Smoky sunsets

So, we are officially in a heat wave here in AZ, and other parts of the west. Its stuffy, windy, hot, dry. There are places that fires are raging, some under control, some not. Yesterday it was a bit cloudy, and breezy, or windy, whichever. By evening we had an accumulation of smoke in the air that was tinting the sky with browns and oranges, from which fire I don't know.

We had gone out to dinner, and the sun was being set behind a screen of smoke, causing more colors to come and play in the sky. As we left from the restaurant, the sun had become this brilliant glowing orange red disc in a sea of browns. It was amazing.

By the time we got home, I hit the road running into the house to get my camera and go take a bunch of pictures. Following are the ones that I like the best.

It was so neat to see the way the colors of red played on the sun, the smoke was filtering the light as it shone down, draping it completely, then in sections of three and then down to two,  playing with the sun's light, trying to determine which effect looked best.


God gives us so much beauty in our world. 

Plants and barrels

So, as my week has progressed, now at humpday, not too much has happened. My excitement to have my tomato plants cascade down the sides of the planter I had David make for me, has just hit the ground again, haha!!! Literally.

One thing I kept forgetting is that when you water a pot, or barrel in this case, and it has drainage, it leaks out, hits the ground, and when you have skinny legs that hold up a barrel off the ground, they inadvertently sink into the ground, thus causing the weight inside the barrel to be really off center resulting in it toppling over and burying and breaking all plants that were planted inside. Hmmm.

You would have thought I would have figured this out the first time and remedied it, but, alas, I am not always the brightest cookie in the jar or the least stubborn. :) Sooo, I don't think my tomato is going to make it, and I don't think that I am going to try to get any more tomato plants for the garden, but .... you never know with me.

The garden is doing well aside from that, the chiles are producing gobs, and the squash is producing mini squashes and I have a bell pepper that is growing. My spices are doing good, thankfully.

The kitties have discovered there is life outside of the fence, and the poor dogs are left behind. I am still crating them at night, as the little one is too adventurous during the day, I can imagine at night. I would like to have them last a few years, not days. They are cute. Pacino thinks that they are going to play like a dog, and he gets a little exuberant and runs the little one over. But, I think that they will get even at some point. I see it in the making.

Anyway, as usual, I will keep you posted.

Love you all, take care and have a great day.

Update at 1:49, I checked my tomato and basil plants, the two who toppled, and I cannot believe it, they both are struggling to survive, the tomato was actually looking a little perky on those branches that didn't get broken. YEAH!!!

quiet week

So, this has been a quiet week, my kitties are back to normal, happy as can be. Pacino did really well and is happy to not have kids. Ralf went looking for them through the house, as he grew up with them. I think he was sad.... For at least 10 seconds. Haha!!

David has almost finished his trailer. He painted it and  put the boards on it. It really looks sharp.

This is when we first got it, long ole boat trailer!

Then after he modified it to fit the buggy.

and here with the boards and painted. 

Just a couple more things to do and it will be done, fitted only for the buggy. On to the next project.

Grandkids

My grandkids came down and we had so much fun together. We baked a cake and decorated it. 

 They played outside and had so much fun, although I don't think the kitties were as happy as the kids were, haha, kids and kittens. :) They helped feed and water all the horses, and just loved on all the horses. They were very excited to see the baby turkeys as well. 

We went to the park and had a birthday party for Shannon. James and Kristen and crew came and we had a really good time, and Shannon was very happy. 

We came home, took baths, and watched a little tv and read books.

The next morning we went outside and played, we talked, visited, played with the kitties again, and went and watered the goats, fed them and ended up in their pen. We sat, watched, pulled leaves from the tree to feed the goats. They really loved that. They even saw a goat poop!!! Haha, "that's gross!!" hahahaa!! I just love it. 

Ralfie even helped to dig holes, he is really good at it, although he never gets the gopher.

After that we went in and watched a little tv and prepared to go to the store. We bought Tshirts and fabric paint. We also got Happy Meals, and came home and ate. We played outside until the shirts were ready, and then they each were able to decorate their own Tshirt. It was so much fun and interesting to watch how they each did their own. 

After that, they wanted to watch Spirit. And of course they then wanted to ride horses. So here we went outside right after 4 to ride. Haley and Shannon rode, Justin didn't want to but that was okay. It was fun, it was good, and they loved it.

After all the riding, we fed the horses and goats, came in and ate a small dinner and waited for their mom to pick them up. If they had half the good time I did, then they must have had a blast!!

Baby birds

We finally got a little rain.  It smelled so good and it felt so good.  I was in the backyard getting ready to put the kittens up and some movement caught my eye.  It was a little baby bird. So I caught it and took it to the front. It was so tiny.

I was so glad to have saved it from Pacino. 

kitty pics

These are the little darlings!! This is the little one, he was attacking the chair this morning.

Pacino is just fascinated with these kittens, and he just wants to play.

This is the older one, and he is just so ornery as well.

And the garden as its growing. I really like having the plants in these tubs, as it is so much easier to care for them.

Have a good one!!

More kittens

Well, another day, another dollar, haha, another hard day of toiling above the keyboard and looking at my computer screen, while David is out enjoying being outside, shoeing and trimming ignorant horses, maybe I should say horses that belong to ignorant people that don't work with them enough to make them easy to trim or shoe, moving hay, what a life, sigh. Its only supposed to be back up to 108 again I think. I feel bad, as he is always wiped out at the end of the day, but he loves his work.

