Under the Lilac Trees

Night sky 12/24/09 and boy was it COLD then !

It is interesting to me that it is still snowing.  No, I don’t mean on this WordPress blog page……….outside.

I am not interested enough in it to agree that it continues.

ENOUGH !

Now if only the weather would consider my feelings on this matter, I could go to bed and not worry about how much more of this $%#* stuff will be out on my previously nicely shoveled pathways all over our  seven acres.

**Sighs**

Stay warm folks, but on the bright side, I suddenly realize it does not snow when it is below zero   so that is one for our side !

WHERE IS SPRING ??? omg it is still December.

Bye for now, will return to the regular blog rambling tomorrow.

Amazing colors October 2009

 The end of one year and the anticipation of a new year always brings me mixed feelings.  I personally am not at all sorry to see 2009 end.  It did however bring a lot of good things – new opportunities, new friendships.  Shifting my focus to seriously writing.  Saying goodbye to a number of animals we had rescued and sent along to good homes.  So much happened during the year, that it would be impossible to write it all down.  I began my blog in January.  It has been fun, and I liked showing others a tiny window into my world.  I got to show off photographs as well, which really was a first for me.  Somewhere, in boxes packed to move in the last few years (yes, we are still going to move, but it depends on a number of things still)..anyway, in the boxes are envelopes of developed 35 mm film.  Hundreds of rolls.  That is one thing, the advent of digital photography has been a wonderous boon for us who love to take photos.  No more boxes of developed film, no more griping about paying for developing  bad shots, and no more guilt for not making up photo albums.  My dad was the photo album KING.  I have lots that he put together, and he would always include things like charge card slips from special eatery, or brochures from places that we stayed as a family, or later when he traveled with mom.  He was not just good at it, he was amazing.  He would put the scrapbookers of today to shame.  He was an offset printer by trade, which I know gave him an edge on laying out pages.  One day, I will go through all my old photos and frame some of them.  I worked with and around a lot of top Thoroughbreds during my time at the track.  My camera was never far from my hands, even when I was working with the horses.  I had a locked drawer in my trainers desk that I could leave my camera for safekeeping.  It worked well for both of us, he got good candid shots of his horses, and I was able to do my job, then after work go on taking photos of horses in training – or in the afternoon at the races.  I likely took  more photographs of the last Triple Crown champion Affirmed than any other human on the planet.  Exceller, Ferdinand.  John Henry.  Great Lady M, the dam of the superlative Lady’s Secret.  So many many great horses, and it hit me last night…….they are all gone now.  Exceller and Ferdinand to death in slaughterhouses, in Belgium and Japan respectively.  The others to disease, injuries and a few lucky ones to old age.  The condition lamanitis has claimed so many horses – Affirmed, Secretariat, Barbaro to name just a few.  Once the research for lamanitis unlocks the cure for this dreaded disease, it will save so many lives.  I hope I see it in my lifetime.  Racing has changed so much since 1970, when I first began my fascination with it.  So many memories of such wonderful horses, and people as well.  This last Saturday, was opening day for Santa Anita.  It is always the day after Christmas.  There was a special event planned for after the 4th race.  In the paddock gardens, which is home to a life-sized statue of the immortal Seabiscuit, there is now another occupant.  There is now a new  life-sized statue of a friend of mine – John Henry.  John loved peppermints, and he would even tolerate you nearby IF you had those magic sweets in hand.  Once he had consumed all you had, that was it, he was done visiting.  He died October 8, 2007  at the Kentucky Horse Park at the ripe old age of 32.  I hope they have peppermints in heaven, or there is some serious attitude going on up there ! Enough reminiscing, best get back to business here ! Have a nice evening all !

Some blue sky but new snow on the trees

Back outside I go…..

The great horned owl mom and owlet May 2009

** Click on photos to enlarge ** 

The owls have been having a lot to say lately.  The parent owls zoom around, and it does keep the hawks away from our yard.  While I sort of  appreciate that,  the chickens get tired of hiding under the lilac trees.  Not that the owls won’t eat the chickens too, they just make it known to the chicky ladies that there is danger out there – so they hide from everything.   The owls are more interested in being proprietory of the former hawk nest, which I am sure they have their eyes on to nest in the spring again.

