20 Feb 12
I always refer to different times in my life as chapters.  It’s been awhile since I last turned the page for a new chapter and I’m enjoying this chapter so much that I kind of dread the day the page must turn.  That day will come, but not to worry, each chapter has had its good and its regrets.  My childhood had 2 major chapters.  One when I lived with my parents and learned all about life and was given a good work ethic to live by.  As we grew up there we things lacking in our lives, but discipline and hard work and play were there.  My parents weren’t affectionate people but it seems there were always people in our lives who were willing to fill in the gaps.  We had rules and they were either followed or there were consequences.  I followed them on the most part and made sure I didn’t get caught when I didn’t.  We had lots of chores inside and outside.  No play until all the work for the day was done.  I still hold to that.  When we played, we played hard and late into the night during the summer months. Much of my time was spent with my Grandparents during my childhood and when I was a teenager the page turned and I moved in with my Grandma Bong.  Life was easier with her, she did the chores, cooked and all I had to do was be her companion.  That wasn’t hard because she was very good to me.  The rules were still the rules and I still made sure I didn’t get caught when I crossed the line.  College was another chapter.  Working at Portland State College (University now) was another chapter and then marriage.    Marriage was a big chapter change.  It meant that most of my family was going to turn their backs on me.  Friends were gone or at least not talking to me.  There were a few that stood behind me…they didn’t agree with my choices, but were still there for me.  One was my friend George who was there through everything until the day he died.  In college I got a letter every Monday without fail from him and after I married the same…once a week a letter from George until I got the phone call that he had died in his house fire.   Turn the page. Motherhood turned the pages and all the moves and life changes turned the pages.  Page after page changed life for me.  I adapted easily and life went in a new direction. Now I’m getting to the end of my chapters and it is time to cash in on all my experiences and memories of the past lessons.  Life still isn’t easy because this old body is wearing out and damaged.  But I am finally living my dream and by guess and by golly I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. When this chapter page turns, hopefully I will be ready to let it go and will be able to adjust to my new chapter.  Right now that seems impossible, but God has always prepared my heart for the turning of the page and He will not fail me on this one. I’m not sure if this is an upper or a downer…but this is what you get from me today. Have a great day!!!!   And enjoy you chapter because you won’t have it forever.

I always refer to different times in my life as chapters.  It’s been awhile since I last turned the page for a new chapter and I’m enjoying this chapter so much that I kind of dread the day the page must turn.  That day will come, but not to worry, each chapter has had its good and its regrets. 

My childhood had 2 major chapters.  One when I lived with my parents and learned all about life and was given a good work ethic to live by.  As we grew up there we things lacking in our lives, but discipline and hard work and play were there.  My parents weren’t affectionate people but it seems there were always people in our lives who were willing to fill in the gaps.  We had rules and they were either followed or there were consequences.  I followed them on the most part and made sure I didn’t get caught when I didn’t.  We had lots of chores inside and outside.  No play until all the work for the day was done.  I still hold to that.  When we played, we played hard and late into the night during the summer months.

Much of my time was spent with my Grandparents during my childhood and when I was a teenager the page turned and I moved in with my Grandma Bong.  Life was easier with her, she did the chores, cooked and all I had to do was be her companion.  That wasn’t hard because she was very good to me.  The rules were still the rules and I still made sure I didn’t get caught when I crossed the line.

 College was another chapter.  Working at Portland State College (University now) was another chapter and then marriage.  

 Marriage was a big chapter change.  It meant that most of my family was going to turn their backs on me.  Friends were gone or at least not talking to me.  There were a few that stood behind me…they didn’t agree with my choices, but were still there for me.  One was my friend George who was there through everything until the day he died.  In college I got a letter every Monday without fail from him and after I married the same…once a week a letter from George until I got the phone call that he had died in his house fire. 

 Turn the page.

Motherhood turned the pages and all the moves and life changes turned the pages.  Page after page changed life for me.  I adapted easily and life went in a new direction.

Now I’m getting to the end of my chapters and it is time to cash in on all my experiences and memories of the past lessons.  Life still isn’t easy because this old body is wearing out and damaged.  But I am finally living my dream and by guess and by golly I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.

