July 2015 !!

Here's the tally from 6 weeks of trucking:

2 blown tires on truck/tractor, one of which left me stranded by side of road for over 3 hours. I NOW have new tires on tractor...2 were installed before I ever started and 8 put on this weekend.

1 blown tire on trailer that did some slight damage to a passing car. Thankfully damage was slight and nobody injured.
NOTE: I'm told that this is considered kinda / sorta like hitting a deer ... I am NOT at fault / NO FAULT. PLEASE don't linger around us big rigs when on the roadways...we are rolling on 18 potential bombs!!

2 weight tickets from being "out of balance". My TOTAL weight was good...just not balanced. Its a $$ game!!

I'm survving being back in the truck, but its scary seeing SO MUCH crazy driving and texting. I've been leaving on Sunday and getting home on Thursdays ... have that extra day (Friday) in case te unexpected delay pops up.

Our love to all,
Rick & Snoop

PS: The Phony Pony is being spoiled by Carol...handful of carrots each day along with sweet feed!!

We had great campfire last night but no fireworks, of course. Nice evening with nice moon etc.

Here, we call those green bean french fries...........anyhow, yes, they're good and included in choices w burgers etc here. I've never counted so have no clue what they cost for an "order".

Nice pics ELLEN. Little Scarlett is a riot in her 4th of July gear. She sure is growing.

We came back from church, had lunch and we're sitting here on the porch in the rain at 56 degrees.............it's really nice slow rain making one feel all is well in the universe.......

RICKSTER, heavens, stay safe. I am amazed at driving in todays' world.

No news, just sitting here and checked to see if we had/have internet........VOILA, we do.

DONNA, thanks for writing to us, it's great to have you back.

CB, sounds like your g son is a huge help. I think it's great he is learning how to work...............so many are just sitting at computers or just running around loose.

No other news here....God bless. Prayers for ALL.

Yep, poppop is teaching him some things! along with some new cuss words I'm sure! we still have the caverns, the county fair, the hahatonka park where there is an old castle remains, and gambling which at casinos here you can do at 18. we went to the new bass pro store, its huge! their fish and turtle and duck displays r neat.

Keeping him busy busy busy.....he is a game/puter nerd usually when at home. from here he goes to jessis for 2 weeks and then home....they r taking him to see kyle at ft. hood tx and to sea world....so all in all he will have had a good graduation trip for a month or so.

Nice today, no rain.

I'm not a big soccer fan, but I sure was glad to see our girls take the World Cup! They played really well, and simply out played Japan.

Sounds like a fun Fourth for most of us! We didn't do a parade this year. Zippy hasn't been very zippy for some time. Age and Cushings has slowed him down, so he got the year off.

We worked on our never-ending supply of Johnson grass, trying to get as much out of the hayfield as possible before the next cutting. I flushed out a turkey hen while in the field. I bet she has a nest there. A fawn came trotting past us, too. So pretty....

ThunderPuff is back to his rambunctious self, torturing all in his path, so I guess he has gotten thru this round of shots.

DONNA
I am so sorry about the barn cat. We had one stepped on by a horse like that a few years ago. I found her before her crushed leg got infected and took her to the university vet clinic. I couldn't get hold of Donnie and couldn't stand to put her down, so had the leg amputated. It cost way more than it should, but the cat survived and is doing well as a tripod. Had she been a hateful cat, it would have been easier to do the economically wiser decision.

An earthquake? Yikes! Anymore shocks afterward?

ELLEN
Great photos! That looked like a lot of fun! I bet it was so pretty. The floating lanterns had to be spectacular.

GRAYMARE
Haven't you had enough rain so that you could have fireworks, or is it just against the law because it is usually so dry? You had fun regardless!

