In Martha's World...

Announcing Roger's Dog Blog!

2010-04-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

Roger now has his own blog! Sure, I'll be doing the posting since he can't type, but it will be Roger's blog nonetheless. Now, I know I haven't exactly been keeping my own blog current (forget what I said in my last post about forming a better blogging habit), so is it really a good idea to get bogged down by yet another blog, and a dog blog at that? Well, I've said it before, I'm an eternal optimist (or maybe just a slow learner), so I'm going for it. Maybe it will inspire me to do more here. Time will tell...

The Pressure is Off!

2009-10-31T20:59:00.000-07:00

When I first stumbled upon NaBloWriMo it sounded like a fun challenge and I was quick to jump on the bandwagon. Sometimes I tend to be a bit impulsive that way. Fun it was, but it proved to be even more challenging than I expected. Despite falling short of 31 posts, I still feel like I've achieved a certain degree of success. After all, 22 posts this month exceeds the total of my posts for the previous 15 months combined! Hopefully the end of NaBloWriMo '09 will also be the beginning of a better blogging habit. Time will tell.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

2009-10-29T23:28:00.000-07:00

Only 3 more days and NaBloWriMo will be over, however serious posting will have to wait because in only 4 1/2 hours I will be getting up to go to work! Good night!

Back to Blogging

2009-10-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

So much for daily posting. First its a missed day, then a missed week. Unfortunately, NaBloWriMo had to take a back seat to the events of the past week.

Sadly, my brother-in-law passed away last Thursday. Although his death was not entirely unexpected, it was rather sudden. He had been living with multiple myeloma for 11 years...lots of chemo, good days and bad days, declining mobility...it had become an accepted way of life. Then on Monday he was diagnosed with leukemia and hospice was called in. He was at home when he passed, his family was with him, and now he is in a better place.

I've also discovered ancestry.com and have been spending hours researching my family tree as well as my husband's. One thing leads to another, then another, and another, and its all fascinating. The discoveries I've made will be good future blog material!

More cookies

2009-10-21T23:04:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I made some ginger snaps. I couldn't find my regular recipe (which, by the way, earned me a Best in Show ribbon and $25 in our fair several years ago) so I tried a similar one. The main difference between the two is that that my regular recipe uses vegetable oil while the other one uses shortening and butter. The new recipe also calls for white pepper, and some ground ginger mixed in with the sugar that the dough balls are rolled in. They turned out OK, but they left me wanting to make some using my regular recipe.

Today I found my regular recipe and made some more. I did like the addition of the white pepper and the extra ground ginger, so I incorporated them to my regular recipe.

2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon white pepper

1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
In a large bowl mix oil and 1 cup of sugar. Add egg, beat well. Stir in molasses. Add flour, baking soda and spices and mix well. If necessary, add more flour to make a firm dough.
Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls and roll in sugar/ginger mixture. Place 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 7 to 8 minutes for chewy, longer for crispy. Remove from baking sheet and cool on rack.

Queensland Blue

2009-10-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the green (blue) pumpkin I bought yesterday. I was instantly attracted to it because of its appearance. When I checked out, I found out that it is a Queensland Blue and can be used for culinary purposes as well as for decorating.

I did a little research a today and found out that they are an Australian heirloom variety and they have a deep orange flesh with good flavor. I think I will try making pumpkin soup after Halloween, and I think I will even try to grow some of my own next year. I will report on both!

Poodles at Play

2009-10-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

Long, fun-filled day today. Up at 5:45 to make a 3 hour drive Tilden Regional Park, picking up my BFF Debbie along the way. We met up with fellow members of a group I belong to called "Poodles at Play." The group holds monthly off-leash hikes at various parks within the East Bay Regional Park District. Since I live so far away I don't make it to very many of the hikes, but today I made a special effort because Tilden is one of my favorite parks...Debbie and I had some good times there in our teenage years. We hiked for about 2 hours. Here's a group shot with 13 of the 16 dogs...I didn't count the people.

Here's Roger and his friend Louis Vuitton. Roger and Louis met for the first time last month in Truckee and really hit it off. I think they remember each other.
This is 4 month old Nani. It was her first outing with Poodles at Play. She's a good girl and absolutely adorable.
After the hike, most of the group rode the miniature steam train at the park.

Then several of us went for lunch at Pizza Antica in Lafayette. They have outside seating so the poodles could join us. Food was delicious...I should have taken a picture!

Next, Debbie took me to Orchard Nursery, also in Lafayette. What a great place! Its all done up for fall/Halloween and they even had live music. I got some Dutch iris bulbs, some daffodil bulbs, a couple of six-packs of pansies for my daughter, and a green pumpkin. Debbie got some broccoli plants, some winter vegetable seeds, and some tulip bulbs.
Then, sadly, I dropped Debbie off and Roger and I were on our way. We made it home by 7:30.

Pint Sized Cakes

2009-10-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

Below is an email I got from a friend. She got it from her cousin. I haven't tried these yet, but I wanted to share the idea anyway. (If I waited until after I tried it, NaBloWriMo would be over!) Maybe someone has already tried this...if so, what did you think?

"I make 'pint-size cakes' in canning jars! (Be sure they are straight-sided. Quart size will not work!) You simply take your favorite snack cake recipe such as date-nut, banana, or applesauce; put 1 cup of batter (no more or it will overflow) in a canning jar and bake it. In the meantime boil the lids and rings. Take the cake out of the oven and place the lid and screw ring on top. Let the cake cool. When the lid seals it will cave in. Voila! Your cake is canned and ready to put on the shelf until you are ready to eat it. This serves 2-4 depending on how thickly you slice it. I really like these cakes because they taste fresh and never taste of freezer burn."

