Monday, Monday - - - and Missy the Duck

A friend picked us up to go walking by "our lake". What a day, beautiful and mellow with a warm breeze.

Took pictures, got a couple reflections I like. We had one little tame duck who visited with us, hoping we had treats. One end of the lake was full of minnows. I tried to capture a huge, long spider web with my digital but, Santa, I need a more powerful lens:) I'm going to check but not sure if it will show.

We have named her "Missy" - she was so cute and trustful.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Monday.

I was sitting here thinking about all the bloggers I have met in the last 2 years. Eventually, each one is a friend, ones I check on and care about. If he/she doesn't post for a bit or seems "off". I worry or at least wonder if everything is Ok in their world. Most of "our gang" lets each other know they may not be posting for a bit - that's good, at least we don't need to worry.

Lately, I haven't been able to express myself and my posts are pitiful. When Life throws me a curve ball, I take it personally - kind of like being hit by the pitch and wondering if it were on purpose. Did the Manager of the other team tap his temple twice, rub his left nostril and pat his belt buckle sending a sign to the pitcher to hit me or at least "throw it hard inside"?

When pitches like this occur, one gets timid and overly cautious - the whole point of the mind game. My Dad used to tell me it was important to rush the guy with the puck so he'd see 240 pounds of muscle coming and maybe give it away, not wanting to be the victim of a hard check.. Good lesson, Dad. I'll pretend I'm you, play defense, go after Life, check it into the boards til it resounds thru my life.

Anyway, bear with me as I get my blogging bearing again. Nothing major but I saw that crazy manager gesturing again - here comes another pitch, inside - just enough to throw me off my Game.

Just as in baseball, think I can read his signs - therefore be a bit prepared to brace myself.

Happy Friday to all. Weekend coming up for those of you still doing the 9 to 5. (As if I need to remind you!)

Madam*

So, after my seminar yesterday, I waited on the (downtown) street for my guy and his friend to come back for me. It was a lovely sunny day and I decided to lean on a lamp post - watching the world go by.

An elderly gentleman who attended also, needed info, so we traded phone numbers. As luck would have it, he was pulling his wallet out (for piece of paper) as our local R*mp drove by - Oh, great, he'll think I'm a lady of the night, well, afternoon.

Anyway, the patrol car slowed. Looked at my 86 year old new friend and at me, "Naw." He carried on with his day:)

Our park, within the city, has lots of bears enjoying the berries before their long winter nap.

I see so many people running on the paths and kind of worry about them - but, of course, that's my job. I worry for and about everyone and everything.

Anyway, so far no attacks in town but lots of bears in yards, especially at the higher elevations. Hey, that's us!

No problem, I'll send Buddy, the cat, after those bruins.

Fall is in the air - - -

So, cleared the garden and pots on the entry steps. Cut 3 lawns, weeded the garden resulting in 3 recycle bags of "stuff".
Our temp was 20 (70) which is just about perfect for us.

Our dear neighbor brought home canning over tonight: jars of pears and hot salsa, yum. We had pears for dinner but will let the salsa sit for several weeks.

My plan is to put landscape fabric over 2/3 of the garden and cover with coarse bark mulch. When we sell, the next family can either sod it in grass or plant a large garden as we have for years.

Something I have to do next week is wash the windows I can reach off the decks - not a favorite as I seem to always get streaks.

I Swiffered the walls in the bedrooms and kitchen tonight. Was surprised there was barely any dust - now the furniture will be another story. I don't do spring and fall cleaning, just work away at it all year round.

What are you up to?

Will try to post tomorrow - lots happening. Not all good, not all bad. But very busy.

Hope all my blogger friends are well. J

Matchsticks - Ike's Revenge

Am I just too lazy for words when I grab a pic off our son's blog? He finds much better sites than I do. Anyway, this picture blew me away.

Privacy

Privacy

So, as all my regular readers know, privacy is my utmost concern.

New readers, (especially knowing us personally) please do not use names, towns, provinces, etc. in regard to us. This blog has been happily left open but one slip and it's password city.

Thanks.

Poor Herman - - -

Even I know the answer to that - in our household:)

The Harvest

Our neighbor's bins - ready to be picked up for the packing house. As we walked by, the driver came along. He was so pleasant - should have asked to take his picture. Told us they work 7 days per week til harvest is over.
Plums, pears and peaches - all have to be processed.
We live in a rural area - houses on our side of the street and orchard
runs along the other side.

We Give Thanks - - -

Our motto over the years has always been, "The more, the merrier." We love having house guests and folks over to visit and eat.

So, imagine our delight to hear Dan and Neil are coming for Thanksgiving. Wayne is really pleased.

Ok, taking reservations - one room spoken for, 2 to go. We promise too much food, too many laughs and yams (!). The dining room table seats 8 easily and 10 in a pinch - plus we have other tables.

Have to go now and plan my meals for the big event. Anyone have a special recipe to share? I copied Nancy's apple pie for one of my desserts.

From my blogging friend - - -

From my Friend:
Ok, I've got to be clear that (1) I'm a Canuck so can't vote for either and (2) usually, maybe never, post anything political but this license plate made me smile.

Now, would someone please send me a pic from the Obama side just to prove that I play no favorites:) 9:16pm had to grab one from my blogger friend.

I'm really looking forward to the next weeks as I follow the US pre-election "stuff" - our politicians are at it, also, but so boring in comparison.

Warning: I have not tried this but my friend sent it to me tonight, uh, maybe I should be worried!

