Well, we had a good Thanksgiving-my sister-in-law Sandy and her family made Tday meal for us, Mom, and our cousins. Hap was busy outfitting a hunting trip for a group, but Sandy was home and willing to cook for everyone. Her daughter Franki loves to cook and helped, and I brought several pies. Marvin and Cathy came, they've just moved to Arizona from California, and it was fun to see them.
David and I went on to Benson Thursday night, stayed at the Best Western hotel there. It's a lovely hotel, and the staff was so friendly! The pool and spa were still open, so I jumped in that evening for a quick swim. Although it was a heated pool, to my old bones it was cold! A nice bracing swim, then on to the hot tub to warm up. We drove into Tombstone on Friday and took a carriage tour around town. I was sad to hear that the little shack used by Big Nose Kate and Doc Holliday had burned down in 1998, just a few years after we were there before. We wandered around town with Chica in tow- it's definitely a dog-friendly place. The Best Western there was so acomidating for dogs, and even many of the stores were fine with her coming in with us.
We wandered down to Bisbee Friday afternoon, what a cool place! It was so busy we didn't find a place to park, but enjoyed just driving around looking at the architecture and the mine there. We had lunch at a place called Bisbee Breakfast Club- what a great meal!!! It was the best hamburger I've ever had, and the cafe has a great atmosphere. I highly recommend it. There's a nice health food store next door too, and I was able to find some wheat-free snacks. Saturday we took the side road toward Safford, and stopped at the Chiracahua National Monument. It was so cool- literally, the wind was blowing and it was cold. But what a great place to hike and see some amazing country. We didn't hike, but there are lots of trails for the hardy folks. Saturday night we stayed with David's cousin Wayne and had dinner at a great little Mexican restaurant in Safford.
I missed spending the holiday with our kids, but since they are spreading out and setting up their own lives more, I have to accept that I won't get to have them every main holiday. At least I know they were enjoying the holiday with others and weren't alone.
Of course I got sick right after we got home, and I'm suffering through a nasty cold right now, which I got from David. For the past few days we have both been fighting it, trying to take care of each other. Luckily Nic and Gina are here, and they have been a big help too. I haven't been able to start Christmas decorating, hopefully I can start that this weekend. I can't believe it's already the Christmas season!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
It's a beautiful Autumn day
Well the weather is clear, and this is a great week! We watched Dean, our niece's dog, all weekend. He loves to visit and play with our dogs, but he sure misses Megan while she's gone. The girls get so jealous of each other while he's here- it's pretty funny. Within a few minutes Cara will growl and attack Sunny, because Sunny and Dean get along really well. It's kinda like a 'cat' fight, but with dogs!
Tomorrow I plan to grind a bunch of flour from garbanzo beans, rice and whatever else I can find. That's what it takes to make bread, cookies and such for wheat-free baking, and it's so much cheaper to grind it myself than buy the flour, plus it's fresher and tastes better. I'm also going to make liquid laundry detergent. I haven't done that before, so it should be interesting. It calls for Zote soap, borax and washing soda, and costs pennies on the dollar compared to store-bought detergent. So, we'll see how it goes.
Tomorrow I plan to grind a bunch of flour from garbanzo beans, rice and whatever else I can find. That's what it takes to make bread, cookies and such for wheat-free baking, and it's so much cheaper to grind it myself than buy the flour, plus it's fresher and tastes better. I'm also going to make liquid laundry detergent. I haven't done that before, so it should be interesting. It calls for Zote soap, borax and washing soda, and costs pennies on the dollar compared to store-bought detergent. So, we'll see how it goes.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Fibro haze, Autumn days
We finally got some rain yesterday! It took a week of bleak, cloudy weather to finally get a little moisture, so the anticipation was allowed to build for days. Well, that is, if I could move. Weeks like this kick my ____. It's hard to explain the grogginess, weakness and fatigue that hit me before and during a strong weather change. We had a busy weekend, friends over on Saturday, then 3 hours of church Sunday morning, followed by a visit by other friends. Doesn't seem like much, really, but I couldn't get out of bed on Monday. I figured it was because I did too much over the weekend, but there's a strange 'brain fog' that I usually only feel before a storm. I kept looking outside, to a clear blue sky. Hmmm, maybe my barometer isn't working right.
