Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Old Bullet

My stepfather, Bob, lives on the outskirts of a small town just miles from the La Texas border. He has horses and cows and has had lots of dogs. He even adopted this pot belly pig that wandered up one day. I guess someone decided they didn’t want that pet anymore. My nephew named that pig, Pork Chop.



Bob never bought a dog, not that I knew of, but these strays just kept showing up. They were usually dogs no one else wanted and for good reason. None of them were normal. He named them very original names like Lady Girl, Brownie, Spot and Baby. His favorite was old Bullet. Bullet certainly was a dog no one but my SF could love. He bit just about everyone in town and most people who came from out of town to visit. I think Bob was actually proud of that, maybe because he also wanted to bite people but couldn’t.



Old Bullet got my brother in law when he came down from the PNW to visit. He still wears the evidence of that bite on his leg. Mom frequently threatened to kill old Bullet. I think the highlight of her illness was when old Bullet met his demise. I’m not sure if she had anything to do with it but could be. She certainly didn’t want old Bullet to outlive her.



Old Bullet never bit me but he came close one day. I was standing at this garden fence jawing with one of the farm hands when old Bullet spotted me. It was a cold day and I was wearing this puffy, pink, ski type jacket and I guess it served as a disguise. Bullet was standing a far piece away when he saw me. I saw him come tearing around the garden, headed my way. He had a vicious look on his face. He must have thought I was some new meat in the neighborhood. Something he hadn’t sampled yet.


When I saw old Bullet headed my way, I froze with fear. Just as he came around the corner of the fence, he finally recognized me. Whew! He stopped dead in his tracks and a silly grin came over his face. I could almost hear his embarrassed laughter. Yuk, Yuk, Yuk. I wonder if he could smell what I had just done.


My SF buried old Bullet in the garden. That dog finally found something he was good at….fertilizer. RIP.


No pic of old Bullet but here's one of Pork Chop.

199 comments:

Carol said...

I want to dedicate that story to my mom. I think she would have liked it. Hell, she may have even written it. Never know if some of the things we do are being channeled from somewhere above.

Carol said...

I'll have to give it to Bob. He was a farmer all his life. He worked like a dog. Strange expression since I never saw any of his dogs do a day's work.

We owe a lot to the family farmers. We ate pretty cheap food because of the dedication and sacrifice of those family farmers.

I never could understand how Bob made it from year to year. It must have been a miracle. He worked from sun up to sun down and lost more money every year than he made. It was likely that those farm programs, that people complain about, kept him afloat.

I would ask Bob every year, why do you keep doing it? He would say, because that is all I know. Well, as a family farmer, he knew just about everything. He was a carpenter, mechanic, Veteranarian, horticulturist, business man and just about everything else you can think of. He could have done something else but he loved working the land.

Pat Buchanan came to his home town one year on a campaign mission. Bob talked to one of the reporters who happened to come with him. He was telling him how the money in cows had changed. He compared how many cows he would have to sell to buy a pickup truck that year compared to how many he would have had to sell years before.

An article that included that conversation showed up in the Economist. My neice, up in the PNW, found it when she picked up a copy of that magazine in some waiting room. That was pretty weird.

Carol said...

If anyone wants to put up a New Post, don't let Old Bullet stop you. He can't bit anymore.

Ivy Green said...

It's still too early for my brain to be working up a comment, let alone a whole post. But Carol, isn't there a good photo of you SF in your photobucket? It would look good if it were glued into this thread.... is there more to his story? You might spark one of my own step-father stories. Maybe it's a jumping off point for others' stories about their own "blended families." The family we started out with is not always the one we end up with, but sometimes perhaps it works out better.

Ivy Green said...

Two hummingbirds are here this morning and they are squabbling.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Carol, I really liked your post this morning, and also the follow up comments. I bet ya your Step Father wouldn't have changed his life for anything.

I have a dog that likes to bite people too, and of course, he's the only male dog I have. The thing is, he's very small, so no one takes him too seriously. That's why a always say I'm much more cautious with 'large' dogs. I think they're all pretty much the same, but the small ones you can pick up and carry away. I never try to change an animal (probably because I firmly believe you can't change anyone), but just learn to work with their personality, and it always works out just fine.

Anonymous said...

Carol, we used to have a couple of wild pigs run through our property, but their not around any more. They looked a lot like the one your SF had. We did have a couple of goats once: Candy and Billy. Candy was very sweet (though very noisy too), but Billy was as mean as all get out. And he was born on the property, so I babied him from the beginning.

Billy was born around Christmas time, and it was one of the coldest winters we've ever had here. So, I used to put pregnant Candy into the feed room at night, and built a little manger out of hay so she could have her baby somewhat comfortably. The morning I went in to check on her and found Billy had arrived, I was so excited, you wouldn't have believed it. I skipped back into the house, and brought out a little portable heater, and kept that feed room warm for the first few weeks. Well Billy got so attached to that heater, that I think he thought it was his mother. He used to cuddle against it constantly. That little black goat gave me more laughs. We kept them less than a year (they were a lot of work, noisy and Billy got mean), but found them a nice home.

One of these days I tell you about Molly, the calf we had for a while. That's another story.

Anonymous said...

Here's the comment I deleted above, it's regarding comments from the last thread...

Ivy, I just now saw your link (from last night) to that feeder . It's beautiful! I don't know how I missed it last night, but now that I've seen it, I'm even more determined to get it. If Carol and Jan get one too, we'll all have a matching set. I missed a couple of your posts last night Ivy, as well as some others, but now I'm caught up on the last thread, so I'm starting on this one.

ps My hummers are very active this morning. There seems to be a pattern, that I see more of them for the few days before a cold front comes through. I think they must be just ahead of it.

Jan, I like your baloon pic too. It's fun to change them every so often. I was surprised to hear you have more allergies in a dry climate, I thought it was just me. I used to hear so many people say a dry climate was better for allergies, but now I'm doubting it.

Oh. and Jan, yes, you are right, cats are my first love, but I love all animals.

Solar said...

Carol,

I like this post very much. It reminds me of some stories that I overheard my unicycles talk about when they all had farms.

In these modern times of corp owned farms; I have turned into one of the people that can't understand why the government will subsidize farmers to not grow anything...They should still give money to the family farmer...but with strings attached imo

The subsidy as you know started so they could give the land, soil, enough time to recuperate....but like all of the good intentions, and laws that are passed by the people in DC..they see it as an opening for their personal greed.

Chloe,

I like your animal stories also,,Im a sucker for them...old yeller never made me cry...it made me very curious..

Jan,

Im from ChicagoRidge, not Oaklawn Il...but that must be me...I don't look at that map....I don't really like it cos it's a form of tracking to me...like when they want your zip code at some stroes...they use it so they can do more, and more research for marketing in your area...raise prices on the items that are used more...etc.

ps, don't change your pic to often...you will be accused of changing your socks too much...and other things....

Anonymous said...

Truth be known Solar, I don't like being tracked either.