Tick Tock

2009-10-16T23:55:00.000-07:00

Tick tock, tick tock, time is running out
I've been up since four, I have no post
It makes me want to pout

So this, my friends, will have to do
I'm tired and ready for bed
I've already missed a day this month
I don't want to make it two

Oldies but Goodies

2009-10-15T23:40:00.000-07:00

I made a batch of Snickerdoodles this evening using the only recipe I've ever used, the one in my old standby Betty Crocker cookbook. You know the one...orange, loose leaf binder style. I do like to try new recipes, and some of those "new" ones have now become old favorites, but I have never tried a different Snickerdoodle recipe. In fact, I don't even know if there is another one!

My cookie sheets are old, too. They have to be at least 30 years old, if not older, and they were probably the cheapest ones I could get at the time. I've tried to replace them a few times with some really nice ones, but I was never satisfied with the results. I no longer look for new cookie sheets. My old ones will probably last forever. Who knows, they may even be viewed as family heirlooms!

I guess the moral here is "If its not broken, don't fix it."

Lucky Dog!

2009-10-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

I got Roger a new toy today...a stuffed duck that makes a quacking sound. It was on sale for $2.99 and I couldn't resist it. As expected, Roger was delighted with the duck and I think he was a little surprised by the sound.

Roger loves his toys and the squeaky ones are his favorites. He doesn't destroy them right off, but he does love them enough that they don't last forever. The rabbit he got for Easter finally had to be replaced with with a squeaky tiger just last month. Although Tiger has already gone mute and is going deaf (his ears have been almost chewed off), Roger still plays with him and I expect him to last a couple more months, at least.

Dogs are so easy to please. They don't ask for much...regular meals, fresh air and exercise, a warm place to sleep, and above all, companionship. Toys are the icing on the cake. Roger is a lucky dog to have have it all! I'm pretty darn lucky myself to have Roger!

Storm Watch

2009-10-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

The rain that was predicted for today started around 1:30 am, but the brunt of the storm didn't really hit until later in the morning. My town received just over 2 inches of rain while the next town, less than 10 miles to the north, received well over 3 inches. The wind was actually not quite as strong as expected, but it did wreak havoc, causing power outages and knocking down several trees. One particularly large oak landed on a mobile home. The residents were at home at the time, and although both were uninjured, the woman was trapped for a short time. Another tree fell onto a couple of cars, both unoccupied. In a mountain community several miles away a large pine tree fell onto a fire station! Again, no one was injured, but it apparently caused some major damage. The rain stopped for several hours this evening, but it is now starting up again. From the sound of the wind chimes, the wind is about a 3 or 4 on the Beaufort Scale. (I discovered the Beaufort Scale while thumbing through the dictionary many years ago. I have never forgotten about it and like to refer to it every chance I get! I think they should use it on Jeopardy!)

Change in Weather

2009-10-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

The first storm of the season is expected to arrive tonight, bringing rain and wind. The worst of it should be tomorrow, with winds expected to be between 21 and 31 mph, gusting as high as 44 mph. I'm ready!

Christmas in October?

2009-10-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

Up until about 2 years ago, when I (semi) retired, I remembered almost all of my dreams in great detail, these days not so much. I'm not sure if I actually dream less now or if I just don't have as much recall, but I kind of miss them. The dreams that I do remember still have a lot of detail, and I like that, but sometimes I can only recall fragments, and then only after something jogs my memory. This morning, after I had been up for a couple of hours, I remembered a snippet of a dream I had the night before...there was a huge, fully decorated Christmas tree in my living room that had obviously been there for some time, but it was if I had never really noticed it before. When it dawned on me that it was late January I was mortified! I wonder what that means.

Don't worry, be happy!

2009-10-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite quotes is by Abraham Lincoln, "Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be." I like it because it is so simple and so true.

Usually I am a pretty happy person, a "glass is half full" type. Right now, however, I would be happier if I had a decent post for today. I am reminding myself that this month of daily posting is for fun, and that there is always tomorrow!

Have you ever seen a cat do this?

2009-10-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

This is all I could manage for today.

Its true!

2009-10-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Every good thing every grandparent has ever said about being a grandparent is true. As for the claim that one just cannot know how truly special grandchildren are until they have their own, I can confirm that, too.

Being Grandma to this sweet, adorable little girl for the past 17 months has been nothing short of amazing. Months ago, when I first saw her pick up a single Cheerio between thumb and forefinger and put it in her mouth with perfect accuracy, I thought she had the eye-hand coordination of the most skilled neurosurgeon. Just yesterday she delighted me when she picked up leaf after acorn after twig and put them into a bucket, running to and fro, laughing when she got going a little too fast and took a little tumble.

I am very fortunate that she lives close by and that we are forming a special relationship. I can't wait until she's old enough to take camping and kayaking!

Be nice to me...

2009-10-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

Today was one of our regularly scheduled Community Blood Drives. Now, I didn't actually try to give blood today, since I was sick on Monday, but I still did my part. Besides donating when I can, I also volunteer at these drives by serving refreshments to the donors. Today I even registered with the National Marrow Donor Program. It was simple...I filled out a form which included contact information and a health questionnaire, then I swabbed the inside of my mouth in 4 places and placed the swabs in a special folder to be mailed off for typing. I encourage everyone who is eligible and has not already registered to consider this program.

