For Mamma Roo

who is always so patient! Many thanks, sweets! As for the rest of you, enjoy!

I had to delete the slideshow. It's an attempt to "repair" my blog, which appears to have an intense dislike for slideshows. Sorry!

This was so much fun for me, except for finding that many of the photos I'd planned to share from the last church function are not compatible w/ the slideshow. I do not know why. It wants jpg images and that's what I gave it. I even deleted and resaved them as jpgs but no go. So I'll figure something else out! Meanwhile, the descriptions of the photos are as follows:

1. That's my Big Man, my Heart Throb, my Boy!
2. This actually is from church: Samantha, Hannah (granddaughter of), Arthur the pastor, and Joshua.
3. Baby Nose
4. Mama and Son
5. Some of the wildly rampant Kudzu -- it really is beautiful around the ranch.
6. Mama, who would not stay back enough for me to photograph her -she wanted scratches and smooches and cookies, OH MY!
7. Another Kudzu shot on our land.
8. Baby, thinking he's gonna nibble on his brother's butt!

I'll work on the rest as time permits ... As a matter of fact, I have an idea!

These are some of the images that refused to work in the slideshow. Above, Daddy is playing horseshoes. I didn't ask but I'm sure he WON! Daddy is a success at every single thing he attempts.

This is the only photo of my mama that is not blurred. Remember how I always talk about "Here she comes, on her little wheels"? She's like a whirlwind all the time, and none of the photos showed her clearly except this one. Case closed.


I just love this photo! This is Wanda, the pastor's precious wife, and of course my daddy. In the background, you get just a little peek at Glenda who is the sweetest little thing!

And tonight, don't forget to set your clocks back ("Spring forward, Fall back") but this is the last time we'll do it this way. Currently, daylight time begins in the United States on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October. On the first Sunday in April, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the last Sunday in October, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time. These dates were recently modified with the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. no. 109-58, 119 Stat 594 (2005). Starting in March 2007, daylight time in the United States will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.

Not all places in the U.S. observe daylight time. In particular, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not use it. Indiana just recently adopted the use of it beginning in 2006.

* In 2006, daylight time begins on April 2 and ends on October 29.

* In 2007, daylight time begins on March 11 and ends on November 4. [New law goes into effect.]

* In 2008, daylight time begins on March 9 and ends on November 2.

Many other countries observe some form of "summer time", but they do not necessarily change their clocks on the same dates as the U.S.

Daylight time and time zones in the U.S. are defined in the U.S. Code, Title 15, Chapter 6, Subchapter IX - STANDARD TIME. The link will take you to the Cornell Law site. Yes ... I read all kinds of things, not all of it novels and news.

It would also be a primo time to change your batteries in your smoke detectors. Ten years of living in STL taught me that -- every time this year all the media pounded that into our heads and it's stuck -- not a bad idea!

It's All in The Cards Baby!!

Celebrating in Saint Louis -- and in Tennessee!! Woo-hoo, the Cardinals win the World Series!!


Check 'em out, all of 'em running all over the field! *LOL!*




Jeff Weaver allowed just one earned run in closing out the Tigers.

The Cardinals accomplished what few expected outside of St. Louis:
win the World Series. And they did it Friday night behind Jeff Weaver,
another unlikely story who pitched eight remarkable innings in beating
Detroit 4-2 in Game 5. It's St. Louis' first title in 24 years.
In-Card-ible!


I'm so happy! Daddy's happy, all of Saint Louis is happy, I just wish we'd been there! But ... I'm still sick. But this is still a Good Thing! WOO-HOO! Come to think of it ... I don't believe I know anyone who isn't a Cardinals fan. We have excellent taste!

