like they didn't know how big a newf got. Well she just jumped into the van and rode home like she never lived in Parker. They called her Darby so we called her Darby. She was very attractive and we soon learned the more probable reason for them abandoning her. She could slobber, slobber more than all the other newfs together... We still have slobber on our ceiling. We loved her anyway..

We went on for a few years when Rainey died of kidney failure. She was very sad toward the end. She was about six years old at the time. She never was very good at Search and Rescue but she sure liked going out.

In the mean time, both Sunny and Stormy were well into learning to search. Actually to be more realistic, they are born knowing how to search, the training comes in teaching them to find the specific scent you want, using a scent article, that takes a month or two at the most. The remainder of the training is really handler training. Similar to horses who are born knowing how to change leads yet it takes years for some people to learn to signal a lead change to the horse...

Darby had numerous problems with her kidneys and kidney infections. She died of kidney failure about six(6) years old.

We had Sunny and Stormy and who know for what reason we decided to get another newf. We went to a young woman in Golden that was going to medical school. She had I think nine puppies, we brought Snowy home. Well It soon became obvious to everyone but me, that while it was clear Snowy had a Newfoundland mother, we didn't know who her father was. Three of the puppies came out as newfs and four like Snowy, Lab looking. The newfs were genetically tested and pure newf... hmmm.

Shortly after that we were refered to the breeder that we got Rainey from because she had a replacement for Snowy (we kept Snowy too). We went to look at the new pup, she had been very sick and spent time in the CSU intensive care unit. She was about four months old and a little small for a Newfoundland puppy. She was already named Amanda by the breeder so it stuck.

In the mean time Stormy died from bone cancer. He was a wonderful friend we really miss him. His death was partcularly difficult because he had his leg amputated and he went through all kinds of cancer therapy.

Shortly thereafter we went BACK to Loveland and found Gandalf the Grey Wizard aka Wizard. He was a full brother to Amanda but not a litter mate, about a year younger than Amanda. Yes he was grey... and never did get much hair, he looked almost like a Irish Wolf Hound with a fuller face...

Back to Sunny, she never again showed any kind of symptoms of SAS, the murmur cleared up and she lived a long (the longest to date) life with us. She died because of a spinal issue that crippled her back legs to the point she couldn't stand or walk.
Snowy succumbed to a skin cancer that was horrible. Enought said about that.

Wiz started with a slight limp on his front leg. It was eventually diagnosed as bone cancer. He died going to the pain specialist (vet) at about 10 years of age which is pretty long for a newf.

At this point the only one we have left is Amanda. Amanda was always small for a Newfoundland about 100lbs. We had her spayed at about four years because her hips were classified as "fair" , not really good for breeding as hip displacia is genetically passed.

Amanda IS a cancer survivor, I one day felt a lump on her side, pretty big really. They took it off assuming it was benign. Turned out to be malignant squemous cell cancer. I thought for sure it would reappear, but to date has not.

Amanda greets us at the door, if she hears us come home, always wagging her huge rudderlike tail.

Like I said, Amanda is nearly thirteen(13) years old. She has been through all of our grand children and
now has four indoor cat friends.

Amanda has symptoms of hip displacia, but she still walks pretty good, has trouble on UP steps and uphill walking. She doesn't travel well but loves the car. We can't really leave her with anyone because she is pretty fragile in her old age.

We love her and we're very thankful that she's still with us. We miss all of our Newfoundlands, except Amanda of course. Each was unique in personality but all were VERY gental and never agressive toward kids or humans. It's hard to imagine life without a Newfoundland, but they are very high maintenance, mostly emotionally because they are usually so young when they die.

Enough whining for now... Have a good holiday.

Thinking about Kat aka Lil' Cuatra Susies black mare....

2009-11-18T18:37:00.001-07:00

Last post I mentioned that our 21 year old mare, Kat, was having a little trouble with her foot, well it turned out to be actually a little trouble. Kat has improved nicely.

In giving her twice a day epson salt soakings, I spent a fair amount of time on my knees, in the cold, in front of her "soaking" foot. Trust me if a horse doesn't want to have its foot soaked there's no way your going to soak it.

In any case while I was on my knees I had some time to reflect on Kat and what she's brought to my life... She's 21 years old which isn't particularly old for a quarter horse, her sire "Peppy San Badger" aka Little Peppy, lived to 29 years. Little Peppy was one of the greatest cutting performance horses and sire of cutting horses. King Ranch

Kat was bred and born on the largest ranch in the US, the King Ranch headquartered in Texas. We are especially honored to have Kat and another little peppy mare we lived with, PorkChop, who died shortly after we purchased her a month after giving birth to our "orphan" mare Pepsi.