The Lost Day

2009-10-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

I'm bummed that I already missed a day! I didn't even turn on the computer at all yesterday. I'm making no excuses, but for what its worth, here is a recap of my Monday...

6:30 am - The alarm goes off, UGH! My whole body is sore! I try to be optimistic and chalk it up to the way I slept. I stretch out and hit the snooze button.

6:40 am - Still sore. I had made plans to meet a friend at 8 am and go with her to her riding lesson...I was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it. Too early to call, I doze until...

7:26 am - I manage to get out of bed to call my friend to give my regrets. I don't get sick very often, but I'm afraid this time I have to admit I've got a bug. Back to bed and back to sleep.

9:45 am - I get out of bed, feed the dog, migrate to the recliner, eat a cracker, sip some water and fall asleep.

12:00 pm - The noon news is on and I manage to watch it until the end. Its a good thing Roger is a patient dog, because it is around this time that I realize I haven't taken him outside yet. With great effort this is accomplished. My usual practice of mind over matter is just not working!

1:30 pm - After more dozing in the recliner I migrate to the couch. Roger is right there with some comforting snuggles. He sure makes me smile! I sleep some more.

4:15 pm - I take my temperature. It is 99.8 (my normal is usually below normal). I doze off and on some more.

6:00 pm - I feed Roger his dinner and take him outside without making him wait this time. Back to the recliner, sip some more water, think about NaBloWriMo, but take no action. I mindlessly watch TV in between dozing, without recall of what was on.

9:45 pm - I manage a bowl of Rice Chex and some more water. I think briefly again about NaBloWriMo, but it just takes more energy than I can muster.

10:00 pm - Off to bed after brushing my teeth and taking a couple of Ibuprofen. Of significant note here...I made a conscious decision not to floss. Normally I have a very hard time not flossing. It wasn't always this way, but I can count on one hand the nights I've gone without flossing in the past 18 months.

Thankfully, I slept peacefully through the night, dreaming of kayaking on Lake Tahoe, and awoke feeling 99% better.

Hopefully, this will be the last time anyone will have to read such a pitiful post from me.

Sunday Scenes

2009-10-04T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today my daughter and I went to a local festival. We had discussed going to lunch afterward, but we really got a late start, and by the time we'd seen all there was to see we decided it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner. What to do? I talked her into going for a little Sunday drive in search of photo opportunities.

First we came upon a gang of wild turkeys in an olive orchard. (Gang really is an accepted term for a group of turkeys, as is rafter. I found that out here). They proved to be camera shy, so this is the best photo I could manage before the fled completely out of range.

Across the road from the turkeys I spied these wild grapes.

A little farther on we ran into these cattle grazing in the yard of what once was probably a quite comfortable farm house.

From here we checked out a couple of side roads before heading back. We saw a few more turkeys who crossed the road in front of us and disappeared into a thicket, but nothing else really photo worthy. Our happy little jaunt took us right to dinnertime.

Ahhhh! Autumn!

2009-10-03T23:28:00.000-07:00

The days are still bright and sunny, but not sweaty hot. The nighttime and early mornings are crisp and cool, but not shivery cold. Some of the trees around town are beginning to show off their bright colors, while crispy, crinkly oak leaves, in their not so spectacular shades of brown and green, are starting to litter the lawn. Each season has its own special offering, but autumn is by far my favorite.

It wasn't always that way, however. When I was a kid it was all about summer, with countless carefree days spent playing outside, usually barefoot. The long, warm summer evenings were perfect for playing kick-the-can in our cul-de-sac. Summers now still mean fun, but the heat has become much more of an issue. These days, playing outside is always more enjoyable if water is involved.

Spring is always welcome after the cold, short days of winter. The fruit trees, dogwoods and wildflowers bloom, the hills are blanketed in my favorite shade of green, and the temperatures are pleasant. The problem with spring, however, is that it passes too quickly. All too soon the wildflowers fade, the hills turn golden and the thermometer soars to 100.

As for winter, it serves it purpose. I don't complain when winter arrives since ours here aren't too harsh or unbearably long. The occasional snow storms we get are always welcomed with childlike glee, despite the havoc they can create. Likewise, I never complain when winter comes to an end.

Time now to savor all of autumn's goodness...let the raking begin!

Skunks and Geese

2009-10-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly (or not), I'm already at a loss for inspiration, so here, just under the wire, is one of my favorite jokes....

There were two baby skunks named In and Out. When In was in Out was out, and when In was out Out was in. One day mama skunk noticed that In hadn't been in in a while, so she said to Out, "Out, please go out and find In so he can come back in." Out went out, looked around, and a couple of minutes later In was back in. Pleased, mama skunk asked Out, "Out, however did you find In so quickly?" Out replied, "Instinct!"

And here is my favorite trivia question...

Picture geese migrating in their typical "V" formation. Most of the time one side of the "V" is longer than the other. Why is that?

.
.
.
.

There are more geese on that side!

Do I hear groaning?

Please vote for Luke!

2009-10-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of Nationial Blog Writing Month!

