Transplanted Alaskan

Spring?

2012-02-02T09:21:00.002-06:00

I know that up in Alaska they are having some of the worst weather they have had in year, but here in Wisconsin? It feels like spring. Yesterday it got up to 43 (Temp at the bank sign) and when I got of work the temp was 39. Can you believe that? 39 above on Jan 29 at 5.15pm?

I just wish the sun would shine a little bit. It's been gray. I know, stop my complaining as we have it pretty good.

Maggie, the fluffy dog, has an ear infection, we are having to clean her ear out and then put some "stuff" in it. She does not like that part of it. It must bubble and tickle her as she shakes her head to get it out. But we rub it in good and deep so the meds stay put.

Getting Cranky!

2012-01-26T11:27:00.003-06:00

Well, I just spent about 30 minutes online with the State of WI paying the Sales Tax that I had to collect for all the soap that I sold for 2011. Once I figured out how to get into the system then it was pretty fast. But up to that point? Not a pretty picture.

Why can't they have a tab/button that says " Don't keep track of all that passwords/ID/numbers/Login for the past year? The click here" That button would be so helpful!

Did you ever stop to think just how many passwords, login ID's that you have out there?

I now have a headache!

Work Rant!

2012-01-17T06:48:00.003-06:00

Okay, you all know that I love love working at the library! Best job ever, and I do mean that. My rant is about some of the patrons that come in, and by some, I mean the young adults, and by young adults, I mean the high school kids that come in when school gets out.

These are the kids that aren't readers, they come in to kill time. They are loud, they take books and "hide" them. I find young adult books stuffed inside other books. Books are taken off the shelf and then put back in upside down or backwards! ( Little heathens!) I found a book that has been missing for a few weeks tucked inside the "Girls Life" magazine box holder. That book did not accidentally get put there!

If I owned a library? I would have the young adult section up front and center so I could give them the stink eye!

On the plus side, we do have a nice group of young adults that stick around in the library, they come in to do school work, use the computers, and get books. I like them.

P.S.
I got one of the "bad" young adults in trouble last night! Her dad called up at around six pm and wanted to talk to her, Um, golly gee, she left a few hours ago! Boy, do I feel bad or what?

Crazy Chickens!

2012-01-14T21:10:00.004-06:00

Our hens (14 of them) have laid ONE egg short of six doz eggs in one week!

(Far lower left corner is the missing egg) But I still will get some more eggs on Sunday morning before I go to Church. I'm so glad that I have buyers at my church that will buy all that I bring.

I get $2 for a doz and I put that money in the Chicken Feed Cup and when we get low on food for them we go and get some more.

There is no way we can eat that many eggs in one week. Before I had buyers, I was a making quiches and also old fashion pound cake. Kind of sad when you get giddy over a recipe that uses more then five eggs!

Not sure why the hens are laying more. Their egg production should have gone down with it being cold and not as much daylight, not go up!

New Years Day Fun

2012-01-07T16:01:00.004-06:00

For Christmas TJ and I spent the day at his Family's house. Yep, I met his side of the family. I did meet his family in November when we went to his nephews wedding but the family was busy with wedding things. His family is very nice. They all welcomed me. And then we got a invite to go to his 2nd cousins house for New Years Eve Day fun.

They had some friends that had horses and set up some wagon rides. If there had been snow then it would have been sleigh rides. This was my first time for a wagon ride. It was fun and it made me very grateful that I was not born a pioneer women that traveled west in/on a covered wagon. Talk about a bone shaker!
This is me standing in front of the horses. (Duh)

TJ and I waiting for everyone else to load up. The horses were very gentle and patient.

We had a great time. About 20 family members showed up and next door neighbors and we all brought dishes to share. There was good food and good times. The 2nd cousin also had a big bon- fire going and later on that evening we sat around that and just talked.

Of course, I forgot to bring my camera so all the pics are what his sister took and sent to me. Thanks MJ!

More about our Alaska trip

2011-12-23T17:22:00.004-06:00

This one the trail heading out, going back to the parking lot where the truck is parked at.

While we were in Homer, we walked the docks and I saw that the Time Bandit was tied up. The Time Bandit is one of the boats that fish in the TV show called "Deadliest Catch" I have only seen parts of the show. I used to live in Dutch harbor AK where the show is filmed at. One of the library partons is a big (BIG) fan of the show and thinks that being that I lived there I must know all the fisherman on the boats so he will come in and ask me questions about them. I have told him several times, the show was after when I lived there, don't know them, don't want to know them!

While up in AK I wanted to make sure that TJ saw some moose. This one passed right in front of us while we were in Kenai.

Up at the cabin my brother in law Tim has gotten it so that birds will come to you and land on your finger looking for food. This is TJ feeding one of them.

Been a long time!

2011-12-22T10:23:00.005-06:00

We went up to AK for a little trip. Was only there for eight days. Not really long enough time to see and do all that you want. But we tried and we did pack a lot of stuff in to our short time.

The above pic is of TJ and I. We are up at Petersville where my sister and her husband have a cabin. We were there for two days having fun in the snow. There was five feet plus of snow up there.

This pic is down towards Homer. On Monday, Dec 12th we drove to Kenai and visited a friend and stayed with them overnight and then the next day we went to Homer. In Homer we walked the docks, went to the Salty Dawg and while there I looked for my old dollar bill, was not able to find it so TJ and I signed a new one and put that up on the wall. That's a tradition that you do at this bar. Lots of money on the wall at this bar!

Wilbur

2011-11-28T08:41:00.003-06:00

This is Wilbur, who when born, was called Willow, as there was some doubt of his gender. Even the vet was a little bit doubtful as they didn't know if he needed to be neutered or spayed. He was neutered. Wilbur is pretty much an outdoor cat. This summer he would come in and chow down on his cat crunchies and then back outside to catch mice and gofers and other critters. He was not much of a cuddle cat. Now that it's getting cold he has become an inside cat. And he likes to cuddle!

I could not help myself last night as he looked so relaxed so I snapped his picture. And then that soft furry tummy called my name. Wilbur has some "cat hang" (Belly sag) So I did some long slow petting and then I grabbed me some soft cat hang! Lets just say, Wilbur does not like to be touched in that way so I had to be ninja quick. It was nice!

Not much

2011-11-19T19:03:00.003-06:00

I have been bad (again!) by not updating the blog. Not much has been going on. I am talking to my two sisters up in AK about when TJ and I get up there. We are planing a dinner while I'm there. Looks like all the sisters (There are five of us) will be under one roof. That will make our mom so happy! We will take lots of pictures for her.

TJ built a carport so now he can park his truck under it, and he moved all the wood and stuff that has been stored in the shop/garage out to the carport so now I can part in the garage. It's a shop when TJ is in there working and my truck is outside. Then, by magic, it becomes a garage when I park my truck. Just in time. We have about two inches of snow so far today and it's still snowing. But, bad news, my truck is still outside! Why is that?

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-07T10:44:00.002-06:00

I know, it's a little late in the greeting but still, Happy Halloween!

We carved the pumpkins Monday night. Kind of scary huh?

See! They aren't that scary in the daylight.
Was it wrong to laugh because that kitties were a little spooked?

Apple Butter

2011-10-27T10:41:00.003-05:00

I had apple butter one time many many years ago in Alaska (Store bought) and I thought that it was disgusting! Who would eat that crap?!

Well, T.J.'s brother gave us a few bags of apples so I have been making Apple Sauce and then I still had lots of apples so I made Apple Butter. Guess what? I love Apple Butter! It's so good! I am making my second batch right now. When all done I will have made 14 pints of the stuff.

We like it in out oatmeal for breakfast and also a few spoonfuls in our yogurt. It's yummy. When I go up to Alaska, I might just have to bring a jar. I also might need to get more apples and make more!

Yippy Skippy!

2011-10-20T13:15:00.002-05:00

I'm going back up to Alaska in Dec for a little vacation! We have the tickets, now we just need to find a house sitter or a critter sitter or someone to come by once a day to make sure the two cats and the 15 chickens are doing okay. And maybe give them food and water.

Yep, T.J. is coming up with me. He gets to meet my family. A few weeks ago he was in a wedding and I went with him. I met his Dad and Stepmother, brother and SIL, half brother and half sister and a bunch of kids. His family seems very nice and they were all kind to me. His dad made sure that I sat with them in the family pew during the wedding. Oh, and the bride fainted before the wedding, during picture taking. That was the first time I saw that ever happen.

T.J. gets to meet three of my sisters and their husbands. My Dad and Mom won't be in AK while we are there. he has met my mom already.

This Saturday we are going to his sisters house for a birthday party for her kid. Then watch the big Packer/Viking game. Hum, I wonder, should I wear my Viking shirt and be brave in the sea of green and yellow? Wouldn't a splash of purple look nice?

Bad girl!

2011-10-13T11:14:00.002-05:00

I know, it's been a long time since my last post. I have been busy just being Aunt Krissy, that's a full time job right there!

Some updates.

I walk every day. Either three miles or four miles. Last week on one of my walks I found a little itty bitty kitten on the side of the road. I picked it up, took it home, gave it a bath (It was stinky) and then took it to work to see if I could find it a home. I did! There was one of our regular patron and he took it. He has nine cats and this kitten joined them. His cats are barn cats. This kitten wont have a pampered life, but it will have food and water and some vet care when needed. That's a lot better then dead or if it had survived being a feral cat.

