Health Care

I have purposely stayed away from anything political not because I am unaware and uninformed; however, from everything I've read this is the most odious bill that will affect your health care options, your parents health care options, your children's , grandchildren, etc. If you think a single-payer, government run health care is the answer, I suggest you do some serious Internet research into Canada's, Great Britain's, and other European countries health care. Under Gt. Britain's, 53 is considered too old to have certain medical procedures.

This to me is the most serious problem we have facing this country and its future and future generations, not climate change or whatever "crisis" is being touted from Washington DC. There are reviews of this health care bill on the net that list page numbers and sections outlining the rules and regulations under which the entire US with the exception of the Congress and federal employees will have for health care.

Research, research and decide for yourself. If you do not want what is offered, let your representatives know immediately.

Until next time, God bless.

Sky Watch Friday

A July sky in the Central Texas Hill Country.

Pop over to Skywatch Friday to see more.

Until next time, God bless.

Mom's Away

Hi, guys, Mom is away from the computer so I have slipped in here to write a few words about what has been happening around the little ranch.

I've been under the weather for the past two-three weeks. First my stomach started acting up; Mom changed the food but I still continued to have problems. Then, I did something to either my paw or shoulder. Mom hid my ball for a few days and my paw/leg seemed to be OK. She took the ball down from the top of the fridge and threw it a couple of times. I guess I was running very hard to catch it because I hurt something really bad. I could not put any weight on my right leg. Mom then kept me in the house almost all the time; but when she let me out one evening several days later, I felt so good that I took off across the yard like I do when I see a jack rabbit or deer. I get kind of low to the ground, stretch out to my full length, my tail sticks straight out making me appear very big, and I am very fast. I was doing fine until I decided to make the corner around the deck when my paw slid out under me and I hit the ground sliding as if I were coming into home base. I really did it to myself that time.

In addition, my stomach problems kept getting worse even though Mom was doing everything she knew to do: a dollop of pumpkin on my food, ox-e drops in the water, two antioxidant treats a day instead of one, probotic powder sprinkled on my food, rest, rest, and more rest. Mom freaked out when she saw the blood Wednesday morning and rushed me to see one of my favorite humans, Dr. Paul, the vet. He did a complete blood profile, took two xrays of my right shoulder and leg, felt around on my paw, examined the pads, and then gave me a pain shot. Nothing is broken but Dr. Paul is not sure what I've done - probably pulled a muscle or strained a ligament.

Mom was back two hours later to take me home with some antibiotics to help my stomach. I did fine for two days but started throwing up twice a day. Mom made a quick trip back to Dr. Paul this afternoon, Monday, to pick up some food for super sensitive doggie stomachs along with some Pecid. She gave me a Pecid and the new food, and, boy, do I ever feel better right now. I'm back to stealing pillows off the couch and the chair along with carrying around my squeak-toy teddy. The ball has disappeared. But, I just hope I get through the night without throwing up. The other stomach problem seems to be getting better, too, with the antibiotics.

Also, since I am still limping, I stay in the house all the time except when I need to go outside to take care of some business. And do you know that I have to wear a leash? When I first arrived here and during the obedience classes, I let them know just how offensive I thought a leash was. I fought them and it like crazy. I'd pull, jump, take the leash in my mouth, and twist until I finally trained them to never put a leash on me unless I was going to the vet's or to a public place. I still made them pay for putting a leash on me. More than once I've almost pulled Mom over. Of course, it kind of hurts my neck, but it is worth it to remind her what I think about a leash.

Maybe I'm getting older because I am now willing to do as Mom asks. I can't help myself when I go outside; I want to run, chase, and track every new odor until it ends. The leash is teaching me a little self-discipline. Maybe, just maybe, if I control myself on the leash, I'll get to go more places. As it is, I only get to ride in the car when that man, Steve, that lives in the house, goes on very short errands.

I eavesdropped this evening when Mom was saying that maybe this is not such a bad thing for me to wear a leash for at least another week or ten days because maybe I'll behave myself enough to go on more adventures. Do you know how hard it is to pull a full grown adult around when I see new people or another dog? I mean, that is a lot of weight to drag by that tiny leash! I have to put all I've got into it!

I've also been banned from sleeping at night in my favorite spot: the king-sized bed. Listen, it is not too soft, it is not too hard, it is just right. Mom puts me in a crate with some sort of lamb's wool mattress. It is okay, but nothing like my bed of choice. I just hope I am over that throwing up business. And, frankly, it has not been much fun around here because the ball is gone, I am not allowed to run, and I don't get out of the house much. I mean it has been a drag for at least a week.