Kona is still with us, refuses to let me near, but will let me feed her.  She has never meowed, she only hisses at me.  So I don’t expect after all this time for her to become a pet……..it worries me having her outside, especially with the weather so bad.  I have seen her go under the house, which is colder than the freezer I think.  I made a bed for her over by the tack room in my old barn, and have been seeing tracks in the snow, so I hope that is where she sleeps now. difficult existence for a cat.  Here she is in warmer times – also May of this year.

Kona the wild cat under the lilac trees

Her babies that I hand raised (syringe fed, aka bottle fed from 3 weeks of age) are the best pets ever.  Little Girl remains the overseer of the siblings.  I cannot believe that in March they will be two years old.  Where does the time GO ?  I was looking through my photo files, and this photo of Little Girl shows the attitude that shines through, no matter what she is doing.  She is THE queen obviously !

Little Girl October 2008

Reminiscing takes time and I don’t have enough of it, especially since I am still feeding my friend’s animals in town……..so best get to it.

Enjoy your day !

Night sky - Christmas Eve 2009

When I was younger there was a fast food chain or something that used that title in their catch phrase.  I always thought it funny – but since today is the day, Merry Christmas all !  Or whatever you celebrate, I hope you are with your family or loved ones, enjoying the spirit of the holidays.  I’m caring for a friends critters, so will be on the road every day to town until Monday or so. 

Stay warm, and enjoy your life !  I do each and every day, no matter what is going on.

A dream vacation........just one of many things this year brought

I have discovered that even in the depths of financial difficulties, there are indeed silver linings. Or gold. Or whatever you value most.  After booking a vacation house for a week a year previous, it was either make it work, or lose my deposit.  We made it work.  We drove, and had fun doing it. We met good friends, and met new people.  All have left an indelible mark of joy on our time in Port Orchard WA.  I had the audacity to get sick when I was there, but still enjoyed our time.  The photography possibilities were endless and breathtaking.  Nothing like the Puget Sound at dawn.  The photo above was of the “artist studio” that my son got to call home while we were there.  It was all in a word – perfect.  It was so important to carry through this vacation.  Carol came from BC to stay with us for a couple of days.  We attended some of Cedar Cove days, saw Debbie Macomber, who remembered us “the girls from Janesville” – such fun. We met Susan Wiggs face to face finally, such a great time we had.  We love the area, and we will  move there once something changes for us.  Anyway, this year was full of surprises, some great, some not.  My sister was injured terribly in her motorcycle racing wreck, but she is continuing to recover magnificently.  She is at home now, doing therapy at the rehab near her home.    A big step for her to get back home to her cats   Mom had two surgeries for her back, and she continues to recover. I managed to get out with “only” a broken tooth, from grinding my teeth – Stress ? ya thing ???  During that time I had support from afar, from all my friends – even new ones. I will always appreciate that so much.  As for me, I continue to write, pursuing the dream of becoming published sooner than later VBG !   

To everyone out there, enjoy the holidays, and hug your family close.

To blue skies !

Remarkable.  I began this blog to keep myself focused – which has worked to some extent.  I read other’s blogs, which range from too personal to just wonderful to  so impersonal that one almost has to read the title to see who wrote it.  Through this blog, you have learned of my constant struggle to keep up with chores, improvements and daily life here on a rural ranch in the desert area of northeastern California.  Of my family’s quest to regain health – mom’s back surgery, my sister the miracle of the year – btw she is HOME now,  still recovering from her head injury sustained in her motorcycle racing crash at the end of September.  No reason at all for her to be here, except this is what was supposed to be.  My neck and it’s interesting bend…..had yet another MRI the other day.  Another amazed tech.  Whatever.  I am here for a reason, and I enjoy each and every day.   You have listened to me and my fascinations – Family.  Life.  Animals and rescue.  Writing.  Whatnot.  Always liked that word.  So, through all the travails of our lives, here’s to blue skies, dreams, love and hope.  So, thank you for reading along here – stay warm, enjoy your day and hug your family close !

