Over the Fence Gab & Thread Drift--June 23-June 29, 2002

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Starting up for this week.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2002

Answers

Hot, sweltery and humid weather. Last year, we didn't get to 90 until the summer was almost over (admittedly, this is unusual). We've already hit 90 a couple of times and summer has just "officially" begun. What does this presage?

Got zillions of things to do, so I'm bugging out til later! Have a good remainder of the weekend!

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2002


Well, let's see. I slept in the bunkhouse solo on Friday night (soon to be dubbed the Doghouse, if I don't learn to keep my mouth shut), but things have been mostly mended. It was a great night, though: lots of moonlight, cool breezes, and animal sounds (right by the barns and hen house!). I took it as a good solstice time for reflection and personal assessment, at any rate). I may do it again soon (and under more favorable personal circumstances, I hope!).

We went to the Solstice Parade at Fremont (in Seattle) yesterday and watched all the great exhibits, floats, and yes a dozen nekkid bicyclists (in great body paint, though) as they celebrated and greeted the season of the sun. Today I spent a goodly part of the a.m. in church, and then a busman's holiday touring a new expansion of one of the local veterinary hospitals around here (it's huge).

I'm entertaining the idea of finishing mowing the lawn, but due to antihistamine intake (or something), I'm feeling pretty pooped. The weather has been great, and even hot last week...upper 90s. I'm doing a lot of watering from the roof collection tank. Our new ducks are happy in the poultry yard, and one of the duck hens has gone broody under the henhouse. Maybe ducklings soon (and no eagles around this year).

Mr. S. is probably going to school for the next two years or so. That has put me in an interesting head space. I'm supportive of it, but feeling pretty responsible, trapped, and edgy. Probably a good time to exercise more! I've been getting up earlier and walking a couple of fast miles each a.m. before going to work. Good time to be outdoors with the birds singing and the world relatively quiet.

That's all the blab I have for now (and aren't you glad!).

Have a good week!

-- Anonymous, June 23, 2002


Well, this weekend was lots and lotsa frustration.

Mom was wanting a computer, and a friend of mine was willing to let go of his for a song. So I sang (flat), and I'm at home trying to figure out why printer won't print. Two hours later, still fuming, trying to figure out what is the deal.

So I went to a gun show to relax, and found a pistol magazine (the clip holding the cartridges inside the grip) for an old pistol of mine that is one of my favorites. Because of age of pistol (20 years out of production), these magazines are VERY hard to locate. I want a spare, in case the one I have ever gets lost / crunched / or destroyed in any manner.

So I'm on cloud 9, asked around a whole lot looking for this one over several years. Went home, tried the clip and its too freakin' short! Same serial # as the original, just made for a shorter gripped model. So I spent 25 bucks for something I have no use for. May that gun dealer's hemorrhoids come to life with a vengeance. Grrrrr.

If you could see my facial expression right now, you would think that friendlier faces exist on totem poles.

But I'm much better now . . . :)

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2002


I comprehend that headspce thing Sheepish. Hubby was given notice two weeks ago and has been toying with different ideas for after August 9. Whether its off to school or start his own consulting firm, neither mean a regular bi weekly payday and my security alarms have been screaming ever since although I know we will be just fine. Some might ask "well if you are so worried then get out and work. I would but then who would take care of things here?(kids,animals,house etc My pay would just be enough to pay childcare..if that!!)) A lot of plans we had made are shot but c'est la vie. On a different note,I have been looking at chickens asses in a vain attempt to figure out who isn't laying. They all look the same to me!! Some are uglier than others...does that mean they are laying especially well or just have ugly bums? ugh..such a mystery I need to get to a pharmacy for allergy meds. I can't be outside hardly at all and even have wicked attacks indoors. Dang ol' grass.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2002

I had an up and down weekend. Saturday I washed and detailed my car and about melted from the heat. It's been 90+ most of last week and predicted again this week. Saturday night went over to a friend's house, found out that our friend Crystal is going to be playing for the Indianapolis Vipers in the WPFL (Women's Professional Football League). Not too bad for a mom with a 10-month old daughter.