I decided to start off with a shameless plug for a Flickr friend who has entered a photo of one of her standard poodles in a contest, the first prize of which is a gift card to Petco. Mary is seeking to volunteer her time and talents to grooming the dogs that are up for adoption at her local humane society, not only so they will look better (hence, more adoptable), but feel better, too. This organization has no volunteers to help with grooming and they are completely lacking any type of grooming equipment. If Mary wins she will be purchasing clippers and other supplies for use only on the shelter dogs. Here's the rub...while the picture of Luke helping to clean up "their" lake is currently in first place, the winner will be chosen by the site's editorial staff from among the top 10 highest scoring entries. Besides votes, they look at viewing and commenting activity and they also track how many times the entries have been shared on social networks. The contest continues throughout the month of October and you can vote once per 24 hour period, and, best of all, there is no registration required! Just click on this link, then click on "Vote for this Entry." It could hardly be easier! Who could say "no" to something so easy and so worthwhile?

Thanks for your time.

Starting tomorrow...

2009-09-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a master procrastinator! This time, however, I have a valid reason for waiting until tomorrow. October is National Blog Writing Month and I have accepted the challenge of posting every day for the entire month. I cannot promise that every day will be entertaining, informative, inspirational or thought provoking, but it is my hope that someone besides myself will get a little something from my blog. I'm also hoping that by completing this challenge, come November I will find it easier to post more often than once every few months.

If you read this before 7pm mountain time and want to join in the fun, go here --> http://nablowrimo.blogspot.com/

Goats

2009-05-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

Today I noticed a herd of goats contained in an area alongside the creek which is part of the wildlife refuge area of our local community college. Of course I had to stop to snap a few pictures. They were completely charming and, for the most part, very calm. There was a time when a couple of the smaller ones got frisky, which enticed a few more to follow suit. They ran around, jumping onto and over logs, seemingly for the pure joy of it. Then a couple of the larger ones had a head-butting incident that was over quickly, with no apparent injury or hard feelings. As I was preparing to leave, we were approached by a woman who had arrived to make a daily check on the goats and she asked me if they had been cooperating. She confirmed what I'd heard about goats, that they are very social creatures. As we talked I learned that were 34 goats in all and their job was to graze down the blackberry bushes that choke out the native vegetation and prevent wildlife and people from accessing the creek. Most of the goats belong to the college and are named after important people on campus. They had names like Doug, Ken, Rich and Gary.

This one is Gary...

This one ic KC, a grandma who has no teeth...

And here's the best (only) shot I was able to manage of the head-butting...
And just in case anyone has been wondering, I haven't abandoned my daly photo project, I just managed to get behind in posting to the blog (now THAT'S a surprise!). I'm eternally optimistic, however, and I have high hopes that I will be able to caught up. Until that time, for anyone so inclined, you can just view them here.

Roger in a Hat and a couple of pics for Kitt

2009-03-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it, I have seriously neglected this blog for far too long. I suppose that's partially due to my immersion in my 365 Project on Flickr, my Photo Blog and the photography class I'm taking at the community college. Oh, yes and the tap dancing class I'm taking at the Rec Center! There were a couple of times in February when I felt inspired to post something, but it was either a fleeting thing, or I wasn't able to act on the inspiration at the time...and for me, timing has a lot to do with it. So, to at least have one post for March, here's a picture of Roger which has been quite popular on Flickr and the story that goes with it.

It started out as a spur of the moment response to an email from the trainer whom Roger and I hold in high esteem. Monday night/Tuesday morning I was finally getting ready to turn off the computer and go to bed, but I thought I would first quickly check my email (which I have also been neglecting). There was an email from Dr. Sarah asking if I had a photo of Roger in a hat that she could use to announce an event she is planning for May...Hounds in Hats. Well, I didn't have one, but I figured there's no time like the present (albeit 1:30 in the morning!). I grabbed an interesting hat out of my closet, summoned the ever-obliging Roger into the garage (where the light is bright enough so I don't have to use flash) and snapped a few shots. This was actually the first one and the best by far. I did a few minor adjustments and promptly emailed it back. In the back of my mind I thought I could also use it for my Flickr project if nothing better presented itself during daylight hours. What was I thinking!? What could possibly be better than a picture of Roger in a hat? Of course, I did use it for my pic of the day without even looking for something else...it was a no-brainer! Hope you all like it, too!

Kitt, these next 2 are especially for you, just because I cannot see a honey bee now without thinking of you! In fact, the other day there was a bee in my car when I got in. When I heard it (before I actually saw it) I thought it was a yellow jacket, so my first thought was to open the window so it could get the heck out. By the time I saw that it was a honey bee, it was already poised on the edge of the window, ready to take flight. My next instinct was to take a picture, but alas, it was already too late. I spied this solitary bee in my front yard yesterday and was able to get a couple of pics.

Surprise!

2009-01-06T22:38:00.000-08:00

We went to Home Depot yesterday and saw this truck parked in the outer reaches of the lot. Of course, I had my camera with me so I just had to snap a picture. As I was walking around it, camera pointed, deciding on the best angle, someone came walking toward it/me. I was briefly worried that this person might think I was responsible for this hilarious (to me, anyway!) prank.

I spoke up and said said something like, "I just saw this and thought it was funny" and he walked past and said, "Yeah, they do that a lot around here." I wonder if the birthday person was aware of this celebretory practice and would be expecting it or if it would be a complete, and (hopefully) happy, surprise. If this was MY truck and it was MY birthday I would LAUGH!

Just practicing...

2008-12-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

...for my new blog (click here) , which starts officially next year. OK, so that's only the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm posting this photo of the ever so loveable Roger here, just because I can. I'm sure he will be appearing many more times throughout the coming year, in both places.