As an aside, Mom felt sorry for me and took me for a little walk outside the fence. She was carrying her camera in one hand and held the leash in her other. I was so bored that I decided to stir things up a little. Knowing that Mom had the camera in one hand and would have to let go of something, I tangled myself in the leash. I was watching closely so when she relaxed her grip on the leash, I spun around and dash off towards the yard. Aha, success! Please notice that handsome devil (me) standing with no one holding the leash. Well, you have to take your pleasures where you can find them, small though they may be.

This is Maggie. Whenever I get something, she wants it.

Enough about me, what's happening, dude?

Oh yes, as Mom says, "Until next time, God bless."

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

Pop over to Murietta 365's site for more Straight Out of the Camera Sunday shots. No tweaking is done to the photos that are perfect when downloaded from the camera.
I saw this little darling when at Trade Days in Fredricksburg, Texas last weekend. How about that bow?!

This is the first cantaloupe from my garden. We will cut it tomorrow.

Until next time, God bless.

Strolling through Austin's Farmer's Market

Judy at The Road to Here came up with this wonderful Farmer's Market Challenge. Pop over to her site to see the other participants farmer's markets.

Austin has several Farmer's Market locations. This one is in a high-school football stadium parking lot. The market opens at 9 AM on Saturday and closes at 1 PM.

There are quite a few cars at 10 AM on this Saturday morning.

This is kind of cool as you walk into the market: a rock climbing wall. When I took the photo, the climbers are girls not over 10 or 11.

A variety of vendors and wares are represented.


This vendor appears to be the youngest in the family business. :D

Not sure I want to eat buffalo but may get some jerky the next time. I am not very adventurous when it comes to trying something different to eat.

Fresh mushrooms .... YUM! Nothing was on the upcoming week's menu requiring mushrooms but know where to go when there is.

If I ever lose that 20 pounds, I'll be getting one of these original fabric designs by its vendor.

I am waiting on some canteloup to ripen in my own garden.

These are all natural cleaning agents.


My dad loved boiled okra, ugh. The vendor told me people would eat slimy, boiled okra because it helped with arthritis. Short of it being the fountain of youth, I'll pass.

What are these plants? Anyone know? Plant frogs are placed in a hole drilled in the rock, water is added, and the plant is stuck on the frog.

I like red so when I see it, a photo is taken.

A lot of people raise goats in Central Texas. Handcrafted goat-milk soap is divine.

I bought these tomatoes and may I tell you how good the tomato, provolone, and onion on whole wheat bread were?

I picked up a few cucumbers. Still waiting on some cucumbers to appear on the plants in my garden. Wonder if it is too late?


Aren't these strange looking?

How about some hibiscus iced tea?

Not to brag too much, but Central Texas has the tastiest peach you've ever put in your mouth.
They are addicting.


Don't remember his name, but isn't he beautiful?

Adios, my friends. (Not my vehicle but, well, it is red.)

Until next time, Gob bless.

Best Friend

I am all excited! My best friend since the 7th grade is coming to stay a few days along with her hubby.

When I moved to Drippin', we lost touch. My fault. We had a gym business which consumed my every waking moment. Anyway, my dear friend, Patty, decided she was not going to allow our friendship to be a thing of the past. She spent several years trying to locate me and about two years ago she did! It was if we had never been apart. We shared everything then and now. We talk just about every week for at least an hour, and many times it is going on two. We've been back and forth between Houston and here.

Aren't childhood friends the best?!!

Until next time, God bless.

Colorado or Bust

One of my online friends, Mary-Austin, is traveling with her family all around Colorado -- God's country in my opinion. She designed the cutest header for the trip; pop over to Organized Chaos to see it. Today she is staying at Lake Vallecito, called Vallecito Reservoir in my day. I spent many a summer at Vallecito with my mother, father and brother fishing for rainbow trout, cooking on a wood stove, and where I was introduced to snipe hunting. lol

Following Mary-Austin's progress day-by-day has inspired me to pull out some photos of my and hubby's first trip to Colorado. Hubby is a C&W singer and a friend promised his niece who lived in Monroe, Colorado a C&W band at her wedding. Hubby and a couple of band players were invited to the wedding.

