A Working Friday

One of the techs called in sick this morning so I ended up working today. Hopefully I will have the whole weekend off (if I don't get called in for 8 hours of overtime on Sunday. Of course, I could use the money.)

So, I have been exposed to the swine flu at least a dozen time in this last week. If I don't get sick, I shouldn't have to get the H1N1 shot. Go immune system, go!!

Doing laundry tonight, making green chile soup and getting a head start on the chores for tomorrow. It snowed about 6" this week and has covered up all of the leaves I was planning on raking. :( But there's always grooming Manley or sitting in the hot tub if it's sunny.

By the way, my little Subaru handles very nicely in the snow/slush/ice so far this year. Now just to sell my van!

With Thanksgiving about 3 weeks away, I got a call from my friends Catherine and Mike. They invited me over for the day. I am to bring just myself and the menu includes prime rib. YUMMY!! I also asked for the Friday after off so I will have a long weekend.

My sister is working on my quilts and kitty quilts and doing a wonderful job! She is very talented.

Time to switch laundry loads and then bedtime. Have a good weekend.

HD Ranch Tour

This afternoon I went out and toured the HD Ranch. They have a small barn, 8 or 9 BIG pastures with lean to's, a round pen and a BIG riding arena and a jumper's course. Francie, the owner, had stopped in at Walgreens the other day (the drive-through) and I saw her stallion's picture on the side of her truck, a big Hanoverian that she had just sold. So, I contacted her by email and enquired about riding lessons. Today was windy but sunny and I met the barn manager and then we walked out to some of the pastures and I met the horses. She has a couple of Hanoverians, a Trakhener, a part Percheron, a Quarter Horse, and a couple of Thoroughbreds. They were all very gentle and interested in meeting new people.

She only has an outdoor riding ring so they quit lessons when the snow and cold get to be a problem. Beautiful scenery and well built fences.. Francie is 60 years old and understands the 'missing horses' thing I have dealt with for several years now. She is originally from Michigan and so we have the 'Midwesterner' thing going too.

Francie and her husband also raise black and tan coonhounds. I had Manley in the car and he was just ignoring the hounds that were circling at times. HD stands for hound dog.

So, to work on a budget and figure out how many lessons I can take is my next step.

Riding Breeches

My riding breeches still fit!!! Tight but not bad!! Just get my tummy toned up and I'll look pretty good in them!! Does anybody remember what I did with my paddock boots, helmet, or tall riding boots? Or does anyone have any boots, size 7 or 7 1/2?? And old helmet and gloves??

Going to check out a riding stable this afternoon. They have Hanovarians--big horses!! The stable just 2 miles away is not taking any more lessons, as the instructor is due to have a baby in April.

The kids in front of the house want to see me on TJ. I think I have a picture here somewhere. Found it!! On my corner shelp under the tv in the bedroom.

Kisa just had her bath, so now all 3 cats are clean.

Sunny day--no clouds yet--so must go for a hike today with Manley.

Y'all have a great day and hope you all have sunny weather.

Finally Friday

I had really wanted to post some pictures of my vacation but have not gotten the box that was mailed from Wisconsin with my camera/computer plug in yet. Hope to do that soon.

Just thought I'd continue with tales of my vacation. I'll pick up with Tuesday, when I picked up my rental car (a BRIGHT blue) and then went to have lunch with my sister, niece, mom, aunt and Evonne (mom's friend). No major incidents driving down to Madison and I got to Jacques, then went and picked up some chicken for supper. We just watched tv and went to bed.

Wednesday and Thursday were shopping, bathing Tag and eating at Panera bread days.
I bought a digital camera, quilt material that Jacque will make for me,
winter gloves and socks.
I met Danielle at Gordman's on Thursday and I did some more clothes shopping and then we went to Pedro's and commenced to get drunk and rowdy. :) It was great to see her and spend some quality time with her.

I had also planned on meeting a couple of more friends but that did not pan out. One was busy busy, one was in S. Carolina and another had work and school. Next time girls!!

Friday morning Jacque and I dropped off my rental car and went to the Vet School, where I use to work and Jacque still does, to see some coworkers. I even saw people that I hadn't expected to see and it was a great time. I do have pictures that I hope to post in my next blog with a short explanation.

Then Jacque and I went to her place and straightened up and I groomed Allegra, her collie. We were expecting our 2 sisters about 6:30, but in they drove at 5:30pm!! Surprise! So, Joyce, Jacque, Julie and Jill had about 1 full day together. We exchanged gifts, ate pizza, watched a movie, laughed, cried, and stayed up late.
Saturday morning Jacque made us all breakfast and then we got ready to go shopping and out to lunch. We all had a margarita for lunch at Outback and had a very nice wait person. He even took the picture of us 4 girls. Then we all went back to Jacque's and gabbed until early evening.

Joyce, Jill and I went up to Wausau and stayed over at Jill's. Then Sunday Joyce and I drove to Eau Claire to spend a little time with mom and Ray, Jenni and Trent and to eat lunch before we got a ride up to the airport.

My flight left a couple of hours before Joyce's, so she saw me off, then went to sit at her gate. I got to Durango and got home about 10:30 pm.
I had to work the next day so I unpacked and got to bed by midnight.

It was really great to visit my friends and family in Wisconsin. I hope I can go up there in the spring or next fall at the latest. I have to save all of my pennies.