I did not go to school this semester. I decided that I did not want to focus on Business Management, and it was to late to switch so next semester I will go back but I think I will have my focus in Human Resources.

Oh, and I have lost 60lbs now. Still lots to go, but 60lbs?!

Road Trip!

2011-10-03T18:00:00.005-05:00

I was able to go with T.J. on a haul last Sunday (Yes, I skipped church!) He was hauling potatoes for about three weeks. We left the house at 6.30am, had to get fuel for the truck (Ouch! Glad that it's paid for by the truck owner!) Then we drove to the fields. I think that we were number 18? So we got in a long line of other trucks and then T.J. went out and asked what number the drivers ahead of us were. We (T.J.) moved the truck up the line, and then about 45 min later or so it was out turn to get loaded.

Here the potatoes are getting picked over and big clods of dirt are being tossed aside.

We drove to Plover WI and went to the potato plant. They are big (Big!) buildings that store the potatoes. This plant is where Arby's and some brand of frozen potatoes are made at.

This pic T.J. took of the inside of the truck he was driving. We hauled about 63,000lbs per load. There were on the average 45 truck loads a day during the three weeks. Some days T.J. would do two trips, some days only one. This was just for Red Ceder Potato Company. There are lots and lots of potato fields out there.

Freezer Camp

2011-09-29T11:38:00.003-05:00

We started at about 8AM on a Saturday morning. T.J. set up the station the night before so we were ready to go. We did have to wait a little bit for the big pot of water to heat up so that we could dunk the chickens in.
I have killed/cleaned a few birds in my lifetime, but never on this scale. In AK I would do a little Spruce Hen hunting and then I would have maybe 2 or 3 birds that I needed to take care of. They are small and easy to do. Chickens? 30 of them? That's a little bit more work. We read up on how to mass butcher and we read that "containing" the chicken and then taking a small knife and sticking that in the beak and into the brain, then cutting the throat was a better way to do it then the old chopping block way. The knife to the brain was so that the feathers would release better. I have to say, I think that this is the way to go. It was nice not to have chickens with their heads off running around, spraying blood every were and also it was much cleaner.

We set up wheel barrows under the chickens to collect the blood and then we just had to rinse them out. Also, I was impressed with out the feathers came out. Really, all you had to do was run your hand down the chicken and the feathers just came out, really no plucking other then around the legs and around the joints.

T.J. did the killing ( But I did do three of them) and most of the plucking, while I did all the gutting and some plucking. I gutted as I have smaller hands and it was easier for me to get in the chicken and get all the "stuff" out.

It took about six hours to do all the chickens, then we placed them in the refrigerator over night and the next day we spent about six hours doing a fine cleaning and cutting them up if we wanted them whole or cut up. Then they went to freezer camp. One came back from freezer camp and we welcomed her home with a roasting pan. She was tasty!

Oh Yes I Can!

2011-09-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is the truck that T.J. is driving right now. He's able to bring it home so that saves gas money for him. On Sunday, after the football game ( Yes, I now watch football! I have seen more football in two weeks that I have seen in my lifetime!) He asked me if I wanted to take her for a spin, I said "I sure do!" He let me drive it all the way up the driveway. I did pop the clutch the very first time, but he said it was his fault. He still had the gear in high gear and not in low gear.

I did really well going forward, no problem with shifting gears, backward? Not so well. I would get to the end of the driveway, then try and back it up back to the house and by midway of the driveway I would have the truck jacked knifed. Then I would pull forward and try and again. T.J. then would take over and back it up to the house and then I would go forward to the end again. It was a blast!

We talked about how I should get my CDL so we could team drive. I told him that I would do all the forward driving and he could do all the backward stuff. he said no, it doesn't work like that. Guess we won't be team driving anytime so.

And another project

2011-09-23T08:24:00.000-05:00

The shop/garage is about 100 ft from the house. There used to be power out to it but when I bought this place there was none. Moles? Gofers? Who knows why but it was gone. Well, enter in T.J. When he saw/found out that that I had power cords hooked together going from the house to the garage and that I was tripping the breakers all the time ( This was in the winter so I could heat the chicken coop and also keep their water from freezing) and that the plow guy would rip up my snow covered cords. He said that we needed to do something about it.

On one of his off days T.J. went and got a trencher and then laid some kind of pipe and also he put in some water type hose/pipe . All he has to do now is snake the wires and do the new panel and I will have power out in the shop. Lucky me his brother is a electrical contractor and T.J. works for him sometimes so he knows how to do all of this. His brother will come out when T.J. is doing the final stuff to just make sure.
My part? Was to put all the dirt back into the hole that the trencher made. That was a lot of dirt that I moved. T.J. also put a trench to the garden so that now we can have water out there without having to have water hoses snaked all around the house. That will be nice when I mow.

More Work!

2011-09-22T08:03:00.002-05:00

At the Farmers Market there is the cheese lady, who also happens to sell peaches that she gets from her family that lives in Michigan. The peaches were 27 bucks for 25lbs so I bought 25lbs of peaches. Had to let them sit for a few days to ripen, then we fresh peaches for a few days and when the following Saturday rolled around we canned peaches.

We got 21 pint jars of peaches. I canned them in a light (not sugar free, just not a heavy syrup)

syrup. They are really good. It looks nice to go to the pantry and see jars of summer time sunshine. They will be nice come winter when it's cold outside and you need a reminder of summer.

How ever you call them, it's work!

2011-09-20T21:13:00.002-05:00

We planted seven tomato plants and we were worried that we might not have enough so we got two bushels from a local greenhouse. They were 12 dollars for a bushel. After a full day of peeling, chopping, de-seeding and canning we ended up with about four cases of canned crushed tomatoes. T.J. made stuffed bell peppers with one of the pint jars and it was delish!

Then our tomatoes started to come in! Oh boy!

I ended up making another case of crushed tomatoes and now three batches of salsa. I still have enough of them to make four or five more batches of salsa. I think that I will make one more salsa and then make spaghetti sauce with the rest. I need to mix it up some.

This is just a small sample of what we have.

Knock Knock, Hello?........

2011-09-20T07:52:00.002-05:00

Noop, I have not died. I have been busy with killing chickens, canning peaches and tomatoes and, and, and. I feel that when I have a free moment I just want to sit in front of the TV and veg.

Those that blog know how much time goes into blogging. Sometimes it's just not what I want to do right at the moment.

Tonight I plan on loading up some pics and posting about them.

Worst day of the year.

2011-08-30T08:45:00.003-05:00

Okay, that's really a big fat lie but school started yesterday for me. I have three online classes and one class that I go to a real classroom. So far, it's not bad, it's just that at my age I would rather do all kinds of other things then school. Like nap, watch TV or read a book. Not sit in front of a computer for hours and hours on end. The one class is going to be a touchy feel class, so not what I like. Good thing that it's online so there wont be any hugs in real time! But we are to talk about emotions. I like my emotions bottled up just fine!

TJ and I think that we will send the meat birds to freezer camp this coming weekend. We were thinking September 10th, but we are down to the last bag of feed, and they are getting big. So, do we want to wait one more week, buy another bag of feed and wait till the 10th? Or when this bag is done, do them in then?

Hiding!

2011-08-24T08:15:00.003-05:00

I thinned the zucchini plants the other day as they aren't putting out new fruit. Now I see why! Two of these big boys were on one plant. They were on the back side of the plant that's hard for me to get to and also under some big leafs. I measured them. Over 18 in for all three! The big ones will go feed the chickens.

Here's Maggie. TJ is working out of town and is home on the weekends. Maggie misses him. I mean, I do in a pinch, but it TJ that she wants.

It's starting!

2011-08-16T07:19:00.002-05:00

I kid you not. On Saturday there were no ripe tomatoes in the garden. On Monday I went to out to pick some peas and I saw this cluster of roma's that were ready to be picked and some other kind of tomato. Today I'm going to have a turkey/bacon/tomato sandwich for lunch.

Oh, the bacon story. On Sunday, T.J. and I went for a Sunday drive and when we went through a small town we saw that a store was selling 10lbs of bacon for $12. We bought some. It's some of the best meaty bacon I have ever had. It's irregular sliced, that's why it was on sell. So far, I have not seen anything wrong with it.

Wow! Been a long time

2011-08-10T07:32:00.003-05:00

Update. We replaced the hens that Foxy Loxy got a few months ago. We replaced them with 10 brown hens. At the Farmers Market I overheard a guy telling someone that he wants to get rid of some of his layers as he had to many (He had 25) I butted in and said I am looking for 10. We talked and the next day he came by the house and delivered 10 pullets. They should start laying soon. They have always been a in a hen house, never outside. After two days of them sticking inside, T.J. went and made them all go out. They like it! Now they can do all those fun chicken things.Here are the meat birds. Noticed I called them meat birds? They are empty pits. They want to eat all the time. We feed them twice a day. They also have a nice big run that is a inside/outside deal. They also get to to their chicken thing. So far the chickens are walking good. For what I understand is that they can get heavy really fast and their legs wont support them. We don't want that. They can still hop/run/skip and waddle.

They will be going to freezer camp in about three more weeks. Fried chicken anyone?

P.S. If anyone would have told me that I would have 46 chickens I would have said right back "Never! I'm not some crazy chicken lady!" Call me the crazy chicken lady.

