Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July! On this day in 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. I celebrated the day with my folks-it was the first 4th we've spent together since who knows when-possibly the first in 19 years! Mom and I went to the cemetery and cleaned up the graves, adding flowers as well. Then it was home for chips and dip and champagne while we watched Yours, Mine, and Ours, a fun movie with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. Both widowed they get together-she has 8 kids, he has 10!!! After a while Dad put steaks on the grill. Everything was delicious, juicy steaks, garlic bread, and salad, for dessert-ice cream with homemade strawberry topping. Now I'm back home relaxing with the kids. A nice holiday.

Photo Phriday - Harley in the Shower

After I worked Harley today I gave him a shower. Here he is in the shower stall.

Ark Time?

I have the animals...only I don't really have pairs, and the dog, cats, and horse are fixed, and I only have male rats. It is raining every day. Raining hard, real downpours too with lots of thunder. No drying the laundry on the line. Barrett doesn't mind storms, except when the thunder is very close. Then he'll stand and bark at the ceiling. Last night I was woken by thunder, then I heard Barrett who was trying to get into my closet. There was no way he could get in there, but he did his best to try, knocking things over and moving my bed. I have no idea why he wanted in the closet, maybe he was scared. He finally gave up and we both eventually got back to sleep. We'll see what happens tonight. More thunderstorms are on the way.

Writing

Writing is an interesting skill. I consider myself a good writer. I enjoy doing it as well. However, every once in a a while I look at what I write and say, "This is garbage". Yet I'm not sure how to make it better. At the moment I'm trying to write something and for some reason am having a very difficult time of it. I've got 4 pages of . . .well, garbage. That's not quite true. I have thoughts written down and certain points, but none of it gels. It's difficult as I have more specific ideas, but this piece needs to be more general and introductory. I think I know what I want to get across-but it's just not working. It's quite frustrating. I think I'll work on something else for a bit. Hopefully a muse will hit me and I'll write it out of the ballpark. I can hope anyway!

Zoom!

My brain is going a million miles an hour in a million directions. I need to start working on an article I'm writing, I want to do several craft projects and need to look into opening an online store. Must focus and actually accomplish things. The dishes may have to wait!

Stamping Project

I've worked on a great project today, using rubber stamps and tile to make great gifts. It turned out really well and I'll be making more for presents. I'd post a picture...but I'm not sure if I want to give anything away. I'm thinking of opening an etsy store...or something similar. I'd sell these tiles as well as handmade cards. What do you think?

Vanished

I can't find it...again. The stamp I use to name all my work has vanished. Again. I used it last Sunday. It must be in the craft room. It should be on the table. I looked on the table. I looked under the table. I moved things around. I looked in boxes it may have fell into. It has vanished. Oh St. Anthony...would you please help me find my stamp?!?

Scare

I had a bit of a scare this morning. I went into the rat room to give Paulie his medication. I saw Vinnie and Vito (his cage mates) in the hammock, but I didn't see Paulie. I looked in the igloo...no Paulie. All the other rats came out to check what was going on...but no sign of Paulie. He couldn't be seen at all, and the teepee looked empty. I reached in and felt the teepee and felt a body-Paulie's lost so much weight from the cancer he barely made a bump in the fabric. However, I felt him inside, but no movement. Oh no, he had gone into the teepee to die. Suddenly, his little face peeked out, "Hello, looking for me?" He clambered out and climbed out of the cage as I breathed a sigh of relief and started getting his medication ready. I looked for him and he had his face in the dixiecup of blueberry syrup and was having a blast. I let him chow down a bit then held him as I mixed some syrup with his Prednisone. He happily took his medicine and rejoined his brothers. The little guy gave me a scare, I just hope he can stay with us for a long time.

Photo Phriday - Streptocarpus

Streptocarpus, no, it's not a disease, it's a houseplant. It's a relative of the African violet. I purchased this plant from The Violet Barn a few years ago. I wouldn't say it blooms profusely, as it's purported to do...but I haven't killed it yet and every once in a while I get to see these beautiful blooms.