Tuesday we woke up to bleary, cloud covered skies. The whole sky was covered with a high, gray blanket, and my barometer was redeemed. It didn't help the 'walking thru molasses' feeling I had for days, but at least the barometer still works.
My sister Debbie stopped by on Wednesday. She was here to go over some business with David, Jon and Best by Farr. She has a handful right now; Shurell just had elbow surgery and is still in the Valley for physical therapy, so Deb has her two kids, Rachele is still struggling a little with her health issues. Mom drove up on Monday to help out in St Johns, and spend some time with her great-grand kids. Debbie has 4 of her 5 kids living there, with their kids and all the activities they're in. Should be a busy week for all! Debbie only stayed here a brief time, but we had a nice visit.
We are watching my niece Megan's dog Dean. He's a timid, beautiful collie. He has Cara and Sunny to play with, but he gets lonely for Megan and Taylor when he's here. He has the classic symptoms a child have, they love to play and visit, they just want Mom and Dad close by. Sometimes you can't have everything!
Tuesday we woke up to bleary, cloud covered skies. The whole sky was covered with a high, gray blanket, and my barometer was redeemed. It didn't help the 'walking thru molasses' feeling I had for days, but at least the barometer still works.
My sister Debbie stopped by on Wednesday. She was here to go over some business with David, Jon and Best by Farr. She has a handful right now; Shurell just had elbow surgery and is still in the Valley for physical therapy, so Deb has her two kids, Rachele is still struggling a little with her health issues. Mom drove up on Monday to help out in St Johns, and spend some time with her great-grand kids. Debbie has 4 of her 5 kids living there, with their kids and all the activities they're in. Should be a busy week for all! Debbie only stayed here a brief time, but we had a nice visit.
We are watching my niece Megan's dog Dean. He's a timid, beautiful collie. He has Cara and Sunny to play with, but he gets lonely for Megan and Taylor when he's here. He has the classic symptoms a child have, they love to play and visit, they just want Mom and Dad close by. Sometimes you can't have everything!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Snow, in the Desert???
Wow it was so cold today! it was only about 52 degrees, which for you northerners is nothing, but yesterday it was over 70, and it's rarely very cold around here, which is why I LOVE IT. This afternoon as I was driving home, wet spots suddenly appeared on the windshield. I thought it was a light rain, until the snowflakes held their shape and stayed frozen on the hood of my car. Yes, it was cold enough to keep them frozen! It only snowed a few minutes, but I don't remember having snow this early in the season here.
We were supposed to have a Trunk or Treat night for Halloween at the church this weekend, then suddenly the 'powers that be' decided that it shouldn't be done, and they changed it to tonight. Sorry, it's snowing and too cold and windy for this old girl- so it was a no go for me. I spent years trudging around in the snow in Colorado for Halloween, taking the kids all over the big town of Silt. It always rained or snowed on Halloween, and we lived out of town, so I had to drive them into town, follow them around and of course steal some of their candy. I called it just payments for services rendered. hehe
We never get trick or treaters at our house. We don't live on the street, our driveway sets back off the street, kind of a dark alley feel, it seems to deter the kids. Probably doesn't help that I have 2 big dogs, a yappy little chihuahua, no lights and a big creepy cobweb across the trees lining the driveway. If this were a 2-story house we'd be the 'haunted' creaky old place down the road. That way David and I only have to share the candy with each other, and since I do all the shopping, there's a whole lot of candy he doesn't even know about- and don't you tell him!