We were so tired from our hayfield work on Saturday, we decided not to go out to see fireworks and have to brave the traffic. So we started watching a video, only to have it interrupted by what sounded like a battle outside. We have new neighbors renting a place just off the end of our property. They must have invited all their relatives to a fireworks party. They were shooting up full sized fireworks and sound explosions over top of our trees. I took off to the barn to calm the horses, who could see the fireworks very well. They were upset and running the fencelines. I stood watching the display with them and they calmed down. Finally those people ran out of things to blow up at about 11:30 p.m. Areion has a little skinned place on her face, but that is the only injury I found on them. So I didn't have to go out to see fireworks, they came to us.

Today we bought our new t.v. ! It will be delivered next Saturday.

Hmmm, Computer gremlins at work again. I posted last night and it's not here this morning. Go figure.

It sure sounds as if everyone had a busy Fourth of July weekend. I know I did. Sophie the Wonder Pony finally got to go to summer camp. Friday I hauled her to Shipshewana to do a trailer change with the trainer. The trainer was hauling a horse to the auction for a neighbor and we decided I would bring Sophie there and we'd transfer there so I didn't have to drive all the way to Huntington. I wasn't too sure about that as Sophie has only ever loaded in my trailer which has a ramp and her trailer is a big step up stock trailer. Not only has Sophie only ever loaded in my trailer, but it has been mostly for training purposes only. She hasn't been trailered off the property for years. She did me proud. With all the excitement of the auction yard she stood in the trailer while I tracked Cathy down. She then calmly backed out of the trailer and while she danced as I led her over to Cathy's trailer she did it on a loose lead. I fully expected her to push me around. It's so nice when our kids behave in public. After one false start she stepped right into the other trailer. I got an update on her yesterday and she is doing great. So far the only issue she is having is that she is skittish with the scraping noise her rock boat makes going over the metal bridge. She's ok with the noise from gravel and cement but the metal runners on the metal bridge she's not too sure about. Kind of hard to desensitize train for that. She's being driven as part of a team with a steady Eddie so she will soon get over that issue. She'll be worked on both sides of the team for a number of days before she goes solo.

Indy, we'll be looking forward to pictures of Sophie with you driving her when she gets home from camp. It does make like so much easier when the 'kids' are well behaved.

INDYAPP:
What is a rock boat? Sounds like Sophie is getting quite an education! I can't wait to see pix, too. It is nice when an animal makes us proud in public. I have sure been on the other side of that situation! Ivan is the poster child for "What not to do in public and embarrass your rider to death". Oh well, gotta love him. He has improved greatly over the years, but will undoubtedly continue to earn that poster child status on occasion. How long will Sophie be in training?

TALLYPAM:
Have you tried your new password? I am looking forward to seeing you here again!

CB:
I tried deep fried greenbeans once at a restaurant, but didn't find them tasty enough to search them out again. It could have been how the restaurant made them.... Now deep fried okra is another thing!

It has been raining this morning. I got soaked....again. It was a nice gentle rain, at least. Lori is coming for lessons this evening, I hope the weather plays nice then.

Great news INDY.......happy for you to have Sophie in training. The trainer sounds sensible and you have a wonderful driving horse for many years to enjoy. You gave her a good experience pulling her and transferring her so she will be easy to manage from now on.

Nice day here so far. We are expecting rain soon as the thunder and lightening have jumped about.

ARK, we are on private land but surrounded by Nat'l Forest. We're not on red fire alert, but here in our camp, we prefer to have the wildlife around rather than giving them every human reason to leave. We have deer, elk, big horn sheep, eagles, etc. Recently they released wolves here. However, we sure have not seen signs or any of them. I am careful after dusk with Rex out loose. He wears one of those elastic head light made for humans around his neck when out at night so I know just where he is. He is very good at coming when called. Occasionally we do hear the coyotes but they also stay away.

Glad everyone had a good & safe 4th. Hope you have a good lesson ARK...................

Olman tries but cannot get on.



