It Was Close!

The ice made the snow geese visit the harvested fields again in a feeding frenzy.

The ice make everything look magical but two more hours of freezing rain would have probably put out the electricity and a degree or two colder might have made our roads as big a mess as they were along I40 to the north of us. My willow tree did a lot of creaking and moaning but she held on to her limbs.

James was nice enough to take me for a drive to the horse pasture down the road a bit where I took this picture and the one below.


Only my HughesNet satellite was out for a couple of days; not pleasant but not a disaster. Click on the photos to see the bigger picture.

Photo Challenge - The Best of 2009

I found it so difficult to choose favorites/bests for 2009 but I decided that these would do. Dirty little hands and a resigned little "hoppy", what wonderful memories!

A splashy pink bloom opening up as a sign of Spring.

A once familiar summer sight. Krysten, MeriKate, and Abby cooling off in the neighbor's pool.

I've had to go round the back way to post for this challenge because we're in the midst of an ice storm; we have electricity but the HughesNet satellite is down which is par for their course. Odd how it hasn't affected our Direct TV satellite, hmmmm?

Anyway, got this trusty dial-up going here so I'm going to try to post my BEST of 2009 for the Photo Challenge. Don't forget to go over to the Photo Challenge Blog created by Miz Donna down there in the great state of Texas and click on the other participants in the comments to see all their great photos.

What I Want In A Man

What I Want In A Man!
Original List:

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 32)

1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 42)

1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 52)

1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off the couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 62)

1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

What I Want in a Man, Revised List (age 72)

1. Breathing.
2. Doesn't miss the toilet.

Thanks Miz Donna!

A new Teenager in the House!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate covered cherries on top.

Jessie came by, Zach's oldest friend.

For a few days now we've had a bunch of snow geese settling in at the corn field across and down the road from our house. You can see our house across the field here (it's the one on the right).

This is all the snow we've had. The temperatures have been gruesome; colder than an Alaskan well diggers arse for sure. I think it's supposed to climb up to 30 degrees tomorrow so that might feel like a heat wave! Tuesday it's supposed to be up to 55, almost warm enough for swimming. :-)

I'm keeping up with the 365 project, barely.

Chance of Snow and the Undead

The weather forecasters around here are using that S word again for tonight and tomorrow and to add insult to,,,,well,,,insult, they're also predicting an Arctic blast worse than the present Arctic blast we're having.

People in east central Arkansas are spoiled. We may recall that we had freezing temperatures in the teens and single digits that lasted more than a day or two way back a few Winters ago, but we really do tend to put all those nasty doings out of mind during the mostly moderate, mostly bearable, mostly temperate Winters that are par for our courses. We are wimps who don't drive well when frozen precipitation is landing on our roadways and we just plain don't cotton to having cold hands and feet for months at a time.

However, it IS cold and it MIGHT snow or do something icy. I'll take pictures and tell you all about it if it does.

On to another subject,,,

I'm lovin' this Kindle! It's so easy to find and download books and there are loads of reading material to be had too. I downloaded my first book on Christmas day but only started reading it this evening cause I've been trying to finish the latest Cornwell book, The Scarpetta Factor.

Anyway, I've downloaded a book that I think will probably give me more than a few nightmares. I'm reading "Day by Day Armageddon" by JL Bourne. I should have known better cause every Zombie book I've ever read and Zombie movie I've ever seen has given me some wicked weird night terrors. It does no good to be reminded that none of "it" is actually REAL,,, you know how your mind works when it's sleeping and collecting all those random thoughts from your day? Mine normally doesn't do that cause it's mostly thoughtlessly empty, but just let me read or watch a movie about the Undead and it's off to the firing neuron races and I end up awake at 3 a.m. convincing myself that those dogs aren't barking at anything resembling the,,,,undead.

Did I mention that this ebook has a sequel? You know what that means.

Ok, done with the brain twitches.

For day 6 of project 365 you can click here but you don't have to leave a comment. I'll try to put a link to that photoblog on facebook too.

I hope everyone is staying warm!!

Project 365-5

I couldn't get this to upload on my photoblog, not sure if it's due to my crappy HughesNet connection or a problem over at photoblog, so I'm posting it here.

Not much else happening around here today except that I wimped/wigged/freaked out whilst they tried to complete an MRI today and no amount of prodding or pleading will ever get me back in one of those things unless I'm totally unconscious! Guess they'll have to go some other route,,,they tell me they have open MRI machines somewhere.

I hope.

Mother Nature is Messing Around

See? Even my big, ol, fake, fat, frog has goosebumps. And a slight dusting of snow between his little froggy eyes. I was all prepared for a leisurely day at home,,,alone,,,and that tiny bit of snow shut down our wimpy school for the day, dammit.

Anyway, the sun broke through off and on, and then mostly on, and I got a pic for the 365 project when I got out of the bed or out from under my blanket for more than a second or two.

The weatherman speaks of more snow to come about mid-week and the frigid temps continue.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

These freezing temps are not doing one thing for my temperament. My feet are cold so I'm now sure that it's officially Winter time in eastern Arkansas.

Now I'll have to try to patiently wait for Spring, but patience is not one of my virtues.
Actually I'm not sure what/which, if any, virtues I have.

"A virtue is a character trait or quality valued as being good."

Well, maybe loyalty, or love. Those can be considered virtues can't they?

Anyway, enough rambling.

School starts back tomorrow ( creaky geriatric cartwheels, and squeals of delight) and the same old routine begins again.

And hey, I remembered day 3 of project 365! I'm on a roll here folks!

Day Two, over and out!

It's the evening of January 2nd already, before you know it, another January will be sliding on by.

Second picture of project 365 is of a delta sunrise.

We had leftovers and snacks today so the fridge is gradually emptying out of holiday fare. I'm thinking a good pot of soup would taste mighty fine for tomorrow. Maybe some chicken soup, yeah,,,,or some roasted rosemary chicken and veggies,,,,I guess I'll have to sleep on it.

Happy First Day of 2010!

I'm going to try to do the 365 photos, If

I don't forget,

And the creek don't rise and take my paddle,,,or something like that.

Jan. 1, 2010 photo.