DANGEROUS CHOCOLATE CAKE-IN-A-MUG

1 coffee mug
4 Tbsp. flour (plain, not self-rising)
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil

Small splash of vanilla
3 Tbsp. chocolate chips, optional

Add dry ingredients to mug, mix well with a fork. Add egg, mix thoroughly. Pour in milk and oil and vanilla, mix well. Add chips, if using. Put mug in microwave, and cook for three minutes on 1000 watts. Cake will rise over top of mug--do not be alarmed! Allow to cool a little; tip onto a plate if desired. Eat!
(This can serve two if you want to feel slightly more virtuous.)

***And WHY is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only five minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night!!!***

We Honor Them Today - - -

Y'all come visit Canada now, OK?

VICTORIA, British Columbia — Salmon fishermen are no longer throwing fish guts on shore for black bears around Port Renfrew, British Columbia after one climbed onto a dock, jumped into a man’s boat and mauled him.

“All the bears in Port Renfrew are pretty docile,” said Fire Chief Dan Tennant. “They’re more afraid of people than people are of them and normally turn and high-tail it when they see people."

He said he first thought the bear attack call received by his department and an ambulance crew was a “miscommunication.”

“But sure enough when we got on scene there was a man who had some deep lacerations on his right shoulder and scratches all over his body,” said Tennant.

The man was conscious and in shock, but that his wounds did not appear to be life threatening, he said.

Authorities said the man, 52, was a resident of Saltspring Island and was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Victoria, about 70 kilometres east of the community.

Gordon climbed onto a dock before jumping into the man’s boat and mauling him.

Witnesses told him it was difficult to get the bear off the victim.

”Individuals that came to the aid of the victim used a combination of (fishing) gaffs, knives and a hammer to remove or pull the bear off the victim,” he said.

The man’s friends managed to kill the bear, said Tennant.

The area is popular with recreational fishermen seeking salmon, halibut and groundfish and there are a “couple of hundred” boats tied up at the marina at any given time.

Tennant said it was not a large bear, but the incident was extremely unusual.“Never, ever have I heard of anything like that here, and I doubt I ever will again,” he said.

He said there have been large numbers of black bear and deer in the area this summer, but there have been no incidents/People have been throwing fish remains on to the shore for years, and that has to stop, he said.

I'll Be Brief

So, I'm not very computer literate - our older son is a computer whiz and always tells me, "Mom, don't worry about clicking on things and checking them out, you won't wreck anything."

Oh, my dear man, I can wreck anything with the touch of my hand - even looking at it.

The other night I was bored with my desk top so clicked on something - don't remember what - voila, a new folder (?) - something called "new briefcase". Looks nice and I like the color but have to figure out what it does or what it's for - - -

Yes, he got his computer smarts from his Dad, not his Mom.

(Computer son gave me a cool laptop case from a now defunct IT company. I may just get a rusty old tin,computer case from defunct company and sit on the sidewalk downtown - heard you can do well begging in the business section:)

Oh, don't get your shirt in a knot - I'm just kidding (that I'm kidding).

Does it hurt to - - -

It flashed thru my head in a millisecond - does it hurt to die, will I know, will it be instantaneous?

We traveled mountain roads year round - thru high Rocky mountain passes.

One return trip, we hit black ice, rock face on other side of the road and a glacier lake on mine.

We did a donut on the hairpin curve. I was in the passenger seat and as our car swung toward the rock face, I remember leaning as far over toward the steering wheel as I could - all the while looking at the rock - wondering, "Does it hurt to die?" We spoke no words. No time.

Still can't believe a semi or other vehicle didn't round the corner as we sat partly in the shallow ditch, partly on the road. They would not have been able to see us in time to stop.

Blending in - - -

So we searched for his cat high and low - as I walked into the living room from a different doorway, guess who is reposing on the sofa? He is pitch black and the sofa is burgundy - silly cat blinked and gave his resting spot away. He has large, golden eyes.

Anyway, I was not impressed and Buddy knew it - he hopped off right away.

Just like little children who will try to get away with things.

Our perennial sweet peas are just blooming in all their glory now. We had a hot summer and they bloomed but I guess the cooler temps are to their liking.

Enjoying the flowers as frost has been predicted for sometime mow.

Our house sits at 1875' so we may not get the frost when the low lying areas do.

Wise words - an email from my sister

Please send this on ASAP!!!

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.
*************
There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
'Quality time' is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our cares,
And He'll respond to all your needs
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Happy Birthday, Robin!

So our BIL is cruising through another BD!

Glad you had the nicest birthday and wish you many more. How come you look so young, huh??

Oh, right, all the work you have to do at the beck and call of my Sis.

School days, School Days - - -

Yeah, kids are back in today - I think they are:)
I always loved the first day back for our sons - it was half a day and we'd go to Ear*'s restaurant for pizza to celebrate.

If we were lucky, Dad could join us.

Hope everyone had a safe and successful day - and got the teacher they wanted!

I just remember, the first day in Grade 1, I got my butt smacked with a corn broom as I leaned over to talk to my best friend. My teachers name was Mrs. Ashton and I thought she was one mean momma from that moment on.

A Big Day - - -

So today our 2 cherry trees, 1 apple and 1 plum are being removed. It's an economic reason. Costs me just under $100. per month for the spray company.

Anytime now, chain saws will be buzzing - I will miss the trees, especially the apple. When Wayne built our deck, he wrapped it around the apple tree. We ate many breakfasts out there on the weekends (while working) and enjoyed it's shade in the summer by the pool.

On a happier note, it's a gorgeous, fall day for September 1st!