Memphis Manatee Missing

That's right, the little devil has made himself scarce. Yesterday the Manatee Rescue Team from Sea World in Orlando were hoping for a fairy tale ending. They'd driven 14 hours or so from Orlando to Memphis to rescue a manatee in the Wolf River Harbor. When they arrived, they checked the manatee and prepared for an early morning rescue. When the sun came up, they realized the manatee had hit the road ... as it were. The poor animal is no doubt scared to death ... Yeah. I'm worried about him.
I'M OUTTA HERE
Manatee Rescue Update:
(2:30pm) Officials are calling off their "intense hunt" for the manatee in Wolf River Harbor. Search crews believe that the manatee is no longer in Wolf River Harbor, and that it may have migrated south. While local authorities will continue to patrol the harbor for the animal, crews from Sea World and the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife are leaving the scene.
They will, of course, return if the manatee reappears. I'm so hoping he just migrated south to warmer waters, which would be natural for him.

Oh, you gotta see this -- how it takes me back!
That's the tower cam high above WAND-TV in Decatur, IL looking down on SouthSide drive. If you keep driving north -- I mean in relation to this photo -- you'll head right into SouthShores, a kind of subdivision/shopping center-kinda place. You can see two of the (I believe) seven basins of Lake Decatur.

And that's a current shot of the weather nearest to me, at Jackson Careers and Technology Magnet Intermediate. Let me tell you, it's been raining horses and donkeys for three days w/ winds whipping at 20.25mph and although it's died down somewhat now we still don't have sun here on the ranch. It's not cold, right now it's 66° but it's just wettttttttttt, and I'm sick of it.

Bet you can't guess where this is!
That is actually the Aina Haina Elementary School in Honolulu, HI where it's noon on a school day. See the little kids? The weather there is 78.5° while the wind is out of the NE at 8.3mph. I can feel the breeeeeeeeeeze ... !

Meanwhile, this is the scene from Denver:

This storm dumped so much snow that schools are closed! Forget flying in and out of DIA. It ain't happenin'.
TWO FEET OF SNOW
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious.

Finally -- and this is only fair -- this is the scene of what will soon be a very exciting event, in less than two hours!
That's right fellow babies, that's a shot of Busch Stadium in STL from KMOV TV, where it's presently 47° w/ winds out of the NW at 3.5mph. The wind chill is presently 45° but "Tonight: Windy...colder. Cloudy in the evening then clearing. Low around 40. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening." Oh me. That makes no difference, no one knows how to handle Busch Stadium better than the Cardinals as evidenced by their record at home. By the way, what in Sam Hell is wrong w/ the Tigers pitchers?? Could they make more errors?? I mean, even if they tried really hard?? Bad for them, good for us! Woo-hoo!

Do I have a recipe for you! Get a load of it, and tell me this doesn't sound delectable?

Title: Banana Rum Ice Cream
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Whipping cream
1 1/2 cups Half and half
6 large Egg yolks
2/3 cups Sugar
3 tablespoons Dark rum
1/2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
1 pound Ripe bananas; (about 3 med), peeled
2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice

Pour cream and half and half into heavy medium saucepan. Bring mixture just
to simmer. Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in
hot cream mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan and stir over medium-low
heat until mixture thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is
drawn across, about 7 minutes (do not boil). Strain custard into clean
large bowl. Stir in rum and vanilla. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
Puree bananas and lemon juice in processor until smooth. Stir into custard.
Process in ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Transfer to covered container and freeze. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead.)
Makes about 2 quarts.

Sadly, I no longer eat this way. Yup, I've turned into a Healthy Eater aka I've Beat My Body Up Long Enough. Only fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, no refined sugars and so on. It makes it sort of difficult since I have a reaction to aspartame -- it really limits my choices but oh well, you can't have everything. I just drink tons of water now, about 48oz. per day and more if I can stand it. Also, only one soda a day. Sigh!

I'm outta here like a Memphis Manatee -- gotta get Beer For My Horses!

Memphis Manatee

Oh, this is just sad! Somehow a manatee showed up at Wolf River Harbor near downtown Memphis! He's been here three days however, a manatee rescue team from Sea World is expected to arrive today to help him. Poor little guy!