Keeep trying

Our computers must be on same line of satellite towers or something OL MAN, I COULDNT GET ON FOR ABOUT 4 or 5 days, kept trying tho and I see you made it too. frustrating when site says you have used invalid user name or password and its the same one that finally gets you on when it is ready!

How r you and virginia? r u getting a lot of rain your way. boy we have had way too much for me here! my toes r growing webs! and it came down in sheets again tonight and the guys had put the goats in the farther out pen and forgot to open their gate so they could get to the barn. I have to keep the minis in another field with less grass but they all can share the barn if that gate is opened what we do for our critters huh. harry and therin were totally drenched so they peeled off wet stuff and took a hot shower.

Then we r settling to sleep when I hear dogs barking and a skunk let fly and made our eyes burn! the dogs get to sleep on the back porch tonight. it has a floor and roof and rest is screened in and its about 30 ft long by 10 feet wide. I love my porch. great for watching birds and wildlife but keeps bugs out.

Tomorrow if roads arnt flooded we r going to fantastic caverns, and then to an indian casino where we can get seafood dinner and therin is legal to play slots for first time. yup, gramma is corrupting the kid. told him nothing but penny slots....just an hour of losng money and good dinner and then home.

Sweet dreams foopland.

ARK, a rock boat is sled-like and sits real close to the ground. It got it's name from being used to put rocks on from the fields to get the rocks out of the way when plowing.

I got a big surprise when I went home last night. Yesterday when I left for work I lived on a paved road. Last night when I got home I lived on a dirt road. There were bobcats, dump trucks, road graders and whatever those things are called that are like a giant rolling pin working until about 9:00 last night. (I really wanted to ask the guy driving the rolling pin thing to take a couple of swipes across my yard to get the ruts from the cement truck out from last year. I guess I'll see what kind of road I live on tonight when I get there.

Hi all!

Just read this page, and glad to see what some of you are doing.

Ol Man, nice to see your face, hope you can get connected better.

Indy App, sounds like your Sophie is quite a good girl.  


Graymare, you are in northern AZ in summers, right?  Sounds delightful.  Rex seems to be just the dog for you, and you the person for him.  I love it.

Ark, how are you two doing?  

CB, skunks, yikes!  I was on the phone with a friend of mine the other night, and Helen said "oh no, Khosrow (her husband), is going out to scare the skunk away"  Oh my, not good!  Hahaha!  I didn't hear of any mishap, so I guess he survived without being sprayed.

Hope you all had a good July 4th!

Our Canada Day celebrations on the 1st were to take my mom and her brother down to a village where they grew up, three hours away to the Highland Games.  My mother's father was a rabid Scot.  It was somewhat excessive the emphasis he put on that part of our heritage, considering that he was third generation Canadian and Grandma was half Swiss, which I didn't even learn about till I was an adult.  Anyway, when he moved the family to this little village of Embro, he brought the Scottish heritage, started highland dancing classes, bagpipes, designed the school ring with Scotch thistles, and got the highland games going.  It is still going on every Canada Day.  What a way to thumb your nose at being Canadian, eh?  Hahaha.  We had an oatmeal commercial here that the guy declared in a Scottish brogue, that "If it's not Scottish, it's crap! "    That's about the attitude.

Mom has mentioned wanting to go so we picked up Uncle Alex and toodled down.  Unfortunately, I guess childhood memories tend to be overblown, and we didn't have Grandpa there to pump them up, so it was a let down for them.  There were great pipe bands though!  Mom and Uncle Alex were ready to go in two hours, so we toodled on back down the road.  They really did appreciate the effort though.  Hey anything we can do.

Next trip planned is another place they lived, Burks Falls, where my grandparents were born at their family farms. My brother and I took Mom up before, but she couldn't remember where the farms were.  We lunched at her uncle's old house, which is now a nice restaurant, so that was neat.  This time I will take Uncle Alex, in the hopes he can find the farm.  I Am not counting on it, as he couldn't find the house in tiny Embro, but we can certainly try.  

