Friday, August 29, 2008
Crossroads Bulldog Backers
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Answer to the Mystery Object
The odd item lying in my backyard is a "pipe tester' used to test a 4 inch diameter pipe for leaks. The projection at the end of the object is an air nozzle that allows the bulbous part of the device to be inflated and/or deflated with air.
The tester is placed inside a pipe, inflated, the pipe is filled with water and is then observed for leaks. After the test is complete, the device is deflated and removed.
How it made it into our back yard is beyond me, but it has been removed, placed in the trash and the "all clear" signal has been given.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
What is It??????
Hitting the Books Again
What can $700 buy today?
Here are some ideas:
4 weeks worth of groceries for a family of 3,
2 airline tickets from Colorado to Pennsylvania with a 10 day notice,
6 tanks of gas if you drive an Escalade,
a small flat screen TV on sale (minus the cable bill),
the annual salary of 3 people in Ethiopia,
the cost to build 1/10 of a church in the mission fields
BUT,
in the United States of America, this is what it cost for JUST THE TEXTBOOKS to attend THREE CLASSES at a COMMUNITY COLLEGE!!! THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE TUITION!!!
Is it any wonder that the disparity between the rich and the poor is getting bigger and bigger each day?
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Someone's Birthday List
I found an anonymous "Birthday Wish List" by my computer this evening. I wonder who could have written it?
The first wish on the list was...an ELEMENT SK8 Board. (Hmmm....Is John's inner child thrill seeking?)
Next, SIMS 2: University, Free Time, Pets, Apartment Life (any or all) (Or is this something on Jamie's supplemental college list?)
Third, HOT DIGGITY DOGS. They are little resin collectible dachshunds that are in a variety of costumes and are very cute. (Did Goosebumps leave the birthday wish list?)
and last on the list...., $MONEY$ to buy a laptop.
Hmmmm..who could this someone be???? One does have to wonder who this someone is because you all know that Jamie is 20 and John is 21, and my step-mom is eternally 39!!! (right Val?)
As I glance at the calendar I see that August is nearly over and November is just two months away. I conclude that John has his computer and I have mine and finally deduce that our soon-to-be 12-year-old is dropping us a "subtle" hint.
Ahhh, thank goodness for birthday lists. I was beginning to fear that I was actually going to have to turn 22 this year!
Another Snip to the Apron Strings
The Fox and the Hound
As I've shared before, our yard is like an animal crossing. On any given day you can spot elk, black bear, mountain lions, foxes, birds, raptors, voles, rabbits and the list goes on!
About 6 months ago, we were coming home late at night and our headlights caught the most unusual sight! A red fox and uh.......dog? A coyote? A wolf?
The answer was a fox..., a GreyFox! But this grey fox was almost black, not red and a hint of grey, like you see in field guides.
The Grey Fox has become like a neighborhood pet. A few months ago he introduced us to his lady friend who is equally grey but has a white tip on her tail! Genetics is so fascinating! Anyway, my neighbor Bud, feeds the foxes frozen chicken strips and we throw out the heels of our bread loaves to them. They come like clock-work for their supplements and they are not longer skiddish when they see us. The other day, I beheld the funniest sight. I am so sad that I did not have my camera handy. Here were three foxes and Goosebumps, our Dachshund, running in circles around the house!!! At first, I thought they were setting up Goosebumps to turn on her and eat her for dinner, but they didn't, they just ran round and round, like they were filming a Disney movie! Perhaps someone, long before me, had this visual that inspired them to produce, THE FOX AND THE HOUND! Regardless, I for one, found this version, quite entertaining! Although I was not able to film the great chase, my neighbor did manage to get our Grey Fox to pose for the wonderful shot up above. Hope you enjoy!
It Takes a Village
Last semester, I once again enrolled in an Honors Biology class. A requirement for the course was to do a thesis on anything related to Botany or Natural Selection.
In light of the devastating beetle kill to both Colorado and Canadian forests, I decided to study the Lodgepole Pine infestation.
Aside from the research, I was also required to perform 30 hours of community service related to the project. I fulfilled this requirement by setting up collection cans throughout the community to raise money to purchase fire resistant trees that would begin a reforestation program for Colorado. In truth, I was overwhelmed by the workload and knew that this was bigger than one person; it was going to take somnething bigger than me!
The eight little collection cans raised a humble $99.45; not bad for loose change over a few weeks time! But the miracle began to occur like it did with the story of the "fishes and loaves" and before I knew it, Whitley's school was involved, the YMCA of the Rockies and then the US Forest Service!
The catalyst that started exponential change is when I learned that Whitley's school was taking a trip to the YMCA of the Rockies the second week of school. I heard that their science teacher, Mr. Bryant, wanted to do something related to the Lodgepole pine beetle. So, I got with him, explained that I had just done some research on this and could I help?
"Could I help!", he exclaimed. The school trip had been put together in a matter of days as a trip normally taken later in the year, had been changed. He had been trying to get resources pulled together, but knew they would not arrive in time. My work was an answered prayer!
In turn, Mr. Bryant was my answered prayer as I was in need of utilizing this money and completing my community service hours. Mr. Bryant had a lead on wholesale trees and estimated he would be able to purchase not a hundred, but one thousand trees with our humble change!!! WOW!!! I could hardly believe it! So, I wrote a check to the YMCA of the Rockies, which coincidentally sits right next to the US Reforestation Grid in Granby, CO!!!! Mr. Bryant and the school plan to pass on the funds, where the trees will then be purchased and 1,000 new trees will then be replanted at this beautiful facility that has provided healthy activities, both physically and spiritually, for almost a century!
In a day and age where the value of the dollar is shrinking, who would think that a bunch of pennies could make a difference? In truth, it probably wouldn't, but with God NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Truly, it takes Him and a village!
Friday, August 15, 2008
A Poem for my Mother-In-Law
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Lazy Daisies
Putting the ZZZZZZZ's in ZEBRA
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Pray for our Military
In this war, over 4,100 US military have lost their lives and the armed forces are scrambling to fill those vacancies.
Another "Blakey", Nick (my Cousin Grant's son) will soon be deployed to the desert. We have also learned that my cousin Randy Joe Nichols (my late great A. Ruth's and U. Nick's son/wife Heather and kids), who has been with the National Guard for over 20 years, is being deployed to Afghanistan.
I pray for all the people who have caught in the middle of this awful conflict and specifically today for Nick, Randy and their families.
I also pray for those who are wounded, who are grieving the loss of loved ones, and for those who deal with the mental anguish and post traumatic stress of war. May God wrap His loving arms around each one of these souls and may all be comforted, healed and protected.
God bless each one of you, including your families, for your sacrifice!
2008 Miss World Festival Queen
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Case of the Missing Zebra
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Tutti Frutti Wall meets Cool Quirky Closet
Friday, August 1, 2008
The Good Patient and the 102 Degree Temperature
THE STORY OF THE GOOD PATIENT AND THE 102 DEGREE TEMP.: