Believe

I was able to add some memory to my computer this weekend and my digi program is working better than before...Above you can see a digi layout I did tonight.

Helen thank you for your inspiration and the gentle KICKS in the behind you gave me!! LOL!

4th and Final chapter to Mama Cow and the lost calf

Today our story ends. I have been observing and watching Mama Cow for the past two days. She has been hanging out with the calves but her calf was no where to be seen. So on that sad note we end our Saga. Mama cow did not find her calf and he/she is assumed dead from no food and exposure to the elements. Sad but it does happen....especially when stupid people raise cows!!

The End

Black Friday ~ Fun ~ Fun ~ Fun ~

I was up at 3am, actually I was up at 10pm after going to bed at 7pm and unable to sleep...a very late night and early early morning. Fred finally got up at 3:30am and at 4am when we were supposed to be at JcPenny's we left the house...then after two stops to find an open convenience store because the Pokey Little Puppy had to have a soda we finally hit JcPenny at 4:38am....But as I told Fred this was supposed to be fun and stress free...so I counted to 1 billion and stayed calm, LOL...

We went to JcPenny first...full of people but the lines at the check out were moving fast and no problems...then on to Kohls....after arriving there and seeing the check out line was all the way around the store...it was time for breakfast.

We had decided if we didn't find what we were after no big deal, there was nothing on our list that we couldn't live without...after breakfast we headed back to Kohl's and the line was still looong...but I decided to brave it...with Michael napping on my shoulder, Fred carrying our items I entered the line...I told Fred to go find us a cart and then he could walk around the store and look while I waited....Men don't wait in long lines very well....I had fun in line talking to the other ladies and watching one lady continually stepping out of line to shop as she kept seeing things she missed, LOL...She was crazy and had two carts just plumb full!! She was oohing and ahhing a Christmas wreath I had but as I had taken the last one she was out of luck!! I'm nice but not nice enough to give up my stuff, LOL...Michael woke up and took off with Daddy....Not a good idea!! We ended up with light up transformer shoes in the cart, Not on our list mind you!! Michael who has shown no interest in the transformer items even after watching the movie twice seemed to be in a transformer mood today....ugh!!

After Kohl's we headed to Walmart. I was stunned as there was not to many people there, in years past it was normally so packed you had problems breathing but not today. We found our items quickly and took a walk around the store to just have a look see...Saw nothing but rude obnoxious people...Even the cashier was nasty until I smiled at her and said Good Morning and asked if she was ready for a nap yet...Then it was like total and complete transformation!! Guess she needed a friendly smile...after seeing some of the customers in there I really couldn't blame her...One lady ran into a another ladies behind with a shopping cart and never said sorry or excuse me...she just kept going!! Another lady stood in the middle of an aisle blocking the whole aisle...I was trying to get through one way and a guy was trying to get through the other way. I said excuse me ma'am can I get through...nothing....a little louder I said MA'AM we'd like to get through, again nothing. I finally nudged her in the back side and said Ma'am we are trying to get through...she finally moved enough for me to squeeze through...The guy rolled his eyes and thanked me....It was like HELLO people there are other's around you, WAKE UP!! PAY ATTENTION!!

After Walmart we headed to our local Super Grocery store as they had Michael's Santa gifts....I was able to get a 4MP HP camera for $20 with the exchange of an old 35mm camera that I no longer used...Michael has asked Santa for a camera but I have gotten him the $20 kids cameras before and they are just not kid friendly and he has them broken in a matter of days due to the cheap plastic they make them out of...So now he will have a HP camera and I hope this is easier for him to use...He's going to be so excited...I also decided to go with a $20 HotWheels race track...he's been building race tracks out of old boards and thought maybe he'd really enjoy a track that fit his HotWheel cars...so we have Michael's gifts!! YES!! Of course Fred had to keep Michael busy in the store while I got the items, paid for them and ran them out to the toolbox in Fred's truck. They are still in the toolbox as I am waiting for Michael to go to sleep so I can bring them in and hide them, LOL...Go to sleep Michael, Go to sleep!!

We then went to Walmart and I picked up a Digital photo Key chain for $9.99. This way I can carry some of my photos with me to show off. It wasn't anything fancy but it will work. Fred really liked it once I showed him the photos I put on it...