When this chapter page turns, hopefully I will be ready to let it go and will be able to adjust to my new chapter.  Right now that seems impossible, but God has always prepared my heart for the turning of the page and He will not fail me on this one.

I’m not sure if this is an upper or a downer…but this is what you get from me today.

Have a great day!!!!   And enjoy you chapter because you won’t have it forever.


19 Feb 12
Here is a picture of one of the new babies.  It was taken a few days ago and I’m sure they are probably getting pretty cute about now.  Another week and their eyes will be open and they will be hopping around the cage in pursuit of a titty to suck on.  Poor mama.  I used to have tops on my nest boxes so she could escape, but don’t anymore and she is at their mercy.  Note to self…make an escape for mama rabbit. But, that isn’t what I want to chat about today.  Today, I’m in garden mode.  Trying to plan what to plant and where and getting a few seeds started in the house for later move to the cold frame if Rick ever gets it done.  Crossing my fingers on that one and if it doesn’t happen, my dining room will become a greenhouse with pots everywhere.  I don’t mind, but it makes it hard to eat in there.  Note to self….get that extra counter out of the kitchen and get a kitchen table back in the the kitchen so the dining room can become a greenhouse. I just read an article about the 8 most nutrient dense foods and also an article about what a miracle food kale is.  Kale has never appealed to me, but it looks like I should maybe reconsider it and learn to cook it so it will appeal to me.  More important appeal to Rick.  I can choke down about anything like it or now, but he isn’t a big veggie eater to start with and likes it with lots of other flavors to disguise the real flavor…what a waste of good food. The top of the list is chocolate (my top, not theirs).  It’s full of good stuff for you.  The drawback is that we ruin it with sugar and fat in our need to make it tasty.  So, I guess I need to work on adding honey (in moderation) and good things to make it healthy.  Works for me. Berries is my second on the list.  Fortunate for us, my plan is to add a lot of berries to my new “Chicken Garden” this year and hopefully they will leave some for our consumption.  Wild blackberries are all around us just for the picking if all else fails. Spinach, broccoli and kale are my third, fourth, and fifth choices.  All grow readily in the garden and I’m going to be adding other greens like beet greens including sugar beet greens, collards, lettuces, and chard which are all good, just not on the top 8 list. Hemp seeds….isn’t that marijuana?  I already had my run at that….not going there again soon.  I will skip this one for now. Chia seeds…don’t those belong on a head or animal of some kind?  Skipping it too. And the last skip will be Spirulina…lake algae.  I hope I never get that hungry. So all in all, it looks like I am on the right track to at least get myself healthy.  I’m surprised garlic isn’t on the list…maybe it is #9 because of its antibiotic and antioxidant properties should make it pretty important.  It’s important to me along with onions, leeks and all of those important flavors for my kind of cooking. With all the rabbit, goat and chicken poop we have, and our huge compost pile, we are expecting a bountiful garden this year.  I hope the weather cooperates and I can get Rick motivated to do his part.  Since he doesn’t like veggies to start with, he doesn’t see the need for a garden and there is no joy or satisfaction in helping with it.  No rewards whatsoever, just work.  Sad.  Even when it doesn’t produce much, I love playing in the dirt and love seeing things grow…even the weeds.  Well, maybe not the bind weed that has decided to take over the asparagus bed…grrrrrrr! Hope you have a great day!!!

Here is a picture of one of the new babies.  It was taken a few days ago and I’m sure they are probably getting pretty cute about now.  Another week and their eyes will be open and they will be hopping around the cage in pursuit of a titty to suck on.  Poor mama.  I used to have tops on my nest boxes so she could escape, but don’t anymore and she is at their mercy.  Note to self…make an escape for mama rabbit.

But, that isn’t what I want to chat about today.  Today, I’m in garden mode.  Trying to plan what to plant and where and getting a few seeds started in the house for later move to the cold frame if Rick ever gets it done.  Crossing my fingers on that one and if it doesn’t happen, my dining room will become a greenhouse with pots everywhere.  I don’t mind, but it makes it hard to eat in there.  Note to self….get that extra counter out of the kitchen and get a kitchen table back in the the kitchen so the dining room can become a greenhouse.