Around the farm

2011-07-29T08:04:00.003-05:00

I spy with my little eye a almost ripe tomato! Yum Yum. This is just the start of them.

The pumpkin patch is taking over! And there are little pumpkins showing

Remember how cute the baby chicks were? Little balls of fluff? Well, this is what they look like now. Not so cute, they look more like roasted chicken or fried chicken now!

I have a glut of zucchini now (Wow, wonder how that happened) Tonight for dinner I am making a zucchini casserole, also start on making zucchini relish, and I think for breakfast I will make zucchini muffins.

It's that time of the year

2011-07-27T07:44:00.003-05:00

It's back to school time! Yea! Hip Hip Hooray! NOT! I'm not feeling the excitement this semester. I think that the newness is wearing off. This is my 3rd semester and it's not what I want to do, but I will put my big girl panties on and do it, and maybe I will only whine a little bit.

Last semester I had five online classes which was a lot of computer time, I wanted to take all online classes again as it really helped save on the gas, but I have to say, I was not really wanting to spend that much time in front of my computer.

This semester only three of my classes that I needed to take were available on line. So I have

Speech online
Economics online
Into to Sociology online
and then I have to go to a real classroom for my Software Skills for Business Management.

Last semester I had 15 credits, this semester it's only 11 credits.

I think that going to a classroom will be good as I will get out of the house a little bit more for something other then work, which was what it was like last semester.

My view point

2011-07-26T07:23:00.002-05:00

I don't think that I have ever really posted about current events regarding politics and such. But there has been a little blip in the news about something that has been eating away at me and I have to say something about it.

Read the story here. This is just one of the few news articles about this eight year old boy that was hanged over in Afghanistan.

What is really bothering me is this. Remember a while back there was that preacher here in the states that was going to burn the Koran? And how there was a world outcry about how wrong that was? And there were American Muslims here in America that protested this, along with other Americans that protested the burning of the Koran.

Where are those people now? Why is there not a world outcry about the Taliban hanging a eight year old boy? Where are those American Muslims? Where are all those people that thought that it was so wrong to burn the Koran? Is burning the Koran so much worse then hanging a eight year old boy?

Why are they not protesting this?

Country Jam!

2011-07-25T07:02:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, T.J. and I were talking about how it would be nice to go to Country Jam, but the tickets were out of our price range. I said that I might be able to hook us up with some free tickets, would that work? Yes, that would work! So I asked a friend of mine in my book club, whose hubby has something to do with media/concerts and she was able to get me two free tickets!

So on Saturday, T.J. and I went to County Jam! The main band that we wanted to see was Zac Brown. He was going to start at 9pm. We got there at about 5pm to pick our spot and to people watch and listen to some of the other bands.

Well, it started to rain, I mean it poured! We did not have any rain gear, or anything to keep us dry. While T.J. went to find a beer, some guy walking by took pity on me and gave me a cheapo rain poncho. I put it on and stayed damp. We did think about going to seek shelter at a booth but they were jammed full of people already so we just stayed put. No bands played in the down pour so we had about an hour of just sitting in the rain. The weather caused some problems with other bands so at 6.30pm they said that Zac Brown was going to start early. He cam on at about 7.30pm. By that time, it stopped raining. T.J. took of his t-shirt and twisted all the water out.

It's very had to use the porta potties when your pants are wet! Very had to pull them down, and then pull them up. I was the designator driver so I didn't have to do that very often!

Even with the rain, I'm really glad that we were able to go. Zac Brown was/is a great singer and put on a good concert. And, you can't beat people watching!

Here's a clip of Zac Brown.

http://youtu.be/GOe25IfD0GE

I find it odd

2011-07-21T07:31:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago at work a young lady came in and got a library card. She is 19 years old. We chatted a bit and she left. She comes in a few times a week. What I find odd is that she calls me "Sweetie," and "Honey".

I'm 47 and I am not sweetie nor am I honey! I did find out that she just got a job at Perkins as a waitress so maybe she's practicing her honey's and sweeties for the people that she will be waiting on.

Do you like to be called honey and sweetie when you go out to eat? or at work?

Hot Hot Hot!

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

I'm wilting! It's been in the 90's for the past few days with some really awful humidity. The kind that when you go outside you are damp and to tell the truth, I think I have some gills starting to grow behind my ears!

Today, Wednesday is to be the worst day. High 90's with extreme humidity. I'm glad that I got the A/C fixed at the house, glad that I have A/C in the car and really glad that were I work at we have A/C.

This summer, so far, has been the hottest and the wettest for me since moving here to WI. Alaska really looks nice right now!

Big Brother rant.

2011-07-18T06:53:00.003-05:00

When I first moved here to Wisconsin I got in the mail from the township that I lived in, that I needed to let the township know how many dogs that I had. I ignored it, tossed that in the trash and then when taxes rolled around, they added five dollars to my taxes as they found out that I had a dog.

The next two years I paid my five bucks for having a dog. This year, when the card came in the mail, I tossed that in the trash as Abby had died and I no longer have a dog.

On Saturday, a man drives up to my house, gets out and Maggie, T.J.'s dog, starts to bark. This man, without telling me who he was, started to ask, who's dog? How long has the dog been here? How long will the dog be here? Was there any other dogs? I was kind of surprised but said that the dog has been here for about a month and then T.J. says that the dog was his and that he lives in Anyplace WI.

The guy kind of smirked and started to leave, and that's when I asked him who he was. That's when he told me that he worked for the Township that I live in and was taking the dog survey.

Remember, I live way rural, I don't live in, or near any towns, I'm really bugged that on a late Saturday afternoon, some stranger, who does not identify himself, was out asking questions about what and how many dogs lived here.

I know, five bucks is not much, but it's the principle of it. Really, a dog tax? What next? A chicken tax?

About time I posted!

2011-07-15T08:37:00.003-05:00

Here are the chicks, they are nine days old in this pic. They are starting to really chow down on the food. In about 3 more weeks we will start to let them go outside. We have not lost a chick yet so we are still at 32 chicks. The dark one's name is Lucky as he/she will not got to freezer camp.

The garden is really taking off! Zucchini's are starting to show. I have about 1000 that are about 2 inches and I'm sure in a few days they will be baseball bat size.

Pumpkin patch. It's starting to spread into the row that we planned on planting more radishes but with the warm weather we are going to put off planting more of them and just let the pumpkin plant go where it wants to. (Within reason)

How does your garden grow?

2011-07-07T17:51:00.000-05:00

The two rows on the left are potatoes and the row on the far right is the tomato plants. I counted and already I have 3 green tomatoes!This picture makes me start to giggle hysterically as it's a row of summer squash and zucchini!

Row of peas. Pay no never mind to the weeds. I weeded for a few hours the other day and got over heated and called it quits before I got to these. I will get to them in a day or so.

Row of very hot radishes and a row of slow growing carrots. We have eaten a lot of the radishes already and TJ has planted some more. He really likes them.

In the back we have pumpkins

then in the middle it's squash

and in the foreground is cucumbers, that are kind of being slow.

Also you can see that we have planted some sunflowers to the far right.

I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the lettuce and the beets but we have them too.

We will be eating good when it all comes in. I might need to eat some ice cream to balance all those veggies!

They made it!

2011-07-06T17:15:00.002-05:00

We ordered 30 little baby chicks and they came in the mail yesterday mid morning. We got 30, marked the box that asked if we wanted a free "exotic chick" and when TJ opened the box, we had 32 chicks. I guess chick # 32 in like a bakers dozen just in case one goes kaput in shipping?

They sure are cute. I have named them all fried chicken or grilled chicken. Doesn't really matter as they all look alike other then the "exotic" one. We have had them for over 24 hours are all are still alive and kicking.

This little clip shows how cute they are. That noise you hear in the background is the rain that suddenly just poured down on use for about 10 minutes. But notice that you can still hear little peep peeps?

Little Bee

2011-07-04T07:16:00.002-05:00

I would love to tell you about this book that I just read. It was a moving and touching story. All I can say is it's about two woman that meet under horrible circumstances and then two years latter they meet up again.

The story then moves back and forth in first person between the two woman as the past and what happened there are made known and how it now affects them now.

The reason I can't really say more? The book, on the front flap ask that the reader not tell how the story unfolds for those that have not read it yet.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave, go read it now so we can talk about it!

My Weekend

2011-06-27T07:28:00.003-05:00

This is the icky door that needed to be replaced

This is the door out

This is the new door

This is the new door that is all trimmed out. Well almost, TJ still needs to do some "stuff" to the bottom part of the door.

We (and I do mean we) started the project at about 9am on Saturday morning. My job was to take off the trim and also remove the tile that butted up at the door. TJ did the other stuff. Then we carted off the old door to the garage/shop as we are going to keep the window parts of the door.

While TJ framed in for the new door and that was a lot of framing as the new door was about 6 inches smaller then the old door, I made lunch, did a dump run, and worked in the garden.

When it was framed in, we put in the new door, which was heavy! I was surprised at how heavy it was. TJ had to move the glass around so that it would open the right way. That's when he said " Oh, maybe I could had taken these out in the shop so it was not so heavy to move"

That would have been nice as my arms still are a little tender from moving the door.

Sunday was me putting the tile back in, staining the trim and TJ did all the other stuff and put it all back together.

I really really like my door. I love it, I hug it and I kiss it.

