Getting physical
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Training sessions have been going really well these past few weeks. I
swim, lift, and run on my own (or with the masters swim team) during the
week, and o...
12 years ago
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Now what's in the front yard
At any given time you can look out one of the windows in our house and see some little creature making its way across the yard. It could be a stray dog or cat, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, deer or even a bobcat. This morning on my way into the kitchen I looked out the living room window and stopped in my tracks and took a double take, what in the world was that in the front yard? Cows! Yes that's right. There were five cows grazing in our front yard as if they belonged there. Well I called John and he tried to call the neighbors to see if they were their cows, no answer. John then got into the truck and drove around trying to see if anyone was out looking for their cows, not a human in sight. He stopped at the neighbors up the road and they said they would call the farmer who rents pasture from them. Well it wasn't long after that the cows moved onto greener pastures I guess. About two hours later the pasture renting cow farmer came by and we told him the cows had moved on. It is not unusual to come across cows in the road out in the country, but I have never had them wander into the yard. Those Johnson County folks who want the Shawnee Mission parkark deer shot would really be in a real tizzy if cows were found in their yard eating their petunias.
Weather Proverbs for October
These weather proverbs were in the Rural Paper we get each month from our electric coop.
If October brings heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild.
When squirrels bury nuts early, it will be a hard winter.
If the hare wears a thick coat in October, lay in a good store of fuel.
When snow falls in the mud, it remains all winter.
Corn is as comfortable under the snow as an old man is under his fur cloak.
This recipe was also in the paper:
6-8 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup milk or cream
1 TBLSP melted butter
salt to taste
1/2 c flour (appprox.)
Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. boil and mash the potatoes until smooth. Add the milk, butter and salt. Add just enough flour to make a soft dough, then lay it on a floured board and roll out quickly and lightly to one-half inch thick. Cut into rounds and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes or until just crisp on the outside. Butter and eat before they fall. Makes 12- 18 biscuits.
I like the part about eating them before they fall. You would be popping those babies into your mouth left and right. You could have a biscuit eating contest at the dinner table.
If October brings heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild.
When squirrels bury nuts early, it will be a hard winter.
If the hare wears a thick coat in October, lay in a good store of fuel.
When snow falls in the mud, it remains all winter.
Corn is as comfortable under the snow as an old man is under his fur cloak.
This recipe was also in the paper:
6-8 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 cup milk or cream
1 TBLSP melted butter
salt to taste
1/2 c flour (appprox.)
Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. boil and mash the potatoes until smooth. Add the milk, butter and salt. Add just enough flour to make a soft dough, then lay it on a floured board and roll out quickly and lightly to one-half inch thick. Cut into rounds and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes or until just crisp on the outside. Butter and eat before they fall. Makes 12- 18 biscuits.
I like the part about eating them before they fall. You would be popping those babies into your mouth left and right. You could have a biscuit eating contest at the dinner table.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Black Labs
Regarding the black lab, those are the hardest dogs for shelters to find homes for. They often don't even try. They just put them down as soon as the owners leave. Even low kill or no kill shelters are guilty of this. I think the way they get around it is they say they don't put any dogs down that are up for adoption. The dogs never made it up for adoption, so they don't really count. People just don't like all black dogs that much. I guess it is grounded in the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys wear black hats. Be careful of doing "free to a good home", some people get those dogs, after convincing the owners that they will give the dog the perfect home. The home they always dreamed of, only to sell them to labs for testing or worse use them as training and bait dogs in dog fighting rings. I think it was Mark Twain who said something about about being able to judge a country by how they treat their animals.
There are some puppy millers selling toy dogs in Kearney. They are by the side of the road. I stopped to check them out. They had a binder with pictures of two rows of wire crates with dogs in them. I told the girl it looked like a puppy mill and she took the binder back and walked away. I went to city hall and complained to the head of codes and developments. He said there wasn't an ordinance against road side vendors selling puppies. Of course this is the same town that named a park and a road after Jesse James and has a festival named after him as well. Good luck finding black dog a home.
There are some puppy millers selling toy dogs in Kearney. They are by the side of the road. I stopped to check them out. They had a binder with pictures of two rows of wire crates with dogs in them. I told the girl it looked like a puppy mill and she took the binder back and walked away. I went to city hall and complained to the head of codes and developments. He said there wasn't an ordinance against road side vendors selling puppies. Of course this is the same town that named a park and a road after Jesse James and has a festival named after him as well. Good luck finding black dog a home.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Four months in the books
Today is Isaiah's four-month birthday. He's getting a couple teeth in. He's sleeping through the night usually. He weighed 15.5 pounds last week. And he has rolled over a few times.