The we headed to Hastings, Fred wanted to rent some movies...and then we headed home...We were home by 10:30am...We were able to get everything on our list plus a few extras...and all in all not a bad experience!! My Mother thinks we are crazy for venturing out but I love the excitement and thrill of it all...Fred is a shopper so it's something fun we can do together, aren't we romantic, LOL...

Thanksgiving ~ A long day!

Can you tell someone has had a very ~ very long Thanksgiving day?

At 5pm the last person left and Michael crawled up in the chair and in 5 minutes was out like a light...LOL

We had a good day. The turkey was done at 11am and absolutely beautiful. You just can't mess a turkey up when using a roasting bag, LOL....By noon we were ready to eat and only our nephew, Andy, was here, so we went ahead and ate. Shauna and Zeke showed up in a little bit and later in the afternoon Trey and Jeremy came over for a bit. I sent almost all the food home with everyone and the kitchen is clean. We've been going strong since 7:30am and I think it's my turn to call it quits. Tomorrow is Black Friday and we've analyzed the store ads and found a few things that looked interesting...so we'll be up at 3am to start shopping at 4am...LOL...I love going and watching how desperate people get in trying to find and buy the items they are after...We don't have anything we desperately need so we'll take our time and if they have it we'll get it but if not no great loss, just a slow easy morning and no rush...Fred and I have both learned to go with a sense of humor and you just might have fun :o)

Chapter 3 Mama Cow and lost calf.

Fred came home tonight and asked me which cow had lost her calf. I described her and told him it was the mottled brown cow. He said he saw her down in the driveway by the dry creek bed with a very small all brown calf. I was so excited but still leary as I wasn't sure he'd seen the right cow. I was outside later when I heard this cow bellowing and here comes Mama cow. I yelled at Fred to come look and see if that was the cow he saw...He said yes that was her...She went running on by the house with her utter swaying, bellowing with her nose to the ground, it seems she had lost her calf again or the babysitter had moved the calves...LOL....This Mama cow has her hooves full I can see...Hopefully she caught up to her calf and all is well. Stay tuned for Chapter 4 (fingers crossed) and a happy ending to the saga...

~ Lightning ~

I love my camera!!

For years and years I have tried to get photos of lightning and I have never been able to get a decent photo!! That is until tonight. We had a coldfront blow in and I went out and thought WOW that lightning is beautiful...I ran in and grabbed the tripod and the camera. It was getting dark and I really didn't have time to adjust the settings on the camera so I slid the dial over to nightshots...it WORKED!! YeeHaw!! I was so excited!! At first I tried using the timer but it just wasn't fast enough...so then I just hit the shudder button with my finger and let go...being on nightshot it would take a couple of seconds to take the photo anyway so there was no camera shaking and the photos came out GREAT, at least I think so. I am so excited I have accomplished one of my photo goals!!

Love and Thanksgiving

Love and Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family!

As I pulled into my parking spot today I glanced over and saw two Mexican doves sitting on our stock tank. I thought to myself if only life could be so simple as to sit with your mate all day long and enjoy the day! Love and Devotion is what came to mind. I am thankful that I have a loving husband and that we are devoted to each other. Remember over the Holidays to slow down and show your love and devotion to your mate and to your family!!
God Bless all of you!!

