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Showing posts with label fun stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fun stuff. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2011

Halloween Fun, More Puppies and A Baptism

I don't know if I've mentioned before that Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. It's no-stress, no family hassles and it is only as much fuss as you want. I just love this time of year and spend as much time as possible watching scary movies and cuddling close to my love. 

Saturday night my friend Kristine and I dragged our spouses off for a fun and fright-filled night at Scream Town. As I sit here tonight typing, my throat is still raw and scratchy from screaming. There were 5 different attractions but by far the scariest was the Circus Asylum. Clowns + pitch blackness + strobe lights = scared shitless!
Several times A said I actually picked her up. We learned Kristine is a sprinter when scared and at one point she practically ripped off my parka. Her husband (a big 6' 5" guy) was plowed over and pushed out the fire exit by 3 freaked out gals...well make that 2 freaked out gals and one gal being dragged/carried along. That time several of the actors actually lost character and burst out laughing themselves. I woke this morning feeling stiff and sore and I swear I dis-located a hip. 


It was a late night and then an early morning when I hobbled my crippled ass out of bed to put on heels and head to church. That's right, I suffered through mass to attend the baptism of the son/grandson of our close friends (and adopted family). Ahh, the things you do for the ones you love! We had a great meal and lots of visiting, laughter and hugs afterward. It was a happy occasion just to have everyone together. 


Even though I was tired it was a great way to end the weekend as I returned home again from a short petsitting/housesitting gig. This time it was a happier occasion since Betty just had a chance for a last minute getaway. She seems to be doing much better and I'm hopeful for her.  Anyway the bonus for me was getting to spend 5 days with these adorable little critters.
3.5 week old Chin puppies. OMG, I was in so much love!

I tried to resist holding them as much as possible since it made their little mama nervous.
But seriously, who can resist this face and they fit just perfectly in one of my hands. This little guy will never be a show dog since his markings aren't "breed standard" but his little mustache is so unique. I don't know if Betty has named them yet, but I called him Groucho Marx all week.
Happy Monday!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

An Update and "The Dog Hoarder's Convention"

Around here life is settling back into normal routine. After spending 3.5 weeks at home, A returned to work Monday. It was nice to have her home, especially since we had extra furry house-guests for a couple weeks. I guess I've just been feeling quiet and last week I was swamped getting the silent auction together for our rescue's annual get-together (also called the Dog Hoarder's Convention by A's sister). This is the third year I've been in charge but got a late start so I was just happy to pull things together in time.

Saturday morning we woke to a cool, windy day. A had spent Friday getting the RV ready and packed for our trip. The plan was to drive it to the rescue event and then camp along the Redwood river that night. We were running late...as usual...and after getting all the dogs loaded in to RV it wouldn't start. Seriously?! After working on it for over an hour, we just had to load the essential stuff and the dogs into two cars to go. We were both in pissed off moods but after we got there, it was hard to stay mad with all this cuteness running around...120 cute little dogs in attendance to be exact!

 Tawny
 The old man Gizzy looks down on the commoners from his stroller.
 How can you tell which one is yours?
 Love the teeth!
 Suki
 Buddy had the best seat in the house.
This is what happens when you try to give one dog a treat.

We ate too much food, visited and spent all my money at the silent auction. Since I run it and bid for others who can't attend, I don't bid for myself. The last two years A has bid for me and I've come home with a load of stuff and an empty purse.
This is the first year we decided to pose for a group photo. Obviously, this isn't every volunteer in our group but there are people here from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa and even one person who planned their trip north from New Mexico to coincide with this event. 

This year my offer to the silent auction was a custom pet portrait by fellow blogger Rocket. I had her do one of our dog Gizzy to use as an example and the winner could then submit a photo of their own pet for a portrait. It was a big hit at the auction and I'm ecstatic it raised quite a bit of cash. I just LOVE this picture and she completely captured the Old Man. 
I have it framed and proudly displayed in my living room. THANK YOU ROCKET!

A and I had a lot of things planned for this fall but haven't accomplished much. Mostly I've just wanted to stay close to home and be with her. We were disappointed to not be able to camp this past weekend, but now the RV is up and running again (a bad battery is an easy fix) and we still have a weekend trip planned mid-October near the Mississippi river/Wisconsin before putting it away for the winter. We've had time to re-connect with each other and re-prioritize our lives. A seems to be in a better state if mind about her job and has decided to go back to school (online) to expand her degree. I'm so happy she has finally made that decision and I'm hoping it all works out. This coming weekend, I'm excited that my brother is bringing my nephews for a visit. I haven't seen them in over a year already!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Sunday

We joined friends at their home for a Labor Day BBQ and bonfire. There was so much food. You know so much good food that you're full but you just keep going back for little of this and that. JK went crazy on the grill making burgers, brats, steak, chops and ribs...holy shit that's a lot of meat! I woke up Monday morning still feeling full.

A lovely fall sunset. 
 Someone had the bright idea to throw that bale of hay on the fire.
 Which turned it into an even bigger/hotter fire. Our friend Faye ended up with embers in her hair and A swatting her across the head to put her out.
 A loving the heat...it was 54 degrees. No alcohol for her last night, 7Up only.
And JK serenaded us around the fire...or tried to. He hasn't picked up a guitar in years. Who am I to criticize, I can't play a single chord.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Nerstrand/Big Woods State Park

How can I be so tired from doing nothing? Oh yeah I'm tired form all the drama; not with A and I. We are fine as ever but rescue/friend drama. I'll write more on that later when I have a chance to sit and write it down. The last 4 days have been a blur but we had weekend plans that we weren't breaking.