Jesse and I are going to try to give him no television until he turns two years old. As a result, we got a DVR for the first time. We do have a few shows that we want to watch, but we'll have to watch them on his schedule now (when he's asleep or something). The DVR lets us record what we want and watch them anytime. And even if we let him watch TV, there are several shows that would still be inappropriate. Two and a Half Men, House, Bones, How I Met Your Mother.
The upgrade also means we get all of those music stations, so last night we played some light classical during dinner. And there's a toddler music station that we might try.
It's nice being able to rationalize getting a DVR by saying it's for the kid's benefit.
Jesse and I are going to try to give him no television until he turns two years old. As a result, we got a DVR for the first time. We do have a few shows that we want to watch, but we'll have to watch them on his schedule now (when he's asleep or something). The DVR lets us record what we want and watch them anytime. And even if we let him watch TV, there are several shows that would still be inappropriate. Two and a Half Men, House, Bones, How I Met Your Mother.
The upgrade also means we get all of those music stations, so last night we played some light classical during dinner. And there's a toddler music station that we might try.
It's nice being able to rationalize getting a DVR by saying it's for the kid's benefit.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Rain, rain -- GO AWAY!!!
If you've caught the national news lately, you know it's raining cats, dogs, and horses here in Georgia. It's an absolute mess. And even though the roads are dangerous -- some impassable -- Kennesaw State is open for business. Not sure why.
Just now the floor of the main entry way into the English building began gurgling (brown--sewage???) water. It spread several feet and came down the hallway toward my office. I've tried to get all my valuables off the ground in case we have any more problems. Several buildings on campus are experiencing flooding -- the bookstore, the Social Science building, the English building, the Wilson building. Probably more ... I've been visiting with our lovely custodian, Dee, and offering to help her if she needs it. She's been giving me the inside scoop on all the disasters happening on campus.
And yet ... classes are still in session (as much as they can be anyway). Are you kidding me?
My class meets tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. I can tell you right now, I'll be letting that class out well before dark so that none of my students (nor I) have to drive home in the dark -- because you can't see the water when it's dark. My normal route to work was flooded out at 10:45 a.m. Who knows what it will be like when I head home in 6-7 hours?
And the rain keeps coming. Sometimes hard. Sometimes soft. And it only stops for 10-15 minutes at a time ... every several hours or so.
Wish me luck getting home, and keep the GA residents who are flooded out in your prayers. So far, we just have a couple of leaks in the house. No biggie.
So long from Water World.
Just now the floor of the main entry way into the English building began gurgling (brown--sewage???) water. It spread several feet and came down the hallway toward my office. I've tried to get all my valuables off the ground in case we have any more problems. Several buildings on campus are experiencing flooding -- the bookstore, the Social Science building, the English building, the Wilson building. Probably more ... I've been visiting with our lovely custodian, Dee, and offering to help her if she needs it. She's been giving me the inside scoop on all the disasters happening on campus.
And yet ... classes are still in session (as much as they can be anyway). Are you kidding me?
My class meets tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. I can tell you right now, I'll be letting that class out well before dark so that none of my students (nor I) have to drive home in the dark -- because you can't see the water when it's dark. My normal route to work was flooded out at 10:45 a.m. Who knows what it will be like when I head home in 6-7 hours?
And the rain keeps coming. Sometimes hard. Sometimes soft. And it only stops for 10-15 minutes at a time ... every several hours or so.
Wish me luck getting home, and keep the GA residents who are flooded out in your prayers. So far, we just have a couple of leaks in the house. No biggie.
So long from Water World.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Where did September go?
It is Sunday September 20th and the weekend is coming to a close. I am aware that the first day of Fallis approaching and September is quickly departing. I worked Saturday morning and then John and I headed to Smithville with Annie for the 6th annual border collie rescue reunion picnic, or as we sometimes refer to it as the Black and White Ball. This was Annie's 5th picnic. Jack of course has to stay home. That is what happens to an unsocial puppy. You miss the really fun stuff. Annie raced around with all the other bc dogs; there were suppose to be about 80 dogs, but I don't think there were that many there by the time we got there. She wouldn't swim very far out into the pond, only as far as her puppy paws would allow her to still the bottom of the pond. She had the zoomies and was very carefree. She slept all the way home. Saturday evening Rebecca and Tom had their annual Fall equinox party. There were about 40 people there for a potluck bonfire. There were a lot of wonderful dishes some vegetarian and some not. There were also lots of tasty desserts, like fresh gooseberry pie and pumpkin pie, blackberry pie and chocolate/cayenne cupcakes, just to name a few. I overate, but it was all so good. I made grilled salmon topped with cranberry/orange/ginger chutney and key lime bars with a coconut/graham cracker crust for dessert. Our friends Joni and Chester were also there. They host the www.fairsharefarm.com website for the farmers. We didn't leave until about 11:00pm and the party was still going strong. There were a number of guests who were camping out on the farm. Rebecca and Tom know a lot of people. It is a very diverse group of people. Sunday morning we went for a bike ride and then off to run errands. Next weekend is the Liberty Fall Festival on the square. I am going to have an open house on Saturday and do foot massages and face/head massages for a donation to MOKAN Border Collie Rescue. Sharon is making her wonderful iced sugar cookies in the shape of a hand. I will also offer hot tea and apple cider and a little trail mix that I am making with almonds, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, yogurt covered raisins, dried bananas, sesame stixs and probably a little chocolate for good measure. I hope I have a decent turn out. They block my street off and the porta-potty will be just up from my doorstep. How can they miss me? Well I hope everyone had a lovely September weekend and Happy Fall Equinox.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
We Pray for Children by Ina Hughes
This poem, by Ina Hughes, is on the bulletin board in the resource room at Roosevelt Grade School. I like it and thought I would share it with my Fiddler kin.