I keep trying to think up things to do for Mom to make life more interesting. I'm not very good at it, but I keep trying.  It's the day to day that is boring for her, but she rejects most suggestions for social interaction. The only thing that will interest her is her family, who all live a distance away, and don't reach out to her.

Been doing a little music with an old friend.  We played a Baha'i picnic on Sunday, was quite fun and well received by the friends and the public there too.  I will be doing a little recording come fall, something Jim has always wanted me to do, a stripped down acoustic thing without a band,  mostly just guitar and vocal.  A couple of my originals and some of my friends' pieces, the same guy who wrote Love Goes On, on reverbnation and another fellow, as well as some covers.

I was also asked to do a duo with a fellow, mostly standards and oldies, and mostly for a very ritzy retirement community here.  So back in the saddle, so to speak musically.

Horse wise, just volunteering at the therapeutic riding programme, but I am taking the summer off as the heat bothers me so.

Paring down our possessions gradually, preparing for our next stage of life, "Vagabondage", to quote Bruce Cockburn, Canadian musician.  I love that term. French for drifting.

Well, that is the update for now.  Hope everyone is doing great!

Hey there TRUDY do you know of a boarding facility for dogs for overnight stay in bloomsburg area? we want to go to the fair and can't take them there while we r home and would love to meet with you and george while home.

We went to fantastic caverns yesterday, but after seeing meramec caverns, it was disappointing tour for us. we loved meremec tho.
Then we went to an indian casino and had seafood dinner for 11 dollars a piece all you could eat including hot crab legs....oh yum! then to the penny slots to teach young grasshopper how to gamble...lil hopper won 37.00 and was playing on the 10 dollar card from casino that was free. we played for an hour and left. I made him put the 37 in his pocket and he finished out his 10 free...but didn't win more. trying to teach him right way...go home with money! lol

More rain...ack...

Nancy, I'm really happy to hear that you are singing again. Please let us know when your recordings are released. We will definitely want one.

CB, I've been to a casino a couple of times, but only to "bet the ponies". I won enough to pay for the all-you-can-eat seafood dinner for three of us each time. That was with only $2 bets. I know better than to bet more than $2. It is fun though.

Hi Foops.  I know I have been seriously absent but I do lurk.  

As you know, life made a wicked turn and I am trying to figure out how to live my life without my beloved Richard. It isn't easy both emotionally and physically. Emotionally I am doing a bit better. It's a slow process but I've actually found myself thinking of him with a smile on my face rather than tears.  I always knew how much he did around here but now that it's my responsibility I am constantly trying to catch up.  I am sure it will get better as I heal and use my time and energy more efficiently.  Monday thru Friday I spend time at my friends horse camp and the kids keep me laughing (except for one little girl who is there every week who seriously needs a warmed bottom!).  My friend, Renae, makes sure I smile when I'm down or directs me to a task to keep my mind busy. Renae owns the farm and has proven herself one marvelous friend.

My horses are getting used to me feeding AFTER I've had my coffee.  Rich always fed in the morning. He was such morning person!  Me, not so much. They get tired of waiting and go back out to the back pasture. After missing breakfast a few times they have learned to come back up when I call them.

Once the summer is over I'll be working with Renae's beginner students. I love working with the little ones and since they only ride 30 minutes I can do a couple without getting worn totally out. I also plan on getting back on my now healed Casper and getting back into working on Western Dressage.

So, in a very small nutshell, that is my life right now. I have to tell you that having this page to come to some days has really helped me out.  Long time, good friends can always make you smile.

Okay, got to get over the the farm. Y'all have a great day.

Hi everyone! good to see y'all posting!

More rain here today...ack......wish we could send it somewhere that needs it.

The guys have the kilz down in the big room, cut a dead tree down, stacked up firewood, putting up posts for horse shelter. busy busy busy....

My brother has rented his house and will be moving in next week into the house until it dries out enuf to get his motorhome parked where it will stay.....