He's not missed any meals because the area he's in has tons of vegetation, but no one can figure how on earth he got here, some 750 miles upriver from where he belongs in the warm waters of the Gulf. God bless the little guy ...
I'M LOST!
You know me, this is just about to break my heart worrying about him ...

The Good News: I am not allergic to my precious Furballs! Woo-hoo!
The Bad News: I have suffered the worst cold for the past week than I can remember having ever! But it's also the only cold I've had in five years so I guess I was due for one. That's what the Duck said, at least.

The Good News: Wesley Snipes has been found! He's in Namibia filming a movie called Gollowwalker. You'll remember he was indicted last week on eight counts of tax fraud. According to the charges, Snipes didn't file federal income tax returns from 1999-2004, and attempted to defraud the government of around $12 million in taxes.
The Bad News: Namibia has no extradition treaty with the U.S., so presumably, as long as this intricate masterpiece keeps filming, he's safe!

This is just plain Bad News: Fire chief, 3 volunteers charged with arson!
Oh wait, The Good News: These dufuses are from Tennessee, but about an hour northwest of here near the TN - KY border!
TERRORS OF TIPTONVILLE
Good grief, what were they thinking?? The story even made CNN. Get a load of the Fire Chief:

All four men charged are volunteer firefighters, and one is Mr. Blackburn's grandson. Sad. Lives are ruined.

Speaking of high crime, as we all know if you're going to commit capital murder you don't want to do it in Florida, or Texas for that matter. Take thee to Illinois where it took us 18 years to finally fry John Wayne Gacy, who bawled all the way to the execution chamber! Florida put to death Ted Bundy who terrorized women in this country for many years and now Danny Harold Rolling is minutes away from execution, for which hope of any final appeal is slim.


Rolling, now 52, is said to be Florida's most prolific serial killer since Ted Bundy. The son of a Louisiana cop, he had his last meal of lobster tail, butterfly shrimp, baked potato, strawberry cheesecake and sweet tea shortly before noon.
ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN'
"Rawhiiiiiiiiiiiiide!!" Okay, that was a bad joke but I just watched the Blues Brothers again recently.

Hot on Danny Rolling's heels is the execution of Gregory Summers, for ordering his parents' murders sixteen years ago.

Good old Gregory would be in -- you guessed it! -- Texas! I'll never understand what gets into people -- if you don't get along, take a page from my family playbook: Disappear! Become persona non grata! Vamoose! Damn, who cares? You got that kind of attitude, I got better things to do w/ my time. Anyway --
TEXAS TUNE UP

Speaking of which ... This is kinda unusual. It's a list of Last Words From Death Row:
"I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends."
— Ted Bundy, executed in Florida on Jan. 24, 1989
"Let's do it."
— Gary Gilmore, executed in Utah on Jan. 17, 1977
(By firing squad, incidentally.)
"To all of the racist white folks in America that hate black folks and to all of the black folks in America that hate themselves: the infamous words of my famous legendary brother, Matt Turner, 'Y'all kiss my black ass.' Let's do it."
— Brian Roberson, executed in Texas on Aug. 9, 2000
"Please tell the media, I did not get my Spaghetti-O's, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know."
— Thomas Grasso, executed in Oklahoma on March 20, 1995
"You can be a king or a street sweeper, but everybody dances with the Grim Reaper."
— Robert Alton Harris, executed in California on April 21, 1992
(No truer words were ever spoken.)
"Sir, in honor of a true American hero: 'Let's roll.' Lord Jesus receive my spirit."
— David Ray Harris, executed in Texas on June 30, 2004
(In reference to the last recorded words of Todd Beamer, passenger on Flight 93, 11 September, 2001 which crashed in Shanksville, PA.)
"Jane, you know damn well I did not molest that kid of yours. You are murdering me and I feel sorry for you. Get in church and get saved. I really don't know what else to tell you."
— William Chappell, executed in Texas on Nov. 20, 2002
Some words were sad, poignant, some were slightly comical. The worst part is, they're all true.