Helper dogs!

2008-12-24T10:27:00.000-08:00

Need a little help decorating your tree? Call these guys! (click here). It is my understanding that they are all service dogs. I wish I'd seen this a couple of weeks ago!

Am I CRAZY?

2008-12-20T06:27:00.000-08:00

Do I really need another diversion? NO. Can I manage another diversion? Well, I don't know, but I certainly hope so and I'm up for the challenge, so we'll see! Who knows, maybe it can even serve as a tool that I can use to help me become more disciplined.

Check THIS out (click here) and tell me if you think I'm crazy for embarking on such an endeavor...

Paws for Claus

2008-12-14T21:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Roger and I participated in the 2nd Annual Paws for Claus at Windchime Assisted Living, an event that is thoroughly enjoyed by the residents. There were about 30 dogs in all, most dressed in their best Christmas finery. Normally I don't go for dressing dogs up in costumes or people clothes, but this was for a worthy cause, and besides, Roger wasn't actually dressed up, he merely had on some seasonal accessories!
The event began with a freestyle ("dancing") demonstration, then the dogs paraded past the audience, one at a time, as they were introduced. There was an award for Most Christmas Spirit, Best Dressed and Most Obedient. While the judges were tallying the scores, there was general mingling among dogs and audience. If invited to participate again next year we will surely accept.

Red is a good color on Roger. He didn't even mind the jingle bells.

Trixie
Vanderbilt, a Saluki rescued from Kuwait

Buddy

I don't know the name of this cutie

Teddy, winner in the "Most Christmas Spirit" category

I knew this would happen...

2008-12-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

It has been over one month since my last post...and it was almost one month in between that one and the one before. Where does the time go? Why is is that when I have an inspiration I am not in a position to take action, then when I am in front of the computer the inspiration is no longer there?

Well, here goes, just a little recap of my afternoon.

I decided to take Roger down the hill to the dog park and to run a few errands. We were approaching Lookout Point when Roger started whining a little and seemed restless. I figured nature was calling, and since Lookout Point is now so easily accessed, it seemed like a logical place to stop. We made the rounds, checking out trees, grassy mounds, mulched areas and the perimeter fencing, but no go.

I have not stopped at Lookout Point since its transformation. In fact, I have not stopped there for several years. It was worth it, even though Roger only sniffed. The view is as spectacular as I remembered, and they did a good job of making it user friendly.

Lookout Point is now official

The viewThere is an inscription on the marker that reads, "Gone but not forgotten, although we are apart, your spirit lives within me, forever in my heart." Sad...

Roger strikes a pose

Not the best pose, in fact I think he looks a little stuffy. Another visitor had just pulled up and he was momentarily more interested in them than me and my camera. Oh, well, at least his visit is documented.

Then it was on to the dog park, aka: tree farm. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. As luck would have it, my camera battery died right after Roger's stuffy pose at Lookout Point.

This is Roger's new favorite place and it is one of mine, too. Leashes are optional in a large portion of the grounds. The number of visitors varies day to day and hour to hour. It is always fun to watch the interaction when dogs meet for the first time. Roger's best friend for today was a 17 month chocolate lab named Buck. His humans said he was a very good hunter. They also said he usually outruns most dogs, but that he met his match in Roger. Roger is very fast! I wish I could have captured their antics on video.
On to our errands, nothing exciting there. I must say, however, that one of Roger's fine attributes is that he is completely trustworthy while waiting in the car. He never gets into the front seat, never chews on anything (he didn't even get into the 2 packages of dog treats that were in the back seat with him!) and, as far as I know, he doesn't bark.

I have a few more items up my sleeve for posting in the next few days, so let this be a new beginning of a more regularly updated blog.

I voted!

2008-11-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

I hope you did, too!

OK, Roger didn't really vote, but he would have if only he had an opposable thumb!

What's an f-stop?

2008-10-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

Actually, I really do know what an f-stop is, but with my new camera I don't have to be concerned with it. I wanted a compact digital point and shoot camera to replace my Kodak and I chose an Olympus Stylus 1010, mainly because of its zoom and dual image stabilization. What I discovered after I got it, however, is that it has both macro and super-macro settings. Close up shots are now my new favorite. I am amazed at the images this little gem is capable of and I don't have to do anything except find a subject, lie on the ground, wait for an insect, make sure the light is right, and snap dozens of shots to end up with a handful of images. I didn't do anything to these other than a little cropping on some. (What's Photoshop?)

Portulaca

Hurry, bee, get while the gettin's good

My nemesis, buttercup oxalis

This is my very favorite. I found out that this is NOT a bee, but a hover fly, also known as a flower fly, and you can tell because it has only 2 wings, not 4 like a bee. Who knew?

Alyssum, sans Syrphidae eristalis lineata

Leftover hydrangea...I think it is even prettier now than at its peak

Easy being green...

just for fun...

and this one courtesy of the trusty Kodak...

more doggy doin's!

2008-09-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie post with some photos taken today with my "new" (thanks Jenny!) camera phone. We were checking out the 1st Annual Bark'n in the Park which was held at the new Community Park. I would venture to say that a good time was had by all. There was one booth that had several balls in a tub of water and the object was the same as bobbing for apples. Some of the balls were marked to indicate which prize would be awarded. I handed over my $2 coupon so Roger could have a go at it. As much as Roger likes balls, and water for that matter, he just wasn't interested (or didn't have a clue) and I was completely surprised. He did, however. make a splash when we stopped to talk to Peggy and Bev at the vaccination table. When Roger is especially thirsty he sticks his whole nose, up to his eyes, into the water. When he is especially frisky he puts his paws, as many as will fit, into the water. Well, he was feeling frisky, so he put both front paws into the water bowl that was right at Peggy's feet and started digging, not just once, but several times! Its a good thing Peggy understands dog behavior and is used to that sort of thing. It would have been a cute video if I would have thought about it.