Horses sired by little peppy are extremely rare and hard to find. I've only seen one other besides Kat and PorkChop.

Unfortunately when Kat was younger, actually before she came to live with us, she broke a carpal bone in her left front leg. As far as we can tell she never showed any symptoms but when we had her checked for insurance purposes one could easily see the healed bone in the x-ray. The vet said that eventually she would develop arthritis in the joint. She did and subsequently is very crippled on that leg. Monthly deterioration is fairly obvious. At some time in the future (could be tomorrow or a year from tomorrow) the leg will not be able to support her and she will die, probably euthenized.

I could not in a single sitting, perhaps in hundreds of sittings, tell you all of the memories Kat has given me.

I remember when we first saw her, a year before she came to live with us. Robert, the "horse trainer" and I flew to Sacramento CA., drove to Napa Valley to have a look at a Little Peppy mare that was for sale. This horse which we bought on the spot was PorkChop. There was another horse in the pasture with a horse sheet on, all you could see were her black head and legs. I never figured out how he knew but Robert walked up to her and picked up the sheet to reveal the horses hip and thigh. I just remember him shacking his head and saying "I can't believe it". I finally got out of him the the black mare was marked with the King Ranch brand (the running W, looks like a series of waves all points rounded off). Also she had the sire brand of P-Bar on her left hind-end (P-bar is he sire brand for Little Peppy).

As it goes we talked about and discussed how awesome it would be to have a Little Peppy mare, born and bred on the King Ranch. As I said I paid for PorkChop, who was a wonderful horse in her own right but she died of "colic" (a generic term for belly ache in this case a twisted intestine). She died one month after giving birth the Pepsi, another very sweet mare.

I called Arlyta Brown, the woman that sold us PorkChop, and told her that PorkChop had died...

A few weeks later Arlyta called me back and asked me if I would be interested in buying the Other (Kat) Little Peppy mare she had, for what was a lot of money to me, but a real bargain. She offered her to no one else.

Back to Napa Valley, this time Susie went with us, we stayed at Arlytas house and went with her the next day to watch her cut on Kat... Wow I knew I had to have her so I could learn to cut.

The first time the cow went left, she went left and I stayed on the right, needless to say I hit the ground and boy did it hurt. So now we own a broke,trained (by Buster Welch) cutter. Buster Welch

While Kat was very athletic and tough in front of a cow, she was the "go to" horse when friends and family wanted to go riding.

In any case over the next several days, for who knows what reason, Susie started riding her and never again was she "MY" horse, she belonged to Susie and CLEARLY preferred Susie to me, she was Susies mare who I occasionally rode. Kat was very good with novice riders and with Susan. Kat took very good care of Susan I can't recall them ever having any scary issues together.

One thing that Susie and I have come to realize is that the horses are our pets first, regardless of what the trainer or anyone says...

Enough blabbin for now. I'll revisit some of the other memories in the future....

Kat and her son Little Chic

I wish I had a job where I didn't have to EVER be right...... and Kat

2009-11-13T17:59:00.001-07:00

You got it, weather guessers.....

So the last five days would have made algore and his followers happy, it's been warm, about normal maybe slightly warmer than normal. The snow from the last "winter storm warning" is nearly gone, mostly still around the trees and behind the barn. The HUGE mud puddles are starting to firm up and dry out, then guess what... another "winter storm warning". Of course most of the week (until yesterday) the weather guessers said maybe a little rain on Saturday. Yesterday cooling off on Friday MAYBE a little rain, possibly snow on Sunday (This is Friday the 13th). Weather Guesser Page for Black Forest. Now we're at 2 inches overnight, 3 inches tomorrow and "significant accumulations" for Sunday... Not only that as I type this it's SNOWING and they still say "partly cloudy".

I know no one is perfect, except my lovely wife, she's perfect for me, anyway I know most of us aren't perfect BUT my goodness the weather guessers are pathetic. I knew four days ago that the slightest mention of snow meant 8-10 inches. All you have to do is look at historical data put that together with what you can see to the west and shazzam... Never fails....

Just think if I was as "wrong" (for the lack of a better word) with my "forecast" in my job I simply wouldn't have a job. My boss is talking 90% accuracy in my projections (guesses if you like). I use the same principles as the weather guessers but with an 18 month window and over 20,000 data streams.