So y'all notice my new Firefox button, right? That's because there's a new release! I've had it for a bit, but it was kicked loose to the public about 24 hours ago. And just because I love you I'm posting this:
Six handy Firefox 2 tweaks!
Step 1: Download Firefox 2.
Step 2: Bend it to your will.
TWEAK ME, BABY!
Sooo easy, and let me just point out one thing: Earlier today I had the opportunity to use Session Restore. Mind you, I'd forgotten about it but Firefox asked me if I'd like to restore my session to which I replied, "HELL YEAH!" (think Montgomery Gentry) and I was sooooo happy! Just read the dang article -- if that doesn't convince you Firefox is the end-all be-all in the browser world then ... I guess that means you need glasses. Because obviously you can't read -- so why are you checking out my blog?? Ahh ... for the pretty pictures!

On 15 October we all loaded up to attend a church doin's. What I remember most of all was the most mouthwatering food I've ever had in my entire life, Delinda's Mama's Chicken and Dumplings. The only chicken and dumplings I'd had previously were canned and putrid. Really. They were so bad I wondered why my mom was punishing me. Delinda promised me they were to die for and oh my! They certainly were, and she didn't exaggerate one bit. In regards to that day, I have come into possession of a few photos taken of that event, "Old Timer's Day." Everyone was supposed to dress up in period costume -- I, however, did not. I felt fortunate to make it to the event with matching shoes on -- actually, they were my red boots which matched my red fringe western jacket. Anyway, there's not a doubt in my mind I wouldn't have had matching footwear had I not groped for the red boots. Here's the most frightening part yet: I thought I had a pretty good bead on all the photo-takers at the church and threw my jacket over my head when I saw them headed my way. But I missed one ... that sneaky Cotton had a digital camera I wasn't aware of! On to the photos -- in no particular order:

That would be Bruce and a teeny bit of Anthony, both of whom play in the band at the church.

Bruce and his 9.5 month old baby boy, Danny Valencia aka Pork Chop! I love that baby so much it hurts me. And for his part, every time he gets an eyeball on me he smiles his little face off! Pork Chop, not Bruce. Well, Bruce smiles too ... the fool calls me "Sambo." Sigh.


That's my DADDY and ... someone, whose name has escaped me. They were putting the horseshoes together. No, those are not our horseshoes. It's an actual set Daddy bought.

This is Gene. He and his wife own the store where my son once took guitar lessons from Gene's friend Alan. Imagine my surprise when Gene and Elaine (his wife) walked in. I had sooo many questions to answer ... I kept 'em short and sweet. Well, I kept 'em short. Alan no longer works for Gene, but instead works in Parsons where my doctor is. I'll be looking Alan up next time I go there.


Gene's band (sans Alan), and they played forever!


This is Pork Chop's little cousin, Joshua, age 7 months, aka Bruce's brother Ricky's baby. Joshua is the sweetest little angel, and I'm wild about him as well. He looks just like his mommy, Dawn where Pork Chop looks exactly like his daddy's baby photos! The two babies are so different -- Joshua is cool and calm unless he needs a diaper change. His cousin is rough and tough, active all the time -- and he fights sleep, just like my son did. Oh me. I thought they broke that mold w/ my son, but no.


Bruce and Tonya, my little sister and please notice if you will the heart on Tonya's sweater? That was once in my hair ... until Tonya admired it! I tell you truly, I love Tonya w/ ... everything inside me. I know of no other way to put it.

The whole family: Tonya, Justin, Bruce and Baby Boy. OMG! Look at Tonya's right wrist! She also snagged my bracelet. I'd better explain -- just in case. Those who know me well realize it's very easy to "snag" something from me. You need only admire it and I'm taking it off to put in your hair, or on your wrist, etc. She would never ask for anything, but she doesn't have to. I love Tonya, I love you. If you like it, it doesn't matter what it is, it's yours.