P.S. Maybe TJ got a hug and a kiss too for all the work that he did.

long time no talk

2011-06-23T08:07:00.002-05:00

I know, it's been a long long time since I have posted. Not much new going on around here. Just been busy with work and stuff.

Spent over an hour weeding the other day. We have had lots of rain and that has caused the weeds to go, well, like weeds! We need some sun to warm up the ground so that the veggies take off, which will of course make the weeds take off. You just can't win the battle of the weeds.

This weekend TJ and I are going to replace the sliding glass door. I found out that as helper, I will have to do more then get him cold beers! He says that I can do the sheet rock and stuff. I'm not so sure about that. I have advised him a few times that if he gets cranky at me I will cry.

I will take a before and after picture of our new door.

My Garden

2011-06-16T07:25:00.002-05:00

I have nice garden now. It's so nice that I have to weed just so it looks as good as the fence!

TJ built the fence to keep the chickens out as they loved digging out all the worms and they knocked over the plants. Now we don't have that many chickens and we keep them penned up it the large goat pen.

We (TJ did the planting) planted tomatoes, potatoes, beets, peppers, carrots, peas
squashes, cucumbers, pumpkins and a watermelon.

I will need to start hilling the potatoes soon. More work but when all said and done, it will be nice to have all the yummy veggies to eat.

Where am I?

2011-06-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

Sorry to all my friends up in Alaska. I had just a very short time up there and was not able to visit with you all. I took this picture to prove that I was up there.

Ha ha, I jokes. When I went camping a few weeks ago this spot made me think of Alaska. Kind of made me homesick.

Not good

2011-06-09T07:01:00.002-05:00

Yesterday Mom, Aunt Donna and I left the house at noon to go visit some relatives. TJ came home at 1pm. Between that one house a fox came and had fresh chicken dinner!

I went from having 12 hens and two roosters too having four hens and one rooster. TJ saw the fox grab one of the hens and watched it take her off into the woods. Bad fox! He is now in hunting mode.

Might have to get more hens as I'm not sure that four will be enough.

Busy Busy

2011-06-08T08:38:00.002-05:00

My mom is here. She came down from Alaska on Saturday June 4th (With my Aunt Donna) and goes back to Alaska on June 11. My Aunt Donna leaves today, she just lives over in the Twin Cities.

It's been lots of fun with them here. They spend money on me! But that's not why it's fun. It's just great to have time together.

While they have been here the temp got up to 100! My mom went to the cool basement as my A/C does not work. I'm calling the A/C repair man to come by and get that fixed. TJ took a look at it and says that the mice have chewed up lots and lots of wires. Bad bad mice!

Today the high is 83. Much cooler.

Pretty as a picture

2011-06-03T07:52:00.003-05:00

In the three years that I have lived here, my lilacs have never really put on a show. So lacking in pretties that I have thought about cutting them down as I was getting tired of mowing around them. This year, they took off and have really put out the flowers. Glad that I did not chop them down!
I cut some and brought them inside. They smell wonderful, to bad they don't last long as a cut flower.

Camping

2011-06-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

Went camping over the Memorial Day weekend. T.J. and I went way up North to a place called Bayfield and took the ferry over to Madeline Island.

Picture leaving the docks

A view of Bayfield, WI.

A view of Maggie

T.J. was in 7th haven as we were able to (I use that word we very loosely) cut up our own fire wood. He made sure that we had lots of fire wood. Not that it helped as we had a monster of a storm came over us that night and the next morning and it was rained out. I was a little bit worried as the lighting was right over us and it sounded really loud. Louder then normal.
Loud enough that you could feel the sound, besides hearing it.

I'm learning that in WI you have to have brats when you have a campfire. It's a law. Good thing that I like them. That's what is the cook pot over the fire. I do have to say, they are might tasty.

I can see that if I ever moved from where I'm at right now, I would go back to Alaska or up to Northern WI. It was beautiful up there. Not sure if I would want to live on an island but live up North? You bet!

Before and after

2011-06-01T06:55:00.000-05:00

Well, that's kind of a lie. I have no before picture to show. As some of you know, my friend T.J. has been doing some home improvements around the house. The front door had lots of wood rot around the frame and was just down right ugly. We went and I picked out a new door and T.J. took out all the rot and even had to do some work down in the basement under where the door was at as the rot was getting in that. I (note that I used I and not we) still need to paint the trim on the frame but I'm having a hard time picking the color. I figure that next year I will want to paint the house and can do the trim then? (Works for me!) Next door project is the new patio door. Lucky T.J.! It will match the front door. He says that he will need my help to put that in. I hope by help he means getting him a nice cold beer?

Come on baby light my fire

2011-05-31T06:34:00.004-05:00

I have has this brush pile for a year or so. It kept growing and growing. It was becoming a pain in my you know what! I was having a hard time mowing around it. Well, we talked to the right people (The county fire department ) and got the okay to burn the pile. So we did. It only took about 20 min to burn this pile but then we added bigger logs to it and the pile ended up burning all day long. Now it's just a big ashy gray bare spot in the yard. Something that I can mow right over! I will toss some grass seed in there and get that going............on day soon I'm sure I will get on it.

Chickens

2011-05-20T08:15:00.001-05:00

This is what happens when you don't get up early in the morning to feed the chickens. They come looking for you! Saying "FEED ME NOW GRAIN PERSON"

A few things

2011-05-19T11:04:00.002-05:00

Well, I got my grades back! Not to shabby, if I do say so myself!
Business Management A
Business Ethics A
Oral Communication A-
Marketing A-
Selling A

My overall grade or my GPA is 3.93 for all my school work. (Part of me is saying "A-?! What, you couldn't do better then that! )

The other thing is that someone tried to scam my on Craig's List. I put a stove up for sell and a guy wanted to buy it. After a few e-mails back and forth it started to sound fishy. The last e-mail from him I saw all kinds of red flags.

What he wanted to do was to send a MO for over the amount cause and I take it to my bank cash it, and send him back the overage. But then later on, you find out that the MO was a fake one and now you own the bank the money back and you sent money out. He "accidentally" wrote the MO for over the amount and it was already in the mail, he could trust me right? I e-mailed him back saying that I would send that one back without opening it up. If he really did send the MO I will take it and the e-mail to the cop shop and see what they have to say about it!

So, be careful when you are on Craig's list!

Bad Krissy!

2011-05-14T08:16:00.003-05:00

Wow! It's been a week since my last post. But I do have some lame reasons for not blogging.

I had a great time visiting with my sister in MO, and it was a nice road trip too. If there's one thing to know about me is that Krissy loves a road trip.

My sister Patty wants me to move to MO now so that I will be there when she and her hubby retire, but I'm not sure that I like that idea. It was hot and high humidity while I was there, more so then in WI.

School is DONE! I will get my grades back next week. I hope I passed! I jokes, I'm sure I did but I did have one really really big screw up! I thought that I was all done and sold my books back and low and behold, I still had one more week of school! I had three classes that I still had work to do.

I was kind of ticked at them as they did not post week 16 till week 16 started, but they had weeks 1 through 15 always posted so I'm not sure why they held back week 16. I did the work without the books but I may not have as good of a grade, but I was in the mid to high 90% grades so I'm not to worried. It's just nice to be done.

I'm still working 10 hours a week at the village office. It's okay, not really liking it, but it's money so I will keep on keeping on.

My friend T.J. had been doing some home improvements for me. He had to build this work bench so that he could "work" Pretty nice huh? Now I have a place to put stuff and not have it all willy nilly in the garage. I think that the plan today is to replace the screens in the house. They have holes in them and it's not stopping the bugs. So good thing that T.J. has a work bench to work at/on!

How did it go?

2011-05-04T08:05:00.002-05:00

I worked five hours at the Village office on Monday. It went pretty well. I filled out a bunch of deposit slips and went to the bank (Yes, I double checked my numbers!) and went to the post Office. I also had to walk around town an put up notices of Village Board meetings. That was nice and it will be nicer when it's more warm outside!

I also scanned a bunch of stuff. The current village administrator is trying to go paperless. I say current because she is just filling in till the village can find and hire someone full time. The administrator that we had passed away last year, and they have not found anyone yet. The one that I work for comes down a few days a week to take care of stuff.

Being that, I'm working all by myself on Thursday! I hope no one calls!

I forgot to tell you all

2011-05-02T07:33:00.003-05:00

I have another job! Oh, never fear. I still work at the best job ever at the local library, but with the economy is going, I was able to pick up a part time job at the village office. I'm now also a office clerk? Something like that.

I will do some filing, running to the post office and bank and stuff like that. It's only 10 hours a week but with the price of gas this will help. One really nice thing is that it's in the same building that the library is in. I will only work on Mondays and Thursday and those are the days that I work late at the library so I just leave one job and walk over the the other job. Sweet!

And this is the last week of school! I'm trying to get it all done so that on Wednesday I can take all my books back and sale them back to the book store.

Almost done

2011-04-27T06:59:00.002-05:00

This week and next week are the last two weeks of school! And next week I'm going to do a little road trip down to MO to see my sister. Other then that? Not much going on in my life.

Sorry that I'm so boring! But you will get over it soon I'm sure. Oh and I have been sick for the past few days and missed two days of work.

I'm bad!

2011-04-21T09:53:00.002-05:00

Sorry, for those that really really count on me to blog! ( I think that there might be two or three of you?)