I just read an article about the 8 most nutrient dense foods and also an article about what a miracle food kale is.  Kale has never appealed to me, but it looks like I should maybe reconsider it and learn to cook it so it will appeal to me.  More important appeal to Rick.  I can choke down about anything like it or now, but he isn’t a big veggie eater to start with and likes it with lots of other flavors to disguise the real flavor…what a waste of good food.

The top of the list is chocolate (my top, not theirs).  It’s full of good stuff for you.  The drawback is that we ruin it with sugar and fat in our need to make it tasty.  So, I guess I need to work on adding honey (in moderation) and good things to make it healthy.  Works for me.

Berries is my second on the list.  Fortunate for us, my plan is to add a lot of berries to my new “Chicken Garden” this year and hopefully they will leave some for our consumption.  Wild blackberries are all around us just for the picking if all else fails.

Spinach, broccoli and kale are my third, fourth, and fifth choices.  All grow readily in the garden and I’m going to be adding other greens like beet greens including sugar beet greens, collards, lettuces, and chard which are all good, just not on the top 8 list.

Hemp seeds….isn’t that marijuana?  I already had my run at that….not going there again soon.  I will skip this one for now.

Chia seeds…don’t those belong on a head or animal of some kind?  Skipping it too.

And the last skip will be Spirulina…lake algae.  I hope I never get that hungry.

So all in all, it looks like I am on the right track to at least get myself healthy.  I’m surprised garlic isn’t on the list…maybe it is #9 because of its antibiotic and antioxidant properties should make it pretty important.  It’s important to me along with onions, leeks and all of those important flavors for my kind of cooking.

With all the rabbit, goat and chicken poop we have, and our huge compost pile, we are expecting a bountiful garden this year.  I hope the weather cooperates and I can get Rick motivated to do his part.  Since he doesn’t like veggies to start with, he doesn’t see the need for a garden and there is no joy or satisfaction in helping with it.  No rewards whatsoever, just work.  Sad.  Even when it doesn’t produce much, I love playing in the dirt and love seeing things grow…even the weeds.  Well, maybe not the bind weed that has decided to take over the asparagus bed…grrrrrrr!

Hope you have a great day!!!


16 Feb 12

These are my two boys….I’ve had Bugsy since he was 8 weeks old and he has been a good…great buck.  He is the father of sooooo many baby bunnies.  But, it is time to retire him and let him enjoy the rest of his life in my new Chicken/Bunny garden safe from predators and being able snack on all sorts of delicious tempting morsels and plants.  And I will be able to cuddle him on my purple bench.  When I go into the barn area, he always comes to me hopping as fast as he can.  It is so much fun watching him play and chase chickens.  There is still a lot of life left in him.

Thumper is new and was already half grown when I got him.  He has been a pet, however, and is pretty friendly.  His breed is a Flemish Giant and supposedly will live up to the giant part when he is full grown.  He’s already a big eater so I hope he will be worth using for a buck with my larger girls.  I’m sure he will get his time in the garden when the weather gets warmer.

I was out with the new baby rabbits this morning and they are all doing fine.  They get cute so fast.  I posted a picture of one on my facebook page.

It is so rainy and gray today.  One more day of data entry and I will be finished.  To think I used to do this every day.  Once the sun begins to shine again, I will be glad that it is all finished and I can concentrate on sunshiny chores.

Hope you have a great day!!!!