We Pray for the Children
We pray for the children
who put chocolate fingers everywhere,
who like to be tickled,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their pants,
who sneak Popsicles before supper,
who erase holes in math workbooks,
who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who've never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,
who never "counted potatoes",
who are born in places we would not be caught dead,
who never go to the circus,
who live in an x-rated world.
We pray for children
who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
who cover themselves with band-aids and sing off-key,
who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
who slurp their soup.
And we pray for those
who never get dessert,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind,
who can't find any bread to steal,
who don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for children
who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the car pool,
who squirm in church and scream on the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move but have no being.
We pray for children
who want to be carried and for those who must.
For those we never give up on and for those who don't get a chance.
For those we smother and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
We Pray for the Children
We pray for the children
who put chocolate fingers everywhere,
who like to be tickled,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their pants,
who sneak Popsicles before supper,
who erase holes in math workbooks,
who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who've never squeaked across the floor in new sneakers,
who never "counted potatoes",
who are born in places we would not be caught dead,
who never go to the circus,
who live in an x-rated world.
We pray for children
who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,
who sleep with the dog and bury goldfish,
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
who cover themselves with band-aids and sing off-key,
who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink,
who slurp their soup.
And we pray for those
who never get dessert,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind,
who can't find any bread to steal,
who don't have any rooms to clean up,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for children
who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,
who like ghost stories,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed and never rinse out the tub,
who get visits from the tooth fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the car pool,
who squirm in church and scream on the phone,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and whose smiles can make us cry.
And we pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who have never seen a dentist,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,
who live and move but have no being.
We pray for children
who want to be carried and for those who must.
For those we never give up on and for those who don't get a chance.
For those we smother and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
School Days
I wanted to let everyone know that I started working as a foster grandparent at Roosevelt Grade School in Hays, Kansas. I work from 8:30 am to 11:30 am everyday in a resource room for kindergarden and first grade students. The classroom teacher has worked for 31 years in several different Kansas school districts in many capacities; including consultant. She is very good with the students and I am learning a lot from her. I spend a lot of 1-1 time with students and help them with the assignments they receive in the regular classroom. The students also do remedial work to help them improve their skills. The children are very sweet and they work very hard.
When I say the students work hard, I mean it. I don't know how many work sheets they do before 10:30 in the morning. We race everyday to get all the assignments done. I have not been in a regular classroom, but I can only imagine the stress all the teachers feel to achieve by a certain date. I believe achievement is measured by test scores, which means both teachers and students are under a lot of pressure. Roosevelt has a very pleasant learning environment though, and all the teachers and staff seem very nice. If a student arrives in the morning and has not eaten breakfast, a breakfast is provided. The younger students also get snacks throughout the day.
Now that I am a foster grandparent, I have had to get used to leaving the apartment by 8:00 in the morning. I try to have the bed made and the breakfast dishes done before I leave. This means that I keep moving from the moment I get out of bed. Learning to adapt to a new schedule and a work environment has been somewhat stressful. I am usually pretty tired by mid afternoon. However, I am glad that I am more involved in the world than I have been. Since I have not worked in five years, my people skills are a little rusty. I hope to improve day by day.
I just thought that I would let everyone know what I am doing these days. I was scared before I began volunteering at Roosevelt. I hoped that I would be accepted by the students and the teachers. So far, things are working out just fine.
When I say the students work hard, I mean it. I don't know how many work sheets they do before 10:30 in the morning. We race everyday to get all the assignments done. I have not been in a regular classroom, but I can only imagine the stress all the teachers feel to achieve by a certain date. I believe achievement is measured by test scores, which means both teachers and students are under a lot of pressure. Roosevelt has a very pleasant learning environment though, and all the teachers and staff seem very nice. If a student arrives in the morning and has not eaten breakfast, a breakfast is provided. The younger students also get snacks throughout the day.