I have to be honest, I am not into blogging right now. School is getting close to being done, I'm working on my speech that I have to do, and then I have all the big things out of the way and only two or is it three more weeks left? Not sure, but there is an end in sight!

In a few weeks I'm going to take a little drive to MO and see my sister and BIL. They are going to be down there as their kid will be graduating, and I can't stand the thought that my sister will be only a 10 hour drive from me, that's why I'm taking a little road trip.

Maybe after school I will be back into blogging.

Sorry!

2011-04-12T08:31:00.002-05:00

I know, I have been real bad about posting lately. School is picking up in work as we get near the end. I had a big paper due and got that done and now I have to work on my speech! I have to do a five to seven minute speech on some aspect of a foreign culture. I'm doing my speech on Sky Burial. This morning when I took Maggie for a walk (That's T.J.'s dog) it was loud! The birds were chirping, the tom turkeys were doing the thump....thump...thump..thump..thump.thumpthumpthumpthump, and the wood peckers sounding like someone was using a jack hammer and the cranes were whooping it up. It was nice to hear all that sound of spring.

Pretty cool huh?

2011-04-07T07:17:00.003-05:00

Just in case you can't tell, that is a glass insulator in wood. My friend T.J. heats with wood, and last year while he was cutting wood, and splitting it, he found this in one of the logs. He gave it to me as I thought that it was pretty cool. He told me he wouldn't ever burn it, but he didn't know what to do with it and it was just sitting in his wood shed. I think that I'm going to see if I can take off a little more wood to expose it more, then put it on the porch, or in the flower bed. I just wonder how the glass insulator got stuck or so close to the tree that the tree grew around it. This is a good size chuck of wood.

I love it, I hug it, I kiss it!

2011-04-01T07:11:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if you can tell, but all the above slices of soap are the EXACT same size! I used to cut my soap with a blade and ruler and with the hand held blade, sometimes my cuts would get all caddywhompus. But not now, I have a new fangled soap cutting machine!

I don't have a slab of soap to put in my new cutting machine so you may not be able to tell how it works but I lay a 12lbs slab of soap under the cutting wires and pull down and I get 12 even cuts. What used to take me up to about an half hour now takes me less then three minutes. Here's a back view of my new soap cutter. Just so you know, this is the only one out there like it. I have the prototype.

I asked my friend T.J. if he could build me something to cut soap. I told him that what I had in mind was something like a hard boiled egg slicer. But of course it would need to be bigger and stronger as soap is not the easiest stuff to cut. I need to get some C clamps to hold the back down as you have to put a lot for force to pull the wire blades through all that soap.

The writing on the left bar of the soap cutting machine is

T.J. MFG COMP 3/30/11 For Krissy

Hurry now and put your orders in!

Feeling out of sorts.

2011-03-29T08:21:00.003-05:00

I'm having a hard time with school right now. No, it's not the work that I'm doing. That in itself is not hard, it's time consuming and while it's not over my head stuff, it does take some thinking and I am learning. No, the hard part is that I just don't like spending so much of my time in school. I think that spring break was a bad thing for me. I was doing some thinking last night. I went back to school because my plan was to apply for the library directors job when my boss retires in a year or so. I didn't need the degree, just 54 credits. I choose Business Management as I was not really interested in becoming a nurse. With the budget cuts, I'm not sure that the library job will be there, and Business Management is not what I really want to do. I am thinking about changing my course to Human Resources. Right now, all the classes I have taken are the same for both HR and BM. Next semester is when they start to have more specialized classes. I was also thinking about taking some summer classes, but right now, with the way I feel about school? Not sure if that's a smart idea. How come I'm 46 years old and I still don't have it figured out? Why?!

Cats

2011-03-28T08:41:00.002-05:00

Awwww, aren't the cute all cuddled up like that? Oh, yes they are, but they sure aren't cute at 4AM when they have decide that they are sick and tired of each other and have a little "spat" on top of me. Nothing like being awoken by a cat fight in your bed. When they do that I do a lot of leg kicking and they jump off the bed, then come back and are friends again. I got a little spray on cat nip and hung a scratch thing on a door. Is it wrong to get your kitties all hopped up on cat nip? They really get goofy!

Problems

2011-03-24T13:23:00.002-05:00

Well, my day started off bad and now I have a head ache!

I went to turn my computer on and I can't get online, Not a computer problem but a DLS/FILTER problem. After about an hour on the phone with a tech guy (Who was very nice) we (he) said that I needed to get a C5 cable and we were going to have to bypass the wireless part and try and find a new connection.

Went to go out to the truck to run down to WalMArt and can't open the door as it's only 5 above at the house, and with all that wet heavy snow the other day, the doors are frozen shut. Now I have to wiat till the sun comes out and warms the truck up, but guess what? I parked close to the house, and the house is shading the truck.

I went and made banana nut bread while I waited for more sun and warmth. Got the truck going, got the cable, called back to tech support, and now they are having DLS problems!

I'm now at the library (My place of work) and am online with them.

The Pepsi I chugged has not touched the head ache yet. But you know, it's really not that bad of a day.

Midterm Grades

2011-03-21T15:38:00.001-05:00

Business Ethics - No grade reported and none will be. (Grrr)

Oral Communication - 89.64% , 90 would be an "A" so I'm .36 points away from an "A". I think I can bring that grade up!

Principles of Management - 93.02% is the grade at midterm but with 10 items not graded. So it could be higher or could be lower.

Marketing Principles - No grade reported and none will be. (Grrrr)

Professional Selling - 97.48%

I do get grades back from the work that i have turned in for both the classes that did not report midterm grades and they are good grades so I'm pretty sure that I have "A's" in them. Just would be nice to know for sure.

Road Trip

2011-03-21T09:17:00.003-05:00

On Sunday I (we) went to the Twin Cities. We being Shy Guy and I. The King Tut exhibit was going on. I did bring my camera but they were not allowed so I didn't get to take any photos. It was a neat experience. I have always liked Egyptian history and seeing all that "real" stuff was great. I saw jars that at one time held King Tuts guts! His bed that still had the woven reeds that he slept on.

The one big draw back was that it was jam packed! They only allowed so many people in at a time, but then in 30 minutes they would let in another group of people in. You just can't rush though this stuff. You need to stop and look and read the information and admire it. Well, I did. I think I got felt up a few times from strangers! And there were men that were wearing way waayyyy to much cologne and woman with to much perfume on, and we can't forget the babies crying!

This place also had the Children's museum so we did a little bit of that too. I really had fun there. I like playing with stuff. They had things about hydraulics and gears that I got to play with. I guess I still have a lot of kid in me.

Library people

2011-03-17T09:20:00.004-05:00

A most of you know, I work at a small public library. I have been there for over two years now and we have some "regulars" that come in that are a little bit "odd' I don't know their names as they don't check out books, they just come in to use the computers.

1. Top Knot Lady - She has long hair and wears it in a top knot, hence the name. She is a flake. She wears very dark (black) sunglasses and only comes to the library at night time. Also wears a fake fur coat and white vinyl plastic boots that have a fake fur ruff on them. She sometimes will engage in conversation. Just a few nights ago she told me that she has a weak immune system and was there a flu going around? I told her yes there was, she then asked me what is the flu and what are the systems of a flu. I told her and she then went on to tell me again about her weak system.

2. Talkie boy - He's new. And he talks, a lot. He will engage you until you just have to walk away form him. I try and avoid eye contact with him. The very fist day he came in I heard all about how he ended up here, his online girlfriend that is no more, he car problems, his apartment problems and his money problems.

3. Lips - He's a young man that is a bum and always has a sulky, pouty look about him. He flops in the chair, spreads his legs and then looks at YouTube music, we sometimes have to to tell him to shhhhhh! as he sings out loud, and it's rap with all the bad words!

4. The mumbler - He's a young kid, I don't mind him so much other then he mumbles really bad, and he's a soft talker. That is not good for me as I'm hard of hearing. I kind of feel for him, he's about 11 or 12 and he gets Nancy Drew books and other girl type books. He also has a sparkley heart key chain. I think that he's going to have a hard time at school when he gets into high school.

But you know what? I love my job! My co-workers and I get some laughs out of our patrons but just so you know, if you're a regular at a library, you might have a nick name too!

Signs of Spring

2011-03-16T07:50:00.002-05:00

Warmer temperatures! It's going to be in the high 50's tomorrow and today in the high 40's.
It's really muddy outside.
It rained yesterday, better rain then snow.
One of my hens is becoming broody. I had to move her to get to the egg, she was one mad hen! She carried on for about five minutes. Now I know where madder then a wet hen comes from (Not that she was wet, but I can see just how mad a wet hen could be)
And the really big sign that it's spring? One hour and two razors later, I am now shorts and sleeveless shirt ready! ( I know, maybe a TMI thing)

The Pie

2011-03-15T07:57:00.006-05:00

I'm not sure what is up with blogger but the pictures I try to load keep loading upside down! It's making me dizzy. These two loaded the right way so that's what you get. Noop, I'm no PW as I did NOT take 50 pictures of making the pie. No shots of the ingredients, no shots of butter being beaten in the bowl.