Sunday was our monthly needlework group meeting, got home and had an email from the friend who's house we were at the night before saying his grandmother had passed away. Grammy had been around so long we were beginning to think she was immortal. She had a good, long, full life and died peacefully at home so what more could you ask for?

I may be meeting up with a couple of women from the other forums who live in my area. Melinda posts under the ID Speciallady and Sharon posts as redrose.

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2002



Good afternoon, everyone!! What gorgeous weather we've been having here...'bout time considering the crappy spring weather we had. Really though, ever since the first day of summer last week it's been beautifully sunny and in the high seventies to mid eighties. Summer arrived right on schedual!!

We took advantage of the weather last weekend and escaped to our boat almost all weekend. I got the last laugh on Harry AGAIN this year in the fishing department. Every time we go the the local marine supply store I head for the fishing lures. I'm always checking them out looking for just the "right" lure to catch the first mackeral of the season. Well, Harry laughed at me when I picked up a "shrimp rig" and said that was meant to catch bottom feeders. I said so what...I thought it looked like real shrimp and that I'd eat it if I was a mackeral!! We fished most of the day Saturday out on open water...caught nothin'!! Headed back to the mooring about 4 p.m. and we were getting the grill set up to cook a couple of steaks we'd brought with us. Harry decided to "play" around with my shrimp rig to see how it handled. I tell ya...he didn't have that in the water 30 seconds and a school of macks hit it hard!! Harry hauled in four (it has 6 hooks) and I no sooner took them off and lowered it back in the water and I had 3 more! Needless to say, we had barbecued mackeral that night instead of steak :-)!! So...now he's teasing me saying that HE caught the first mackeral of the season! I say those fish were rightfully MINE since he caught them with my shrimp lure!! What do you all think??

Alison...I'm sure that you and your hubby will be fine...whether he decides to go to school or start his own firm. Just have confidence in yourselves and things will work out!! Heck...you can always go check out chicken butts for entertainment :-)!! Just teasing!!!!

Speaking of mowing the grass...I have to get started on ours. We seem to keep my MIL's lawn looking well-groomed, but ours gets neglected!! Thankfully, I don't seem to have any allergy problems other than a lttle ragweed "thing" in the fall.

Later folks!!!

-- Anonymous, June 24, 2002


Well I was thinking you gals had pulled a fast one on me since I can't tell from looking at the bums who's laying and who's not. I thought"this is great..I'm looking at chicken asses and when I post results they'll be laaaauuughin' at me!" Marcia, my fishing buddy and I were discussing mackeral this morning over coffee. we were debating if they were runnin' and came to the consensus that they were so we may be rigging up sometimes soon too. Mmmmmmmm mackeral!!!! Sooo gooood. So I go out to the barn this AM and was watching my darlings and one gal pees and this lamb gets right in there sniffin' (almost got kicked in the head the little brat) and then starts with the ram face!! then another one did it too!! Oh no!! b You know that face..the pull their lips back in a wierd grin and hold their heads up funny...all set for courtin'. I knew I shoulda fixed 'em. So help me if I end up with lambs in November I'll be PO'ed. I mean, these guys are still nursing for cryin' out loud!! On gal is standing and holding her tail out a lot too. I think she's in an early heat or something. Maybe the change in weather has sparked something? (its turned cool the last week or two) Oy Vay! Guess I'll be waitin' and seein'. Marcia, thanks for the kind words. We will be just fine. Richard is one smart cookie and very resourceful. The severance is very very good and his grandmother's estate hasn't benn sent out yet so we have his inheritance to look forward too plus if necessary he would get UI. We want to get a roof put on the house and side the barn and get out of debt and get a newer family vehicle for me to be taking the kids to school in with his severance( my van is getting to old to fix now that the expensive stuff is going on it). That will have us set up for whatever the autumn brings us.(ie no major vehicle repairs, reliable wheels, no leaks in the roof, little debt to hang over our heads, and the barn winterised). All will be just fine..I know that in my heart..its my head that really likes having some disposible income to dispose of.:-D

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002

Not much going on around here. Still hoping to get the final grade on our yard. I put some more straw on my only raised bed this year. I can't creat anymore until the grading is finished.