We loaded up the crew and cruised to a nearby state park for the weekend. I can truly say I did nothing all weekend but sit around the fire, eat and relax.
The dogs had to do a few "time-outs" inside the RV. Here Tim watches A setting up the tripod to cook over the fire.
A was so excited to finally use her new Dutch oven. Her dad, sister and nephew came to join us for hiking and dinner. She made campfire chili and I baked the cornbread before we left home. Since the fire was going she decided to bake the biscuits for Sunday breakfast in her Dutch oven too.
We got distracted by more visitors to our campsite and the biscuits ended up a little over-done. Oh well, there was plenty of food and I didn't need more carbs in my diet.
I spotted this RV when we were pulling in and snapped a picture..."Look A, Parrot Heads!"
Later that evening the two ladies who own and painted this rig stopped by our camp site to meet the dogs. 
A's dad had to stop on the trail and read every informational plaque.
Starting into the woods. All I can think is how many mosquitos are in there waiting to feast on me. I had coated myself in DEET and even though the mosquitos still swarmed me, I came out of the woods with only one bite.
The trail we were on followed along a creek and it wasn't long before we found the Hidden Falls.
A's sister took her dad back to camp while A and I continued on another trail for awhile.
We found this interesting tree and A just couldn't resist climbing it.
I wasn't there to witness it personally, but I can't help but imagine this is what A's birth looked like. She swears her birth was more like "Alien". Whatever.
Happy Monday!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Thinking of Life on the Road (A lot of Pictures)

Poor A.
Her weekend camping trip was worse than I thought. We didn't have much time to talk; mostly she was filling me in via text. You know how texting is...you don't get the entire description or the mood of the situation. 

When she walked in the house, I immediately could tell she was steaming. We hurried to get her mom's stuff loaded into her car all the time listening to the psycho mutt screech in our back yard. A couldn't hurry her out of here quick enough! Seems like they had quite the blow-up on the 4 hour drive home today. I'm so proud of her though since she really gave her mom an earful. Years ago she would have never; she would have simply clamped her mouth shut. For so many years A has been apologizing for her sexuality and today she stood up for who she is and told her mother she is not ashamed-take it or leave it! Ha!
We always joke that I'm the little devil who sits on her shoulder and whispers, say this, do that. Today apparently I was.

Well at least we have some weekend trips planned over the next couple months. Looks like the state of Minnesota has reopened the majority of the state parks so we don't have to cancel anything. I feel bad that A had such a shitty waste of a weekend but I couldn't help but be envious of her too. Instead I was stuck here at home looking at pictures and longing for our next road trip.

When A installed the new stereo, she put it all the way over by the steering wheel.
No matter, I'm still in control with the mp3 played and remote in my lap. I truly have to have things my way...and messing with the stereo is distracted driving anyway. 

The most common question we get when out in the RV is "What's it like to travel with all those dogs?" What can I say other than it's like living with them at home but in a much smaller space. 

We have all types of people approach us but some of the nicest are the truckers. They come over motivated by loneliness for their pets left at home while they spend weeks...sometimes months on the road. We listen patiently as tell us about their own dogs. We often find ourselves staying longer at a stop than expected just because we hate to cut them off.
I admit that our first few road trips were a learning experience but this year we really have it down.
We all try to be safe and stick together. If someone leaves the pack, everyone anxiously keeps watch until their return.
And if you don't behave, you can ride in the crate on the hitch rack, also known as "The Dinky Seat" (from National Lampoon's Vacation).
The old man grass-rolls at every stop.
And he rides in his stroller parked between the seats.
But Tim, being the jealous bastard he is, has to try out Giz's special seat every chance he gets.
Sia and Cassie spend a lot of time breathing down my neck. (Phew!)
And barking at people when we stop for gas.
And attempting the challenge to get up into the front seat to be with mama at any cost.

We encounter informative wall art. I wonder just how many people are named "Tabby" in that small town? My guess, not many and Tabby knows who she is.
And judgement along the interstate.
We really had to laugh that the one doing the condemning can't spell.

We travel on a scary, demonic road the superstitious may want to avoid.
And find historical roadsigns too. A trail marker and S-shaped bridge on the National Road, commissioned by Thomas Jefferson and one of the earliest roads west. It was supposed to go to Missouri but they ran out of money in Illinois. See our government had financial problems then too.



I wish we would have stopped here for breakfast. I just loved the name and it reminded me of Ms. Moon.
Our final stop on our return trip form Ohio-The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa where Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper played their final show.
See what wild times we have on the road? *laugh*

Saturday, May 28, 2011

35

Yesterday was my 35th birthday. 
I worked in the morning and came home to find A had made this special banner. If you're a fan of "The Office" you will understand. If not well I just can't have your type stopping by to read. Nah, just kidding. 
A has been asking for weeks...or maybe it's been months about what I want to do, where I want to go, what I want for a gift. 
My choice was to stay at home and have dinner. She loves to cook. I requested grilled shrimp. She came home with these monstrous prawns.


 Soaking in a marinade of key lime juice, green chilies, garlic, onion and ginger.
 And grilled to perfection...even out in the pouring rain.
Served with my favorite grilled asparagus and baked potato.
 
I asked for a margarita cake this year. The cake and the glaze contain tequila, triple sec and margarita mix made with key limes. Once you go to the key limes, you can't go back.

We played in the yard with the dogs. When the rain came we took a nap and then got up and drank margaritas. Not a bad birthday at all.