Therin leaves for 2 weeks in texas and then home to idaho. he's been a big help.

Good Morning!

Off to horse camp and dinner with Renae and friends afterwards.  I learned yesterday that my oldest cousin, 68, died of a sudden and massive heart attack just like Rich did.  He had chest pains, went to the hospital, and after tests and such they released him  On the way out he collapsed and they were not able to get his heart going again. He was a good guy, a great husband and father.  Many happy memories when we were kids.

Enough sad stuff. Next week is overnight camp at the farm.  I don't stay overnight (God forbid ) but Tuesday we'll head out early in the morning to make the trip to Amelia Island (barrier island just north of Jacksonville) to ride the beach.  Ten little girls, horses and the beach.  Wish me luck!

Off to feed horses and then head to the barn.  Y'all have a great day.

We r off on a road trip today with therin to meet some of his cousins and go to haha tonka state park where you can wander thru remants of a castle, and hitting some fle markets and a huge gift shop, lunch out and then to an auction inside for awhile and then home.

This weekend we will help brother get moved up.....he is going to miss his cronies at the truck stop, I think. he goes every morning and evening to sit and bs. he will have to find some new cronies or stay home more which in the winter air may be a good idea, but I also understand the concept if he can still go, go.

PAM, sorry....sending a moo hug sweetie. keep busy, and if you do any traveling bring your horse and come for a visit, we will ride the trails. emminence has week long trail rides, camping, meals, and big name entertainment....course all for a price but I've always wanted to do that ride. they have rides may thru sept there.

Well we r off................tadumdedumdedumdumdumdumm.................

Well, I finally got off my butt and made it up to the clubhouse to check in, the temps have been unbearable lately and I have been hibernating at the air conditioner, it does not even cool off at night just hot and steamy like a sauna,
Well, I finally got Kent to go to my doctor he likes her so I hope he will listen to her and get healthy again we are still planning to leave here when we can get it together, he is considering giving his tools away he has a whole lot of them both power tools and quite a few large roll away tool boxes a grinder and lots of extra tools. Well, it is dinnertime so better get home before Kent feeds it to my dog, glad everyone is doing good and keeping busy have a good weekend

Morning All,

I have ben reading the posts that I missed while I was away. You are all very busy people.

I just got back on Thursday afternoon after being gone from Monday at 6 a.m. OES Grand Chapter. Brenda had to be there by nine for practice and pictures so we did the two 1/2 hr. drive in jig time. Weather was perfect, sunny and hot but all of the sessions were held in the conference room and it is air conditioned to the max.......I hate air conditioning. Where I live, we don't need it, if it gets too hot a fan will do. I rarely use it in the car even, would rather open the sun roof and windows. I had a sore throat and the beginnings of a cold before I left home so with the cold rooms it BLOOMED. Didn't feel sick just sounded terrible. It was great seeing old friends though that you only see once a year and catch up on everything. I also needed a break from home for a few days.

This winter has been the hardest one for me for a very long time. The weather was terrible from just after Christmas till APRIL!!! Jack's nerves got the better of him for most of it, there was snow up to our ying-yang, he was sick with pneumonia for the month of Jan and a lot of Feb. I had it too but you know, the show must go on, lol. He did nothing but lay on the couch or go from the couch to the bed for months. Finally got him to see a psychiatrist and he is better than he was but I need a get-away every so often to keep my sanity.

I came home to a clean house, had my friend hired to clean it for me before I arrived so that I wouldn't have that to do. It was lovely!!!! Need to do that more often,

Nancy, you are a good Daughter. Finding things to keep Mom entertained when she doesn't want to socialize with the "natives" would be a full time job. I sure wish I still had my Mom, although, she would be very old at this point.

CB, I want to know where you are now. I have lost track of your travels and moving. Are you back in Idaho? Tehran sounds like a great young man, where is he heading in the fall?