Now that I am a foster grandparent, I have had to get used to leaving the apartment by 8:00 in the morning. I try to have the bed made and the breakfast dishes done before I leave. This means that I keep moving from the moment I get out of bed. Learning to adapt to a new schedule and a work environment has been somewhat stressful. I am usually pretty tired by mid afternoon. However, I am glad that I am more involved in the world than I have been. Since I have not worked in five years, my people skills are a little rusty. I hope to improve day by day.
I just thought that I would let everyone know what I am doing these days. I was scared before I began volunteering at Roosevelt. I hoped that I would be accepted by the students and the teachers. So far, things are working out just fine.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
A good Saturday morning
Trent and I participated in a 5K race this morning in downtown Kennesaw -- the first annual Great Locomotive Chase. We both enjoyed ourselves immensely, and we were impressed by how well the race was organized. With about 250 other runners and walkers, we enjoyed a beautiful Saturday morning.
Afterward, our race numbers gave us free admission to the Southern Museum (at the race's finish line). There we learned about the great locomotive chase of 1862 in which northern raiders stole a locomotive engine and drove it north in an attempt to destroy bridges and rails and, ultimately, isolate Atlanta and cut it off from Confederate supplies and ammunition. Unfortunately for the Union raiders (not all were soldiers), the engine's conductor/owner chased them down--first on foot for two miles and then by train for another 80 miles or so until the Northerner's train ran out of fuel and they were captured. It was interesting to witness the telling of this story from the Southern perspective. :)
After visiting the museum, we ventured back outdoors for the second annual Taste of Kennesaw Festival where we chowed down on pulled pork sandwiches and sweet tea from the Big Shanty Smokehouse, a restaurant we'd never tried before. We definitely plan to go back now. We listened to live music, and we watched a clogging performance, too.
This afternoon and evening, one of Trent's friends is visiting. We had pizza and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm.
A few weeks ago, Trent and I attended the b-day party of one of my friends at this amazing, authentic, and cheap (!!) El Salvadorean restaurant. It was SO GOOD. Two days later we learned that the owner was being investigated by the federal government for human trafficking--forcing women to work as sex slaves in order to pay down their "debt" to him. Horrifying.
Things are good here in Kennesaw. The windows are open, the weather is beautiful. I might watch South Pacific tonight. "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair ..."
I hope you all are well. Love you!
Afterward, our race numbers gave us free admission to the Southern Museum (at the race's finish line). There we learned about the great locomotive chase of 1862 in which northern raiders stole a locomotive engine and drove it north in an attempt to destroy bridges and rails and, ultimately, isolate Atlanta and cut it off from Confederate supplies and ammunition. Unfortunately for the Union raiders (not all were soldiers), the engine's conductor/owner chased them down--first on foot for two miles and then by train for another 80 miles or so until the Northerner's train ran out of fuel and they were captured. It was interesting to witness the telling of this story from the Southern perspective. :)
After visiting the museum, we ventured back outdoors for the second annual Taste of Kennesaw Festival where we chowed down on pulled pork sandwiches and sweet tea from the Big Shanty Smokehouse, a restaurant we'd never tried before. We definitely plan to go back now. We listened to live music, and we watched a clogging performance, too.
This afternoon and evening, one of Trent's friends is visiting. We had pizza and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Mmmmm.
A few weeks ago, Trent and I attended the b-day party of one of my friends at this amazing, authentic, and cheap (!!) El Salvadorean restaurant. It was SO GOOD. Two days later we learned that the owner was being investigated by the federal government for human trafficking--forcing women to work as sex slaves in order to pay down their "debt" to him. Horrifying.
Things are good here in Kennesaw. The windows are open, the weather is beautiful. I might watch South Pacific tonight. "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair ..."
I hope you all are well. Love you!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Chocolate
Imagine immersing yourself in the warm silky smoonthness of melted milk chocolate....you feel relaxed as you mentally bathe in the richness of your surroundings!
And where does one find this jewel of an experience?? Why...it is in the Ellises' spare bedroom....it has been transformed from Pepto Bismol pink to a cozy cafe au lait brown....and you are welcome to immerse yourself any time you like....just give us a call...visitors welcome! Bring your own marshmallows and dip in!
Ellen
And where does one find this jewel of an experience?? Why...it is in the Ellises' spare bedroom....it has been transformed from Pepto Bismol pink to a cozy cafe au lait brown....and you are welcome to immerse yourself any time you like....just give us a call...visitors welcome! Bring your own marshmallows and dip in!
Ellen
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