15 Feb 12
 Even though there is snow just above us and we will probably get a dusting before the week is over, I can see signs of Spring.  The lilac that blooms twice a year now has big green leaf buds.  The rest are taking it a little slower.  The alders have a red cast to them and the butterfly bushes are getting leaves.  There is rhubarb peeking out of the soil in the garden and I need to get out there soon.   First I need to get the rest of this bead inventory in the computer so I can have my house back.  Once this is finished, they are going into the attic all organized until Rick can find someone to purchase them.  I was happy to see that there is more than enough to pay off the last of the bills for Takara and we can finally put that chapter behind us once and for all.   Speaking of Spring, I am so eager to get out into the barn on a more regular basis and help with the work.  It is work for Rick and I so appreciate him taking over during the cold months.  To me it is work, but the kind of work I enjoy so much it doesn’t seem like work.  I probably could get a lot more done out there but have to keep stopping to talk to a chicken or stroke a goat or spend time listening to Dorothy tell me about her day.  Our retired buck rabbit, Bugsy, is also loose in the barn and follows me around trying to help me do whatever I’m doing…how do I tell him that he’s really no help, but a nuisance?  Nah…my secret…he’s so much fun.  Most the time he meets me at the gate.   I’m putting a 2nd garden in the old chicken yard.  This garden is going to be a little habitat for Bugsy, Dorothy and a few banty chickens.  Hopefully, they will leave a little fresh fruit for us, but I’m okay with whatever happens.  I’m really excited about it and will begin the planning of it once I get a few things wrapped up in the house.  There will be lots of berries, grains, and fresh veggies for the animals to snack on.  Hopefully it will keep them out of my garden.  I’m also going into the woods and gathering native plants to fill in the gaps.  I’m excited about it and hopefully won’t run out of energy before it is exactly what I want it to be.  Maybe I will find a place for that purple bench that I am coveting.    Back to work for me today.  Enjoy the Springy picture and think Spring!!!!!! Have a great day!!!

 Even though there is snow just above us and we will probably get a dusting before the week is over, I can see signs of Spring.  The lilac that blooms twice a year now has big green leaf buds.  The rest are taking it a little slower.  The alders have a red cast to them and the butterfly bushes are getting leaves.  There is rhubarb peeking out of the soil in the garden and I need to get out there soon.

  First I need to get the rest of this bead inventory in the computer so I can have my house back.  Once this is finished, they are going into the attic all organized until Rick can find someone to purchase them.  I was happy to see that there is more than enough to pay off the last of the bills for Takara and we can finally put that chapter behind us once and for all.

  Speaking of Spring, I am so eager to get out into the barn on a more regular basis and help with the work.  It is work for Rick and I so appreciate him taking over during the cold months.  To me it is work, but the kind of work I enjoy so much it doesn’t seem like work.  I probably could get a lot more done out there but have to keep stopping to talk to a chicken or stroke a goat or spend time listening to Dorothy tell me about her day.  Our retired buck rabbit, Bugsy, is also loose in the barn and follows me around trying to help me do whatever I’m doing…how do I tell him that he’s really no help, but a nuisance?  Nah…my secret…he’s so much fun.  Most the time he meets me at the gate.

  I’m putting a 2nd garden in the old chicken yard.  This garden is going to be a little habitat for Bugsy, Dorothy and a few banty chickens.  Hopefully, they will leave a little fresh fruit for us, but I’m okay with whatever happens.  I’m really excited about it and will begin the planning of it once I get a few things wrapped up in the house.  There will be lots of berries, grains, and fresh veggies for the animals to snack on.  Hopefully it will keep them out of my garden.  I’m also going into the woods and gathering native plants to fill in the gaps.  I’m excited about it and hopefully won’t run out of energy before it is exactly what I want it to be.  Maybe I will find a place for that purple bench that I am coveting. 

  Back to work for me today.  Enjoy the Springy picture and think Spring!!!!!!

Have a great day!!!


12 Feb 12
Yes, we still have Dorothy.  She is still just as much nuisance as always and still very demanding.  Dorothy is a eating machine who has no value other than she is our beloved pet.  Each year she gets more crippled and more cranky, but is always ready for a pet and some conversation.  She loves buttons, shoe laces and rings so be careful when around her.  Owwie.

Yes, we still have Dorothy.  She is still just as much nuisance as always and still very demanding.  Dorothy is a eating machine who has no value other than she is our beloved pet.  Each year she gets more crippled and more cranky, but is always ready for a pet and some conversation.  She loves buttons, shoe laces and rings so be careful when around her.  Owwie.