This pie was just okay, not great, if your going to spend time making a pie, you want a great pie, not an okay pie. I think some of what I did not like was the texture as it was grainy with the ricotta cheese. It's flavor was like cheese cake but the texture was not creamy smooth. Also I did not care for having a pie crust on both top and bottom but as pie crust go, it was a good pie crust. More of a tart/shortbread crust.

At one point I was a little worried as is said to smooth the top of the filling so that it was level, well when I poured the filling in the shell, there was no need to smooth! It was very runny and I was then worried that it would not set up, but it did, but then having a runny filling made it very hard to put on the top pie crust as it wanted to sink into the filling.

Long stoy short, whould I make it again? No, I would make a cheese cake over this.

Pi Day!!

2011-03-14T07:48:00.002-05:00

Looks like the Almond Ricotta Pie won! That's the one I wanted to make. I also want to make the Pineapple pie, and I shall, just not today. Maybe I will make that one for book club that meets this Thursday.

This week in spring break so I have no school work to do! Yippee Skippy, but already I don't know what to do with all this free time. I will be dog watching again for a few days for my friend T.J. so I guess I will take the dog for a walk. That will take care of an hour or so. What else to do?

I will figure something out, if all else fails, I can always nap!

This and That

2011-03-08T07:14:00.004-06:00

Update on Maggie, she did really good yesterday. No nervous panting, settled in well. I had to leave her for a few hours when I went to work. When I came home she was all happy to see me, nothing had been chewed, all looked well, other then I think she ate the bowl of kitty crunchies. I forgot to put that up, I'm pretty sure it was her as the cats were outside. (I'm smart like that)

Speaking of cats, they have been hiding from Maggie and last night they pussy footed around and kept an eye out for the evil dog but they did come out from under the bed.

Someone asked what kind of dog Maggie is, she is a Airedale Terrier mix.

Pet peeve about library patrons, yes, it's a library but you can TALK, you can use a NORMAL speaking VOICE when you are asking questions. DO NOT mouth the words. I can't hear you and I don't read lips that well! GRRRRR

Meet Maggie

2011-03-07T07:29:00.004-06:00

This is Maggie, she is my friend's dog. I will be watching Maggie while he goes out on the road for work. He's a trucker and he may not be able to take her with him when he's gone for several days. I had her for one night a few days ago and I will have her again tonight. Maggie has always been with him (24/7/365) so she probably wouldn't do well in a kennel.

The night I had her she did okay, but she had nervous panting all evening long but then when night came she settled down. In the morning she was calm, and did much better. She is a sweet heart of a puppy. Well, she's not a puppy anymore. She is nine years old.

I was telling him that watching Maggie is having the best deal. I get all the benefits of dog but without the food bill and vet bill. I think it's a sweet deal!

Pi/Pie day!

2011-03-06T08:46:00.002-06:00

I spent a few days looking over some pie cook books, and I have come up with a selection of pies that I think I would like to make. When you have the chance, go over to that poll on the right hand side, vote for what pie you would like me to make on Pi day (March 14th = 3.14......) Vote as often as you want. On Friday, March 11th, whatever pie has the most votes will be the pie that I make, then I will bring it to work, and share it with everyone.

Now, I have to say, there are two pies that I really want to make so if one does not win, I will still make it, so then I will bring two pies in. Or, maybe I will stuff myself on pie and bring only one in.

Sorry, but not really sorry, I don't want to make apple/cherry kind of pies, they are too easy to make, I want to make pies that have some level of difficulty or something unusual.

My Classroom

2011-03-02T06:42:00.004-06:00

This is my classroom. The reason that I'm not in class right now is that "blackboard" is down and had been down as of 6:30pm last night. BB is how I connect to my online classes, I am not able to take test and I have five of them, I'm not able to join group discussion and there are five of them, I'm not able to view any power point presentations and there are five of them.

One good thing, there were five things due by today, and I had them all done on Monday. I do not like to wait till the last minute, it pays to be geeky sometimes. Another good thing that I do is that I hand write down what I need to do, so I can get some of my papers done and will just have to wait till I can submit them via BB. And I have a chapter to read for each class so I am doing my reading.

This week has been a struggle for me in school, and it's only Wednesday! I am just not motivated to do school. I'm doing it but I find that I am easily distracted. I will power through and know that spring break will be here soon (And some of my teachers have assigned lots of work during that time) and soon I will be over the half way mark and then SUMMER will be here and I can go play in my dirt and plant green beans and peas and tomatoes and, and, and.............

It's time!

2011-03-01T06:33:00.004-06:00

It's time to celebrate national pi day! March 14th is the day. (3.14 and yes, I know pi is more then that) I for sure am going to put a pineapple pie up for voting, and three others. I think this time I'm going to also offer a savory pie. You know, just to mix it up, cause I'm crazy like that.

and I will look through these books for some idea.

Cured, again

2011-02-28T07:58:00.002-06:00

Over this past weekend I have been doing animal chores for my friend the Goat Lady. She has at this time, five lamas, four horses, two bucks, two pigs, 10 or so goats/sheep, 20 plus rabbits, a flock of mean nasty geese, and some guinea pigs. I know for a fact now, I will never ever have rabbits, geese, lamas and pigs (the pigs are pets) I can see that at some point in time I might have a pig to bring up and send off to freezer camp, but never ever will I have pigs as pets.

And that big bowl of eggs? That was three dozen eggs and one big goose egg. My hens are up to giving me about six to eight eggs a day. I gave the eggs away to some church people on Sunday.

This and That

2011-02-23T16:04:00.003-06:00

I have all my school work done for the week! Yippee Skippy! In two of my classes I have no idea how I'm doing. I have lots of work that needed to be graded. In one of them,all the work still needed to be graded! And we are in the 6th week? The other three classes, I'm doing okay, they have a running total and I'm 90% or better. That can always change as I still have 10 more weeks to go.

I was playing around last night and I found this. This cracked my up, I hope it plays for you. I like funny nerdy men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxLG2wtE7TM

C.C.P.

2011-02-23T08:29:00.002-06:00

C.C.P. = Crappy Cat Pictures

What I learned before 7AM

2011-02-21T07:19:00.002-06:00

Don't wear long johns to go feed the chickens. (Not that they chickens did anything, they are well behaved chickens.) No, it's when you lose some weight your long johns will fall to your knees while your trudging though knee deep snow, and you can't pull them up as you're caring two gallons of water, then the crotch of the long johns kind of act like a "scoop" and do not help, more like hinder or impede your step.

Then as a added bonus, they become very wet, so now you have heavy, wet long johns around your knees. When I got into the garage (That's where the coop is at) I set the two gallons of water down and hiked up the long johns, oh, the fun that I had pulling up wet cold long johns and going back to the house. This time I kept a hand on them to keep them up when I went back to the house.

I'm now in the house wearing sweats.

I forgot

2011-02-20T07:37:00.003-06:00

I feel that I don't have much to say lately. Really, I have a boring life right now. It's work and school. Work is fine, school is fine. I do have to say that online school is harder then going to a class room style of school. It's a lot more work. More reading. more testing and more papers to write. I am surprised that I'm getting good grades on my papers as writing is not a really big skill I have, oh I can write, just not in a proper manor, lots of goofs (As you all should know if you have read this blog) I still get my too and to mixed up sometimes. I have all those little tricks to help remind me when to use what to/too but sometimes they don't really help. (For me)

But what I forgot to tell you was that on Thursday I was an hour late for work! At 4.30pm I went to start my truck and she wouldn't start, I tried for an hour and then gave up, called my friend T.J, and asked him if he could come over and take a look, and if it still wouldn't start to give me a ride to work? He did, it didn't, so he gave me a ride to and from work. Very nice of him. Later that night, before I went to bed, I tried the truck one more time. She started right up, and I have not had a problem since then. Who knows what was wrong?

Mom and Dad? I have been trying to reach you for a few days but your cell phone goes right to voice mail. Call me? No, I'm not asking for money! Just want to chat.

Whats for breakfast?

2011-02-17T07:27:00.004-06:00

I should have taken a picture, but it's too late now. It's in my tummy and making noise! Hum, maybe not a good thing to eat for breakfast.

Last night I made pork chops with lots of onions and green peppers, fresh garlic, and seasoned it with cumin, chili powder and of course salt and pepper. When it was on my plate I then added some hot sauce (Thanks CVPH!) and some other hot sauce (I like me some hot sauce) and then a dollop of sour cream.

I had left overs this morning. I have never been one for the traditional breakfast. Don't get me wrong, I eat eggs and spam/bacon/sausage a lot, fried or scrambled with all kinds of goodies inside, but sometimes? Just the though of eating ONE more double d dang egg makes me gag.

Almost

2011-02-14T08:26:00.002-06:00

I have debated about telling this story off and on. But today, February 14th will be the 10 year anniversary for me.

On December 31, 2001 I was asked to be married. I said yes, and on February 14th I called off the engagement. Yes, I do regret that I did that on that day, but the other part of me says that it was a good day, it was the best day, as that was the day I had the courage to call it off.

Just need to say up front, I was engaged to a very good man, he did nothing wrong. And now your asking, if he was a good man, why did she call it off? Well, I knew him for a long time, he moved back to Alaska and we worked together and became good friends, we would joke about how we should get married and that led to being asked. Also there is an unspoken pressure in the church that women should be married and if not married, you might should think about going to China and doing mission work, (I'm being a little sarcastic there) and I don't speak Chinese.