I saw the cutest baby racoons last night. They were having a blast. And I saw the largest snapping turtle I have ever seen. I bet his shell was nearly 3 ft. long and his head was massive. It's no wonder the geese in the lake are a bit short on babies this year. Some pairs only have one baby that is getting near to adult size. Some pairs have maybe 3 or 4. But I know they all started out with probably a half dozen each.

Alison, I have had a horrible time with allergies year round (inside and outside) for years. I finally got relief and feel so much better by drinking 2 cups of nettle infusion daily. On the really bad pollen days I drink 3 cups. I steep 1 oz. of dried nettle leaf in a covered quart jar of just boiled water overnight. Strain and refrigerate in the morning. I can't believe how much better I feel. I use about a pound of nettle a month.

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002


There was a tornado just spotted about 9 miles south of where I work and it's heading this way. Darn, where did I put those ruby slippers! :)

Heading for the basement....

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002


Take care...Sherri!!! Keep us posted!

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002


Didn't need the ruby slippers after all. The first tornado veered off to the east and the second one went west. Lots of rain, thunder, and lightning but no major damage and I don't think any injuries. I just tried to call my house and the answering machine is not picking up, which means our electricity is out. Just a typical summer day in the midwest. :)

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002

Ruby slippers do NO GOOD AT ALL, unless you have a too-cute-for-words little dog Toto! ;-) If you don't have such a dog, houses fall on you!

Hey, I have a bumper sticker that I need to get onto my vehicle. It says: I haven't been the same since that house fell on my sister . . .

-- Anonymous, June 25, 2002


ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002

A house fell on Julie and you didn't tell us!!!!! Oh no!!!! hehehehe

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002

Well, it hasn't actually fallen on her -- yet. She was safe for years, having TWO too-cute-for-words little doggies (Westies). But the last one crossed the Rainbow Bridge last year, and another tornado season approacheth. Bettter get another dog quick, Julie! :- D

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002


I wish I would have known about this correlation sooner. My former boss has two Westies and she's the biggest bitch I've ever had the non-pleasure of working for. Even though I don't like dogs that much, it would have been worth it to kidnap her dogs so I could see a house fall on her!

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002

All this talk about little dogs has got me thinking about pugs!! I really like them and have had a hard time deciding between a pug, German shephard or a collie (or some kind of a cross between all of them :-)!!). Hey...EM, how will a pug stand up to a 5 yr. old's "manhandling"??

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002

Wow, Marcia, that's a lot of difference between types of dog!

Sherri, Julie will take the Westies, if they're nice dogs. If they take after their person, maybe not!

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002


Marcia, I think Pugs are one of the best breeds for little kids. They are so very tolerant of children, and they love people to a sickening degree! Their coats are very soft to the touch, and they love to cuddle, at least ours do. My pug sleeps UNDER the covers with me; I have no idea how she can breathe, but thats where she prefers to sleep,and there's no sense arguing with a Pug. They are funny funny funny,and although I read someone say on some forum or other recently that they are yappy, this has not been the case at all with our two.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2002

EM...I sure wish pugs came in a long-haired version! I love brushing long-coated breeds. I remember the days of showing our Malamute and the cute little pugs seemed so bold and funny parading around the ring! I also like Papillons.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Gee Marcia, I wish you lived closer; I'd bring over my Isis........its a running battle around here keeping the Pyr brushed! I just had a repairman here replacing switches in my range, and, as frequently happens, wanted to take home my Pug! They're so people- friendly and soft and cuddly that everybody loves em.......many a time I've seen her instantly soften up a cranky curmudgeon.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Okay, I have an idea for you, Marcia. Check out Tibetian Spaniels. They are from the same root-stock as Pekingese, but are not as hairy. Yet they are fluffier than a Pug. They also do not have as short a nose as the Pekes and Pugs do. I really think that is a crime -- it is so difficult for the litte buggers to breathe!

Tibetan spaniels: http://www.tibbies.net/

Might also be interested in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: http://www.ckcsc.org/ They have common roots with the English Toy Spaniel, but those have the flattened faces as well.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002


What is a crime? Mine breathe just fine! Even under three layers of blankets!

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Hmmm...there was a Cavalier King Charles spaniel on my soap once. He was kinda cute!! I might check them out.