So... I asked Susie if we needed to go anywhere tonight? "No" she says. I persude this with nothing at the grocery store? "Nope" she says "We can go tomorrow or Sunday". OK let me put it this way, do you need ANYTHING before Tuesday? "Why Tuesday?" she asks... Well sweets we live at nearly 8000 feet, in Colorado where the weather guessers have said some number of (greater than 3) inches., and the department of transportation won't plow until Tuesday at the earliest). If we need anything we aren't going to get it until Tuesday and that's optimistic.

I took it upon myself to move all the vehicles to the leward side of the driveway so the drifts form in the grass (or what would normally be grass).

On the horse side... Kat, Susys 21 year old cutting/brood mare dodged the "bullet" yet again this year. She has severe arthritis in her left front "knee", as she favors the good leg she causes damage to the lamina (material between the hoof and foot bones). When this breaks down enough it's called "founder" and the main (canon bone) rotates downward to the sole. Once this happens the chance of her getting better are slim to none. This is the scenario that killed the race horse Barbaro. Horses that have foundered can live long lives BUT when one leg is already marginal, well not much one can do. She came up sore a couple days ago, and REAL sore yesterday morning, she wouldn't choose to walk but I could lead her oh so slow. Holly, one of the two vets from Rocky Mountain Equine Clinic came to have a look, being really smart Holly had a look and poked around before coming in to talk with us, we didn't know she was here. she knows how nosey and pesky I am. In anycase she had exactly the same opinion I did, that Kat had foundered and wouldn't make it. BUT she brought the trusty digital x-ray and luckely the bones were still in place. She pushed the "button" and seven seconds later on the laptop screen there was her x-ray with the bone looking a-ok... As it turned out she has a massive abcess that hadn't ruptured, the pressure in her foot causes the pain... So now she has to put up with foot soak in epson salts twice a day... Another good day on the ranch....

WHO was the genius that came up with "daylight savings time"...?

2009-11-02T16:10:00.001-07:00

Actually a better question is "why do the people of Arizona get it? (and never change)". Hmmm perplexing..

So now it's light when I get up in the morning, the dog (and the horses) failed to change their time and think I should jump right up and run right out to feed 'em...

5PM comes and the dog and horses are ready for food, again. It's almost dark which makes it a REAL pain to feed outside.

Just as soon as we all get use to the "revised" schedule daylight "savings" time will come around again... DANG...

maybe we should all just go the GMT andbe done with it.

and exactly how do we SAVE daylight. I'm pretty sure the number of daylight minutes will be the same regardless of what the clock "says".

No sense in complaining about the 18 inches of snow that's still falling...

2009-10-29T15:57:00.000-06:00

... So I'll talk about one of more recent trips to the "shrink" (couples counseling). Now I really don't believe that our relationship is in danger of eminent failure. I do like to go to the shink and hope to improve what we do share... HOWEVER the one thing that I pointed out at the first session in February is what I affectionately call "Goose and Gander rules"... In otherwords I think that what good for the goose is good for the gander. The night before we went to the shrink, we were discussing reading in bed (or watching "TV"). *NOTE* this hasn't been a problem lately BUT it's an easy example. On occasions where Susie wanted to read with the light on I was expected to man up and deal with it even if I was tired and just wanted to go to sleep. On the converse when I wanted to read I was expected to use a "reading light" or man up and get over it while I turned the light off. My point in the discussion was that I was willing to comply with whatever rule Susan wanted regarding the light and reading, just decide and apply it to BOTH of us equally. NOW I'm not really picking on this issue but FREQUENTLY I run into what I PERCEIVE as "rules" (for the lack of a better term) that don't equally apply. Susie did point out that I also imposed rules differently for me than her. I can live with that and I'm willing to hear and decide on a rule we can BOTH live with.

So my questions are;

1. Am I out of line? why?

2. Is the term "Goose and Gander rules" a good way of describing this annomaly? alternatives?

BTW - I'm NOT complaining I'm just trying to get a better understanding of human behavior. Horses are easier...

Cold... Cold and Colder...Hmmm

2009-10-28T17:03:00.000-06:00

Well not colder than a couple weeks ago but certainly windier... Now that my early retirement has abruptly ended and I have to go back to work (but for Wells Fargo now) It's been a little hectic trying to get a new laptop hooked up to the Wells network etc. BUT at least I don't have to leave the house, at least for the time being... Wachovia paid me for 60 days of "active work" at which time my job was to return calls if someone called and no one ever did. Then I started "salary continuation" which is where they pay you your salary and benefits to "look" for a job. Well I didn't have to look too far... It was like having a 3 and a half month vacation... Now I have to get up in the morning and get moving... I've been sleeping in until 7, sometimes 8 so it's back to 5AM, well I'll work my way into it... The white (susans) truck is fixed, now BOTH need tired, one thing at a time. At least the horses are enjoying the cold... FYI horses are especially designed for cold weather...

also see http://www.talesfromtablerock.blogspot.com/ for Susans view...