When I said yes, part of me at the same time was screaming at me "Self! Not a good idea!" but he has asked me in front of my family and I did not was to embarrass him, and I thought that I would adjust to it, you know, get on board with the program. But as time went by, I was becoming more and more unhappy, but also thinking that maybe this was just the jitters, the cold feet syndrome.

About six months before he asked me, we both worked for the same company but in different stations in Alaska and we both got transferred back to Anchorage, we decided to share an apartment (As friends, not anything else) as Anchorage is an expensive place to live. When we were just friends sharing a place, I had no problems, it was when we got engaged, that the problems started to rear their ugly heads.

I was 36 at the time, and very independent. One thing that I did not like was that he would tell me that I should not walk my dog in the dark at 5.30am by myself, it was dangerous, but I worked a morning shift, when was I going to walk her? And if you're that worried, get up and come with me.

Another thing, before engagement, we both did our own food shopping and most often did our own cooking as we worked different hours but each of us were more then welcomed to eat what we had made. After engagement, I would come home from work, he would be on his off days and ask "Whats for dinner?" Then the laundry problem, and the grocery shopping problem, the ugly heads just kept popping up and I was becoming more and more unhappy, and little things became big things in my eyes.

I know, the two examples are very mild, but it was all the little things that started to eat at me. To get married in the church that we went too, we had to have counseling, each of us our own, and then as couples. When I went to my very first meeting I broke down and just sobbed, I told her all the little things that were bugging me and she mentioned that for me, they might be red flags, was I sure that I loved him? Like a wife should love her husband? That's when it hit me, no, I did not love him. I did love him, but in a platonic friendship way, not a wife way.

A few weeks go by, it's getting closer to Valentines day and I'm in the card aisle looking at cards, crying cause I know I need to call it off, but how? All these cards are big fat liar cards! They are sweet mushy cards, I needed a card that said " Don't want to get married!" I did not buy a card.

The big day comes, I get up and take Abby for her walk at 5.30am and when I got back home, he had a large, homemade mushy card on the coffee table. I started to cry, he was in the shower and when he came out he wanted to know if I liked the card, but by that time, I was crying so hard that I started to gag, then I started to vomit. Yep, and while I was throwing up, that's when I told him that I did not want to get married. All he said was "lets talk when I get back from work"

It was a amicable break up. I gave up everything that we had bought together (he paid me for my half) and I moved out of the apartment and into my own place. And was happy.

Now I say "Better to be unmarried and wish you were married, then to be married and wish you were single"

How can it be?

2011-02-13T18:17:00.002-06:00

This evening when I went to take care of the chickens, I noticed that we are having a Chinook. How can that be in the middle of Wisconsin? It transported me back to Alaska when we have Chinooks there, and how they fill you with hope that spring is on it's way. I know up in Alaska right now it's a wee bit cold again, but soon the Chinooks will happen, and you will get that happy happy joy joy feeling.

I'm sure that they have another name for Chinooks here, probably " Oh hey, we are having a warm windy day"

I won?

2011-02-12T15:51:00.008-06:00

A blogger friend over at Cedar View Paint Horses gave/nominated me for an award. Ha Ha, the blog award is for being Stylish? I am so not stylish! I decorate in early American garage sale. I do not dress in any way shape or form that could be called stylish!

But back to the award, you are supposed to name/list seven things about you. I'm not sure if they have to be unknown things or not. So here is my list.

1. I sometimes think about selling it all and moving in to a condo so I don't have to worry about the doors that need replacing, the lawn mower tire, the back porch, carry the three 50lbs bags of feed to the chickens.

2. While I wish that I had Abby back, there are benefits to being dog free.

3. I have lost 47lbs and I have been stuck at that number for three months now.

4. I am not sure that if I want to apply for the library director job if/when my boss retires.

not sure if I'm saying that as I'm tired of school and no director job = no school. I know, I know, it's good that I'm going to school and blah blah blah.

5. I like rocks. I have a few pounds of rocks in my house as they caught my eye for some reason or another.

6. Some of you might know this, other may not. I lived on a sailboat for almost three years when I was a kid. My sister Patty wrote a book about it called the Carina.

7. I have a twin sister that looks nothing like me.

Now what I'm supposed to do is pass this award around to 15 other bloggers, but I'm not going to do that. If you want, just grab that picture, post it, write seven things about yourself. It's kind of fun,and for me? It provided a distraction from school work!

It's the little things

2011-02-10T08:24:00.004-06:00

The other day in my Oral Communications class I had to take a quiz. It was worth 20 points, and I missed three questions so I only got 17 points. One question I got wrong, I e-mailed the teacher and argued my point citing page reference in the text book on why I chose the answer that I gave. She said that I was too narrow in my thinking but that I did argue persuasively, and that she could see why I answered the way I did. She gave me that point back. I know, it's only one point, but still!

Next week my teacher for marketing Principles is calling it "Catch up week" so there is no schedule work. No reading, no lecture, no power point, no papers to write, no quiz and no exams!

Small things, but it gets me giddy like a school girl, oh wait, I am a school girl!

Dogs vs Cats

2011-02-08T07:53:00.003-06:00

1. Sure, Abby may have wanted in and out 10 of the house 10 times a day but she went out the door all the way. Cats? They put half their body out and then lift one paw and stay that way checking it out. You can't shut the door, well you can, but then the cat really makes a lot of noise!

2. Cats walk around the house just making noise for the heck of it. It's yak yak yak all the time.

3. Cats are dumb, they think that if they move reallllllllly slow, I wont see them sneaking up on my plate of food! Or, If I do catch them, then try another direction, I wont see them coming that way! (Stupid cats)

4. The clincher? When Abby would sleep on my side of the bed? She warmed up a big spot for me. Cats? Please, that spot is no bigger then a small dinner plate. Get off my side of the bed!

The clear winner is dogs.

What's wrong?

2011-02-07T08:07:00.004-06:00

What's wrong with this picture? It's not the peanut in the upper left hand corner that's been there for about a month now (I need to get a broom) What's wrong is that I wore both shoes home last night from my friend Kellie's house! I was watching the Super Bowl (Go Vikings!) and the new puppy took my shoe and hid it! We looked and looked last night, I finally ended just wearing mismatched shoes. The one on the right is Kellie's' shoe. The yucky one on the left is mine. Kellie called my up this morning as she has found my shoe. It was under the couch. (My shoes are gross cause I use the slip on slip off to go to the chicken coop)

Movie Talk

2011-02-03T09:15:00.004-06:00

I watched a movie a few days ago and I find myself thinking about it every now and then. The movie I watched was called The Road based on the book with the same title. I wont tell you what movie was about just in case you want to watch it or read the book.

But what I found was that I was sad/depressed by the movie. Not boo-hoo sad, and not that life is not good depressed but just kind of down in the dumps about the movie, and what it said about people in times of extreme hardships (Like ZERO food available).

Then a day after the movie I had a light bulb go off! If I lived in what the movie had as conditions, I would have a green house and run generators to have grow lights and to heat the greenhouse to grow food. When all the fuel runs out, then switch to stationary bikes or wind power to generate power to keep the grow lights and heat going.

I felt much better with that thought. If you watch or read the book, keep that in mind so that when the movie/book ends you have a little tiny bit of hope left in you.

Have you watched the movie or read the book? What did you think?

Be Thankful

2011-02-02T07:06:00.004-06:00

That's all of you out there should be thankful. I'm a sharer. I have had a head cold for the past few days, and like I told my friend Kellie the other day, I wanted to show her what came out of my nose cause it was IMPRESSIVE! Really it was!

Then this morning another IMPRESSIVE gift from my nose. But because I knew my mom would be so so disappointed in me, I refrained from picture taking. Tell my mom thanks!

Flash Back

2011-01-30T08:51:00.006-06:00

I forgot to post some pictures of when I was in CO. Here they are. Yep, I didn't take that many.

My friend and I did take a break from packing up stuff, we took a little road trip up into the mountains. We saw some Dall Sheep? Mountain Goats? I'm embarrassed as I can't remember what they were or even looking at the pictures I still don't know. This little guy had horns attatched to his head because?

This happened to him.

Gaaaa

2011-01-28T08:34:00.002-06:00

Well, for those that know me, I do not like being in touch with my emotions. (I think waaay to many people are waaaay to attuned to them) But I think I'm going to have to learn to fake it for my Oral Communication class.

I had to do a assignment that I had to list behaviors, and feeling, and how I communicated those feeling. I got 14 out of 20. I didn't express the communication of feeling fully! GAAAAA

(The list of behaviors were given to us, like control, identity, physical, and the list went on)

HA HA HA

2011-01-26T07:01:00.002-06:00

Boy, I sure did something that was really funny, a real knee slapper! You want to know what I did?

Well, I spent one and a half hours reading and then answering the three WRONG questions for my Marketing Principles class. When done with the reading I had to go to page 33 and answer three questions in paragraph form. Page 33 had two set of three questions (Yes I could have gone back and reread the assignment, but I didn't)

The one set of question was fun questions about going to three web sites and answering some questions, sounded like too much fun, that can't be the one to do. The other was to pick a company that we feel passionate about (profit or non profit) and discuss (in paragraph form) how they add value, how they communicate value and what could they do to add more value to their service/product.

Yep, I picked the one about value, I chose the public Library system. WRONG! I was to do the one about three web sites. HA HA HA HA. jokes on me!