10 Feb 12
2nd chicken was hatched out over night.  Now there are two.  It’s a good thing I was about to give #1 a name and he would have gone into the coop when he was old enough.  Now he has a buddy to keep him company and isn’t nearly as demanding.  I had them out for a little while tonight and Riley was very interested in them.  At one point they were both leaning over the edge trying to reach Riley.  Of course, I didn’t have the camera for that shot.  It was a cute one. Took my A1C today and it is down from last time, but still in the 7’s.  7.4  which isn’t bad but could and should be better.  Summer…hurry so I have more good veggies to eat and more exercise time. My blood pressure needs work too 164/70.  Of course I had just ridden to town with Rick driving and it had been a disturbing morning…we will see what the Dr. has to say about that on Monday. Have a great day!!!!

2nd chicken was hatched out over night.  Now there are two.  It’s a good thing I was about to give #1 a name and he would have gone into the coop when he was old enough.  Now he has a buddy to keep him company and isn’t nearly as demanding.  I had them out for a little while tonight and Riley was very interested in them.  At one point they were both leaning over the edge trying to reach Riley.  Of course, I didn’t have the camera for that shot.  It was a cute one.

Took my A1C today and it is down from last time, but still in the 7’s.  7.4  which isn’t bad but could and should be better.  Summer…hurry so I have more good veggies to eat and more exercise time.

My blood pressure needs work too 164/70.  Of course I had just ridden to town with Rick driving and it had been a disturbing morning…we will see what the Dr. has to say about that on Monday.

Have a great day!!!!


08 Feb 12

Snuggle time

I guess while I am sitting here letting my unnamed chick cuddle with me I will fire off a few lines on the blog today.

The company is gone and I have spent most of the day being lazy.  It is sprinkling outside so haven’t ventured outside but am planning to buzz out there for a quicky once the cuddle time is over.  If this little guy doesn’t get a companion soon, I will have to name him and make him part of the family.  This particular breed seem to chatter all the time when they are babies and sing when they are adults.  His biological mother sings all the time.  She’s a pretty lousy mother and none of her babies made it last year.

Sunday I start my cycle of baby rabbits again.  I only have 2 does bred for this cycle and they are due 2 days apart.  I’m hoping that there will be babies because last time I tried with both of them, there were no babies.  I think Bugsy is losing his Jazz.  The new buck I just purchased will work well for both of them, so we will give it another try if there is no success.  One is a rescue and I really don’t know how old she is and the other is in her last years of producing but I was hoping to get a couple of does unrelated to my new buck out of these big gals before retiring them.  Both give me huge babies and very large litters so are just what I’m looking for in the future.

So much prattle for today.  The unnamed has gone back to his little box and is preening and it’s time for me to go get some rabbit time and goat time before starting dinner.  It is the end of a lazy day.

Loved the NCIS last night.  Different, for sure, but a lot of closure for our friend Gibbs last night.  I love how all the NCIS characters are so completely developed…the good, bad and ugly all revealed in one lovable human character.  Just like real life characters.

Have a Great Day!!!!

07 Feb 12
This little guy was in the chicken house trying to find his Mama when I went out there today.  I may be deaf, but I can always hear a chick crying no matter how far away.  I have 3 hens setting and wasn’t sure who Mama was, so he is in the house being spoiled.  No name for him as he will be a fryer in a couple of months.  I put my slipper in his box and now he has something to cuddle with.  Hopefully that will keep him happy until the next chick arrives. I also got some goat cuddle time today.  Oh how I have missed them.  It didn’t take Jethro long to climb in my lap and Daisy laying next to me in her special spot.  Tony took a little longer but was sure to get his fair share of kisses and hugs.  The older goats weren’t that interested in me today, but I did get a little love from Ruthie.  It was cold and windy so I didn’t stay out very long.   Spring…..hurry, hurry, hurry!!!! Hope you had a great day.

This little guy was in the chicken house trying to find his Mama when I went out there today.  I may be deaf, but I can always hear a chick crying no matter how far away.  I have 3 hens setting and wasn’t sure who Mama was, so he is in the house being spoiled.  No name for him as he will be a fryer in a couple of months.  I put my slipper in his box and now he has something to cuddle with.  Hopefully that will keep him happy until the next chick arrives.