I have more photos but I'll have to post them tomorrow. I'm still not calmed down from the uproar we had here a little bit ago -- in fact, I had to save my post and return to it and that's why it's so late now. The horses got out -- ALL of them -- so Daddy and I had to chase them. Meanwhile, Mazie's Chapel down the road had just let out and cars were going by but instead of flying as they usually do, once they saw us herding horses they slowed way down and crept by. It was sort of touch and go for a bit because sometimes they'd run together, and others they'd split up and go different ways, and the one thing we didn't want was those fools going into the timber! That would have so sucked! You know, those things are gonna happen sometimes but you just pray WHEN it does, you'll keep your wits about you and God will tell you how to deal so you don't spook them into the timber. Tell you what, once my Palomino realized there was actual grass he could graze on it was a snap to grab ahold of him. After that it was all downhill. I believe he got ahold of one of those last pepper plants ... but don't tell my mom, okay? They're still producing!

Finally, Note to Self #6:
It doesn't matter how sick I ever again become, how dizzy and weak, how hard I'm coughing and sneezing -- I will never EVER again put Vick's Vapo-Rub on my throat BEFORE going to the bathroom! I'm still having nightmares ...

$1.99

And how much is fuel in your neighborhood? I never thought I'd see the day that it'd drop below $2.00 but here we are and woo-hoo! I'm going to Jackson tomorrow and I should fuel before I leave town. Do you realize this is the first time (in a long time) I'll do this w/ a smile on my face while I do so? Smile, nothing -- I'm flat gonna do the Happy Dance!

On the down side, I think I've developed an allergy to my beloved Furballs. I kid you not, every time one of them comes near me I sneeze my fool head off. This in no way means they'll be finding new homes, it just means I'll be taking lots more Sudafed! It's the only med that doesn't make me sleepy. Oh dear ... Speak of the devil! Scary Cat just jumped up in my lap to feel the heat coming off my laptop. What a dufus -- it's 80° outside! Sigh. He's lovable when he wants to be, God bless his little heart.

The Detroit Tigers won their division and my STL Cardinals are in the lead in the race for the National League Pennant 3-2. The winner plays the Tigers on Saturday night. Thus far the score is 1-0, Mets in the 4th. I'm not worried.

In the news today under the Asinine Category, Heather Mills-McCartney has new, exciting allegations about her soon to be ex, among them:
Heather claims that, among many other allegations, Paul choked her, poured wine on her, cut her with a broken wine glass and forbid her to breastfeed their child. Paul has slammed the accusations in a statement made to the press through his lawyers. His lawyers’ statement read, “Our client would very much like to respond in public and in detail to the allegations made recently against him by his wife and published in the press but he recognizes, on advice, that the only correct forum for his response to the allegations made against him is in the current divorce proceedings."


Oh, that's a little risque', is it not? Anyway, read it here:
ASININE ALLEGATIONS

Condi Rice tells Japan, "We will defend you" among growing fears of North Korea's apparent nuclear weaponry.
NO PROBLEM
Tell you what, I'd be sorta nervous if I lived next door to Kim Jong-il or any other nutcase. I saw on CNN that he was born in Siberia, he considers himself quite the ladies man, he perms his hair which I notice is getting pretty thin, stands 5'2" tall, drinks Hennessey cognac, and owns a collection of 20,000 movies which includes the complete James Bond series. Now, it is said that he'd stop being such a tiny tyrant (even I'm taller than he is) if he could play James Bond in the next movie. I just found a photo of him in my Deck of Weasels:
Need I say more?

Barbaro continues his slow but steady progress:
“Barbaro is wearing his new cast comfortably and his vital signs and appetite remain excellent,” said Dr. Dean W. Richardson, Chief of Surgery at Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital.
BARBARO
"Big B" is pictured w/ Dr. Richardson at University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, Barbaro's home since 20 May, 2006.