Also, I don't think it's possible to change your socks too often, and would never 'accuse' you of anything. :)

That calf we had, Molly, used to knock down every fence in sight. She even used to end up on the neighbors property on many occasions. She was a real sweetheart, but I found out that there's a big difference in cattle and horses. Horses rarely challenge a fence, unless they know from previous experience it's been knocked down, or they're extremely hungry and want whats on the other side. Otherwise, you could put nothing more than a rope tied between two posts, and they won't bother crossing it. It's like that elephant experiment, where they tie the small chain to the elephants leg and attach it to a post. They don't know their own strength.

Horses are such good animals, because they're so submissive. They have no idea of their own strength, except with each other. Then like Ivy says, they rarely challenge each others hierarchy, unless there's a change about ready to occur.

I never had any animals, other than a few cats (later in life) and a couple of dogs (earlier in life) until I moved to Texas, and had enough land to try things a different way. I've learned lots 'from' them and 'about' them, and having done so, I see the world in a different, more complete way. Synergy Solar.

I can't imagine myself living my life any other way now, than out here in the middle of my little plot of forest. Many neighbors have removed their trees, at least a lot of their trees. I know some did it for convenience, others to sell them. But most of the ones contiguous to my property kept there's more natural, so I get the feeling of being somewhat out in the middle of nowhere, while in reality being near most everything.

ps We found a good home for Molly too. A lot of the families that move out this way are looking for a 'country life' and will take animals who need a home, home with them. The kids love it!

Anonymous said...

"old yeller never made me cry...it made me very curious.."

.. about what Solar? Now I'm curious. :)
I came back to ask you that.

Anonymous said...

Before I leave, I want to clarify that I don't think animals are good 'because' they are submissive. When I said that about horses, I meant they're easy to keep and care for. Easy to control, which is important when handling an animal that large. They usually weigh 1000 pounds or more, and can be dangerous. I'm just glad they aren't meat eaters, or I wouldn't be here gabbin'.

Which reminds me, I've talked your ears off enough now.

Later.

Solar said...

Chloe,

Where are you gal...quite jumping around so much.

I know you like a book...and will tell you about that old yeller stuff a little later...are you here?...what good is it,,, if you R not around...for me to tell you.....don't blame me if I can't remember it later on...

Anonymous said...

Solar, Get back here and tell me about that Old Yeller stuff asap. And don't forget. (Please)

Solar said...

Please, sheemze, U think thats' all it takes? get me a big hug and a Little smooch from Emma and it's a deal-deal...altho, its not big deal about that old yllr thing...am I driving you nuts....haha...or is it just a little walk for you...

Anonymous said...

Emma sends of hug and smooch, but you'd better not be bribing me. I have to be a little nuts in order to be on the same wave length as you, so ha!. Tell me.

Solar said...

Ok,

This goes with a farm story that I told before..I think...at tm?

When we lived in a ranch/farm in Mexico, my Uncle had a huge sow, in a big pen..it was inside of a corral...he was fattening it up for a huge party for the next weekend....They were all busy, and I escaped....they said that I did that a lot...

I got into the corral to investigate what all the noise that was coming out of the pen. I manged to get the door open, and out came the sow...at first it ran away from me...but in a very short time it must have figured out that it had nothing to worry about some little shit running after it....

so it turned on me and was just about to clamp down on my little ass..and other parts...I was told that they heard all of the loud screams coming from the sow...and my uncle went to investigate....he reached in and grabbed me, just as the sow was going to have me for dinner....my uncle lost the tip to one of his fingers...and they said that I just stood staring at the sow.....


When I saw old yeller...I remember that he was bitten by a wild sow/pig...and I kept looking for that wild pig, and didn't care about the dog, until the end...it was sad...but I kept looking...see no big deal...but it was worth the hug and smooch no?

Anonymous said...

Yes Solar, it was worth the work it took. What a rascal you were (past tense?, on second thought: are). You were lucky that your uncle came to the rescue. I don't remember the pig in Old Yeller, but I guess you and Yeller had something in common then, both had been face to face with a killer pig. I assume that means you remember letting it out? I bet you were terrified.

So, did you eat any pork at the party that next weekend? If so, I'm pretty sure they didn't tell you where it came from. :)

Solar said...

Chloe,

Im not sure anymore...but the reason that yeller got rabies is cos he was bit by a wild boar...I love pork...

I stole a stallion once...but that worth a lot more than that little ole hug and smooch.......Now im bribing you HA.!

Anonymous said...

Ok, this is the thread for it Solar. Cough up that stallion story. I can't believe you stole one. Those stallions are Crazy (with a capital C).

Ivy, my daughter is picking up that balloon feeder for me, as we speak. And Ivy, it's $15.27 at our Lowe's. So now I'm going to love it even more, knowing I got a good deal. I saw it online for that price, but it cost around $8 to deliver.

Ivy, How's your daughters kitty doing?

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
That was a good deal on the hummingbird feeder. I'm looking around for my receipt, but I think there was a slight discount at the register, so it cost me $16-and-change including sales tax. Our sales tax is 8% which I think is highway robbery.

Miss College's Cat is home now, along with new dietary requirements and medication one of which is lifetime. Miss Cat has a common bladder malfunction.

I love your new avatar.

Ivy Green said...

What up? I got a "blogger error" message thought they had ditched my post!

jan said...

Loved all the animal stories. Feel like I've been out on the farm.

Solar, you owe a lot to your uncle for rescuing you from the Sow.


Chloe, sounds like you are in a little piece of Heaven - like Carol.

jan said...

Carol, I remember your SD's place. I remember seeing him once or twice. I still have some pics of riding horses out there.

We had a place out in the country when I was about 10 until I was 16. We moved out there b/c my grandpa died and daddy inherited it. My dad and mom were not farmers. They both worked in town - I didn't like it - b/c I had to leave my little girlfriends when we moved out there. I felt isolated - and have never wanted to live in the country again. We had different animals over those 6-7 years- but I don't know why. I think my dad was impulsive. I remember we had a calf for a while - daddy's intention was to butcher it - but he didn't tell us kids that - so we made a pet out it. We named it baby face - It was a white faced heifer with long eyelashes. When daddy butchered that calf, I couldn't eat any of it. I don't like beef much to this day - don't know whether it had anything to do with that calf.

Ivy Green said...

Bear Woman's newest venture is volunteering with a horse rescue farm. I hear from her some of the horses are extremely mistrustful. They require extra loving treatment for even the most basic grooming and care functions.

Ivy Green said...

My step-father was an Iowa farm boy. He signed up for WWII at 17 and served in Italy. He never went back to the farm after the war, made a new life in Pennsylvania as an auto mechanic and businessman. The farm never left him though.

When he and my mom married, it was the second marriage for them both. They were both widowed from their first marriages. He ended up being "my dad" for longer than my dad was my dad.

Ivy Green said...

My aunt loves to send me "blonde jokes." Could she be trying to tell me something?

"During a recent password audit, it was found that a blonde was using the following password:

MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofy

When asked why such a big password, she said that it had to be at least 8 characters long."

Carol said...