EM...I've heard stories of pugs having eye problems. Any truth to that?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002


Well I dunno, I guess I aint no Pug expert, just know the two I have had, and haven't had any eye problems so far.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

The "crime" EM (in MY view, of course) is breeding animals for characteristics that impair their natural functions. Such as a very short nose that interferes with full breathing. It's my understanding that breathing is impaired (compared to say, a wolf with a much longer muzzle) in ALL the breeds with the flattened faces: Pekes, Pugs, English Toy Spaniels, Boston Terriers, etc. Certainly, every Pug I've encountered has had heavy breathing, snorting and snuffling far more than dogs with longer snouts. If yours don't, then lucky them (and you)! In my view, it is no "crime" to love a Pug, however. :-)

I am vehemently opposed to the continued extreme flattening of the faces of Persian cats (they have breathing problems and teary eye problems because their muzzles are not long enough), and the creation of the "Munchkin" breed of cat. If you haven't seen these, they have short legs, much like a Dachshund. Actually, Dachshunds were bred for short legs for a reason (going into animal burrows), but Munchkins are solely because some people think it's "cute". I don't think it's cute, but regardless of that, why would you want to purposely create cats with legs that can't accomplish what they're intended to do? Adopting and loving a cat with short legs is one thing, but to purposely create such a thing makes me MAD!

So can you tell this is a pet peeve (sorry for the pun) with me? ;- ) I'm against docking tails and cropping ears too.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002


Hmm. Maybe we should dock people's tails (or is circumcision close?) and ears (or how about just body piercing?). Breed more human dwarfs for shorter legs (aww, "it's cute!"). Or breast implants, liposuction, or even better: cloning!!

We sure like to mess around with stuff!

Guilty of docking tails and such (and I don't like it much),

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002


I'm just as guilty, Sheepish, of docking tails in the past when we had sheep!! 'Course now I'm doing the elastrating and disbudding tortures. But I'm thinking that Boxers and Dobermanns (and many other breeds!) would really be cool looking dogs with their tails and ears intact :-)!!

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Oh EM I am so jealous. Pugs are my favorite breed of dog. I prefer the beige and black rather than solid black. Those little faces melt me and those stocky little bodies with that jaunty tail flip...siiiigggghhh. I almost had my husband talked into saving for a Pug when we got the breathing rug also known as Blossom our mutt from the local shelter. She really is wonderful..just not a pug. sigh.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

I got lost on the way to the stove tonight.

No, not Alzheimer's....Hubs had asked for spagetti for supper tonight, so I decided to walk out to the garden for an onion and a green pepper to fry up with the meat for the sauce. I went out the door and on my way down the sidewalk toward the garden, I decided to deadhead the dahlias as I walked by. And the Shasta daisies. Bee balm. Coneflower. Zinnias. You get the picture. So, anyway, by the time I got to the end of the porch, my dress skirt was full of flower heads so I went on over to the compost pile to dump them in and noticed the birdbath was low on water. I went off to get a bucket of water to put in the birdbath; and as I was dipping it out of the rain water tank, I noticed Jenny Wren flying into a gourd birdhouse that we'd hung up. As soon as she flew back out, I set up a ladder that was nearby and peeked in to see 4 baby wrens!! That got me to thinking about our baby blue birds in another gourd birdhouse out by the garden, so I stopped off to check on them on my way to the birdbath - yep, still 3 little birdies in the nest. I dumped the water in the birdbath; had a little left so I dumped it on one of the 'tater beds - and noticed that they had really grown a lot since Sunday, when I soaked them and mulched them, soooo I decided to add another layer of mulch to the three potato beds. Then, I noticed that there were weeds coming up in my three empty beds next to the 'taters that I plan to put late beans in, so I weeded them - didn't take very long since they are only 4x4. But, while I was at the back of the garden, I noticed that Pop hadn't gotten all the way done with putting compost on the gladiola row up against the clotheline area; so I went and sifted another load of compost and put it on the rest of the glads. And since I was standing there with the wheelbarrow, I took it on over to the chip pile and hauled a couple of loads of chips to put under the clothesline - except I couldn't put them all down until I had pulled up the grass that was coming up in the old ones. I was heading back to the chip pile for another load when the dogs started to bark - looked up, UH-OH!! Hub's truck was coming down the road....

