Four Months today -

We lost our Sweet Ruth Girl four months today. It seems so surreal. Smiles, at the thought of her and the joy she brought us, has now replaced the tears. I will tend to her graveside, along with Sara's and Sadie's, this afternoon. Bud mowed the orchard's perimeter, I'll finish, then will hand edge around our girls' handcrafted headstones. Then everything will be nice and spiffy.

It's interesting how Ruth had some personality traits that neither Sara, Sadie, or Beth has/had, but Anna, who entered our lives after Ruth, now shares:

• While standing, she hikes her back leg whenever we are scratching her tummy so we can also better scratch inside her leg.
• She chases (and catches) flying bugs
• "Bites" at water rather than simply drinking it
• She bites at the trees when she's trying to get to a runaway cat
• Rather than merely jumping down off the porch, she gracefully flies off, looking forward or up.

Anyway.... today will be a good day. Each day does get better. I knew it would with time. Time is a healer.
Thank God.

Skunks and Snakes

This week has been interesting.

One evening about 8:30, while looking for/checking on Anna, I saw two skunks out in the south field behind the house! I went up to the house window and asked Bud to get Anna in the house with Beth, shut the doors, and bring out the shotgun!

I kept my eye on the skunks until he got out there then he focused on one while I continued tracking the other (staying far away!). He quickly took care of business on both! After he scooped them up, and we were walking back to the house, around, and outside the front gate, both girls were watching us carefully. It was so cute. That was the perfect way to introduce Anna to skunks!

On another day, Bud was out clearing cedars from the south/north field fence line and saw a 5' diamondback rattlesnake coming toward him. Actually, the snake was heading for a hole underneath a cedar that Bud was walking toward. Of course, Bud didn't have any type of firearm with him, and the hoe had too short of a handle to tackle the creature with without getting too close. Bud packed it in for the day, came home, and got the tractor ready with the mower. The next morning he began mowing the field! Between constantly filling up a front tire and getting low on diesel, he only got a few passes mowed around the perimeter. This nine acre field takes about 8 hours to mow. He's got about two hours done and will continue once it dries out some.

Yesterday, we received over 2" of blessed slow rain!

This morning, before sunrise, we put the flag out. Fortunately, the spotlight still worked (otherwise, it would not have been flown until daylight). I hope the wind doesn't come up and make us take it down. The Texas State Trooper, who lives along our road to town, had a much heavier flagpole than ours and rarely took his flag down. We had some mighty gusty winds a while back and we saw what happens when you don't take the flag off... their pole just snapped.

Since this is Memorial Day, it was very important to us both to have our flag out. Now, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will stay up, not only today, but for a long time.

Attitude Adjustment

I am working on my attitude adjustment. It's hard. I need to get back working on my 2009 goals. Some I've maintained and/or improved successfully. Most of all I need self-discipline, strength of mind. For example, to post here and on my other blog on a regular basis!

I'm in the process of reading, Candace Haven's Charmed & Dangerous. It's a different approach, one I've never read before - it's more like a diary written in 1st person - and has taken me a while to really get into. I've spent some time on Amazon, using their "Look Inside" feature, reading passages from different authors, researching and learning more about writing styles. It's been a very informative process.

I've finished two major projects for Christmas gifts, working on the third one now. The next time in Dallas, I need to pick up the fourth color needed for the final one. The Wal-Mart in town sucks when it comes to a selection. I've tried, but just can't seem to master knitting. I enjoy crocheting while watching TV in the evenings. I can't just sit there and watch shows without doing something with my hands. Several other gifts are made and in the drawer, waiting for the gift wrapping paper!

Gosh, the stock market dipping really gets to me. Because of the low bottom interest rates, we don't want to spend the capital savings so we don't have the interest to complete the house renoviations. I use part of the capital for stock purchases, for what that's worth! It's a vicious cycle making it hard to keep motivated around here to do anything, since we can't finish anything! I know it will work itself out and I need patience!

Saw a shooting star this morning... made a bundle of wishes upon it! Mainly hoping/wishing to help me with my attitude adjustment!

The other day I reflected how this year to date has really screwed with my mental state... January, with Ruth getting sick and leaving us, then February and March dealing with our loss and a itty bitty puppy. April, and now May, things are getting better. I'm not crying anymore at a drop of a hat. Anna doesn't need eyes on 24/7. Which is a good thing. I keep waiting for the time I can get 7 hours (in a row!) of sleep, life will be grand again!

I am so thankful for what and who I do have in my life. I am blessed.

Good Rain!

It started yesterday and was over sometime during the night and throughout this time we received 4.7" of blessed rain! The forecast has 70% chance for more tonight, but the radar doesn't show anything coming anywhere close to us.

The powers-that-be has given us a 80% chance tomorrow... we'll see.

Nothing new going on around here... Anna is getting better about not having to have eyes on 100% of her awake time! Especially today since the weather's turned cold (38) and the heater clicks on / off ... we know exactly where she is when the wall heater clicks on!

This is just one area that she's had to learn "that's not yours" and she's just about got it down... she does bring her toys very close and we do watch her carefully, redirecting her away from this area!

I processed and posted a few more pictures of Anna, and of Beth, and the two playing together nicely.

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A quiet morning

It is, for a little while, quiet in the house. Bud just left to take Anna in for her 2nd series of puppy shots. Beth and I are chilling out without the constant noise of the television. Bud & I keep either the tv on or the radio (through his computer) to help muffle any sounds we may make while Anna is napping.

Anna & Daddy are on the way home! She weighed 11.5 pounds!!!

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Frustrated

I'm really frustrated today, not to mention anxious. It's because of what's happening with the nation's economy... gggeeeezzzzzzzzzzz

Even Warren Buffet is getting upset... I'm sure he's lost much more than we have with the falling stock market. I heard Whoopi Goldberg on the View say how she's Mad as Hell getting taxed from all different directions. Both these folks supported BO, and they are getting exactly the Change both Rush & Sean predicted.

Anyhoo.... Bud crossed the cattle guard this morning... he's gone to the eye doctor in Killeen. Both Beth and Anna are napping. I'm trying to stay quiet so I won't wake up baby!

Earlier, I did get some of the dead undergrowth of rosemary trimmed/cut out. Anna was on the other side of the tree and didn't notice what I was doing (too busy chewing on a twig) until she walked around to my side and saw the big stack. She quickly jumped in and found the perfect one to carry off. That kept her busy for a while. She loves rosemary!

I weighed Anna last night... 10 pounds already!

Okay, Bud called and after his 1.5 hour (one way drive) his 2 minute eye test/appointment is over and he's heading to do our weekly shopping at Wal-Mart on the way home. And, the kitchen is almost cleaned up... had planned on baking him a cake while gone, but haven't done that.. may wait until tomorrow morning when he's gone taking baby to the Vet for her 2nd series of puppy shots.

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Promises

The fruitless mulberry trees are starting to bud out. I haven't noticed whether the mature mesquite trees are putting out new growth. Aunt Evoline always told me to watch the mesquites, as they are the best signs of no more frost.

My poor lavender plants look horrible this year. I think all are lost. I guess it's just as well, since I can't be out in the sun to work them (and the dirt) properly. It gets me down/depressed knowing how the sun now effects me due to the medication I must take. Not to mention the fact that I can't hold any gardening tools anymore! At least the rosemary doesn't need my help! Both areas of rosemary are fully grown and are now blooming nicely. Maybe the blooms are because of the high humidity, and the promise of rain in the next few days!

I ask all that I know who are going to the beach to squeeze sand between their toes and think of me!


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