Evening folkes. Enjoyed your conversation. Brought back some memories huh? Wonder if it entertained our lurkers from Dime Box and Mabank. Saw a few others from Tx dropped by, Liberty Hill and Splendora. Welcome to the Swamp Texas.

Same here Ivy. Bob was my father for longer than my father was my father. Mom married my SF when I was about 23. I think I was more excited about it than she was. I loved having a farm to visit because there is always something fun to do on a farm. I was out there every weekend and every holiday.

I was Bob's side kick. He called me his favorite stepdaughter. It was because I hung around with him all the time and helped him. He didn't have a clue that it was not a nice thing to say in front of my other two sisters.

Ivy Green said...

God, how I hate giving meds to a cat. Who has tricks up their sleeve? Help!

Carol said...

Mom wasn't that crazy about living on a farm but I did manage to drag her out with me picking wildflower to dry, fishing in the rice irrigation canals and shooting snakes off the levies. Wouldn't do the snake shooting thing anymore and I hope I have worked off that bad snake karma.

Carol said...

I would recommend suiting up and wearing two oven mits on your hands.

Ivy Green said...

That's about it, Carol. Minimum of a two-person job. Hubs ain't leavin' for no freakin' guitar camp this week.

Carol said...

So everyone but me has a balloon hummer feeded. Mary, are you listening?

Carol said...

Is he suppose to go to guitar camp or are you canceling it for him?

Carol said...

Hi Linda.

Ivy Green said...

No, I was joking. Actually, this was the week we were supposed to be in Hawaii.

Carol said...

Go get a lie, Pina Colada, turn up the heat and pretend.

Carol said...

Put some sand in your underwear and it will be complete.

Carol said...

You guys were discussing earlier about how it made you uncomfortable showing up on our little map. Get used to it. Every move you make, every breath you take, they are watching you!

I had a patient in my office today. My first three questions are, when did you get here, have you ever been here before and how long will you be staying with us. Gives me an idea of how much I need to prepare.

I peaked at one guys wrap sheet and it said...downloading child porn. I told him, you'll be here awhile. I asked him why he didn't realize that he couldn't do that? I said, don't you watch TV. He said no. I told him there is nothing you can do on the Net that someone can't find out about. No secrets.

Carol said...

What I don't understand is..why don't they pull down that porn stuff when it hits the Net, if they can find the people who download it to arrest. Is it just a trap to catch pervs?

Anonymous said...

Carol, Add Liberty Hill to the list of Texas bloggers. Texas is growing every day.
LOL at telling us to get used to it, and quoting one of my favorite songs.

Also, that guy in prison, that you told there are no secrets on the net, that's a little different. You normally have to break the law, before someone confiscates your computer and goes through it with a fine tooth comb. The guy was on an illegal site, and shouldn't be surprised that they caught him. I'm not missing your point though, it only sounds like I am, because of my little rant. Pedophiles really disgust me.

Jan, I would have been devastated if I had a pet calf and it was butchered. But I know people do it all the time. The people behind our property did the same thing, and their daughter, who was a young teenager at the time, didn't seem to think anything about it. I had seen the calf back there only a few times, but I felt really sick when I found out they were eating her. I like to pretend those things don't happen.

Ivy, Good luck giving your kittie her meds. Are they pill or liquid?
Glad to hear you got the discount on the feeder. I appreciate you mentioning it and even linking it. I really like it, and will hang it tomorrow or Friday. I'll snap a pic of it hanging there, before the weekend. That 8 character password joke you posted is funny, I have to admit.

What happened to Solar's Stallion stealing story.

Solar,
Tell us what happened, and don't forget to let us know how many bones you broke.

(do I have to say 'please' again?

Anonymous said...

Why no Hawaii Ivy?

Carol said...

Another killer episode of Modern Family.

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
I guess we weren't really committed on an emotional level to another trip. I was ready for a stay-cation. My brother and sister-in-law have a time-share, and went by themselves, I hope it will be some needed together time for them. They didn't need us there.

Everything happens for a reason. Miss College's Cat's symptoms might have gone undiagnosed if I had not been here to catch them. She would have suffered needlessly.

Carol said...

I just had a harrowing incident. I was talking to Mary on the phone but didn't tell her since she might never come over again. Hope she doesn't read this.

While standing out on my back porch deck which is half covered by a roof, a snake dropped off the roof. It came close to dropping on my head.

Now how did a snake get up on a roof of a camp that is about 6 feet off the ground, up on silts? I don't see any trees that hang right over that portion of the roof. There is one over a very high part of the roof on the other side but that snake would have had to climb way up and down again to get that part of the roof.

It wasn't a big snake but big enough. I didn't get a good look at it because it was as frightened as I was and scurried off the porch. It was raining really hard earlier, can it rain snakes???

I've only seen one or two snakes all year and one has to drop off my roof and almost onto my head.

jan said...

I am still not fond of beef - I always think of "Baby Face" when I think of steak.

Have I missed something? How is Miss Colleg's cat?

Carol, You really added something to your stepfather's life by doing those things with him. I suspect it made life easier on your mother too.

Chloe, I too dispise pedophiles and child pronographers. I am still pissed at whoopee and others who are defending Roman Polanski and think he should not have to take the consequences of what he did to the 13 year old. He drugged her - for God's sake.

jan said...

Carol, the snake dropping off your roof gives me goosebumps. That is the thing about snakes - they are more scared of us than we of them.

jan said...

Hey, what happened to the little black icon that helps us see who is on the blog? I don't see it.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Was this snake on the move after dark? I don't know what to make of that...was Fiddler up there?...maybe that's who ran the snake off the roof...

Carol said...

You know those pedophiles have a look about them. They are creepy. I pretty much can guess what their crime is when I see them. But I still wonder why that porn is not taken off the Net. With all the people monitoring, I just don't understand how it can get on the web and stays there long enough for creeps to download it.

Carol said...

I think I have heard that with a heavy rain, it can rain frogs and snakes. It would probably take a water spout to suck them up, then dump them somewhere later???

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
Miss College's Cat is going to be okay after meds and dietary adjustments. She was diagnosed with Lower Urinary Tract Disease. Miss College is the one swooning when I told her the vet bill.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
my local news just ran a teaser for their 10 pm broadcast..."more snakes are on the move...tune in at ten to find out why..."

Carol said...

Tune in Ivy?

Carol said...

Could be an owl flew over and dropped it.

Carol said...

Sure enough, it can.

Raining animals

Ivy Green said...

Snakes, they say, "moving around more than normal..." gotta stay tuned in after Jay Leno to find out why...

Carol said...

Ivy, is that a local phenomena or everywhere? I guess you don't know that until you see the news. Get that answer for me.

Ivy Green said...

I hope they don't leave it to the last story...oh here it comes...they say it due to the excess rain - pets are getting bit...rain drives them from their hideaways...

Ivy Green said...

We have had a lot of rain...ironic because we had such a bad drought two years ago...

Carol said...

It's been raining a good bit but not terrible. I haven't emptied my rain gauge since last Friday and it's full. I think it holds about 5 inches. It is not that accurate because when it rains sideways it doesn't get in the rain gauge.