Pam, Im glad to see that you are keeping busy with the kids camps. It was a great shock for you to lose Richard but you are making an effort to keep busy. It takes a very long time to get through the grieving, if ever. I still have days that I am snotting all day long, I am so lonesome for Tracey.

Ark, your neighbours obviously aren't horse people. Ours are in the barn every night so don't have to be exposed to fireworks overhead. Im sure they can still hear everything and probably can see some of the sky but they aren't outside.

GREYMARE, just why would they introduce wolves into the mix at this point? If you have coyotes, that is enough. We have them (coyotes) and they can get quite brazen, coming out of the woods behind houses and attacking and killing small animals.

Well, I didn't get to reply to everyone. It is great to be back in the bunch and hearing what everyone is doing. Rick, I will keep that in mind, pass and don't dilly dally doing it. Hope you had a better week.

Later folks.

Donna

Pam, it is good to see you here, and I am glad to hear that you are healing although slowly. It is really good that you are involved with Renae's students. Just the ticket.

It's great that Casper is doing well, and you can ride. I miss my horses, especially George. He was my equine soul mate.

Sorry to hear about your cousin. Hugs to you.

Hi Sunny! If Kent gets rid of his tools it will sure make it easier when you do leave where you are. Where do you plan to go?

CB, hope the move with your brother goes well. Therin sounds great, how nice for you. I checked out that HaHa Tonka park, sounds lovely.

Donna, thank you for the kind words. I don't feel like a good daughter most of the time, but I try to do some things right. Hahaha. I am glad you got away, and know that you need it. Great idea having the house cleaned before you got back. I hope Jack does better with the summer weather. Do you think the winter lack of light and being more cooped up has a big effect?

I know you miss Tracey and your Mother a lot. Hugs to you.

Today we will go to Peterborough, 30 minute drive, to see our friends in a band play. They are very good, local guys from here in Lindsay, and the guitarist is phenomenal. Love to hear them.

Tomorrow is a musicians' BBQ and jam at our friends' home, Mike is the guy I play with sometimes, and record with. Wonderful musician, writer, guitarist. If you want to hear him, check out https://www.reverbnation.com/otoole

So, I got stuck somehow on that post, and to avoid losing all that typing, I posted before I was done! LOL

Just wanted to say that I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Oh yes, Donna, I always carry a pashmina (has to be natural fibre) shawl with me to avoid the overly airconditioned environments. Really helps to keep the drafts off the neck and shoulders, and cut down on the colds. Even in the car, Jim will blast the air, which is fine because I just wrap myself up. They are easy to carry around, fold up small and come in wonderful colours and patterns. I don't know if you have Tribal Voices stores in NS, but they are a great source. They make lovely gifts for people too.

Okay, gotta go hit the shower!

It's so great seeing our long lost friends posting here again! I have missed you all!

SUNNY:
I think I would have Kent consider listing his tools on a Craigs List type of place so he can get a little moola for them. Mad money .

DONNA:
I hope your cold is better. I think air conditioning's dry air makes respiratory problems worse. Your trip sounded like fun, other than the cold. I could stand to get away for awhile, too. A nice beach would be great....

NANCY LEE:
Yep, you are a great daughter. i bet your mother and uncle loved seeing their old places. That was a very nice idea. What do you do with the riding therapy place? Is it for children or adults or both? I have heard such wonderful things about how riding therapy helps veterans and handicapped people.

ELLEN:
Swimming yet? Is the lake still too cold? At least your lake doesn't have sharks!

TRUDY:
My apple tree is getting ready to burst forth with edible goodies! We never did plant any veggies. After I am done with horse chores, the thought of weeding a garden isn't very appealing.

CB:
How nice your grandson has been such a good help! I bet he has enjoyed his time with you and Harry.

OL'MAN:
There you are! I am sorry you have problems with logging in. There isn't much I can do other than change passwords for folks. Many times the issue is local and it sorts itself out after awhile.

