Get the Cat Fixed...

We have a feral cat here in Hidden Springs that has had many litters of kittens. Recently, we finally caught her and had her fixed. She had beautiful babies, usually calicos and they always have the same daddy. Last summer we adopted one of the babies, don't ask me how, but we ended up with the ugliest baby I've ever seen her have. But the 16-year-old loves her.

She's a house cat and we keep forgetting to get her fixed, but the last several days have definitely taken care of that. She's in heat. For the last 4 days, she spends EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE. OF. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. AND. NIGHT. making that obnoxious noise that cats make when they're in heat. I had to do some research, but I found a website that calls this obnoxious noise "yodeling". Doesn't sound like yodeling to me. I also discovered that cats can be in heat from "several days to a month". A MONTH! No way I can put up with this for a month. Luckily, we'll be gone for a week of it so she'd better be over it by the time I get home. If she could get dressed, she'd be wearing this right now, I know it...



Hussy.

If I yell at her or throw something, she stops for a minute but starts right back up. The worst part - she's attracted her daddy who spends all day and night outside the house making the same damn noise! HER DADDY! Now that's just not right. First thing on the list of things to do when we get home - get the cat fixed.

Addicted to the Internet?

This morning, my friend Jaci posted on her blog about being addicted to the Internet. Well, I have to admit, I am too. I check my email probably 15 times a day - is that awful? I read the news and interesting stories on my homepage, and I search for answers to questions I've always wondered about. I go to some of my favorite sites such as NatGeo and Bravo to see what new shows they have coming on tv (oh, I'm addicted to that too) and I check the blogs I follow at least 4 times every day.

However, one of my favorite things in the world is decorating. Especially, decorating with junk. Many years ago, when people would comment on my home, I always laughed and told them it was "modern junkyard". I've decorated that way my entire adult life - long before it was popular. I've always found antiques absolutely fascinating - wondering who owned them before I did - and especially finding new ways to use junk. THAT is what makes me truly happy in life.

How could you not love this? I've got to do some research on these stools...



For some reason, over the last week I've become inspired to do the things I haven't done for so long and fix up my house the way I want it. So, that's my goal for this next year. I have lots of plans and when I need inspiration, I'll turn to wonderful Blogs such as the two I added to my favorites this morning - Vintage Junky and Twice Remembered.

I have so many old books, this will definitely be one of my projects this year. I'm thinking the "powder room" downstairs...



What are your favorite sites or blogs that you check every day and just couldn't live without?

29 Years Ago...

January 5, 1981 our lives changed in ways we could never imagine.


"If there is a future for wild things, then it is the burden of those who have reached farther than me, to save them for the rest of us. It will be done by those whose convictions were forged in campfires,

Bill"

You were a great Game Warden and I still miss you so much...

Couldn't Go To The Fiesta Bowl, So...

In less than 2 weeks, Elmer and I will be on board the Celebrity Solstice.

Cruising is definitely my favorite vacation. I've been fortunate to have been on 4 Alaska cruises (I can't recommend this cruise highly enough!), 1 Mexican Riviera cruise, and a Caribbean cruise. I love the food, the relaxation, seeing so many new places, and the fact that other than your drinks, basically everything is free! Did you know that right now, you can live cheaper on a cruise ship than you can in your own home?

The best part of this cruise, is that it's free! Yep, the company Elmer works for, Western Heating, gave it to us. As with many companies, especially anything involving building or the housing industry, Western had a bit tougher time this last year. Elmer however, is very innovative and came up with some great ideas that helped their business not only to stay afloat, but also thrive during these hard times. He definitely deserves this well-earned vacation. Way to go honey! Takin' mama on a trip!

This cruise will probably be a bit different than any I've taken before. We fly from Boise to Phoenix and from there, take the company jet (the supplier who gave this trip to Western) to Ft. Lauderdale. They even serve us free "premium" cocktails and lunch on the way down - unheard of!

We'll spend the night at a nice hotel and eat dinner at any of several restaurants we choose at their expense. I think I'm dreaming!

We stop in San Juan, St. Maartin, Tortola and Labadee (Haiti). I've never been to any of these places so I've been doing some research trying to find out what they're like and what to do once we get there. I think it's St. Maartin where most of their beaches are "clothing optional". I'm just not sure what to think about that. Do I really want to go to a beach where everyone is showing their ta tas, who whos, and wee wees? Oh what the hell, you only live once and I guess it will make for some great pictures for the blog when I get back, huh?

See this, it's a lawn - on the ship. I don't know why. Probably because no one else had one. Ships are funny like that...



I wish I could take you all with me...

Crime and Spongebob...

We have Direct TV and I DVR a LOT of stuff that I find myself watching after everyone has gone to bed or when I wake up before everyone else is up.

Growing up, I read and owned, every Nancy Drew book that was out. I still love mysteries. As I grew up, I started watching true crime tv shows. Not the stuff with actors like CSI, but the real stuff. I just realized this morning, that almost every show I DVR for myself starts off with "The following program is real and may be disturbing to some viewers."