Talking about pennies, I contacted a riding stable and got a price for private horseback lessons. I would be using one of their schooling horses and getting back into dressage. I have Jane A. to thank for inspiring me! I have not ridden for a few years and REALLY miss it. I even gave away my dressage saddle a couple of years ago.
I think I still have riding breeches somewhere. Will let y'all know what transpires.

Tomorrow I will be going to the farmer's market, raking leaves, and giving my cats a bath. It is suppose to be a gorgeous weekend so hope to get out and enjoy the weather.

Home From Wisconsin

I am home from vacation. I saw a lot of family and friends during the 8 days there. Did quite a bit of shopping and even had to mail a box home with a few purchases, as they would NOT fit in my suitcase. I did purchase a digital camera, a few clothes, shoes, quilt fabric and a few gifts for friends.

Our 'Sister's Day' went wonderfully. It was fun and we all laughed and cried. We had pizza and watched a movie Friday night, then Saturday we had an omelet for breakfast, went shopping, then ate lunch at Outback. We each gave each other gifts and really had a memorable day. I have to wait for a package in order to get my pictures off of my new digital camera!! Then I can post some pictures from the trip.

I also stopped in at the Vet School (where I use to work) and saw lots of people that I hadn't seen for a couple of years.

I hope to make a trip up to Wisconsin either in the spring or early fall of 2010. Don't forget to check back in a couple of days for the pictures that will be posted!!

Dismal Tuesday

Just waiting for the bathroom to free up before getting ready for the lunch with mom and her friends.
Joyce and I flew into Minneapolis airport Saturday noonish and then journeyed on to Eau Claire to
moms house. Jenni and Trent stopped in for a visit and so did Bev and Babe. We had a good time
cackling and joking around. Did not do a lot on Sunday other than watch football and Nascar (Jimmy
Johnson/Chad Knaus won) and wound down.
Monday we went to mom's chiropractor with her, then to do a little shopping. Then we went and saw
my godparrents, Sally and Fred. I took her out to eat at Culver's, her choice. We had a nice long lunch
then dropped her off and went to see my Great Aunt Florence. She is getting by ok after her broken
ankle. We then visited with Bev and Babe again and came back to moms.
After our pizza I drove Joyce up to Jenni's. First time seeing her apartment and seeing Jill's sofa that
she inherited.
Today we are going to go get my rental car and then go to meet some ladies from mom's previous work.
Then I will head down to Madison and see a few of my friends, stay with Jacque, go out with Danielle,
and then Friday will be here before we know it! It is sister's day and all 4 of us will be together for the
first time after 2 years. We all give each other little presents and just have a movie night and then a
shopping day.
Then the journey back up to Wausau, Eau Claire and up to take the flight back to Colorado on Sunday.
Bathroom is open and will write about the rest of the week when I get home.
OH!! The college kids that are taking care of Manley sent me a picture of him. I guess just to let me
know that he is still alive and doing well! I bought them a gift yesterday......just because.
Be safe.

A Rainy Sunday

I woke up this morning to cloudy skies. Then the rain started. So, I dusted, did the daily chores, did dishes, baked some chicken and potatoes, and I am now watching the Nascar race. It has been raining off and on all day, the wind has picked up a bit this afternoon, so I will not be venturing outside to do any yard work.

The kids in the front are either not home, working or doing homework. It is pretty quiet over there. Manley has met 'Digger', Chelsea's dog, and they seem to get along fine. Digger is the same age as Manley and therefore mellowed out.

Went through my closet and dresser drawers to pull out cooler weather clothes for my trip to Wisconsin. I hear it's in the 50's or 60's and cloudy. Hope we have sunshine sometime while I'm up there!

Hoping to bring a couple of movies up there for us 'sisters' to watch.

Does any person in my family have a copy of my Parkinson's paper that I wrote a few years ago?? I know someone here in Durango who is having a hard time understanding it all and thought reading my paper would help. I know I have it somewhere in a box in the garage. But, don't want to spend a whole lot of time searching for it. Thank you!

I am just sitting here giggling about the new Lowes commercial with Jimmy Johnson and Chad Knaus, of Nascar. Chad is just too funny. He asks 'what are you doing now Jimmy' and Jimmy is holding a wire cutters and has a panel of wires in front of him and says 'wiring Chad' then clicks the wire cutters twice. Chad's expression is just priceless. I hope to see Chad again so I can ask him how fun those commercials are!!

6 more days and my sister Joyce and I will be meeting in Minneapolis airport for our 8 days in Wisconsin. Can not wait.

Hope you all are still praying for Missy Allegra, my sister Jacque's dog. She is the apple of her mother's eye and we all love her dearly.

You all have a good week and I'll see a lot of you folks in a few days!!

Green Chile Soup

Wow, had a good day. After a tough week at work it was nice to go out to dinner with friends. We went to Steamworks last night, had the Cajun Boil--tons of seafood--then today I went to farmer's market, pet food store, grocery store, library, did a few chores around here, changed out some of my summer/winter clothes, made Green Chile soup, read a few chapters in a book and shared the GC soup with the kids in the front while watching a great sunset.

Then I spent some time in the recliner tonight with Manley and Sparkle while watching tv. It is time for bed. I have a few things to do tomorrow to shape up the place for a visit from Jill and Tim. Plus I need to do some yard work. Otherwise it will have to wait for another 2 weeks, cuz I leave for Wisconsin next Saturday morning. Can't wait!!!!!!