Frankie and Slim

Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year

Thursday, June 30, 2011

ANOTHER OLD YELLER DOG

My son was visiting us and told me that my dog Slim was after something in the tall grass next to our house. Slim would run to the edge of the grass and begin barking, running back and forth, and jumping up and down as if she was trying to catch a glimpse of something, but not daring to go into the high brush after it.

A few days later, looking out the kitchen window, I thought I saw Slim sleeping under one of the tractors. I heard a noise in the kitchen and Slim was standing next to me. So what animal was under the tractor?

I ventured out to inspect the large reddish-brown dog with an aging gray face. She raised her head to look at me. Once it was determined that I was not the person she expected, she darted quickly into the high grass to hide. Slim followed her, barking loudly, but only to the edge of the clearing.

I am sure it has happened once again. Someone has driven to the country to drop off an old pet. We have many strays in our area due to that fact and the animals are rarely adopted by the locals. Usually they are shot because these abandoned animals quickly turn into predators and threaten the livestock.

This old girl has not adopted us, but she had adopted this particular tractor. Each time we become preoccupied with other things and Slim is in the house, the stray will creep out of the bushes to rest under that one tractor. (We have several.) The minute I walk out the door she does the same thing – she glances at me with anticipation, hoping I am her lost owner, and then disappointed, runs away to her hiding place. For some reason Slim is not trying very hard to run her off.

We are guessing that the dog’s owner must have passed away and the family didn’t know what to do with the aging dog, so they abandoned her. This elderly canine may have picked us because we had a tractor that was probably like one her owner had.

I doubt she will ever let us come near her, but I know that at night she has shelter and can easily access Slim’s food and water. This visiting dog does not show any interest in my chickens or my goats. My husband won’t be driving that old Ferguson tractor for quite some time, so it can be hers for now to shade her and to allow her to sleep with peaceful dreams of times gone by.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

TOGETHER AGAIN


The backhoe is finally back together again. My son has spend many weekends working on this and while there is still more work to do, it (almost) runs and it looks like it should. Soon it will be totally functional.

A little paranormal activity in the front yard. The above is a picture our grandson took of the bugs streaming below our huge yard lights. Yikes, that is creepy looking.


Lord Voldemort (pictured above) is growing and doing very well as is his cousin, Dr. Cole.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

WHO THE HECK IS MASSEY RAFFE?


We are being bombarded by a recorded phone call message from Bennett Law PLL phone number 1-801-432-2935 and we do not answer (thanks to caller Id) They leave a message saying "This call is for Massey Raffe. If you are not Massey Raffe please call"... some 1-807 number. "If you are not Massey Raffe don't listen to the rest of the message" and then it records the rest of the confidential message on our phone (so I put my fingers in my ears. lol).

We are not about to call the number they say to call because it will probably cost us or just put us on more lists. But we cannot answer and tell anyone that they have the wrong number because it is only a recording. This has to be happening to other people. We had this happen before and I had to report it to the FTC to get it to stop and that was a big ordeal. Anyone know a quicker way to stop this from happening? The answer from the phone company is to get a new phone number and/or an unlisted number. Of course that would cost us more. Perhaps it is the phone company doing this to us in the first place to sell a new service with a monthly charge. And yes, we are on the national do-no-call list.




Yesterday's Question of the week

Monday, June 27, 2011

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-27-11




What funny stories will your family tell about you at your funeral?

(Undoubtedly my daughter will tell the story of coming to help me clean last weekend and finding this: The book on HOW TO CLEAN PRACTICALLY ANYTHING , covered in mouse droppings and setting in the middle of my cleaning supplies.)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

LAUGH, I THOUGHT I'D DIE


This is my handsome 18 year old grandson Ryan. He has been notorious all his life for telling the most lame jokes. So how in the world did he have me laughing harder last night than I have in years.

Ryan simply opened the dinner conversation with "I saw the funniest episode of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM the other night"...and he went on from there to basically re-tell the entire episode. I doubt he left out one detail and his gestures and facial expressions and his own enthusiasm are hard to describe.

I like that show sometimes but will not be able to enjoy future episodes without wishing Ryan was around to re-tell the story.

He has been accepted at OU and will leave for college this fall. 18 years! I must have blinked.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

WHEN NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS


It has been around 160 days from symptoms to testing to diagnosis to treatment. Breathing in -- breathing out -- holding still. We do not know the level of success of the radiation and chemo (it will probably be August before we do) but we do know that treatments are OVER. It is unbelievable what the release of that grip on the mind this news has been. The radiation oncology staff even had a graduation party for Ron and they gave him a graduation pin. I am told it is an angel but I thought it was a flying monkey. (That's your fault Pheromone girl that I see flying monkeys everywhere.) Regardless it is beautiful.

Our expectations now are for regained strength and more activity. We have been so blessed through this ordeal to have close ties to family and friends who have been willing to help at a moment's notice. How people make it through the trials of cancer without loved ones to assist them is a great concern. How do they do it?