My husband however, watches Spongebob and thinks I'm sick. I have a feeling that sooner or later, Squidward is going to decide he's had enough of their foolishness and kill either Patrick or Spongebob, who knows it could even end up in a double homocide. Then, who do you think Elmer is going to turn to for help?

Yep. His sick wife who will be able to solve the crime. Someday, he's going to appreciate the fact I watched all these shows...

What We Have Here, Is a Failure to Communicate...

The following is a conversation I had with my mom on the phone yesterday. For those of you who don't know, especially since chemo, I have a difficult time remembering the simplest words. I can usually try to give you a visual but it just doesn't always work out. And the pictures, well, they are the result of that problem and the phone conversation...

"Hey mom, do you have any dish soap? Not the liquid kind, the um crystal kind. Not for the washing machine but for um, washing dishes. You know what kind I'm talking about?"

"Sure, I have some, do you need it?"

"Yea, when you come over tonight, could you bring some in a baggie? I went to the store today and forgot to get some and I need to do dishes."

So, mom and Lisa arrive to have tacos because my daughter Jacki has come over too.

"Mom, did you remember to bring the dish soap?"

"Yes (she's SO proper, I don't think I've ever heard her say "Yea".) it's in a little plastic tub on your counter."

I open the little plastic tub. Ok, it's not the crystals but liquid will work. I start the dishwasher and we go on with our evening.

Jacki walks into the kitchen about 30 minutes later.

"MOM! There's suds coming out of your dishwasher!"

I run in the kitchen and open the door. Soap suds, lots and lots and LOTS of soap suds.

"Mom, what kind of dish soap was that?"

"Oh, no, when you said you wanted "crystal" dish soap, I thought you meant you were washing your good dishes and you needed liquid soap."

"MOM! You know I don't HAVE any good dishes!"

So, this is what happens when you put liquid Dawn into your dishwasher.





And just so you know, after running 4 rinse cycles and only getting more and more suds, I finally Googled a solution and damn if it didn't work like a charm. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a cycle. It breaks down the soap.

I love you mom!

Thanks Mom...

for sharing the following heartwarming story to help remind us all what Christmas is all about.


There is a man who works for the Post Office whose job is to process all the mail that has illegible addresses. One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting "to God", with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.



The letter read:

Dear God,

I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension payment.

Christmas is just a few days away, and I have invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with, have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me?

Sincerely,
Edna

The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman.

The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends. Christmas came and went.

A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened. It read:

Dear God,

How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift.

By the way, there was $4 missing.

I think it might have been those bastards at the post office.

Sincerely,
Edna



And that my friends, is the true spirit of Christmas...

Time For Somthing New?

For many years, I've thought about becoming a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Volunteer. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for children and especially children who need extra help in their lives. So, I've decided after too many years of thinking about it, that it's time to act. Adam is old enough that he's independant, and I need something new to be involved in.



Hopefully, I'll be accepted because I'm really ready to put my time and effort into this new cause. But I wonder, do you think I'm emotionally healthy enough for the trauma these kids have been through? Do you think I have enough to give?

The Old Dollhouse...

I love holidays. Any holiday. Christmas is by far, my favorite. It has nothing to do with presents but rather, family, friends, and my fond memories from my childhood. Christmas was always my dad's favorite time of the year. He was just like a little kid, always so excited. We always had a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, one that dad and Steve cut somewhere near our house in Garden Valley. But somehow, mom always made it look beautiful. It's amazing how our parents influence our lives and how we relate to things. With the deaths of the 4 police officers in Washington State, it has made me miss dad even more.

Well, anyway, several years ago I found an old dollhouse that looks like its from the 50s and now it's one of my favorite Christmas decorations. I put lights on the outside and inside and it glows so beautifully when it's dark. So, here's my house and some of the snowmen that live nearby. Corney, I know, but I love having it up every year...





Thanks mom, for giving me the wonderful memories that I have of Christmas past!

Second Annual Hillbilly Games...

YEE HAW!

Last year we held our First Annual Hillbilly Games here at the Hidden Springs Barn. It started out as a small group of friends and family getting together to have some fun and forget about the bad economy but ended up as a much larger party that benefited the Idaho chapter of "Casting for Recovery".

So, I need your help. Last year, the games were held in April and it turned out to be wonderful weather, but I think we were lucky. Should we plan for May or June this year instead? Possibly May 22 or June 19? I need to get the barn reserved by December (oh crap, this IS December!)

Also, do you have a favorite charity you'd like to see the money go to? I prefer to give the money to a small group that really needs help rather than a large national group who has tons of fundraisers. I've found a group that I love called USAtogether.org. It's not local, but it's small and they definitely need help. (Sheri, I know you've helped them out - you're such a good person!) If you could check them out and let me know what you think? I'm a sucker for kids and soldiers. I'd love to hear some suggestions of other worthy groups!

This year, we'll have either live music or at the very least, a DJ. Last year was so spur of the moment. We raised $1,300 but this year I plan to be more organized and make sure we raise tons of money for our charity.


The frozen t-shirt game...






Pin the mustache on sister...









Let's make the 2010 Games bigger and better and really help out a group that needs us! (side note, if you make a suggestion, you WILL be placed on a committee).