Carol said...

Here's a pretty cool site Ivy. You can see how much rain you have had over a period of time. Click over your State and then choose the time period in which you want to see how much rain you had.

Observed Precipitation

Carol said...

Not sure exactly where you are but you've had anywhere from 5-8 inches in 2 weeks?

Carol said...

We've had about the same along the river here.

Ivy Green said...

In the newscast, they reported we've had 16 inches, but I don't know the time period they said...

...time to suit up for cat meds...hazardous duty...

Carol said...

Good luck. Had your rabies and tetnus lately?

Carol said...

Here kitty, kitty, kitty....Meow, hiss, swap. First aid kit, hurry.

Ivy Green said...

omg...I'm sure we were only half successful with the meds, but I'm 100% sure we made a new enemy.

jan said...

I am a little envious of all your rain. We could use some here.
I remember living in Louisiana one time that the streets were flooded. I was on my way home from work and my volkswagen flooded out in front of our insurance agent's office. Talk about synchronicity. I sought shelter in there. A few minutes later, a man came running in telling everyone his wife was in the car. She had been home from the hospital only a little while and her abdominal incision had come open. The water in their car was up to the seats and he didn't know what to do. Finally, a big truck came through and several men were able to get her in the cab of the truck. Dirty water from the flood would not have beena good thing in an open wound. By the way, the VW did float. A couple of guys pushed it upon to dry land for me.

jan said...

Ivy, kitties are not nearly as easy to get meds down as dogs. Dogs like to please their humans, but kitties could care less about that - again, that independence. I agree with Chloe, kitnik is lucky you were around.

jan said...

Ivy, when I have to give Lobie meds I just wrap it in a thin piece of sliced turkey. that usually works. Would that work with Miss College's cat?

jan said...

Nite all, hasta manana

Carol said...

Well I have to make a disclosure here. Correct a mistake. My older sister, the wife of the guy with the scar on his lower leg, left an email last night with one sentence. It said "wasn't it Buster?"

I think she's right. I do think that dog's name was Buster. Well I can't exactly say that I changed the name to protect the innocent. I can say that Bob had so many dogs that all those names were rolling around in my head. I mentioned the name to Mary before I wrote the story and she didn't remember either so we must both have twin dementia.

I'm pretty sure Bob did have a Bullet and a couple of his dogs liked to bite people but not like old Buster did. He still may have Spot and she is a Dalmation and she likes to bite too, but not so often. I told you, I think the idea of biting really came from Bob, their master. He really did want to bite some people.

I do think that dogs can reflect certain personality characteristics of their pack leader. Maybe some that you don't even want to admit. Maggie's nervous and stubborn and likes to control, and yep, that could be me.

Carol said...

I kinda hoping that that snake almost falling on my head last night was the final clearing of my bad snake karma. You know from my shooting those things on the rice levies. I did mention that yesterday. There really was no good reason for my shooting them. I was just entertaining myself at their expense.

Carol said...

Jan, I had a used VW when I was in college. It was the first car I bought with my own money. Had several problems, one being that I often had to push it, pop the clutch to get it started.

I remember when we were doing home visits in a not so good part of town. I had to have someone else with me so one could run along side the car to help me push and I could jump in and pop the clutch.

Also the heater didn't work so I had to carry a blanket with me.

Carol said...

You know I mentioned that my SF was a little socially retarded. My older sister and I called him an asparagus. That was a way of saying he may have had a touch of Asberger's Syndrome.

My older sister is an expert in Special Ed. She needed to be with our family.

Carol said...

I've got a ponder for ya today. Which fruit or vegetable do you most favor. Any why? Work on that.

Carol said...

And I want you to know I meant no disrespect to asparagus. Our family loves asparagus even though it makes you pee stink. OK.

Carol said...

You know Ivy, urinary problems must be common in cats because they make several OTC cat foods for cats with urinary problems. I think that maybe it is best to use those cat foods in older cats.

I had two cats that lived to be 21 years old. One was Tiger and the other was Little Kitty.

Carol said...

Hi ho, hi ho......

Anonymous said...

"I've got a ponder for ya today. Which fruit or vegetable do you most favor. Any why? Work on that." October 15, 2009 4:24:00 AM

Banana's and dark grapes, because they seem to have the most sugar and are fast to eat. But I also like blue & black berries, strawberries and peaches, which I put in my shake everyday, along with apple juice, cherry and grape juice, and whatever other juice I can find in the fridge on any given day.

Ok, I cheated. I think you asked for one fruit or vegie, and I told you every fruit I have in my fridge and freezer, except for the oranges, apples, watermelon and cantaloupe. Oh, and the raisins and prunes.

Uuum, I love fruit. Lots of sugar.
Vegies, not so much.

ps Carol, I have a cat named Bullet, never had a Buster tough. Cute name.

Have fun at work today!

Anonymous said...

21 years old is really old for a cat Carol. Mine have been living to 16-18 years, but a couple I still have 2 cats I brought from California, and I've lived here 16 1/2 years.

My hummers are very active this morning, stopping by to fuel up for their long trip south. They're just ahead of the cold front. That's when I get the most... in front of cold fronts.

Anonymous said...

Jan, I would have really loved to see that VW floating. I bet you don't miss those kind of downpours. When we lived in the desert though, a little rain went a long way, because the ground doesn't soak it up the way it does here.

Jan, Dogs are so easy to give meds to. Cat's are a whole different story. I've never been able to get one to take anything wrapped in food. I can empty a capsule into nutrical though. It's very sticky and they like the flavor. But I usually smear it on their paw, and they like it off. That doesn't work with a pill, unless you can mash it really fine.
Liquid, you can usually get into their mouth, unless you have a really rowdy cat, which 'many' are, when it comes to medicine. (and yes, I have a cat 'named' rowdy).

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Bullet...Buster...it's a good story either way.

jan said...

Hi Chloe, you are definitely the expert on how to give cats medicine. So glad to hear about your kitties.

Do you suppose the names we give our animal companions reflect their personalities or vice versa? I do agree that our AC's do reflect their human companions personalities. When we first got Lobie, I was concerned about how she would behave around children. I was home only on weekends - so she mostly lived with John. But when I was home I would sit and visit with her and tell her that it was very important that she be kind to children and not even growl at kids - and she never did. She has not been especially fond of my very young grandchildren because they like to get in her face and she doesn't like that, so when they would come and visit as toddlers she would hide somewhere and she was good at escaping from them. But when the grandkids were old enough to understand how to interact with Lobie, she loves their petting and pesters them now to pet her.

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
It sounds like you have all the cat med tricks. I'm going to note some of those ideas for the future.

MC'sC has to take amoxicillin in a squirter. We're getting about half a squirt into her each time, she's suppose to get two. Then there's a capsule that we open and sprinkle on her food. She's getting canned food now, so she likes that.

jan said...