Chapter 2 Saga Mama Cow and lost calf

My mistake it was not the chocolate/purple cow who lost her calf but the mottled brown cow. I listened to her bellowing all last night. At 7:30 am I got up and got my chores done and thought okay nobody seems to be looking for the calf so I'll take Julie (my horse) and go look. I got Julie around, Michael dressed and we took off....It is not easy trying to ride a horse that hasn't been ridden in months and hold onto a 4 yr old too. It was very difficult as Michael is still small enough he needs to ride in front and saddle horns and little boys down under areas don't mix, OUCH!! After attempting to locate the calf and keep Michael from being hurt and Julie under control I decided it was not working. Michael had also had enough too. I brought him back to the house put a movie on for him, got him some orange juice and a muffin. I told him I was going to go back out and look and if he needed me to yell for me and I would come...Well of course it wasn't 10 minutes later I hear him calling me so I rode back to the house...Asking him what he needed he looked at me all sweet and innocent and said " I didn't get my morning kiss and hug", Sigh!! I got down gave him a kiss and hug and told him not to yell at me unless it was an emergency. I spent the next 1.5 hours riding around and listening. Mamma cow was still bellowing and I was hoping the calf would answer her....Nothing, Not a thing....I saw all the other calves and Mamma cows but not the Mottled brown cows baby....My landlord and lady don't seem too concerned. I'm sure by the end of the day if Mamma cow hasn't found the calf it will be dead. It's pretty warm here and dehydration and heat will do him in. It's sad and I'm upset. The brush is just to thick and Julie is not a brush horse. I've never understood people that did not care about their animals and wanted them just for the money. It really aggravates me to know end. Fred tells me to mind my own business but how can you when that Mamma cow is out there bellowing....grrrrr

The Saga of the Cow and Lost calf...

Or is it the Saga of the Calf and the lost Momma cow...I am not sure who lost who...

This is the Purple/Chocolate cow last September with her calf from last year. (Excuse the photo as it was taken with my old digi camera and is pretty grainy)

I know most of you who read my blog are not farmers or ranchers so I am going to explain to you how stupid cows can be!!

This cow, we call her the chocolate or purple cow had a calf about a week ago. These are not our cows but our landlord and ladies cows and I have no say in how they are treated or taken care of...Sigh!!

But to continue on with my story...this cow recently brought the calf out of hiding to join the herd of 11 cows ~ 7 calves (now 8) and the one Stupid Bull!! Cows hide their calves after having them for 3 or more days....Well I went outside this afternoon and here is this little baby calf in the corrals behind the house all by itself. No Momma and no babysitter. Cows normally have one Cow that babysits all the calves while the other cows go off and eat...I am not sure whether the babysitter and other calves left this calf or if Momma Cow being stupid wondered off...But anyways here is this calf all by himself. I personally would have shut him in the corral until Momma came back but no my Landlord chased him out...so off wonders this baby calf down the driveway all by himself, ugh!! I watched him but when he kept going I thought sure enough he'll find the other cows or Momma...It didn't happen. Momma cow came up here just a bellowing as loud as she could looking for her baby...Normally cows Moo but when the are distressed they bellow and very loudly...I went out and gently guided her down the driveway the same way baby went....Well that was at 5pm...it is now 11pm and Momma is still looking for her calf....Her bellowing is very loud and very annoying...especially when she stands outside your bedroom window!! I feel for her but there isn't a darn thing I can do as it is pitch black and there is 150 acres, he could be anywhere. I keep hoping she finds him!! I also hope the coyotes don't find him first...I can't believe he can not hear his Mother...I swear she has walked the whole 150 acres 10 times all ready, LOL...We can hear where she goes....So everyone keep this cow in your prayers and your fingers crossed she finds her little one!! Hopefully we'll get some sleep tonight and the little one will get a belly full of warm milk soon!! And after all my years with Cows I still think they are pretty darn STUPID!!

Sunday

Awhile back my dear friend Helen suggested I start a journal regarding all my nature photos. As I had told her there is just no way I can scrapbook all of them. So I started a journal and have been working on it this weekend. Instead of using my photo printer to print the photos I sent them to Walgreens. I had over 70 photos for July alone...below is a photo of all the July flower photos sitting on top of my Journal...sigh!! Now I have to figure out a way to put them on the pages where I don't use the rest of my journal up, ugh!! I basically adhere the photos to the pages and then doodle and journal around them. My Mother thought it was really neat. I was hoping I could get the whole 2007 year in one journal but if I don't stop taking photos that isn't going to happen, LOL

We had Obedience class this afternoon and poor Jake is just wore out. He did really well. He is sitting and laydown most of the time, sometimes a treat helps. Today we worked on socialization with other dogs. We had to walk Jake up to another person and their dog, make him sit, and then tell him to say "HI". He did pretty good!

At the moment (photo below) he is laying down under my desk hiding from Michael. Michael so wanted to play but Jake just didn't have the energy, honestly I don't either, LOL....Bedtime sounds really good right now!!