He neighed at me

He's standing on a hill. We drove by at 9:00am and there he was. We drove home at 2:30pm and he was still there! That's weird!

A boot

These are expensive, custom made boots. The spurs have a ruby inset in each, or, well, one has a ruby inset. On the other boot, not pictured, the ruby fell out. If you want to dig through the dirt on a 350 acre ranch you could be the lucky finder of the ruby! The spurs were a gift to our friend from his grandad, so they're very precious to him. I asked him why the spurs were so teensy and he said the large spurs were made for breaking in horses and he's not breaking in horses so his spurs are like this. I guess he kept them on a wall for years till his grandad told him to quit looking at them and wear them. So he did. He does. They have a large, close-knit, family. His grandad died two years ago and our friend had a very hard time with it.

The calf branding was beyond my expectations. It was a piece of Americana - New Mexican flavored Americana. Evidently it's a yearly gathering that they've done for generations. Literally, generations. Some of the people in this sleepy little town have lived in this region for years. Some stay, some go and make a living and come back, but the roots here are strong. These people are dug in and they're not leaving. That's a new feel to me.

So. Yeah, I got pictures and video. I considered whether or not to post them. People who buy all their meat at the market (that would be me) or people who are vegan or vegetarian will find offense in the calf branding...and ear tagging and castration. The way it was done 100 years ago is how it's done today and that's what I saw yesterday. Me, I've had time to get used to the idea. People ranch here. People hunt here. In Southern California, as a city dweller I met zero hunters and ranchers. It's just not done, it's not cool to kill animals. But here it's different. They hunt and kill and eat the animals. The whole thing, they eat. There's not much waste I tell you that for certain.

I'm going to post some of my photos and maybe a video. Don't look ifns you don't like that kind of stuff. That's your fair warning.

I saw a baby roadrunner outside today! And yesterday there was an incredible sandstorm like what you see in the movies! Worst sandstorm I ever saw. Husband and I had just finished checking our campers for payment (we call it "checking for scofflaws") when we saw some weather approaching. We talked back and forth - could it be fog, could it be rain? But it wasn't grey. It was an odd neutral color with maybe a little amber in it. Then my husband said, "Sand. It's a huge sandstorm. Make sure everything's battened down." We were rockin' and rollin'. Found out this morning four boats sunk at the marina. The marina is closed today and looks like it's sunk a little. The levee, which isn't really a levee but the tires they put the water to decrease the waves from the boats, came loose and lots of tires are spread about. But no one died out there. I'm glad no one died. Get caught out in the lake and have your boat capsize in weather like that? I was just hoping everyone could get to shore quick enough. They did.

Did I mention that I got asked this morning to help out with VBS? Egads. Pray for me. They want me to help put up decorations. They asked me if I was any good at that and I said, no, but if you tell me exactly what you want done I can do it. Then he said, you take good pictures. Will you be our roaming photographer and take pictures for us? Sure I said, I can do that. I was kinda quiet because I was screaming on the inside when he said, "You like taking photos, right? I mean, we can take them but they don't turn out like yours." I do like taking pictures says I.

End of day

Tomorrow we're going to a ranch for branding day as in calf branding. I'm going to photograph, well, whatever I see. I've never been to such a function. When in New Mexico, do as the New Mexicans do.

People

Usually I can't photograph people. The human beings quash, as in extinguish, the joy of photography for me when I see the fake smile, the discomfort, the resentment of being photographed. So rather than go through all the asking and feeling people out about how they feel about being photographed, I turn to the sunset or the critters.

But yesterday I got a couple people pics I actually like. This is one of them. A beautiful girl. The prettiest girls are the ones who don't know they're pretty. Actually, she's an athlete. Competitive at heart, and I think she's a Daddy's Girl too. Click to enlarge. I like the expression and the feel.

I was using the telephoto lens. Maybe that's the key for me? Photograph people from at least 30 feet distance. Heh.

He's very small

I made a terrible error in judgment yesterday. I wore my hair in a pony tail to the lake. The wind came up too. Huge mistake. Got caught on my buttons, on my ring. Took a long time to comb out.