I have a wonderful horse, a gentle giant of a Palomino whom I love more than words can say. I don't believe any amount of money could buy him from me -- I was once given a $10,000 opening offer from some show people. My Big Man is more special than I have room for words to describe him. There is nothing like seeing him gallop to the pasture fenceline when he sees me, and hearing him nicker at me! I actually find comfort and solace feeling his warm breath on my cheek. Second to him, Barbaro is my hero. For more information on Barbaro's condition see:
TIM WOOLLERY

Wesley, Wesley, Wesley, what were you thinking?? He's been charged w/ tax fraud in an indictment alleging he illegally obtained nearly $12 million in refunds. Refunds? Now he's on the run, avoiding the Blade of the IRS. Sucks to be you, Wesley.
When are people gonna learn? Oh forget it -- I just remembered someone else who is ... less than diligent w/ his taxes. He's not anywhere near a living wage tax bracket, never has been, but he's careless. Sad. Some people just don't learn ...

Here's some trivia I bet you weren't aware of:
The Vatican employs 16 Retainers of Church Secret. These retainers receive a salary of 160,000 euros a year, but are not permitted to leave Vatican City.
160,000.00 EUR = 200,668.18 USD

Today is was 85° and sunny w/ a breeze. Tomorrow it we'll have thunderstorms w/ a high of 62° -- in other words, it'll be winter again! Of course, on the day I have errands to run, appointments to meet and dinner @ Outback to attend. On the other hand, you can't have the brilliant, fiery fall colors w/out rain and apparently somewhere around here are gorgeous leaves on trees.


As I've said previously, pine trees I'm surrounded by usually stay the same year round, as do the cedar trees. Sigh! Probably I'll see some pretty sights on the freeway tomorrow. But for now, I'm outta here -- Precious wants to go outside one last time before bed.

Where My Down Coat?

It got soooo cold last night when I woke up this morning it looked like snow on the grass! Snow? In TN? In October? Never! But it did get freaky cold last night, and now it's returning to more normal temps. Yesterday the high was 53°, the low 33°and normally it's 75°and 50°. Today it'll be around 67°, tomorrow 73° w/ the sun shining brightly! This is normal weather in the south. It sucks. I'm stuck in the No Snow Zone. Life is so not fair, but I don't know what my horses would do if it snowed more than an inch down here and lasted only 30 minutes. I can tell you for a fact, my wolf hybrid doesn't know from snow at all -- she's only 2! I doubt she'll ever learn what it is down here, but I could be surprised. It wouldn't be the first time I fell over in shock ... as a result of various monentous events.

Speaking of which, check out this photo from MI w/ the caption:

"The many colors of fall...reds, golds, and white from snow."

Just check this out, a photo taken yesterday in Chippewa Falls, WI:

I ask you, how lucky is this guy? I loved living in Wisconsin, being right there at the lake front! Yup, we had plenty of lake-effect snow which was awesome -- until I had my first experience w/ thunder-snow. That scared the stuffin' outta me! Otherwise, I loved it, loved every minute I lived there as I recall. I guess because my entire childhood was spent in areas where we had real seasons, where the change in season was highly defined, I miss it all the more. I remember the snow coming down in big, fat flakes, how warm it was when it snowed and the quiet. It's so quiet when it snows! Except of course if you're near O'Hare International Airport where you can hear the birds but not see them. Eerie.

But it's not all bad in the south. So what if my daddy outgrew his tremendous allergies and passed them on to his only child? We had frost last night so the grass will no longer grow -- that goes for the new Bermuda sod in the pasture, by the way -- so that's the end of part of my sneezy problem. However, I'm surrounded by 97 acres of pine and cedar trees which never stop growing. *achoo* But, I do miss the autumn colors -- very little on the ranch, however I do get to enjoy them when I travel. I have a Chris Cagle concert coming up as well as Montgomery Gentry, and I have a few reservations in Tunica -- all comped of course. That would be a Good Thing.