TALLYPAM:
Hurray, you made it! I sure wish I had someone like you to ride with here. I would love taking the western dressage classes, too. I take lessons at home, but finding compatible riding partners for trail rides is difficult.

GRAYMARE:
I did have a nice lesson last Monday, thanks! Areion is doing well with Lori, although was a little bit spooky. We wondered if she was in heat, but she doesn't show it as blatantly as Kazi or Daisy, so we weren't sure. Ivan is having issues with the s-hook hackamore lately. I think it may be too low on his nose and he objects. He doesn't do anything too drastic, but he lets me know he isn't a happy camper sometimes. I may have to get a different headstall to put the hackamore on, the one he has won't adjust any differently.

NEWS:
They delivered out new t.v. today! Donnie is busy hooking it up, he's a happy clam. He loves messing around with electronic things. The t.v. is very nice! Now we have to get our dish hooked to it.....

It's so nice to read and catch up with everyone.

Oh man, big bad news in camp. One of the guys had a stroke yesterday, helicoptered to Tucson and doing well this evening..............at this time length of recovery is not known.....he is talking, getting up, but weak.
So, prayers for Ken, please. We still have Bugs and Amber here in camp.
One is a Chi and the other a Pom.......oh, so cute. AND, they love Rex........way sweet. They mean everything to Ken and his wife.....together they prob weigh 7 lbs., precious lapdogs, and Ken is already asking for Bugs. Whew, it's amazing what our animals mean to us and the impact they have on health and healing.

PAM, have fun at your camp out with the kids..............it sounds like a good time and kids bring joy & laughter. Enjoy getting back at it on Casper.

NANCY LEE, we're all going to be waiting for your new album....hope we can get it on Amazon or I Tunes. Keep us posted, for sure. Your jam
sessions this week end are probably a blast.

CB, your grandson will so enjoy the memories you made this summer for him.

SUNNY, hope you can get packed up & gone soon to where you will be happier.

Gee, DONNA, sorry to read of Jack's winter depression. I sure hope summer is helping. I am really glad you got to go to your OES retreat.
I'm sure you need a break now & then.

ARK, are you up all night watching TV? I've wondered, are the same goons still living across the way from you?

God bless. Prayers for ALL
.

Graymare, prayers for Ken are on the move.  I know they do help.  My neighbor is doing MUCH better now, almost back to normal.  I hope they'll be able to get his Bugs to him soon.  That will be good therapy for him.

The lack of sun in the winter can really have an adverse affect on some people.  One suggestion might be to get an Ott Light.  They give off a very natural looking sunlight effect, in addition to being a very good light as a craft light, or reading light.  I have one that I use all the time when I'm sewing or knitting something I need to see.

Good tools are usually an easy sell.  So Craig's List, or even an ad in the local newspaper might get them sold quickly for a fair price.

Pam, I know you are having a good time with the kids.  Horses are great therapy for young and old alike, with all kinds of needs.

Ark, will we ever see you again now that you have your beautiful new TV?  

Nope.  Still not swimming.  Yesterday was a decent day and I thought maybe I'd finally get in a swim today.  But, no.  It is too cool and raining AGAIN. The water level had started to drop, but we got a lot more rain two days ago, and it came right back up.
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons while it rained, my cousins helped me clean out the garage and reorganize it. Well, I guess I should say that one of them is almost hyperactive and couldn't sit still and pushed the rest of us into getting the job done. Another one of them is really great at organizing. I felt guilty that they had to help me do it, but soooo very grateful that they were willing.
We borrowed the neighbors' boat and went for a long cruise yesterday afternoon, and then I took a quick little trip down the lake and back on the jet ski just to keep the battery charged.
The cousin who came a week ago last Friday, left this morning.  The two who have the camper will be here until tomorrow, although the camper is staying for another couple of weeks.  They'll go back and forth between grandson's baseball games, teaching carving classes, and here.