I also got some goat cuddle time today.  Oh how I have missed them.  It didn’t take Jethro long to climb in my lap and Daisy laying next to me in her special spot.  Tony took a little longer but was sure to get his fair share of kisses and hugs.  The older goats weren’t that interested in me today, but I did get a little love from Ruthie.  It was cold and windy so I didn’t stay out very long.  

Spring…..hurry, hurry, hurry!!!!

Hope you had a great day.


04 Feb 12

65 and Enjoying the Sunshine

Just a few lines today as I sit here in the dark waiting for the household to get up.  We are making an early start this morning for Moses Lake to meet up with my daughter and her family and another who like a daughter and her boys.  There will be four of us traveling together so it should be a fun day for all I hope.

A couple of days ago my bestest friend from Colorado surprised me with a visit for my 65 birthday which is today.  She called me as she was leaving Denver.  SURPRISE!!!!  But that wasn’t the end of the surprises…her daughter was with her.  They have to stop surprising me…gonna kill me!!!!  It has been a fun couple of days so far and there is more to come.

Also today I get to meet a new facebook friend.  I’m taking two rabbits to help her start her rabbitry.  Picking them out last night and saying goodbye was hard.  I know they are going to a good home where they will be loved and cherished, but parting is always hard for me.  The young one was really wild because Rick doesn’t spend the time playing with them, but it wasn’t long before she was getting to know me and enjoying being held.  She’s going to tame easily.  She looks like her Daddy who I love to pieces.

I’m going to try Flemish Giants and yesterday got my buck.  He’s huge and only 5 months old.  So glad I built big cages last summer.  He was already named Thumper and I think we will keep that name.  Both of my old does are very large and I think I will see what they produce next breeding cycle.  I’m still looking for Flemish Giant lady for him.  My hope is to get large rabbits faster.  I’m sure the food/meat ratio will be about the same as he looks like he’s going to be a big eater.  Hurry up garden and start producing.

It’s time to stop here and get ready to go.  It’s going to be a crowded bathroom when the rest of the household gets up.  I’m excited to get this day started.

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

29 Jan 12

Can you hear me screaming inside?

I know none of my followers ever have days when they get so frustrated that they just want to throw up your hands and give up.  Me neither!!!!  But I will say that I am getting close to that right now.

I wouldn’t say by any means that I am a meticulous housekeeper although there was a day in one of my past lives that I did have a house that stayed showroom ready and I was so organized that I was in prison.  Now I am just in prison…I’m laughing!!!

I do like to have things in order and everything in it’s place.  If it doesn’t have a place, then I don’t want it in the house.  I don’t like walking around, over, or into stuff that is unnecessary.  Rick, on the other hand is the opposite.  He’s not happy unless he has way too much stuff than there is room for.  His idea of cleaning up is moving his hoard from one place to another.  Can you hear me screaming inside?  I’m trying to be patient with his thought process, but somehow am missing how this is supposed to work.

This weekend he cleaned out the spare bedroom.  We had the leftover beads stacked in there waiting for me to get the time to do an inventory and then get them out of here.  Now they are in stacks all over the rest of the house, but the spare bedroom has the bed made up for company.  They just have to go through the maze of the rest of the house to get there.  And…who is this company?  Can you hear me screaming inside?

Murphy’s Law says that if your house is a mess you are determined to have company, so I guess I had better get busy and make some yummy cinnamon rolls or something equally decadent to serve my company.  Maybe if I give them enough coffee and sugar they won’t notice the mess or me screaming inside.

On a brighter note…I have a couple of turkey thighs simmering on the wood stove and they are about ready to add some veggies and wild rice to make soup.  I still have a few rolls left from the last baking so that should be good.  Rick wants hamburgers so he can have them and I will have this soup with a big cold glass of the raw milk that I have in the fridge.  Just thinking about that is putting me in a better mood.

Thanks for listening….I feel better.  Have a great day!!!