Notable dogs we saw at the event included an Old English Sheepdog named Toby, Roger's classmate Fargo, Bev's dog Tootsie, at least one basset hound, a beagle, a mastiff, 2 springer spaniels and 2 Irish wolfhounds.

News Flash! This event was just on the 11 o'clock news and it was reported that there were over 100 dogs in attendance and over $2,000 was raised for the Animal Shelter and the Humane Society!

The scarf was included in the goody bag that we received for our $10 donation. I wish I would have positioned it so the logo was more visible.

I think this is a good one of Dawn, despite the shadow from her glasses. Part of the backside of Roger's head was cropped out because something way more interesting caught his attention just as I clicked the shutter.

After numerous attempts we were able to get the next 4 shots. It seems there's a timing thing that must be mastered in order to capture both dog and human looking toward the camera at the same time.

Beth said I should have the last one framed. I guess it is pretty cute, so I went ahead and printed it out.

Problem solved!

2008-09-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, I was able to figure out my computer's malfunction all by myself and can once again upload photos, so I thought I'd share a few. Nothing exciting, just some of my favorites.

Unknown variety of plumbago. I just love the color.

"Brandy"

"Brandy" after a few days in captivity. It ususally opens all the way after its cut, but this one didn't. I like how the shading shows up.

Roger watches the kids playing next door. He so wanted to join them!

Roger contemplates...

Roger on his 2nd birthday (yesterday!)

Action shot! Activity across the street caught his attention just as I clicked the shutter button. He turned his head so fast that I thought the photo would come out a total blur, but I was surprised at how it just caught his ears flying.

I've been tagged!

2008-09-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

20 years ago...

I had been living in Paradise for 3 years.
Reno finally quit his job in the bay area after 3 years of being home only on weekends.
we got Bud, our first bullmastiff. He was one-in-a-million and the dog that made me love dogs.
My daughter was in 7th grade and my son was a sophomore in high school..

10 years ago...

I had been with Paradise PD for 9-1/2 years.
Bud had been gone for just over 2 years.
Chuck, our second bullmastiff, had just turned 2.
Reno and I had been married for 26 years.

5 years ago...

is a blur! (I will edit this if/when memories of this time period return!)

3 years ago...

I painted our kitchen and dining room yellow and I still love it!
I went to Hawaii for the first time.
we lost Chuck to lymphoma.
was the 40th anniversary of my friendship with Debbie and JoAnne!

1 year ago...

I "retired" from Paradise PD.
I rescued Roger, the best poodle ever!
Married 35 years!

So far this year...

I became a grandma!
my son graduated from CSU Chico.
I had tile put down in the entry, kitchen and dining room.
I've created this blog and a MySpace account.

Yesterday...

I went to work at Joy Lyn's in the morning and the PD in the evening.
I took some photos with my new camera. I thought I would share them here, but my computer is acting up and won't let me upload them. (I'll add them if/when the problem gets fixed.)
I had leftover lemon chicken from Moongate for lunch...YUM!
I flossed for the 164th consecutive day without fail. (I even flossed when I was camping, when I was sick, and when I was dead tired after working graveyard!)

Today...

I had a hard time getting out of bed. Sometimes 6 hours of sleep just isn't enough.
I took Roger to his obedience class in Chico. (He did great!)
I went back to Chico to go shopping with my daughter and bought a new watch.
I had a fun texting back and forth with Beth.

Tomorrow...

my daughter and I are taking her 2 dogs (my grand-dogs) to the Canine Carnival at 20th Street Park in Chico.
I need to water the roses in the back yard.
is the day before Roger's 2nd birthday.
will be here in an hour. (It has taken me 2 hours to complete this, due in part to item 2 under Yesterday.)

Next year...

my granddaughter will be walking.
I will have a 5th great nephew. (he was due 2 days ago!)
I will probably still be working part time at Paradise PD and Joy Lyn's.
I will still be a daily flosser.

Thanks, Stacie, this was fun.