Roadrunner

I'm fond of roadrunners. I named one Roadie last year but then more than one started coming around so I wasn't sure if I was talking to Roadie or an impostor after that. Pretty creative name, huh?

This photo shows the bare patch of skin by the eye. You don't always see that. They all have it I think, but some have it brighter than others and only if they move the side feathers will you see the colors. It's bright orange and blue! I thought perhaps it was a mating thing but everything I've read says the male and female look alike, only difference being the males are a little larger. His beak is open because today was 103 degrees. Fahrenheit.

I got this one to cuckoo at me today. Ran in the trailer to get my little camera that will take a short movie and darn it, I couldn't get him to cuckoo again. I will try again another time though. They come by to drink from the water dishes we put out. We have to put out water dishes otherwise the critters, a squirrel or rabbit, we're not sure, will bite into our hose and cause a leak! Lil' troublemakers they are! We've had to buy two new hoses on account of them. We thought we just had bad hoses at first. Hehe!

Before we got this site there was a real nice couple here. The husband though, he was afraid of birds. Afraid, I say! I asked him one day, how come he was afraid of birds and he told me why.

When he was a little boy a cousin of his held him upside down and let the chickens peck at him. I was so sad for him. When the quail came by or the roadrunners came by, his wife said he would not come out of his trailer. He was a sweet man too.

Now if you are observant you've noticed this roadrunner has no tail. Indeed, I am sure something happened. I think he's lucky to be alive. We have several roadrunners come by and I've probably had him come by before but this is the first time we've seen such a short tail. I don't think all of his feathers could have fallen out by themselves.

This second picture is when he decided to leave. I thought it was cute plus you can still see the colorful patches near his eyes. I say he, but it could be a she. He hung around quite awhile.

Jack across the street

I also saw for the first time a tiny cottontail. He's about the size of a teacup and cute as can be. I got to within five feet. In fact I got so close that my telephoto lens told me I was too close. (It doesn't work if you're too close to the subject.)

I did not know the birding was so good at this spot this time of year. It's much better than our old spot. Today I saw an oriole. I hope he comes by again.

Husband brought me home a hot fudge sundae from Dairy Queen. I had no idea Dairy Queen made such good hot fudge sundaes. I could eat one every night. He had to go to the store for ant killer. I asked him what kind he got. He said the only kind they had. Haha! I have to remember there's not much in terms of variety here.

Several nights we've had Jesus clouds. You know that kind? The kind that has sun rays coming out every which way from behind a cloud? Really pretty.

'That's My King' video of the day

The church I went to in San Diego used this as an opening presentation and I was so moved I went to their sound team and asked for a copy to take home to my church. The sound guy said he'd download it for me but it was 99 megs. I told him no problem, I'll bring my external hard drive in. My husband picked it out and it's a good one. It sure came in handy. The sound guy admired it too. Heh, I'm not techy but I can pretend to be. Here's the vid at YouTube. Be ready to say 'Amen' at the end! That's my King!

Chicken soup

I have to start the chicken soup. Son has a little sore throat so it'll help cure him.

My friend is going to send me her potato soup recipe. If I can make it and it's good I'll be a three soup cooker: chicken soup, albondigas soup, potato soup. That's my dream of the day.

Nuttaller's Woodpecker

There's a family of three in our campground!

Going to bed

I slept outside so I woke early. Early for me is 9:00am. I will go to bed early tonight and maybe wake early or even earlier tomorrow!

Good news. The vandals were caught. Apparently long on courage and short on brains they took the credit cards they stole and went to Dennie's and the gas station in town. If they'd done their spending in a large city they may have gotten away with it. I heard that they didn't break in to any vehicles as in breaking the glass but went into ones that were unlocked. One of the vehicles had a man's wallet and $500.00 cash - their vacation money. So sad. But there is a happy ending because the criminals will not escape justice, or at least, the law. Now I'm keeping the phone with me when I sleep outside so I can call 911 if I need. I sure wish I would have been more aware last night. After the truck drove to the other loop I went back to sleep. Darn it.

