Quail

This quail was sitting on the fence post yesterday evening. He was either calling for a mate or telling the other quail this was his territory. We see a big flock of quail like this usually sometime every day as we have water out for them.In the spring the flock breaks up into pairs, and then when the little ones are about half grown they come together as flocks again. They prefer to run rather than fly. They only fly when they are really scared and then not very far. Frequently we see one dash from one tumbleweed or clump of sagebrush to another. They hide in the brush and cactus mostly. I don't feed them as we have too many small crow like black birds that I don't want to encourage. I really like the quail and wish they wouldn't be so shy, but can't figure out how to tame them a bit. Not to much as I still want them to be wild birds.

Sharing the couch

A recent photo of my cat, Kasie, and dog, Codee, sharing the couch one evening.

Cat Reading

This is a photo of me and my black cat, Jade, reading a book

Game Score

As far as the Fantasy Bull Riding Game I scored 2086.25. Not enought to even get close to the winning score but at least I was able to pick some winning riders, Wiley Peterson, and Robson Polermo. And I picked one of the highest scoring bulls, Crosswired, for the event.

Spring Weather

We've had some spring like weather the past few days. Had a scattering of snow yesterday morning with about a half inch of rain off and on all day. Horses are sheding. All are hairy beasts. Will be glad when they are done but hope it warms up some more before they are throught. The ponies have recovered from their surgery and are back to their old selves. I kept hearing all those tales of stallions having problems from being castrated. And I am sure some of them do. Even the vet said they might really swell but neither of mind did. I am sure the two that used live across from us were really swollen as I did see them. But I think a lot of it has to do with getting them out and making sure they get sufficent excersise. I'm not saying take it to extreams but do walk them from the second day on. I didn't even get a chance to wash them down with water hose every day as suggested due to the horrible wind and sand storms we had at that time. The one time I tried Traveler got way to upset and I decided it was best to leave him be. Stormy didn't mind the water hose but only got to do it to him once due to bad winds. Now the seem alright and it is a bit cool for a bath. But I do plan to make it one of my goals this summer to make sure Trave gets used to having a bath.

Fantasy Bull Riding Game

Being a fan of PBR and all bull riding I have decided to play the Fantasy Bull Riding Game. You pick 5 riders and 3 bulls that you think will give you the highest points on their rides or bull scores. The person with the highest score will win for the week. If you win highest scores for the season you get tickets to the finals in Las Vegas in November. I know I won't win because I am getting into this late, it started in January, but it should be fun to play. If you want to try your hand at it go to www.pbrnow.com and go to the link for the Fantasy Games. I will try to let you know how I did after the event.

Fanfiction

As you know I write fanfiction, or stories based on TV shows. A lot of people do. The Internet has been great for being able to get our stories out to the public when otherwise no one but maybe a friend might read them. I have mine on www.womenwritersblock.net but today I found a site where there are some good western TV show stories. It is http://megtipper.tripod.com/fanfiction2.htm You might want to take a look at some of them. Most are based on the TV series called Magnificent Seven. It is similar to the old movie but different characters.

Google

Has any one else had problems using Google as a search engine? I can get on my blog and email but when I try to research something I can't get anything to come up. Maybe it's my computer. I wish I knew. Other search engines I try are working.

Another Story

For those of you that are interested, I have another new story at www.womenwritersblock.net
This story is called Gunfighters, and it is about how Johnny Lancer (from the TV western show Lancer) and Kid Curry (from the TV western show Alias Smith and Jones) met and if there will be a gun ight between the two gunslingers. Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes are in California to let things 'cool down' until their amnesty comes though. They get jobs as cowboys on the Lancer Ranch. Elizabeth is almost like Johnny's sister and he doesn't like it when she becomes interested in Kid Curry. Johnny thinks he is the only one who has recognized the gunfighter. And the Kid has recognized Johnny as another gunfighter that he met once. To find out if the two men actually have a gunfight go to the above website and read my story. It is listed under my pen name of Stardust.

Post Op for Ponies

The ponies, Trave and Stormy, are doing fine after their surgery. Actually they are doing better than I expected them to do. The are eating and almost taking enough excersise, but I am still taking them for walks as the vet suggested I do. It is good for them as a small training lesson anyway. And always enjoyable for me to work with them. But it does sort of make me feel like the nurse in the hospital that makes you get up and walk up and down the halls after you have surgery.

Little Guys

I knew it was inevitable and it finally was done yesterday. I had the vet out and he castrated my two little ponies. I know it was for the best but like everyone I had doubts about doing it. I was scared that something would go wrong and I kept thinking that maybe I really wanted to keep Trave as a stallion. But looking at the economy and the fact that neither pony is registered and I don't have the place or equipment to breed I decided to have it done. I know the ponies will be easier to handle, not to say that they were a problem, they weren't. And it might make it easier to handle my mares it there isn't a stallion on the same property near them.
In today's economy where there is a surplus of horses I really believe that the be they registered or not if they are not top of the line stallion material it is better for everyone to have it done. It seems to me that everyone that has horses seems to think that their colt should be a stallion. Not True. Watching some of the horse auctions on TV I see some of the best prices being paid for well trained geldings. Training and health are the big thing.
It was pretty stressful for Lee and I. We knew it had to be done, and the sooner the better, but still it was surgery. And there can always be problems with surgery. So far they seem to be doing fine. So I better get up and go walk them like the vet said to do.