Dog Days of Summer

2008-08-24T11:19:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the Dog Days of Summer at AT&T park in San Francisco. It is an annual event with a portion of the proceeds of the Dog Zone tickets going to the San Francisco SPCA. There were hundreds of dogs in all shapes and sizes. Roger was the only standard poodle that I saw.
Our experience started with a parade around the field, which I was afraid we might miss. According to the information we received with our tickets, the parade was to begin at 11:20. We left Paradise in plenty of time to make it by the deadline and we didn't have any problem getting to the ballpark. We were following the directions to the parking lot and before we got there, right across from the entrance to the park, we saw a hand written sign that said "Parking Available, $30." Dawn and I looked at each other and remarked about what a rip off that was. We continued on toward the designated ballpark lot, but mistakenly turned in to the permit only lot. No problem, they just directed us through to the entrance to the regular lot. We pulled up to the lot attendant and were shocked to find out that the parking fee was $30! We asked if there was cheaper parking somewhere else and he said yes, but that it was 5 blocks north of the ballpark. He gave us the directions to Embarcadero & Bryant, and we proceeded back the way we came. He had said the lot would be on the left so we were in the left lane. Right close to the intersection there was a sign indicating a right turn into the lot, but we couldn't get over in time. We continued north several blocks, made a legal u-turn, found another lot with plenty of spaces and pulled in. The parking fee...only $20! We parked and embarked on our 5 block trek. By now it was at least 11:35. When we finally got to the park we saw a long line of dogs and their human companions all waiting to go inside for the parade! Although I had already resigned myself to missing the parade, I was glad we got to participate.
Upon entering our assigned section and seeing how crowded our row was, we decided to sit in a lower row that was almost empty. We figured it would be good for as long as it lasted, and it lasted for about 2 innings. Thankfully, the people whose seats we were in were very gracious. We then took our assigned seats and discovered they were actually better, as was the company! We were seated next to a puggle (with whom Roger was enamored and who left before I could take her picture), a beagle, an Airedale, and a couple of chocolate labs.
It was a warm (hot) day in San Francisco. Each dog had been given their own orange water bowl and the SPCA dog monitors came around regularly to make sure that the hydration needs of all the dogs were met.
The only problem with going to a ball game with so many dogs is that it is hard to focus on the action that is taking place on the field. This is the best of what I saw of the game...bottom of the 4th inning, score is tied 2-2, Pablo Sandoval is on 2nd base (after a lead-off double that I'm not sure I actually saw), Barry Zito hits a single & Sandoval scores! We left shortly thereafter. I learned later that the Giants beat the Padres 4-3.
It was a long day, despite seeing less than half of the game. Roger slept almost all of the way home. I told Dawn I didn't think I would do it again, but I'm already reconsidering! If I do go next year I vow to take more photos and perhaps a video or two (or more).

Can't get enough of Lake Tahoe!

2008-08-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

If I ever win the Lotto I will be looking into buying a place at Lake Tahoe, but until then renting a house with my gal pals for 5 days and 4 nights every August will have to do. We started this tradition in 1997 and first stayed in a little studio cabin in Tahoma at a place called Tahoe Cedars. A charming place it was, old and well established, with its own private beach and families that returned year after year. We were lucky to get in that year, but decided to try something new the next year. (Tahoe Cedars has since closed and now sits boarded up, looking so forlorn). A reasonably priced motel on the beach in South Lake Tahoe was our choice for 1998. South Lake Tahoe proved to be too crowded for our liking and a motel room also proved to be too crowded. The next year we found a house on a golf course in Incline Village for not much more than the price of either the studio at Tahoe Cedars or the motel on the beach. That spoiled us and we've had either a house or a condo ever since. Most recently we've been staying at a house at the edge of Tahoe City. The location is great, the price is right, and since we've stayed there several years now we feel quite at home from the minute we arrive until its time to leave. This was the first year we extended our stay from 3 nights to 4, though we've talked about it almost from the beginning. We also had company for the first time - JoAnne's sister and cousin came up and spent 2 days and a night (thank you Shelley, for the wonderful fruit platter!). Our days were filled with hiking, relaxing at Calawee Cove, rafting on the Truckee River, lounging around playing Hand and Foot, swimming in the lake at a place we've named Rock Beach, and a little shopping. Our evenings were spent strolling around downtown Tahoe City, going for walks in "our" neighborhood (beware of the bats!), taking in the sunsets at Commons Beach (more bats!) and North Tahoe Beach, playing Hand and Foot, and watching the Olympics. It was a good time as usual and I think I can safely speak for the group and say we all are looking forward to next year. The photos were all taken with my cell phone.

Beautiful blue Lake Tahoe from the Rubicon Trail

(yes, it really is that blue!)

Commons Beach just after sunset

Flowers in "our" neighborhood

Looking north toward Incline Village from "Rock Beach"

"Rock Beach" looking south toward Sand Harbor

Sunset from the highway above "Rock Beach"

Getting ready to leave "Rock Beach" on the last day (so sad!)

Last look at "Rock Beach" until next year

back to work

2008-07-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

Today it was back to work for me. I have a lot of hours this week - 45! Not that I'm complaining, though, after all I just had a whole glorious week off. Besides, the early day shift on a Sunday hardly counts (usually, that is, and today was the norm). Tomorrow I only work half a shift (5 hours hardly counts either). Thursday, Friday and Saturday I work graveyard (my favorite) and my partner all 3 days is Dottie and it just just doesn't get any better than that, folks! Next week I'm only scheduled for (2) 5 hour shifts and the week after that its off to Tahoe again! I'd say I've reached the balance I was hoping for when I "retired" 11 months ago.