Worried

2011-01-23T08:21:00.002-06:00

I took two test on Saturday for my Oral Communication class. Both test were 20 questions and then time limit was 30 minutes. Oh, and open book. Test one I got 18 right and on test two I got only 16 questions right. It's open book! How did I get any wrong?

I have to admit that it's hard when you're timed to go looking in the book, and also some of the questions are asked in that double negative way. Kind of like when you go to vote and there are propositions that need your vote to pass or not pass, and when you get done you are not sure if you vote yes it will pass or if you vote no it will pass.

I spent six hours on the computer for the Oral Comm class, I need to do something, my rear end was getting sore! And I kept going to the kitchen to get a little snack. Not a good combo.

Oh, and when I take the test? There is a timer that you see counting down the time, as I get close to the end I can feel myself getting tense and that's when a stupid cat thinks that my chest is the place to be (yes, my cat is a boob cat, sorry mom!).

Why?

2011-01-21T07:57:00.002-06:00

Why do I live in a cold spot? Huh? Why? The temp for my little town says it's -22 but at my house, -34. When I went to feed and water the chickens, my nose hair would freeze on the inhales.

And my cats are bugging me! I was low on cat food and they ate the last of it last night. And I have no more till I go to the store. They are fat, pudgy cats but they don't know that. They think that they are less then an inch away from death due to starvation. What they don't know is that if they don't shut up they will truly be near death!

All done

2011-01-20T13:58:00.002-06:00

Or should I say, all done till I start some more? What I mean is that I have all the work done for all five of my classes. I wrote three papers, took three quizzes, (quiz's?) and entered into six group discussions via the electronic blackboard. Oh, and watched one movie.

The movie I chose to watch was Roger and Me by Micheal Moore. This was for my Business Ethics. Let's just say that in watching this movie it did not change my opinion on Mr Moore.

I took a break last night and watched a movie just to watch one. I watched Zombie Land. I enjoyed this movie! I know, that kind of title might turn some off, but I like dark humor, and there was plenty of it! No, I don't think that my mom should watch it. But I was just laughing out loud. Some of the rules for living in Zombie Land, cardio, why cardio? Cause us big girls and boys can't run long enough to get away from the Zombies, we get tired to fast. I would have been one of the first to go. I better get fit just in case the world turns into Zombies. Another rule, when you kill a Zombie, you double tap them (Shoot them X2) Now is not the time to be stingy with bullets.

Well, I hope that my taste in movies does not offend you too much. But if it does? Oh well, you will get over it.

Cat fight

2011-01-19T07:36:00.002-06:00

Last night, as I was getting ready to do some homework I heard the sound of a cat being possessed by the devil! I opened the back sliding door, and Wilbur comes streaking in, and Harvey (The cat who loves me) went out. I could see that there was a big fat gray cat on the edge of the porch.

Harvey launched himself on the cat (I'm sure out of love for me, that cat loves me, I tell you!) There was a lot of cat noises going on and it moved to the front of the house to under my truck. Cat fights are really loud and it was getting on me nerves. I went out and chased the stray cat away (I hope that I did not emasculate Harvey by taking charge)

Harvey stayed outside for about another 10 minutes all puffed up. When he came inside he was strutting a bit, so I do not think his male pride was damaged in anyway. I checked him over, no wounds.

He was a little fuzzy snuggle bunny last night that was getting on my nerves! But he loves me.

First day of school

2011-01-18T07:47:00.002-06:00

Wow! First day of school was a female dog! (My mom does not like me to use bad words!) Not that it was hard, but it was a lot of time spent on the computer. Each of the teachers wants you to jump through the hoops to make sure to know how to use the online tools, so you end up doing a lot of the same time consuming things. But you have to submit it via the electronic blackboard system so they can see that you really know how to use the system. I was on the computer for about 10 hours. My eyes got goofy on me.

I was feeling a little panic twinge thinking that I was already falling behind and then I took stock and realized that if this was a classroom, I would have three hours a week for each class, and then I would have a five to eight hours of home work for each class, I don't nor should I try to get it all done in one day, can't do it anyway.

One of my homework assignments is that I have to watch a movie off a list of movies. I was wondering when I was going to squeeze that in! Then I have to write a little something in the group board. I feel better about it now. For awhile I was ticked cause I was thinking about all the other work I could be doing instead of sitting watching a movie!

I'm back and this and that

2011-01-17T07:07:00.003-06:00

I got my computer back on Saturday, not so sure if the express mail was so express. But all is good. I have my baby back!

I have to admit that I enjoyed my break from blogging and I'm not really sure if I really wanted to start back up. I will just so family and friends can see what's going on but those that don't blog don't get that blogging can take up a lot of your time.

I'm no longer surprised that Abby's not here. For awhile I would "forget" that she was gone and I would think that I needed to hurry home to let her out and stuff like that.

School starts today at 8am (That's the time that I chose) I got my wool socks on, my comfy sweats on and a old t-shirt on. I think that I might like this online school. Now if only that cats don't bug me!

I'm back, Kind of

2011-01-13T16:46:00.003-06:00

I went to Co for a week and had a real good time with my friend. We got lots packed up and I also came back with some goodies, like a antique dresser, table, hall tree and full size bed frame (Headboard/Foot board and side rails)

But on the way back I got a speeding ticket! I was going 46 in a 35 zone. I was coming up to a town and went from 75 to 65 to 55 to 45 and did not see the 35 sign but the cop saw me! That hurt and also 4 points! I did not speed anymore.

On the way to and from CO I did have some bad weather but nothing a Ex Alaska girl can't handle.

But I forgot my laptop in CO at my friends house, she sent it to me but I have not gotten it yet. I feel very lost without it, but I have read two books as I have the time.

When I get my laptop back I will post some pics and tell more about the trip.

Road Trip

2010-12-31T08:19:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow I go! I am going to drive to CO and help my friend Linda pack and move stuff. I am not attached to her "stuff" and she doesn't know it but I'm going to go through her stuff, toss it right out! She has too much stuff that she has been packing and unpacking for a long time. (That's right Linda, I'm going to make you cry!)

I printed off a map on how to get there. I went there about a year ago and I did some back roads but this time I think I will stay on the interstates and make quicker time. That means going through Denver, not that I am fond of that city.

I will bring my lap top but I wont blog as much (But then I have been not doing that much anyway)

Oh, I did buy a cell phone, it's one of those trac phones. It's kind of odd to have one again. I will adjust I'm sure.

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's Official

2010-12-29T07:32:00.002-06:00

My grades are now posted.

I got an A+ in Business
I got an A+ in Human Resources
and I got an A in Micro Soft Office, which, I am happy with, but I did get more points then points possible so you would think that it would be an A+ too. But it's not.

Also, thanks for all your kind words the other day about Abby, it helped lessen the pain. It's odd to come home and not have her wag her stub tail for me, and not stick my cold feet on her warm tummy (Yes, she slept in bed with me, under the covers unless it was tick season!)

Abby

2010-12-27T10:31:00.003-06:00

Abby Rose February 28 1997 - December 27 2010

I held her until she went to sleep for the last time, telling her that she was the best dog ever, that she was a good girl till the end because she was.

Porn

2010-12-23T07:13:00.004-06:00

First off, I do want to say that I'm opposed to porn! That being said, lets talk about my porn collection. I have 38 books and too many magazines to count. I was up late last night looking at my latest collection as I have added five more books to the collection, that means I'm up to 43 books. I just can't help but look at the glossy pictures.

What?! Does my porn offend you?

Not official yet

2010-12-20T21:43:00.003-06:00

Two of my three classes that I had last semester have posted grades. They aren't official yet as they are no posted in my grade book, but in my running total.

For Human Resources there are 777 points possible and I have 792 points.

For Micro Soft Suite there are 840 points possible and I have 845 points.

For Business Management, I have no idea, I think I did pretty good, but you never know. I still have four assignments that need grading. The teachers have until the 23 of Dec to have all grades turned in.

All done for now.

2010-12-16T22:03:00.002-06:00

Today was the last day of classes for me! I think I did pretty good in all my classes but wont know for sure till Dec 23.

When I got to school this morning there were some of my fellow students talking about selling their book back to the school. One girl said that she was told that they only need six or seven more of book we used for our class. i asked her if she knew when the book store opened. She said right now, she just sold her book back. I ran up there and sold my used book and got 89 bucks for it.

Down side. I needed that book for a test today in that class! But lots of the students, when they heard that they were only going to buy back a few the also were without books for the test. The teacher let us share books.

My book was used and I got 89 bucks for it. A fellow student, who had a brand new book was late in selling it back and they only paid him 50 for it as they really didn't need it. I'm glad that I sold it when I did.

IMHO, the school book thing is a RACKET!

My new crack

2010-12-15T18:39:00.003-06:00

I bought two packages of bacon a few months ago when my sister Alicia was here. We ate one as BLT's and I put the other one in the freezer. It was meaty bacon but it was lacking something. This bacon was local and was called Pit Smoked Bacon. I pulled it out of the freezer to thaw out. (Hey Rose, did you catch that? I thawed it, not unthawed) As I was cooking it up, I said to my self "Self, this bacon needs help, what would be good?" Hum? Maybe brown sugar would be good. So I put some in. My knees buckled when I had the first piece! I ate half just right from the pan.Crack Bacon. Try some today!