Now this is a gorgeous photo, taken five days ago in Lincoln, NH:

Now it's apple season -- yummy, crunch, tart, sweet, crispy, tasty apples! Is your mouth watering? Remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away! I don't know what the significance of that is but every time my mama goes to the market she brings me fruit including lots of apples and she often says that to me. I don't know what apples have to do w/ seeing a physician but there you go.

I make an apple crisp (the afore-mentioned recipe Samantha's Famous Apple Crisp which I got out of a cookbook but tweaked) that's to die for! Seriously, I've had people bring me apples just to make them this hot, buttery, cinnamon-y dessert! Mmmm ... this would be another Good Thing.

And back to the snow! Here's an image I'm familiar with:


Oh ... I sorta feel sorry for this guy:


Sucks to be in New York, dude -- they got two feet of snow! Woo-hoo!

And what would this be w/out photos of cats -- Cats Who Look Like Hitler, to be exact!
Disgruntled Hitler:


Where My Eyeballs Hitler:


Stop Exploiting Me Hitler:


And last but not least, Upon My Throne Hitler:


Anyone who is owned by a Furball is familiar w/ that pose! Oh, I love my Furballs ... Even more since we have the automatic litterbox! It rocks! Totally worth the money, no question!

Gotta run -- going to the market, etc.

It Turned to Winter!

I should probably mention it turned to winter overnight, TN version. It's cloudy, breezy and 48° then tomorrow it'll be 72° which is normal. Evidently rain is expected but I've not seen hide nor hair of it yet, although it wouldn't exactly break my heart. The pasture could really use it! I really hate the thought of frost tonight on those tender upshoots of grass but hopefully it'll survive. I mean, it's grass! It's almost a weed, surely a little (possible) frost won't hurt it. I hope. I have to go to the market -- I have forty-eleven items on my list -- no later than tomorrow morning, particularly because I'm making a Gooey Butter Cake for a church event and it's sooo much better a day or two after it's baked. Oh yummy! But trust me, a tiny piece of this is all you can handle. It was a toss-up between Samantha's Famous Gooey Butter Cake and Samantha's Famous Apple Crisp -- I should have committed to the Apple Crisp, because it's that time of year but ... I'll be honest: I decided on the cake because a teensy piece will do me and I have absolutely no intention of regaining the weight I lost! No way.

I've been digging through some images -- photos, other photos I'd taken, scanned and burned to disk plus one or two I have no idea where they originated -- and thought I'd share a few. Let me see what I can find now.

This is on my desktop!

Balloon Glow in Forest Park.





When you fly to O'ahu, this is what greets you after that extremely long flight at Honolulu International Airport -- and it's just a taste of things to come! Trust me when I say nothing can prepare you for your very first trip to Hawai'i. Obviously, it's a different culture but it's very nearly also an entirely different country unto itself.



This is inside the International Marketplace, an absolutely fascinating shopper's paradise.

And I believe this is the Ala Moana Center.


This is Crazy Shirts at Ala Moana, where all my Kliban Hawai'i shirts came from -- the only place you can get them. I didn't take the photo ... I just wanted to show you the store.

Ala Moana is four levels of shopping/entertainment, guaranteed to delight every person who enters it. It's not just a mall ... it's an experience. The International Marketplace is as well but it's a whole different experience.

And this is Pali, but I don't believe I took this photo.
The most hysterically funny thing happened when we went to Pali! We climbed up a hill ... Nevermind. You really had to be there but it still makes me dissolve in laughter everytime I think about sliding down the hill and worrying about crashing onto a car in the parking lot below!

Oh me ... I just got an email reminder:

Palomino Girl, this is a reminder for

Duckling Wedding

Sat Oct 14 2pm - 4pm (2 hrs)

(Central Time)
Some church

As though I could forget! The Duck's daughter is getting married on Saturday and even though I've never laid an eyeball on her, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Gotta run for now, I have a bunch of irons in the fire and I need to tend to them!