Carol, I had a presenter come to my class and talk about Autism - including Asbergers the other day. I was shocked that they are now diagnosing autism in 1 in 100 kids now. Asbergers is a very high functioning form of autism - so they say. I think that Asbergers has been around but just didn't call it that. I have known lots of people that fit the description - but we called them eccentric.

jan said...

Ivy, glad you are able to get some medicine down Miss College's cat.

I had a cat years ago named Ashes. She was actually my youngest son's cat. She lived to be 18 years old. We got her when she was 1 year old from a family who was going abroad and did not want to take her. She was a long hair grey cat (color of ashes) with green eyes. She would eat only Friskies Buffet - a pretty expensive food - but she never had urinary problems. She also was a hunter of mice and birds - which caused us all some discomfort. We never had her declawed so she went outside during the day, but stayed in at night. I once read that FB was pretty good at preventing urinary problems. That has been many years ago - so I wouldn't take that to the bank.

jan said...

Carol, I too love your Bullet/Buster story. It is funny that all your SF's dogs were biters. I especially liked the part where when Bullet knew it was you, she stopped in her tracks and had a silly expression on her face - my memory of what you said - I don't remember details well - and am too lazy to go back and see what you actually wrote.

Chloe, I too have a smoothie for b'fast most mornings. I like yoghurt and soy milk in mine. I keep frozen fruits and berries (esp blueberries) and cut up and put in mine also a tablespoon of peanut butter - revs up my motor like gangbusters - for at least 4 hours.

Hmmm! What veg or fruit do I especially like. I prefer fruits - have a bad sweet tooth. I like veggies too- not real big on meats - except in little bits like casseroles or stir fries or such.

jan said...

Carol, by the way, I love the pic of pork chop. Is he a vietnamese pig? They are so cute. I hear they make great pets. One of my favorite movies was "Babe" about the little white pig.

jan said...

Chloe, I do miss rain, but not floods. I feel for all of you that are getting too much rain.

Carol, thanks for the site to see "observed precipitation" My youngest and his family live in SE Arkansas and they have maxed out on rain lately. They are sick of it.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
My vet said she treats her cat for this same condition. She said Fancy Feast will be okay for the canned, but also alternate with a dry food, Rx for urinary issues.
We got a whole dropperful of amox down this am. She realizes we're not actually trying to kill her. Next, I opened a can of tuna and poured off the juice, put a dropperful into it. She lapped up about half of that. I'm eating tuna now for my breakfast. lol

Ivy Green said...

Is there a smoothie recipe? That sounds so good...can I put tuna in it? lol

Anonymous said...

Hi ya Ivy, I do the same thing with the tuna juice. Cats LOVE it, even the picky eaters, or the ones off their food. Glad to hear that you and Kitty are making up and that the medicine went down easier this morning.

Hi Jan, our property doesn't flood, even during the worst rains, because the soil is sandy.

I also put yogurt in my shake Jan, as well as protein powder. It is so good, and I make enough to drink throughout the day. If I keep it in a thermos inside the fridge, it stays icy all day. Oh, and I love peanut butter too. I like the one where they only add salt (the salt in the pnut butter goes so well with the fruit).

Anonymous said...

Ivy, I'm sure there are recipe's, but I just put in whatever I feel like from day to day. The more you make them, the better they get, and you end up being very creative with them. I use frozen fruits, and add fresh fruit occasionally, yogurt, protein, sometimes stevia if I want it extra sweet, and juices. You can use water or calorie free lemonade too. Just experiment. They really good for your immune system, imo. Many more nutrients in that smoothie, than in anything else I eat throughout the day. Fruits got it all (almost).

Anonymous said...

Ivy, I just saw your post on getting half a squirt in kitties mouth. The easiest way with liquid is to stand to the side of them (almost behind them), grab the skin on the back of her neck gently, then lift her head up by it a little (like her mama did when she was young, it won't hurt her, just make sure you have the liquid in the other hand, read to put in her mouth), put the squirter into her mouth from the side, but facing the squirt toward the back. This all happens so quickly, it's over before she knows what's happening. Don't let her see you with the medicine when you walk to get her, hide it behind your back. They're very smart and clever.. always one step ahead of us.

jan said...

Ivy, sounds like you are getting that med down kittie. Isn't great how we can share info here. good to know about the vets suggestions about food. I will remember just in case.

Chloe, great info about giving meds to kittie.

Ivy, like Chloe, I don't have a recipe either, you just can't go wrong with fruit - I suppose about any kind. I use what I have in fridge or freezer. I like some banana in it - usually chilled. The banana gives it a thicker consis - but if you don't like thicker, don't add banana. If you like them, bananas are great for women - the potassium and magnesium are especially good for us. The more ripe the banana the better - in the smoothie.

I may break down and get a juicer - so I can get in more veggies too.

jan said...

Chloe, you are very lucky to not have the flooding. We occasionally have flooding here when it rains really hard. We bought our house 3 years ago last May. We have a small finished basement (carpeted). We had been in the house 2 months when we had a torrential downpour that lasted about 2 hours. My husb was out of town. I was enjoying the rain watching a movie. I noticed the front and back yards had water standing and it looked like a little river running down the street in front. I thought, "maybe I had better go down and check the basement rooms." There are 2 rooms and a bath down there. Sure enough, water was coming in 2 windows -the windows are high- close to ceiling- one in each room. I grabbed a cooler to start catching the rain from one window that looked like a big hose running into the room. The other window had more of a little waterfall so grabbed towels and anything else I could find to catch that. Had to have carpet person in to dry out the carpet and pad the next day. I managed to pull carpet back away from windows but still got soaked. Now when it rains hard, I run downstairs and stay until it stops. If it happens again, I am just going to put tile down there. That was the 1st and last time it flooded -so far. Sort of messes up my enjoyment of rain and storms.

jan said...

Oh, my son came over after that and did some work on the areas outside the windows to make water drain away from them. So I think he might have fixed it.

jan said...

Chloe, I do love avacodos and mangos - prob my favs - not mixed together.

Ivy Green said...

Here's my fruit contribution: frozen blueberries. For breakfast, I love to take one whole shredded wheat biscuit (not the spoon-sized), top it with half-a-cup of frozen blueberries, then pour half-a-cup of low-fat milk on them. The cold berries freezes up the milk into an icy-consistency. You can put equal or stevia to sweeten it more. It's like a dessert for breakfast.

Solar said...

All great Ideas for smoothies,and for breakfast, or for anytime of the day.

The reason that i use a juicer is that I get tired of eating fruit, or anything else..what i like to do is to juice at least 3 times a week:

4-5 carrots, 1 apple, and a slice of beat...after the first month...this will keep you in better health than any doctor can....and can even reverse something that is wrong with you....
I add spinach, or any dark leaf vegetable......over crushed ice..even clears up some of your wrinkles...but u all do some thing that are right imo...ps in combination with some sort of exercise, you should be able to stay in good shape...

jan said...

Solar, your veggie/fruit combo juiced sounds great. Do you have a suggestion for a juicer?

Solar said...

Jan,

I have the Jack Lalannes juicer...work very good and cleans up real easy...