Eagle Crest & O-Neh-Da Vineyards

My third birthday outing stop was to Eagle Crest Vineyards. You may remember I wrote about this place before, taking the road less traveled. Well, this time it was open and what a wonderful place. It's actually two wineries in one, known as both Eagle Crest Vineyards and O-Neh-Da Vineyard. O-Neh-Da Vinyard is the second oldest vineyard in New York State. Established in 1872 byBishop Bernard McQuaid, O-Neh-Da Vineyard was established to produce authentic sacramental wine for local churches. In fact, it is the oldest authentic producer of premium sacramental wine in the New World. The name Oh-Neh-Da is the Seneca name for Hemlock Lake, where the winery is located. While O-Neh-Da has been continuously producing sacramental wine since 1872, it is no longer run by priests, although the current owners still practice the stringent requirements for pure sacramental wine. However, three years ago they decided to make wines for the public as well. They chose a second name-Eagle Crest Vineyards in honor of the bald eagles who live in the hills above Hemlock Lake. Sadly, we couldn't try any of the sacramental wine-but there were plenty of secular wines to choose from. I highly recommend a trip to this winery hidden in the hills above Hemlock Lake. The winery is great! We had a very friendly knowledgeable host who poured lots of great wine.

My Life's Soundtrack

OK, here's how it works...

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For the first question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button TWICE
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool...just type it in, man!

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE

My Movie Soundtrack:

Opening Credits:

Lonely Train – Black Stone Cherry

Waking Up:

Alegria – B-Side Players

First Day at School:

Sailed On – Landon Pigg

Falling in Love:

You Gotta Go – Chase the Sun

Losing Virginity:

Patience-Guns ‘n’ Roses

Fight Song:

Camote - Novalima

Break Up:

Worrisome Heart – Melody Gardot

Prom:

So Deep in Love – Joel Auge

Life:

Sewn – The Feeling

Mental Breakdown:

Tenebrea Second Movement – Kronos Quartet

Driving:

Back To Me – Kathleen Edwards

Flashback:

Love’s Secret – Michael Whalen

Getting Back Together:

Pony (It’s OK) – Erin McCarley

Wedding:

The Garden - Guns ‘n’ Roses

Birth of Child:

Plush - Stone Temple Pilots

Final Battle:

Silent Night – Sarah McLaghlin

Death Scene:

Put a Penny in the Slot – Fionn Regan

Funeral Song:

Sleigh Ride – Los Straightjackets

End Credits:

Ella Menea – NG2

********************************************************

Pretty neat. Not sure why I got all those holiday ones at the end. If I wouldn't have had to forward twice I would have had some even neater responses. Perhaps I'll do it again!

Spinal Injection

I finally had my first spinal injection...not a pleasant experience. At least it was quick...and my doctor was good looking. Still. In a way it was kind of neat. I was lying on my stomach and I could see 2 large computer screens in front of me showing my spine...and then the huge needle going in. Before I got on the table the nurse told me to unbutton and unzip my pants and lift up my shirt. I climbed up and she lifted mt shirt higher and my pants lower. Then the doctor rubbed this cool gel on me-to numb the pain. "You'll feel a little prick." I did, that's not so bad, then it got bad "we're going through muscle now", ugh, then the sharp pain running down my leg that he told me about. Then he was done. I got my clothes in order and they wheeled me to a recovery area and brought me a ginger ale. I could have used a bit more. In a few minutes, after making sure I was OK, they let me go. I felt worse that when I started; I could still feel that needle in my spine. I'm feeling better now..after a few shots of my own-these shots in my mouth, grape vodka, much better than a shot in the back. I have to make calls tomorrow to try and schedule my next injection, which may not have been approved. I'll hopefully see improvement within 3 days.

Summer

With the summer solstice occurring yesterday (joyous Litha everyone) today is the first full day of summer. It is beautiful out there, if a little warm for me. The rain has gone and the sun is finally shining. After working out with Harley I gave him a shower-and got under myself too. It was refreshing. I intend to do a little gardening this evening. Welcome Summer!

Happy Father's Day!

To all the dads out there, and this especially includes the dads whose kids have 4 legs and tails, or feathers, or fins, Happy Father's Day. Someone had commented that I was remiss in not including dad's whose only kids had leaves-so for you guys too, Happy Father's Day! My dad came up and mowed my lawn-he loves my riding mower...which he calls HIS mower. Thanks Dad and to dads everywhere, thanks for all you do.