Now that I have been subscribed to Twitter for some time, there are some things that have changed – for the better.  My “high profile” friends with babies no longer tweet their exact whereabouts.  THANK YOU GIRLS !  It was terrible  to read and worry for your safety.  The farmers market NEXT to the studio has no protection for you and the kids.  Now I can enjoy the tweets from NBC    Now, this morning, I had to laugh.  Over the course of the time I have been tweeting, I have seen the following.

Updates from my favorite friends and authors.

Elizabeth Taylor thanking a store for carrying her jewelry line.

The astronaut whose twitter name is Astro Mike commenting on life.  His kids games, soccer I think……but most interestingly, he tweeted from Rome last night.  A midnight stroll, very romantic.  Eating pizza in Rome.  Oh yes, and meeting Pope Benedict and presenting him with a Vatican flag and photo that went up on the spaceshuttle with him……uh ok………

Actors, writers, producers who previously were pretty much impossible to contact aside from sending a snail mail letter, who are now emailing asking how I liked the show (this after I emailed one and congratulated him on landing such a plumb role, and making it his own).  That fellow is intelligent, which is always such a relief…..it is an odd window into so many diverse lives.  I didn’t really like Twitter at first, but have come to appreciate the oddities that have sprung from it. 

Writers and their dogs.  An errant spaniel.  An amazing Doberman.  Chickens. Ok, well they are MY chickens, but they are right up there on the entertainment scale   John Cleese, who will always be funny.

So many things to read.  However there is a quote that haunts me – reportedly from the last great Kate Duffy.  It is……Get off the internet and write !  Which I keep in mind all the time.  Finding time to write is part of the process.  I love writing and have so much to get down in type…..I still have a cracked pipe to repair then I hope the season will settle down.

The cute tree image at the top was from www.printableheaven.com  They offer some free downloads for crafts.  I thought it was nice and if I were talented a quilt like that would be cool to make.  But I am not.  I bake !

Enjoy your day.

One of the Canada geese at the wildlife rehabbers

This is one of the geese who came to stay while my friend the wildlife rehabber was out of town some time ago.  The goose obviously knows me, as birds remember anyone who gives them food VBG :)  He honks and talks the whole time I am there.  There are two others, all have had wing damage from a fox or something getting them as young birds.  They are from this year and hopefully they will grow full flight feathers in the spring.  They are magnificent creatures.  If they are disabled for good, it would be so tempting to give them a permanent home.  I would however have to apply for a permit and pay a fee.  The sounds they make are just wonderful.  We have always loved seeing them fly over.  The place we live is part of a migratory flyway near a lake/marsh area.  The snow geese have been buzzing around, usually I only hear them. They were flying over when it was snowing quite hard the other day.  Beautiful creatures.

Thought it would be nice to put up something other than bitching about the weather **smiles**

Enjoy your day all !

The view out my front door this morning

Really.  So much white stuff.  The paths I had cut in the previous snowfall are covered and the wild birds are looking at the snow covered feeder like ” What ????”  So many different kinds of birds, I need to look a few of them up.  That however has to take a back seat to the more pressing chores.  Perhaps later.  Our house water is thinking about getting back to normal operation.  No sign of broken pipes thank heavens.  Now if only the toilet tank would refill….I could hear ice in the line when I was in there this am !  Funny clinking and no water yet.  Have hot water in the tub and sink…….but no cold.  Not suprising, we have about 40 year old heat tape on that pipe, and I have been wondering when it might fail.  I have my answer now, it failed this week, just before the main line to the house froze.  Oh well.  Now if there were any to buy in the county we could have the neighbor replace it…..but that would involved digging out the crawl space and the cover……which is all frozen neatly into place as of now.  Perhaps in the future   Right after I figure out how to post thumbnail photos that will enlarge instead of the size I posted these as……….. oh haha, I just figured out that if one clicks on the photos, it does just that………

Break between the arrival of more white stuff

  Stay warm and enjoy your weekend all, I am off to feed and check the out of doors !