This was my first car trip back to where I had so many wonderful vacation memories with my family. Only one thing I refused to do and that was drive the "Million Dollar Highway" to Silverton. However, we got there by taking the narrow-gauge train from Durango to Silverton. It is a wonderful experience; the train clings to the side of the mountain as it travels along the tracks.

New Mexico. The white strata above the red is fascinating.

The mountains! Can you feel the cool air?

We are drinking in the Colorado beauty.

The Durango & Silverton train has a coal fired, steam-powered engine. It is really a neat experience. You can travel up and back in one day, or travel up, stay overnight, and catch the train back to Durango. You get a little sooty, but who cares because the beauty of the Colorado countryside is breath taking.

Taaaa-dah! Chicken-fried steak, anyone?

The Shady Lady is pretty cool inside, too.

Then there is always Mesa Verde, a premiere archaeological preserve in the U.S. The drive from the valley floor to where Mesa Verde is located at the top is magnificent. We arrived in the afternoon and were fortunate that the last tour had not yet started. I was in complete awe of the cliff dwellings. Note the mystery white space, upper right corner, in the photo. Anasazi ghosts?


Until next time, God bless.

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

Mureitta 365 came up with the Straight Out of the Camera Sunday meme. Post your photos on your blog that are perfect straight out of the camera and require no tweaking. Then pop over to Mureitta's site to leave a comment that yours are up, leave your address, and see what others have posted.




The well guys are pulling pipe from the water well looking for a split pipe, we hoped. It was not a split pipe but no water. We had to lower the pump 30 feet; however, we had to get a new pump because the old pump dropped off in pulling the pipe and sits at the bottom of a 400 foot well.

Both water sources were on the blink. The well water fills a small tank for the cattle to drink and the rainwater collection system services the house. The cattle tank was half full, meaning no water was being replaced from the well, and a connection from the rainwater tanks was leaking. Yikes, all those precious drops of water were dripping on the ground.

One of the reasons for having two water sources out here in the country is if one goes down, you can go to the other. In a way that was not available last Sunday. Obviously the well was down, so I drew water into several containers from the rainwater system then cut the water off from the rainwater storage tanks.


Twenty foot well pipe sections.

For those of you that do not know much about Texas, we do things a little different than the rest of the country such as this Texas Eye Chart. :D (Not really, but it is cute, isn't it?)

Have a good Sunday.

Until next time, God bless.

Skywatch

These were taken July9, 2009 looking east towards Austin, Texas.

Until next time, God bless.

Coffee at Austin's Farmer's Market

I have been promising myself to make a run into Austin's Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning. But Saturday morning would come and I'd rather have another cup of coffee and type on my blog. Judy at the Road to Here is having a Farmer's Market Challenge on July 25 so no more excuses would fly. However, below is just a teaser for the Challenge.

Katz Coffee of Houston, TX, had a booth filled with their small-batch, custom roasted coffee. This long-term coffee drinker could not pass it up; the aroma drifting out from their booth stopped me in my tracks.

The Bat City Blend is a tribute to Austin's world-famous bat colony, residing under the Congress Street bridge, and is the largest, urban bat colony in North America . It is estimated that 1.5 million bats hang out there. :D Katz donates a portion of the proceeds to Bat Conservation International.

This blend is named after the Enchanted Rock State Park near Fredericksburg, Texas. It is a pink-colored granite dome, rising 425 feet above the surrounding countryside and covering 640 acres. Tonkawa Indians believed it was inhabited by ghosts and that a Spanish conquistador had placed a spell on it. The park has many popular hiking trails; rock climbers love it; there are plenty of camp sites and is great for backpacking. A portion of the proceeds is donated to Friends of Enchanted Rock for preservation and improvements to the park.

I was only going to try the first two blends until I discovered that two were $8.00 or three for $10.00. Well, who can pass up a bargain? I picked this one because whoever heard of a Jumping Mouse expresso blend? We do not have an expresso machine but was assured the taste would be just fine in a regular coffee pot.

Katz's brochure has some interesting coffee facts:

Coffee is the most traded product in the world after petroleum.

Americans consume more than 300 million cups of coffee every day.

The expression "a cup of Joe," was coined during WW II, when American servicemen (G.I. Joe) were identified as big coffee drinkers.

Coffeehouses were the meeting place of choice by our founding fathers during the revolution.

Click over to Katz's site for more coffee trivia. If you are adventurous, order some coffee. I have my coffee grinder sitting out by the pot, ready for use in the morning.

Until next time, God bless.