My friend and mentor is maybe replying to a question of mine right now. I don't think I can stay up to read it tonight so will look forward to reading it tomorrow. I know there's a general way of looking at things, that is, if you have a good heart and good intentions, all is well. But I want more than that. I want a biblical point of view. Nitty gritty. As I've thought it over more during today, and gotten input from two of my top aides who've helped mold my prayer life and Christian life, I see my question is in a grey area and I think Fox is going to give me some things to think about and rather than tell me what I should do, she's going to make me think. I don't always like that because it puts the ball in my court and I can't lob it around indefinitely. I will have to decide for myself.

I pray I hear the Lord and that I let Him be my guide. I don't make it up as I go along. It is Jesus Christ I want to follow. I want to know what He wants of me. Please give me sharp ears. Sometimes my own voice is too loud and it gets in my way. I'm not going to ask a million people what they think. This is it. I will read and pray and think and pray and decide, and then stop questioning myself endlessly. Shall I add one more short, halting, sentence here? :) No, I shall not. Heh.

Tomorrow night there will be a beautiful and big (though actually the same size as always) moon!

Sweet desert air

I slept outside last night. The air smelled so good and the clouds and the moon overhead were so pretty. The prayers flowed freely. Effortlessly. It was good to get out from beneath the day long constant droning of the a/c. I only woke up twice; once for a funny noise that I imagined was a carnivore and once because a truck drove slowly by.

Turns out there was a great deal of vandalism last night. I suspect the vehicle that drove by was full of the people who did the vandalism and maybe because I was outside they didn't vandalize this loop. Just a guess, but I think so maybe. It's so sad people do that. Some suspicious people walked by two days ago. They parked on the road and just walked through the loop. We noticed because they didn't fit in. It's a little unusual for a large group of people to park on the roadside and meander through. Normally, they'd be camping or visiting campers and they were definitely not camping. Just so happens the day they walked by my husband was yelling (we were having a family issue) and anybody with ears would have heard for blocks. Maybe also, that attributed to why this loop wasn't vandalized. My husband isn't a shrinking violet.

It's hot out

Our a/c can barely keep up. And despite 107 degree temps what am I making for dinner? Chicken soup. It's almost done. At least I boiled the bird outside so it didn't simmer in here for an hour and a half. I have to come up with something that requires less heat before eating.

I have not enough energy for even a silent scream.

Ho hum

I have such a case of the blahs today. I can't stand myself!

What to do?

A Father's Day Link

This is an article about being a father that I think is very good.

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/199/11381/

Science

We're beginning chemistry, studying the Periodic Table of Elements today. This is lesson two. I was freaking out because suddenly in this new unit our curriculum is teaching a subject that I know practically nothing about. We're taking longer to do a lesson but we're loving it. Both of us!

Article I'm reading

It was sent to my husband by one of the retirees from where he used to work. It's long, but it's good. I'll be finishing it tomorrow.

Global Intelligence Briefing for CEOs

Getting better

My husband and son are out trying to dig some visitors out of the sand. Well, not the visitors exactly, but their vehicle. People get stuck in the sand regularly. On holidays the tow company camps here because so many people get stuck!

They squeezed me in for an appointment yesterday at 10:00am and I'm using triamcinolone and it's working. The doctor had such a good heart. She even touched my rash. Usually they just peer at it from a safe distance of two or three feet. I'm not all better but getting better. Such a relief. My husband was gone to the city for supplies so I had to ask a friend for a ride. I hate having to ask a favor, but there are too many hills and it too hot for me to ride my bike there. She was very gracious so I didn't feel too badly. Bless her heart. If I couldn't get in yesterday morn they said the next appointment would be June 24th. Yipes. Praise the Lord for medicines that work. I hope I continue to get better and that the rash will go all the way away and not pester me indefinitely.

Where is SchnauzerMom's blog???

Aaaugh

I'm itchy. I'm itchy. I'm itchy. I can't stands it. I didn't go to church because long sleeves against my arms makes me want to scratch - and I don't wanna wear a tank top to church because I don't want to show my rashy arms. I dropped our son off at Kid's Church and came home.