Of course the major victory does boil down to the strength of one person and that is the patient. We have encountered so many obstacles through the procedures including bacteria in the blood causing a 6 day hospital stay and liquid infusions plus blood transfusion, etc., and I don't see how Ron has maintained his sanity but he has remained stoic. Just being his advocate has left very little of my sanity in tact.
No, it is not over but a major portion is over and these next several weeks give time for comfort, relaxation and more breathing in -- breathing out -- which is what this is all about.

Thank you all for your concern and your continued thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for being my sounding board from time to time.


Love, Granny Annie and Ron (aka Ma & Pa Kettle)

Monday, June 20, 2011

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-20-11

Did you know exactly where "it" was so "someone" must have moved it?

(What was the last thing you lost? Did you eventually find it? Did someone else take it or did you simply misplace it? Were you actually holding the item while you were looking for it? Can you easily find lost items for other people but never for yourself? If you say you never lose things, you are either lying or not of this planet!)

Friday, June 17, 2011

RARE CALIFORNIA ART TREASURE

It is not often that we get to see the artistic creations of our California grandchildren. Jasmine (17) sent this watercolor masterpiece to her grandpa for Father's Day. I wish my photograph could properly reflect the unbelievable detail and fantastic work she did on this beautiful piece. We knew she was talented but did not know to what degree she had progressed. Wow...and again I say Wow! Perhaps our very talented grandchildren will all be able to support us in our old age -- that is if we ever get old:)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

QUICK UPDATES

We are in the final stretch of Ron's treatments. They have dismissed him from chemotherapy and radiation should end on Monday. I will let everyone know it it works out as we hope.

Yes I am still on the Alli health and fitness plan. Hit a plateau at 20 weeks and held at a 36 pound weight loss. Today in week 24 I started moving again with 37 pounds in the tank.

Who could make you laugh about a dead bird? Read LL Cool Joe at Joey's Pad today. It's a MUST!

Also, I quit going to one church because they had a time in the middle of the service to reach around and hug each other. Nope not for me, but Grammie at Awaiting Buddha would have loved it I guess.

And whatever you do, don't miss Talon's Green Skeleton story. It's a winner for sure.

Monday, June 13, 2011

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-13-11


How far out of your way will you go to pick up a penny?
(Will you rescue a penny from the dust pan or from the vacuum? Will you stoop over to pick up a penny from the street? How much effort would you exert to retrieve a single penny and must it be heads up if you do? How often have you simply skipped a chance to pick up a penny or even a nickel, a dime or a quarter? How's this question for a change?)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

WHEN IN FRANCE



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Isn't there an expression about "When in France, do as the French"? Anyway my sister is babysitting two grandchildren in Chicago this week and she might as well be in France. It seems my sis has been a bit lax and broken protocol a few times. This caused her seven year old granddaughter (the drama queen) to have a bit of a meltdown. The four year old grandson tried to console his grandmother by telling her, "GaaMaw, I don't think you know all the rules".

Friday, June 10, 2011

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

Welcome Lord Voldemort. This little fellow was born Monday, the day after CC died. This is Elizabeth's kid and the baby seems healthy. It seems a shame to name the babies and therefore become even more attached to them. Thus the name Lord Voldemort, a character from Harry Potter stories who is so feared he is known as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named". Daughter Chelle named this one:)

Actually Elizabeth gave birth to twins and the second one did not make it.

Meanwhile I must not forget Cole. He was our first new baby goat of the season and he is doing fantastic. He romps and plays and is very, very healthy as he tries to rule the goat pen.

What song keeps playing in my brain these days?


THE CIRCLE OF LIFE from The Lion King

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round

It's the Circle of Life And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life


Music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice

Monday, June 06, 2011

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 6-6-11

Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-........

Do you have certain bed time habits, quirks, rituals, routines that must be observed before you can fall asleep?

(Such as -- sleeping with teddy bear, with a fan blowing on you, with noise, with total quiet, with pets, listening to radio/television, specific time to turn in, reading before bed, etc.?)

Saturday, June 04, 2011

REJECTION HAPPENS





It appears that Dixie had rejected her baby. Chocolate Chip, aka CC, is not doing well. We are able to milk her mother Dixie and bottle feed CC. Regardless CC continues on a downhill slide. Each new day we are surprised when CC is still with us. He is a strong little critter so we won't give up hope yet. Perhaps the children played with him too much or TK, our billy, does not want Dixie to have anything to do with the kid. There could be a million reasons and we will never know why CC went from a joyful, active baby goat to such a frail little creature.

Read my follow-up comments if you want to know the rest of the story:(

Chocolate Chip's (CC's) Tombstone


Friday, June 03, 2011

ANYTHING FOR A LAUGH




Granddaughter Hope, age 9, was here this week with her mom and brother. They came to do a lot of work to help us out and to celebrate my birthday. Hope was on a roll in her efforts to keep us entertained.