back to Bliss

2008-07-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

Traditions, old or new, are a wonderful thing. They give us something to look forward to and they provide us with a wealth of memories to cherish. This past week my BFFs and I went camping at Lake Tahoe's incomparable D.L. Bliss State Park. We've had the same site in the same campground for three years in a row and have declared it a tradition. A new tradition, by some standards, but a tradition nonetheless. (Among our campground neighbors was a large group of women, some of whom have been camping at Bliss the same week each year for 20 years!) Our reservations were made six months ago in the dead of winter. We started out counting the months, then the weeks, then the days until we could once again behold the beauty of Lake Tahoe and spend quality girlfriend time in the great outdoors. Oh, the joy of cooking over an open fire (and a Coleman stove), playing cards by lantern light and sleeping on an air mattress in a tent. We tried some new things this year, like baking cornbread in a Dutch oven (yumm!) and making ice cream in a coffee can (YUMMM!). And DEBBIE brought the cookies this time. They were so good, its just too bad she didn't bring enough to last the whole week. Oh, wait, she did! I guess we were just a little short on self control seeing as how they were gone by the end of the second day. (Don't forget, Debbie, I want that recipe!) Then there was the kayak. This would be the first time I got to use my second hand kayak and the first time I had ever paddled a sit-on-top type. I learned in a hurry that one doesn't scoot over in the seat when the wind is blowing and the water isn't exactly smooth. To my surprise, I fell into the cold water and my kayak turned upside down! Luckily, I wasn't far from shore and the water was only about waist deep. I was easily able to right the kayak and get back aboard with little fuss. There were no further mishaps. I can't wait to go kayaking again! After some coaxing, both Debbie and JoAnne tried it, and both were pleasantly surprised. When we first got to the beach that morning there were a couple of women getting ready to get their kayaks in the water. Debbie learned that they were a mother and her 16 year old daughter, and they were departing to Emerald Bay to spend the night at Boat Camp (which is where we encountered the below pictured bear). They said it was about a 2 1/2 hour paddle. What a great experience! Hmmm...what else...

When I was lounging in the sand in Calawee Cove I thought of my newly created blog and wrote in my head about this trip. I did the same in my tent, just before slumber. Again, on the long ride home, I went over in my mind all the things that I wanted to convey here. However, as I write this now I'm wishing that I would have had a pen and paper with me on that beach and in the tent, and a tape recorder in the car, because my memory is not to be trusted! Suffice it to say that we had a great time and are already planning for our "Blissful" rendezvous next year.

Lessons learned this trip:

~ Flexibility = Harmony

~ Having a good plan is one thing, properly executing it is something different altogether. Being able to come up with Plan B is the key to success.

~ Sometimes less is more

~ Partial disassembly the night before leaving makes a huge difference (Good idea, Deb)

~ Its OK to grab a burger if its convenient, especially after a long hike

Things to remember for 2009:

~ Do better menu planning and pre-preparing of meals, especially dinner

~ Simple foods should not be overlooked, especially for breakfast

~ Get out of camp early enough to have a whole day at the beach

~ Take a picture of our camp site in full regalia

~ Work on reducing our carbon footprint

BFF JoAnne and BFF Debbie in camp

JoAnne and me in camp

Debbie and JoAnne at Lester Beach

JoAnne and me at Lester Beach

Calawee Cove

JoAnne and Debbie at Calawee Cove

View from my hammock

JoAnne goes a-paddling

Debbie goes a-paddling

We saw this bear while hiking the Rubicon trail

He was trying to get a free lunch and didn't want to take "no" for an answer!

Further along on the Rubicon Trail (too bad JoAnne had to leave us early that morning)

We certainly did enjoy our visit and will return again and again and again!

Coffee Can Ice Cream

2008-07-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

Making ice cream while camping was a real treat. It was so good that I made it again when I got home. Here is the simple recipe that I used. You can substitute a zippered, quart sized freezer bag for the 1 pound coffee can and a zippered, gallon sized freezer bag for the 3 pound coffee can. I'm not sure why, but ours took maybe 10-15 minutes longer than the recipe says. We didn't give up and were amazed at the results. Give it a try!

Ingredients
1 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1 pound empty coffee can
1-3 pound empty coffee can
Crushed Ice
Rock salt

Directions
THIS IS FUN
Place all ingredients in a 1-pound coffee can with a tight lid
Place can inside 3-pound coffee can
Pack crushed ice around smaller can
Pour rock salt over ice
Place lid on can
Wrap in towel or wear gloves
Shake, rattle and roll for 10 minutes
Remove inner can and stir mixture scraping sides of can
Replace lid and pack again with more ice and salt
Roll/shake 5 minutes more
Makes about 3 cups :)

to blog or not to blog

2008-07-21T03:05:00.000-07:00

Much consideration has gone into my decision to create this blog. Using the tried and true method of listing all of the positives and all of the negatives, my final answer is...this blog is on! Now, I could just list here the all pros and cons, but that would not be in keeping with one of reasons I first considered starting a blog in the first place. There were many times, before anyone ever heard of a blog, that I thought about keeping a journal. While in high school, I recorded everyday events on the big, open squares of a brightly colored, spiral bound Peanuts calendar. Of course, some of these "events" were non-school sanctioned "field trips" and they had to be cleverly disguised or abbreviated! I wish I would have saved that calendar. In reading the blogs of both friends and strangers, I've come to realize that sharing everyday experiences is more than just a way to keep family and friends informed. It can be inspirational, thought provoking, entertaining, and much more, but it is getting much too late for me put into words what I'm trying to say. There enter a couple of the cons: prioritization and obsessiveness. Sometimes (there may be some who would use the word "often") I have a problem in those areas. Perhaps it would have been better for me to enter the blogosphere after I got ready for my camping trip, since I plan to leave by 10 am! And just maybe I shouldn't be so fussy about some things and just "git 'er done" instead of spending so much time laboring over just the right word or phrase, or trying to remember the rules for using punctuation. Oh, well, if there are any English teachers reading this, know that it has been a long time since I've really used the skills I learned in school and an even longer time since I was in school actually learning them!
Watch for my next post which will be coming at the end of the week and will include photos of good times with forever friends at beautiful Lake Tahoe.

P.S. It's a good thing this allows editing even after posting!