I received 3 kittens over the weekend, two males and a female. One is a manx, and she already has a new home. She needs tender loving care, and it sounds as if she has taken the home over already, haha. I hope that it lasts. Heehee. Of the other two, one is yellow and white, the other is solid gray. There looks like there is a 2 to 3 week difference in age, but the little gray one is holding his own. They both are full of it, and not too terrified of Ralf and Pacino. Pacino seems to be very happy that there is something besides Ralf to play with as Ralf sometimes just runs Pacino over in his over zealous playfulness. I think Ralf does it on purpose to see if he can hurt Pacino. Ralf is just, um... strange. He is very indignant about any new creatures that may interfere between us. Haha, weird, strange, neurotic and you know...

I think I will name these kittens Oliver and Wilbur. I am open to suggestions, I will post pictures after lunch, so...

Have a wonderful HUMP day!!

Cast iron skillets, kitchen stuff

So, I finally managed to kind of work on my cupboards again. I did finally manage to go through my cast iron and pull out "excess" pieces, put together a set for Jon, and rearrange a little in my kitchen. I have to say it was messy.

I save my coffee cans, as they are good for freezing menudo in, using to scoop dog food, or chicken feed, or to store bolts, nuts or other stuff.

After all was said and done, there were a little over 16 pieces that I set aside to sell. We also sent some other items to the thrift store, clothing, utensils, and a couple of other things. I felt good getting it all done.

It has made me sad, but very glad at the same time, to be rid of those excess skillets. It was a little hard, as its a collection, but, it is very good to have the extra room and less clutter.

Yeah!!!

Feathers, angels and eyes

So, I decided to take some more pictures of eyes, and found three nice ones. I hope you enjoy them, as I did enjoy taking them.

This is a young mare, and her eyes were very striking, so dark, full of mystery and sweetness. She is a love.

This is my Caddie, always looking like he is forever in my service, always looking at me like he is crosseyed, and just stares so strongly, waiting for me to tell him something. I just love his eyes, they always are kind.

This is Bull's eye, he is like Tigger the Tiger, always bouncing around, full of energy and loving life. It wouldn't be so bad, except that he weighs an easy 70 lbs and likes to bounce off me, or cars or horses. I think that he is really confused about herding, he is Caddies pup, but will be 4. I just love my Australians.

I was driving, leaving the store and this little feather just jumped on my arm and stayed there, all the way back to work, driving with my window down. It is pure white and very very tiny. I read once that when you have these white feathers show up randomly, that it means angels are around you. It was really neat, and it so pretty and I think just very special, as I have never seen such tiny ones.

I am not sure what it is off, could be anything.

We will see what the rest of our day brings. Happy trails along the way.

Projects and fun

Another day, another dollar, at least we hope for one!! What a beautiful day again, just being able to get up and going, out the door and having good things happen.

David has been working on a project, a trailer that he bought at a yard sale. Haha, we buy everything at yard sales. This happened to be a boat trailer that he is modifying to turn into a trailer for hauling the buggy on.

This is what it looked like before, it hauled a big boat on it, the kind that makes me seasick. :)

And, this is where we are right now. He is going to put boards on it and a couple of other things, and then it will be done.

So, I don't think that I mentioned that I got a new old car. A 1964 VW Bug, OH I AM SO EXCITED!!!!  They are so much fun to drive, and the memories that have come from Marilee, Debbie, Bevan, Sandy, nights cruising with my friends, the Farm, and so much more, oh my gosh, it just makes me giggle everytime I get to go and drive it. It needs a little work, but it runs. The engine has 10,000 miles on it, its rebuilt, and it runs like a champ.  It needs the seats to be redone, a paintjob, new tires, a tune up, and a radio. Haha, just a little work, but it is FUN!! What I cannot believe is the number of people that have tried to buy it from us, and the number of people we know that had one of these cars and just loved them. I still can't believe that its mine, haha, that crazy  ole hippie lady, mother of three kids that just roll thier eyes at her!!

We also bought a mini pontoon boat at a yardsale, and cannot hardly wait to get it in Cluff ponds, or Roper Lake, or even Riggs. Me in a boat, can you believe it? It is really cute, and I am so excited. It's only 7 or 8 feet long, and has a trolling motor. We have to get it registered and thats' in the works.

I think that eyes are so cool, and here is a picture of a wise gentle eye. 

This is Julio's eye. He is our 7 year old stallion, just a big baby, happy go lucky guy, never gets his panties in a wrinkle kind of horse.

Well, that is all for now, I hope and wish for all to have a good, beautiful day filled with success and abundance. Walk your walk with God.

Updates again

So its a new day, I have been so busy, life has me being round-penned right now, but I am getting the hang of it already. Haha,  busy busy busy, Heppy heppy heppy!!!

The heat is on and I am having a heck of a time getting used to it. I feel drained, but if I make sure and eat some cold watermelon, it seems to really help me out. I think my blood sugar mite be getting a little low, but I don't know, between losing water and stuff, the watermelon really seems so help, melons, grapes, yummy stuff as well. I am less hungry so that probably doesn't help matters either.

Not a lot going on, other than goats are getting close again.

Been sketching again, and it feels really good.

Did this one for a friend that wanted to put a headache rack on his truck, but ended up with a change of plans. 

I finally have squash on my plant, and I am so excited to be able to pick them. They are so tiny right now. My chiles are all loaded and the bell peppers are coming out too. 

My grandkids are supposed to be here in about 10 days, and I am excited for that, wow, its been over a years since I have seen them. It will be fun, so much fun.