It isn't even holloween yet and....

2009-10-25T13:03:00.001-06:00

I'm tired of winter (which according to the calendar doesn't start until the 21st of December) I can deal with the truck getting stuck. I get stuck at LEAST once every winter. I'm glad the drive shaft broke in the snow, if it had come off on I25 it would have been like a pole vault (the front U joint of the FRONT driveshaft came apart.). What I think is wrong is that we never really had a summer. I bought a telescope in April so Gabriel and I could look at the planets etc. Ican count on one hand the number of clear nights (early nights) we've had this year, It's usually the exact opposite... We are scheduled (forecast) for snow EVERY night this week except Monday and it keeps creeping that was.

BUT the absolute WORST thing is the drivers. I just can't figure out where these people learned to drive. I think master drive should be mandatory. Lets get half way through this turn THEN we'll slow down. Or we're going 20 in a 50 with occasional patches of set snow, we come to a downgrade and we step on the brakes and try to go 15. The best, we take our car with regular tires, no chains, no M/S tires, rear wheel drive (sometimes even front wheel drives), we come to a stop light or stop sign and TRY to floor it to accelerate across the intersection, skidding and making the ice slicker... what geniuses...

If anyone knows albert arnold algore jr could you PLEASE have him circle his G3 (Gulfstream model 3 "private jet:) around Black Forest so we can share some of that global warming...

In this case even I have to admit the MALE perspective leaves alot to be desired.

2009-10-22T10:28:00.000-06:00

So the first "winter storm advisory" said only a couple of inches... well I measured over 6" at 2:30PM with 30 MPH winds, it was moderately slick. We fed a friends horses then drove to the 80 where a couple of horses are closed into a stall. When we were there earlier in the day the was a little drifting due to the grass as Susie pointed out BUT we could still see the road. In any case THIS time it had a drift that we plowed through pretty easy then we came to the SECOND drift. I punched it and made it about 30 feet before we were stopped.

So here's the rub. I backout with no effort, Susie says "gee we only had to go a few more feet". So what do I say "Don't worry we'll get through THIS time". So I take a running start, it really looked very easy, we got about 2 INCHES further the second time. Of course this time the wet cement snow coupled with the underlying mud and we were STUCK and I mean STUCK. We dug out snow for about an hour and a half.

Called Lise (the horse vet) for a rescue tow. Dug while we waited and had almost everything out from under the truck. Well just as she arrived I was giving it a final "Don't worry we'll get it THIS time" (testosterone pumping (and I thought I was too old))... So BAD went to WORSE when we heard this LOUD "THUMP" oh darn.... Got out and looked under the truck to find the front drive shaft haning.... DANG

here's a different perspective...

2009-10-21T06:34:00.001-06:00

As Susan said (www.talesfromtablerock.blogspot.com/) we took the kids to the local duck pond and park... as you can see from Susies posting she found the grandkids feet quite interesting. I "rudely" asked "is that the best you can do?" and it went downhill from there. In any case while she was interested in their feet I noticed a couple of male "Wood ducks" in the pond.... talk about the "red eye" Gabriel even commented on them...

Well one has to start somewhere... I'll start with "watercolor painting"

2009-10-16T13:55:00.001-06:00

My wife, Susie has been an artist since before I knew her (~25 years). I had been attending the end of semester class critiques for her watercolor class for a year or two. After a couple of "class critiques" I thought that maybe I could try this out, mostly to try and share one of my wifes passions.

I didn't really have any great expectations, BUT I've really enjoyed the class and really enjoyed painting. I'm 56 years old and haven't drawn a picture since 5th grade any NEVER painted any.

Train Engine in a Park

Aspen Trees starting to change

2009-09-08T14:22:00.000-06:00

Hmmm. My wife has been running a blog for some time... She calls it Tales From Table Rock. It's very interesting BUT she has HER perspective. While it's a GOOD one, it is only ONE... My goal is to offer MY (the male) perspective.... Actually I find it impossibly difficult to comment on blogs I "Stumble Upon" (see www.stumbleupon.com)...

So now I have a "blog" I can use to comment on other blogs....