I would recommend to get a juicing book, I have Jay Kordich "the juiceman's power of juicing"

and go slow on buying fruits and veggies.. little by little until you get a routine going that you like....

Solar said...

Ivy,

Blueberries are my favorite...thanks going to try that...

jan said...

Ivy, I love blueberries too. I will try the shredded wheat biscuit & froz blue b's. I used to eat shredded wheat regularly - one time I was visiting my dad and my step mother - I liked eating shred wheat biscuits when traveling especially - I imagine you can guess why. My stepmom kept calling it "grass" I don't know why I stopped eating them later on. But think I will give a try again.

Solar, I saw Jack Lalanne advertising his juicer on tv the other day. Did you order yours or buy in a store?

jan said...

Solar, one thing that sounded good from the ad for the Jack LL juicer was they said there was less pulp left after juicing with the JLL juicer than others. Do you find that is true. My husb had a juicer once and there was so much pulp left - it seemed you threw out a lot of good stuff.

Solar said...

Jan,

I bought it at Cost-co...couldn't pass it up for 50 bucks at that time...it should be on one of the shopping shows from time to time I imagine...I stay away from them...they are to enticing...but if you go with a juicer...I would get a good one...should be around 80-100 dollars..later

Solar said...

Jan,

thats true, about the pulp, but there is no way of getting around it...some even use it to make cakes..and muffins...I have not...but it not that hard to empty it out..

Anonymous said...

Jan, I like avocados too, but Emma LOVES them. It was the first food she was interested in eating. As a matter of facts she loves all the green vegetables so far. I realize avocados are a fruit, but it hard for me to think of them that way.

Ivy, Your blueberry and shredded wheat creation sound delicious. I like the idea using frozen ones.

I prefer using a blender for my concoction, because I like it thick (I even try to leave some small lumps in it, but I have to catch it before it blends too long), and I like to eat the whole fruit. I do put juices in the mix though.

Jan, Here's an selection of different models of the JL Juicer, to give you an idea when you go shopping: jack lalanne power juicer

Solar, You got a very good deal on your's from Cosco. I imagine Sams Club would have them too.

I saw where you said you love blueberries too, and I've read some interesting research on them, and like every fruit they're loaded with antozidants.

Health Benefits of Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables.. half way down the page

Solar said...

Chloe,

Thanks. You always put a little extra effort in your talks, and post links for us to follow...that gets you my stallion story,,its not much but:

when I was visiting my unlces farm once...he had a stallion that was tethered on the outside of the a tavern....I was with another uncle that was looking for him...
while he was inside talking to my his brother, I got up on the stallion and managed to get him to turn around...the he took off with me in the saddle...yelling and screaming like a wild indian...i loved it...and it took me right into where there were no horses allowed..right into the plaza that all of the young lover go to hear music,

they get into a line when the music starts..and go around, and around the plaza...when they saw me coming they all seperated and thats when the the stallion decided to put the brakes on....

I went flying in the air, and landed on some of them, Chloe...sorry no broken bones....that is until they got me home...I had a broken tail...from my Father...Now whats cool is that this horse was owned by the same uncle Salvador..that had the tip of his finger eaten by that sow.....
he could never give anyone the full finger again he use to say...also that I was his favorite nephew...Mom used to say that I was just like him...in all things...

Solar said...

Chloe,

That juicer from Cost co, was on sale for only two day's and when I saw it..i tooks it...

Carol said...

Very good discussion today and loved your horsey story Solar. I can just picture you flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Did you get any points for style?

I was lucky and never flew off a horse because I was always afraid to. I saw so many others do it and it didn't look like fun. I tried to always be prepared for circumstance in which flying might be the expected results.

I did kinda slide off one when I tried to ride one of our horses using my nephews little kid saddle. My butt wasn't that big at the time but it was still big enough to break the little saddle and both the saddle and I slid off the side of the horse. I didn't suffer any damage.

Even though I enjoyed your fruit and veggie discussion very much, you all misunderstood my question. English can be ambiguous especially when I try to use it.

Since everyone misunderstood, I will have to take the responsibility and not give you a failing grade. I will clarify the question. I meant which fruit or veggie do you most favor as in which are you the most like? You know like when they ask which parent do you most favor. They aren't asking which parent do you want to eat or which one do you like the most.

You guys, like most students, tried to make it an easy question and it wasn't. It required a lot of thought. You had to examine your looks and personality characteristics and try to determine which fruit or veggie was most like yourself and then explain why. Tough question huh? I guess I can't blame you for going for the easy answer.

Solar said...

Easy answer.! You think that its easy for Chloe to admit she looks like an Avocado....she doesn't know whether she is a fruit or a veggie....I vote for...that she is a fruit....cake...oops...im in trouble again...and im running out of stories....there was this time...nawww no way jose

Solar said...

Carol,

Did you enjoy yourself at work today? birds in strips huh?

Anonymous said...

Ok Solar, you really are in trouble now. I don't look like no avocado. Understand! Now you, that's an easy one. You're most like a Great Big Squash. How's that sound.

I'll be back a little later to deal with you.
Ha! Avocado! You know how full of fat those things are. Not only that, they're often green with envy.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Hopin' to hear which fruit you're most like. You start.

Coreen said...

Well guys, I'm back sorta. I think Jan may have sent her cold coast to coast---but up & running, well walking--again.

A couple of days, out of the loop, & there are snakes falling off roofs (told you--no way could I live in the south!), kittens needing medical attention (glad to see she's on the mend), to what kind of fruit do you look like??!! Wow. I have no clue.

And Solar doing a hopalong cassidy routine
(hope thats not too old for you guys to remember).

jan said...

You are so right Carol, we didn't read your instructions carefully. That is a trait of mine and gets me into trouble. I tend to scan instead of reading carefully -probably why I don't like reading directions to stuff. OK! I just got home from work and have run a nice tub of warm water - I am going to ponder what fruit or veggie I am most like.

jan said...

Coreen, sorry about the virus coast to coast - I am about well.

Carol said...

Coreen, don't hold that snake falling off my roof against the south. In all my years I've never seen anything like it and I told you I was paying off some karma from years ago.

I'm still pondering my answer to the fruit/veggie question. I haven't had enough time. First, I have to inventory all the fruits and veggies.

Solar said...

A slice of avocado is what I meant..a tall slender slice of one...not the whole thing...

Coreen glad to see you around with your head held high....Lucy is at it again.

Carol,

We are speaking metaphorically when we tell you this right?
Im like an ear of corn.....

Carol said...

And why corn Solar? Is it that when you peel you open, we find all kinds of surprises? Even, maybe a worm or two?

Carol said...

And Chloe, being like an avocado is not bad. They are rich and creamy, buttery smooth and kind of a luxury.

Carol said...