We were supposed to have a Trunk or Treat night for Halloween at the church this weekend, then suddenly the 'powers that be' decided that it shouldn't be done, and they changed it to tonight. Sorry, it's snowing and too cold and windy for this old girl- so it was a no go for me. I spent years trudging around in the snow in Colorado for Halloween, taking the kids all over the big town of Silt. It always rained or snowed on Halloween, and we lived out of town, so I had to drive them into town, follow them around and of course steal some of their candy. I called it just payments for services rendered. hehe
We never get trick or treaters at our house. We don't live on the street, our driveway sets back off the street, kind of a dark alley feel, it seems to deter the kids. Probably doesn't help that I have 2 big dogs, a yappy little chihuahua, no lights and a big creepy cobweb across the trees lining the driveway. If this were a 2-story house we'd be the 'haunted' creaky old place down the road. That way David and I only have to share the candy with each other, and since I do all the shopping, there's a whole lot of candy he doesn't even know about- and don't you tell him!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Just Chickens
Well, I've annoyed my local friends endlessly with tales of my new, improved chickens, so now it's your turn! A couple weeks ago our friend Ben called me from Queen Creek, very excited. Seems a guy was selling off most of his poultry; game birds, turkeys, ducks, geese and of course chickens. He wanted to sell them off, and offered a better deal if he bought 10, so would I be interested in some grown hens? Well, of course I would, I love chickens!!!
So now I have 2 New Hampshires, 1 Americauna, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Wyandott and maybe 1 Australorp. The Americauna lays green eggs, I love that. The rest lay brown, or will. Only a couple are laying right now, the others are molting. The hens get along pretty well, but it's funny to watch them. Lucy is my only hen left from my original group, and when I brought the other hens in, she immediately picked a fight with each of them, and let them know who's boss! The Australop is beautiful, she is black and white, very striking. I scatter chicken feed in the pen every morning, and she will chase all the doves and other birds out of the pen when they come in looking for free food. It's so funny to see her cackle and race after them!
I've been working with them, and several will eat out of my hands now. It's tempting to wear gloves, because they will peck pretty hard, but I don't know if they would like the color and feel of it, so I haven't yet. I let them out into the garden in the afternoon, they are the best bug-zappers around!
Ok, it's true, I'm a schmuck for chickens. My kids hate them, and I'm sure it's my fault because I made them feed, water and clean up after chickens all of their childhood. They just can't understand my fascination, and neither can David. I don't know either, I just like fresh eggs and natural bug killers. Plus they chatter and talk to me, which is so cute. The New Hampshire's especially like to chat, they follow me around clucking about the neighbors, very intent, and I'm sure what they're telling me is very important to them. So I cluck back, (hope the neighbors aren't listening), and we visit a little while I feed them and check for eggs. Well, it may not be an exciting life, but I love it!
So now I have 2 New Hampshires, 1 Americauna, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Wyandott and maybe 1 Australorp. The Americauna lays green eggs, I love that. The rest lay brown, or will. Only a couple are laying right now, the others are molting. The hens get along pretty well, but it's funny to watch them. Lucy is my only hen left from my original group, and when I brought the other hens in, she immediately picked a fight with each of them, and let them know who's boss! The Australop is beautiful, she is black and white, very striking. I scatter chicken feed in the pen every morning, and she will chase all the doves and other birds out of the pen when they come in looking for free food. It's so funny to see her cackle and race after them!
I've been working with them, and several will eat out of my hands now. It's tempting to wear gloves, because they will peck pretty hard, but I don't know if they would like the color and feel of it, so I haven't yet. I let them out into the garden in the afternoon, they are the best bug-zappers around!
Ok, it's true, I'm a schmuck for chickens. My kids hate them, and I'm sure it's my fault because I made them feed, water and clean up after chickens all of their childhood. They just can't understand my fascination, and neither can David. I don't know either, I just like fresh eggs and natural bug killers. Plus they chatter and talk to me, which is so cute. The New Hampshire's especially like to chat, they follow me around clucking about the neighbors, very intent, and I'm sure what they're telling me is very important to them. So I cluck back, (hope the neighbors aren't listening), and we visit a little while I feed them and check for eggs. Well, it may not be an exciting life, but I love it!
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