I'm sure that he really didn't mind waiting for supper!!

After supper, Pop and Hubs and I went out to the garden and Pop offered advice from the lawnchair while Hubs and I weeded the big beds that have the berries and peach trees in them. Poor Hubs kept getting buzzed by a hummingbird who had staked a claim on the bee balm in those beds! He has nightmares of ending up with a hummer impaled in his head! We found a tomato that was starting to turn orange, discovered that the bush cucumbers definately aren't bush, found an 8 ball zucchini almost ready to pick, wrapped pole beans around poles and morning glories up the arbor some more, and pulled a kazillion weeds that had come up since Sunday when I had weeded the entire garden last! Later, we walked down to admire Uncle Ivan's garden and to see if I could borrow his hand cultivator to weed around the melons and pumpkins tomorrow morning. Good thing I only planted 9 cabbage plants - he must have 50 of 'em! Walked back out to the road in time to catch the neighbor fella that I had given strawberries to this year heading in toward the house - he must think that he's taken us to raise, he brought us another nice head of cabbage, some peas and new potatoes - guess I know what will be for supper tomorrow night!

Tomorrow, I've got some housekeeping stuff to do (blah.) and then I get to escape outside again! Bailey will be out, so we will have to set up her little blow up pool again to keep her cool while I cultivate the weeds from around the melons and pumpkins; and then plant my late beans (and maybe some carrots too) and some flowers in the holes where I've harvested things so far. When it gets too hot to stay outside, I plan to come in and do some cooking for the weekend - salads mostly, but some muffins and maybe a batch of cookies too. I'd like to cut out a new dress to stitch up; but I'm back into overtime hell at work, so don't know if I'd find time to get it done before summer is over!! I do have to go down to the storeroom to see if I can find the cherry pitter that I know I put down there last summer; gonna have Hubs pick me up some black sweet cherries on his way home from work so that I can make some jam. Pop offered to head out to WA to get me some, but I figure that if he gets out there, we won't see him again til fall, so I declined! Are they ready now, Sheepish? How about the apricots? Hmmm, maybe I could just send the jars and sugar out with him and teach him how to make jam.....wish we could grow apricots around here - and I'm planting those darn cherry trees next year; I don't care what Pop says about the birds eating them all! I gotta remind myself to stop by the Sallies and Catholic Charaties to look for some sheer curtains - they make the cheapest crop covers that I've found - Whoops!! There I go off on a tangent again! No wonder I get lost so easily!

Well, I gotta go rest up for tomorrow. You folks all take care,

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002


Here's a picture of my widdo honey when she was a baby: (if it works that is)

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

try again;

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Gasoline prices are already soaring in anticipation of the holiday weekend. Yesterday when I went to work, gas was $1.18 at the corner gas station. By the time I got home from work it had jumped to $1.44! Yikes!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2002

Hi all! Cute pup, EM. Polly, the Bing and Rainiers from E. Washington are ready (I see them at road stands). My own cherries aren't ready yet. Usually around the 4th of July. I have two dwarf trees: one Bing, one Van. I'm getting some fruit this year (I planted last year). Had some defoliation problems b/c of tent caterpillars (terrible this year). Our big cherry tree isn't ready (it's a full-size monster with four grafts....sweet and pie cherries. The tree is so tall, we end up providing free dessert for lucky songbirds some years. Hard to get up to pick that high. One of our fall projects: major cherry tree pruning.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2002

I just got an email sent to me from info@arab4business.com or something with the mail directed to me as "arab 1".

Anyone know of any stupid ****ing asshole who would be trying to set me up for FBI surveillance or something???? btw, it was written in arabic characters, or whatever they are.

Pissed me off. This is the only forum I post to.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2002


btw, I have a friend (really) who is retired FBI. He's going to hear about this.

Now back to gardening.

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2002


I KNOW I posted something here and now it's not here! Gremlins again!

CUTE puppydog, EM!

Sheepy, even though this is a password-protected board, it wouldn't surprise me if there were some way to harvest email addy's from it. I don't know enough about that stuff to say for sure, though!

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2002


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