And you can make avocado festive by adding a little lemon or lime and some spicy seasoning.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I don't 'really' mind being an avocado, I was just playin' around with Solar. (I hope he knows that, because I forgot to put the (rp) for role play).

http://ct-carolssouthernspice.blogspot.com/2009/10/old-bullet.html?showComment=1255637092607#c5987716669824848593
Solar, What a great story! You got to learn young that horses have a mind of their own, and if they ever learn that they can be independent and get away with it, they take over. I didn't get familiar with horses until we moved here, and I was intimidated at first, although I fell completely in love with Cheyenne, the bucksking and the first horse we got, on first sight. She's getting elderly, and is not the horse she used to be, but I love her every bit as much. I used to think that horses did whatever you told them to do and never challenge humans, because all I had ever seen were very well trained and obedient ones. I didn't realize how much work someone had put into them to get them that way.

That's funny that you were your uncles favorite nephew after all the grief you gave him, but... your mom did say you were both alike. :) You have some great memories (and it sounds like you were in trouble during a lot of them.

... You knew I was just kidding when I could you a great big squash, right?

Let me know, so I can rest easy.

Anonymous said...

Coreen, I glad to see you're feeling better (at least a little). I don't know about the others, but I sure know who Hopalong Cassidy is. Do a search online, and you get an 'endless' list of fans too.

Carol said...

And Solar, corn is often sweet and tender on the inside. I think that fits you.

Anonymous said...

Jan, Did you go back to work today? And how are you feeling?

Anonymous said...

Carol, I'm waiting anxiously to see which fruit or veggie you pick, or for that matter, which category you choose tells a story too.

I think I'll just stick with the slice of avocado that Solar mentioned. A whole avocado is a bit much, but a slice is a good thing.

Anonymous said...

Ha Carol. Sweet and tender on the inside, and that big protective husk on the outside. Solar would have to be the corn without the husk.

Carol said...

As you probably already know Chloe, I'm better at asking questions than coming up with the answers.

Anonymous said...

Nothing wrong with that Carol. Only a fool thinks they have all the answers.

Carol said...

I've been pondering getting a juicer for a while now. I've studied them but I have so many small kitchen appliances that I almost need to add on a room to store them all.

I don't know if you remember that I don't have a traditional over/stove here at the camp. I just have an assortment of small cooking appliances. Included is a small convection oven, turkey roaster, a single and double burner hot plates, large electric pot, electric frying pan, deep fryer, George Foreman grill etc, etc.

I could get a regular stove but I find it kind of an interesting challenge to cook a meal using my assortment. I can still whip up a gourmet meal.

Anonymous said...

Carol, That's quite an impressive list of appliances - I started laughing a little, half way through it. I have a electric stove with a regular oven, but I like small appliances too. I have an electric frying pan, a electric pot that I fix pasta, etc. in, a toaster oven, a toaster, a electric rice cooker, a Geo. Foreman grill (that I rare use anymore), a slow cooker that I got a month or so ago, and am liking learning to use that again, a blender that I use daily, a mixer for making cakes, etc. I trying to think if I've forgotten anything. I mean, of course, there's the electric can openers.

Carol said...

Remember I cooked for that party of 30 with my assortment.

Anonymous said...

.. and the electric knife, and a couple of microwaves.

Solar said...

Chloe,

There is no need to every put that rp in anything that you say...yes I was like my uncle..and have one other story for another time about him...a slice of avocado..is kinda cool.

Carol.. once you take off the husk and clear away the little fuzzy hair you kinda get to the real treat that nature grows..and the you heat it up a little.......or a lot...........and you get pop-corn......i keep telling you to get U mind outa the gutter..hahaha

Anonymous said...

That's right, you had that party not long ago. I'm impressed. Plus you cook a delicious sounding meal every weekend.

Carol said...

I only mentioned a few Chloe. It could take all night to name them all. I love kitchen stuff. I find it very entertaining to hang out at a kitchen store. Only problem is that I can't find much that I don't already have except that juicer.

I do have a little thing that spins and juices lemons and oranges. I have these huge satsuma trees and what I can't eat or give away I juice and freeze the juice.

I had a huge lemon tree that had these huge Meyer lemons. I had over 300 on that tree one year. Hurricane Rita took it out. I planted another but it's small.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, I forgot about the fuzzy hair, part of the protective cover for that delicious corn.

I rarely (ok, maybe never) go to a movie where I don't have a super large popcorn. Who can walk in a theater, smell that delicious smell, and not have some.

Ellen Degeneres did a skit on that once. The way people stuff their faces full of popcorn in theaters. It was Hilarious.

Thanks Solar, I was sure you'd know I was kidding, but then got worried.

I'm looking for the that other uncle story.

Anonymous said...

.. that should have said, I'm looking 'forward' to that story. I have a problem leaving off the ends of words when I'm typing.

Carol said...

I find cooking to be the perfect mixture of art and science and you can eat your project. Only problem is I could handle it when I was hyperthyroid. Now my projects are starting to pooch out all over.

Anonymous said...

Carol, A juicer is something I've never wanted. I'd rather blend up the whole fruit. If I want juice, I'll buy it in a bottle, like I buy my orange juice (which is delicious and high pulp, btw.). They have all kinds that are organic, etc. now. Plus the juice makers get the pick of the best fruit.

Solar said...

No, it's your turn,

Your turn, or Carols, Ivy's, Jans,,,and what about Coreen...why is she so mysterious...what can she tell us about herself...
I see her as a tall piece of celery..I picture her tall..she talks like she is tall...get the picture she is tall with short hair on the top of the celery....Tony what about Tony the Baloney??

Carol said...

Yep, I have a medium popcorn and medium coke and alternate the popcorn with some chocolate covered raisons. Like that salty then sweet.

Carol said...

We know what Tony looks like. He's a cutie. Tony's been off the map for a while now.

Anonymous said...

I like chocolate raisins a lot too Carol.

See, You 'can' say no Solar. You just pretend you can't. I enjoy hearing from Coreen too.

Tony thought that things are too complicated here. You know, linking mostly. Yes, he is a sweetheart.

Carol said...

Certainly don't have to link. No requirements for participation in the Swamp.

Anonymous said...

Carol, There's a Boynton Beach, Florida on the map. Who's that?

Carol said...

My friend Linda, I think.

Anonymous said...

That's true, or you can just copy the link address. I mostly do the linking for fun, my own fun actually. Copying works just as well. We can all paste it in the address bar.

Carol said...

I notice that when someone doesn't drop by for a while, their star disappears. If that is so, does that mean that the stars that stay up are people who still drop by?

Carol said...

Those stars from Canada and the UK have been there for a while.

Hello Canada and UK. Hello!

Carol said...

And Patsi. Do you come and visit? If so, stay and chat a little. We'd love to hear from you. You too Linda.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I'm afraid if we keep talking about those stars, they'll 'stop' dropping by. That is, if the read the comments too. I don't think most people like leaving a calling card, unless they're commenting.

Carol said...

Just cuz we can see a star doesn't mean we can see what they are wearing while sitting at their computer. It's alright if you need to scratch that little itch. No one will know.

Hey I'm sitting here surrounded by windows. Anyone passing out on the river can see me sitting on my couch. One day a pontoon boat full of people passed and I gave them a little wave to see if they responded. Wasn't sure if they could see me well. They could, they all waved back big. Gotta be careful what I do.