I did forget to blog something important. On Friday night we went to a taco dinner at the church. It was a fundraiser for the youngsters to attend camp. All three of us went. And guess what. My husband had a good time. I was so happy. And I chit-chatted with a couple people. Woohoo! When we were home I told my husband that that was called Christian fellowship and he said it was pretty good. Hehe! Overjoyed, I was.

That evening for no reason at all our son said to us, "Mamma and Deedah, have I told you today that I love you both?" Husband and I looked at each other and said, "No." And he said, "I love you both." It was 'bout the sweetest thing.

She's got the heebee jeebies

Oh dear. It itches a lot. My forearms and it's moving up. I got it last month in San Diego and I've been ignoring it hoping it would go away but yesterday it got worse with a vengeance. Did anyone realize there's an 'a' in vengeance? I didn't. It's broken out on my chest now too. I have to see a doctor soon. It's not going away. Rats.

I've tried 1% Hydrocortisone cream and extra strength Benadryl cream and I took a Benadryl pill two hours ago. No difference. I want to scratch! I'm using my super power brain waves to avoid scratching but it's still driving me mad. Just running my hands lightly over my forearms feels soooo good. EEeeeeek.

I hate skin problems.

Reminder from my mom

June 6th, 1944, D-Day

Anniversary today.

The greatest armada ever assembled in the history of the world landed on the shores of Normandy this day 64 years ago. The whole world learned of it and celebrated. Thousands of clandestine radios in prison camps and resistance groups all over the world learned of it. We were glued to our radios, read the newspapers stem to stern, watched the newsreels at the movies. The Germans, with the exception of a few like Rommel, thought it was a feint and still expected the main invasion at Calais - too late did the truth sink in. We had landed and prevailed in Africa and Italy, but Normandy was the beginning of the end of a war that involved virtually every country in the world.

Remember.

This is an email from my mother this morning. She was a child during WWII, her father died in WWII, and she remembers.

Such wind

It's so windy here. I never knew it could be so windy for so long anywhere. Days and nights of wind. Mornings and evenings of wind. Weeks of wind. A month of wind.

Today it is windy.

Hillary loses

But she sounds just like she won. She is one piece of work. It'll be interesting to see who Obama selects as his running mate. If I venture a guess, I'd say it won't be Hillary. I think he's going to try to get votes from moderates and to do that he needs anyone other than Hillary. I think Hillary as vice-prez would make McCain a more likely winner in November.

I waits and sees.

I'm so impressed

I'm very impressed with myself tonight. I made a new soup! It's a Mexican meatball soup called albondigas. Everyone liked it! Well, everyone means two people besides me, but they're important people. Our son, who often is a picky eater, said, "Mamma, I don't like this." And of course, I was ready to chastise him but before I could get a word out, he said, "I don't like it, I love it!" Boy howdy, that kid. I was happy.

I'm not a very good cook but I think I might be a soup person. Now I have two soups in my repertoire that everyone likes: chicken soup and albondigas soup.

42" for June

Washed it this morning early. Both pics taken today. I wanted an outside pic but it's been very windy. The first pic is regular daytime hair and the second one is just brushed with a fling added for flair. Had a barrette in my hair for five minutes and got an indentation. See it? I do. And I'm not happy with the ruffle and ridging, but it's a day to day thing. Sometimes it turns out interesting and I like it and others days, no. Today is just --> No. I did earn two compliments at church this morn though and spoke a few minutes with another lady who has always worn her hair in a single braid, but today she wore it down. We were going around shaking hands and she and I ended up talking about hair the whole time. I must say, her hair looked lovely. I told her so.

January to June ends

I thought to put my January and June photos side by side.

In January I realized I made it to classic so it was an amazing month, but I didn't care for my feeble looking ends at all. They developed that fringe effect very suddenly. I had a one inch trim in March which set me back to a little above classic. Had some slow growing in April (it happens sometimes!) but now I'm at 42" which is the longest I've ever had my hair. It's a solid 42, baby!

Today's pic is not brushed very nicely but what the hey. At least I have a pic for the official record.

Sunday

Church was wonderful and I saw all the people I wanted to see today. And I chatted a bit. They call it fellowship. I did some fellowship!