Anonymous said...

I'm the same way. My windows are all bare. But part of the reason I can do it, is because my house isn't visible from the street or to the neighbors. I love living like this. Any room I walk through, I can see outdoors. I feel almost like I'm outside, even when I'm in. Except I have temperature control in here, and a barrier from the insects.

Anonymous said...

.. I forgot to mention, a roof over my head. Now that's important when it's raining.

Anonymous said...

That's funny that you waved to those people on the pontoon boat, and they waved back.

Carol said...

I haven't bought that AC/heater for the lower level yet so I better get my heavy duty warm ups for the weekend. When it's cold outside I can only get that lower level about 10-12 degrees warmer inside than outside. That's a little chilly when it's in the 30 or 40s outside.

The room I'm in now stays toasty.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I still think it's human nature. I think people are online because they want he privacy.

Carol said...

Have you downloaded Google Earth and looked at your house yet? Some places you can see right into your backyard. I've tried out here and can't get it to focus.

Anonymous said...

I think it's going to be in the high 40s this weekend, isn't it. 10 degrees would never do it for me, once it's in the 40s. You'd better buy that heater pretty soon. It may end up being a pretty cold winter. You and Maggie will be freezin' your butts off. I remember you said you have a narrow range of temperature comfort - I remember that, because I'm the same way.

Carol said...

I'm online so I can communicate with interesting people. I often have to look pretty far and wide to find them and the Internet provides that option. I'd have ya'll all over if ya'll lived here.

Anonymous said...

I don't have google earth on this computer, but I do on my desktop that's in that south room I'll be frequenting when it's cold out (since that's where the sun will be shining). You can see our property perfectly on it. Since we live in a tree house, it's a little rough to see the house.

Anonymous said...

I know Carol, I'm here for the same reason. But you know how it is, different strokes for different folks. I don't think everyone minds though. Maybe I was wrong to mention it.

Carol said...

I have several of those radiant oil filled heaters but they don't do much warming. I've heard you can use those kerosene heaters and they give off good heat but something combustable scares me.

Carol said...

Any ideas Solar?

jan said...

Chloe, I did get back to work today - and yesterday too. I am close to normal now.

Anonymous said...

I guess it depends if you have decent insulation in your river house. If you do, one of those little electric heaters works wonders. I got one with a thermostat for $30 at WM, a Sunbeam. I keep one on my feet in the winter. I really HATE being cold. I don't know why, it must have something to do with a previous life. Of Course, I was born in Indianapolis in February, so I was probably freezing, and thinking 'never again'. I got out of that state at 4 years old, and have never gone back.

Carol said...

This will be a good weekend to make a good vegetable soup. Haven't made that in a while. Cooking is much more fun in the winter. It warms the kitchen.

Carol said...

I can even throw a little Solar in my soup.

jan said...

Carol, I don't remember that there were lemon trees there or satsuma- shows you how much I learn about where I lived.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that Jan. One more day, and you'll have the weekend to relax. I guess you'll get that cool front too?

I love the way you described your mornings on the porch Jan. It sounds so peaceful. Those are the things that make quiet mornings so enjoyable.

Carol said...

I found that most people I know who were born in the winter and or somewhere that was cold, usually like cold weather. So you are strange.

No insulation here Chloe. Air surrounding the place and the windows are cheap and single pane.

Carol said...

I do have a couple of those electric warming throws/blankets. I guess I could wrap up and use a long extension cord.

Anonymous said...

You're just now figuring out I'm strange Carol. :)

You know, if you replace some of those windows with dual pane this year, $1500 of it is a write off on your taxes. That's why we replaced some of ours with double pane - that and I wanted picture windows, and my view is much nice for it. I notice you already have picture windows.

We ended up finding the cheapest supplier for them at Lowes. The guy there hunted until he found us a good deal.

jan said...

Just got in and taking a while to read all the posts - you all are chatty. I have not figured out what fruit or veg I am.

Carol, you need to prepare for some warmth soon. I agree those kerosene heaters can be dangerous. when I was growing up, we had a kerosene heater once and it blew up - my mother dragged it outside before it blew up -we had soot in our noses for days.

Anonymous said...

"I do have a couple of those electric warming throws/blankets. I guess I could wrap up and use a long extension cord."

That's what I'd do. You might want a larger one on your bed though - Maggie will appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

The heat may be deductible too. (?)

Carol said...

Didn't see you sneak in Jan. I can understand why you can't remember Jan. It's been a long time since you were here. You need to come down and visit. I have a nice little guest room. Better than my room and I'm almost sure you won't see any snakes while you're here.

Anonymous said...

Gotta go, see you tomorrow.

Solar said...

Carol,

You can get a heavy plastic that is used to put cover the ground and put gravel on top...it if for insulation of the ground, and for other things....what I would do on the outside and the inside is to put this up.. like they do siding..but it covers a lot at one time...staple it (have some one do it for you) on the inside the same staple it to the walls...then cut out the window and door openings...that should give you a lot of protection from the cold,..with you heater...and then you should get a warm body also....

jan said...

Chloe, I am looking forward to the weekend. It will be nice to stay home and not be sick. Looking forward to that.

I told my supervisor that I am planning on retiring at the end of this year. Signed myself up for a retirement workshop at work. I have been having strange dreams that are telling me that I am ready.

jan said...

Nite Chloe, sleep well.

jan said...

Carol, That sounds great. I would like that very much.

Anonymous said...

"Signed myself up for a retirement workshop at work. I have been having strange dreams that are telling me that I am ready."

Congratulations Jan! I think you made the right choice. Sometimes you just have to read the signs.

jan said...

Carol, do you have a down comforter. They are good to keep warm too.

When we went on that fishing/camping trip to Texas back when we lived in LC. I bought 5 sleeping bags. Can you believe I still have 2 of them. I am too much of a packrat -but I am having a hard time letting them go. The lining is a red plaid - they are still in good condition.

Solar said...

Sleep well.

Anonymous said...

You too.

jan said...

Solar, there was a little song they played on TV for the kids at 9 pm when I lived in Argentina 40 years ago -It went "Vamos a la cama, Voy a descansar, ya da ya da ya da - I wish I could remember it all - have you ever heard it?

jan said...

Carol, I would love to visit with you. I would also like to show you NM some time too.

I am off to bed. Vamos a la cama. Sleep well all.

Carol said...

Nite Chloe

Solar said...

Carol,

You would get this plastic at a lowes or home depote:

bisquine plastic.

You can buy this plastic sheeting wide enough to reach the entire width of your home.

Anonymous said...

You guys are about to roll over.

Anonymous said...

New Thread

New Thread

Carol said...

Yep, it's my bedtime too. I still have all my bedtime ritual to do. Nite all.

Solar, my walls are probably the only things that are insulated. I'm on stilts and have lots of air that cirulates all around. Lots of cheap windows. I could blow some insulation on the underside and change out all the windows but with just a few months of Winter and not that many really cold days, I don't think the investment is worth it. Best bet is to get that AC/heater window unit for the lower level. The higher level has one and it is toasty up there.