Hairy Beasties

Of course all of this nice weather has the horses starting to shed and they are hairy beasties. Especially Sunny and Trave. They are the two with the most white on them and it seems that horses with lots of white always start sheding first. Every horseperson says they do it and I know mind do. My son agrees with me saying his horses with white always shed first. I had their hooves trimmed last week and the farrier said the same thing. I have heard lots of other say it, too. And no one seems to know why.
Trying to brush them must be a funny sight to any one passing by when they see me brushing and then spitting do to the hairs on my face and in my mouth. As soon as I am through brushing it is time to jump in the shower.
I did take the time to work with the ponies Stormy and Trave some. Stormy is doing really well at learning to drive using two long (long for a mini) driving lines. He almost acts as if it is fun. As soon as I can I will try him in the harness. I wish I could find a used cart to train him with. If we can we might try making a little pony cart even if it doesn't look like much it would be good for training.
Any one know of a used pony cart for sale in the Albuquerque area?

Mares

After the death of my Morgan last spring my two mares, Nita and Star, seemed to hate each other. I had to seperate them. Now after months of gradually getting them closer and closer I am able to put them in the same pen together. They still can't be put together for feeding or grooming but at least they seem to like each other again. I really think they were as upset by the loss of BlackJack as I was. It just goes to prove that horses and all animals greve over the death of a friend as much as people do.
It is a lot better for the two mares to be together. Now they are begining to act as if they are friends. They don't like it when they are seperated now. Today they decided it was such a nice day they had to run. And run they did. Before when they would run together they would end up in a kicking match and one or both would get hurt. Today they just seemed to be playing and there was no kicking. It was such a relief for me to see them having fun instead of fighting.

Spirits on the Mountain

In the past month I have taken the time to write a couple of stories for www.womenswritersblock.com Or should I say rewrite and update stories that I have had sitting in limbo in my computer. I was amazed at how many misspelled words and grammer mistakes there were.
You will find my story Spirts on the Mountains on the above mentioned site under my penname of Stardust. Go to the site, click on authors, click on Stardust and you will get a list of my stories.

Spirts on the Mountain is a story about a day I spent on Mt. Taylor last fall. I got caught in a thunderstorm and afterward I saw sprits in the mist and fog. They looked to be the spirts of some of my heroes - my grandparents, friends, and several of the actors and actress that played on all of those wonderful Western TV shows, as well as some of the true heroes of the west like Daniel Boone.
Take a peak at it and let me know what you think of it.

Winter Blaaas

It's been a while. I almost forgot how to do this blog thing. Guess I have had a case of the winter blaas or something. It's been cool but not cold. A few of our normal nasty winds but not to much. Yet. I know there will be more of the winds in March. I don't look forward to them. But they are a fact of nature when you live on the high desert of New Mexico. Not much going on at the Tumbleweed Crossing except a few of last years tumbleweeds passing through. For some reason I have never been fond of the month of Feburary, and soon it will be over.

Beach

Here is a photo my sister took when she and her hubby and dog went to the Oregon beach near Astoria, OR for their 30 Anniversary.
Happy Anniversary!!!!

Castle

This is a really nice photo that my sister took when she and my niece went to Disney World over Christmas. My niece was promised the trip when she graduated from from college which in her case is acutully a univeristy. They went in December rather than in the summer when it is so hot in Florida.

Cookie Time

Haven't been doing much with the horses other than feeding and water. But the past couple of days I have been spoiling them to getting cookies and peppermints. Star loves peppermint candy so does Sundance, and Stormy. Nita and Trave refuse to eat them, but will really beg for horse cookies which all the horses and ponies love. Horse candy is called desert cubes at the feedstore where I buy them. They are special treats for horses made out of grain and molasses and come in a 50 pound bag. You can get all kinds of special treats for horses - apple treats, carrot treats, and others usually in small containers that wouldn't last one round of treats for my begging bunch of muchers. But the desert cubes I buy seem to be the least expensive and I know the horses love them. Of course my horses love real carrots and apples too. I make sure to cut them in small chunks so there is no chance they can choke on them. Apples especially are easy for a horse to choke on and even more so for the ponies. I cut them in slices with the core removed as I have heard that the seeds can be poison. Don't know how true it is but no point in taking a chance on it. No since in taking chances with the carrots either. Stormy, the mini has a really small mouth in comparision to the big horses and needs small bits.
Treats are good but now they are getting the idea that they grow in my hands and pockets and they start searching for treats as soon as they see me while making little begging noises. Sometimes you would think that they never get fed the way they act. Yeah my horses and ponies are becoming good actor trying to convince me they didn't already have a handfull of cookies just minutes before. I'm not fooled but I am a sucker and give out more.

Spring? or Winter?

It has been so nice the past couple of days, and has felt more like April than January. So is it spring or winter? Was in the 50's the past couple of days and only down to about 30 at night. Just enough for a skim of ice on the horse water buckets. It's perfect weather except just not quite warm enough to green things up. And, really, I don't want the trees to leaf out even though they are thinking about it, 'cause I am sure it will get cold again.
But this touch of spring has made me feel like spring cleaning so have dug into every corner and crevice trying to eradicate all of the dust, cob webs, surplus dog and cat hair, and those stray pieces of dog food that seem to find their way under all the furniture. I pulled out all the pieces of furniture in the living room and kitchen and cleaned under, over, around and through them. Took of sofa and chair covers and washed them and took down curtains and washed them.
Now I'm off to do the bedrooms.
Unless I decide to take a day off and play with the ponies.

Tooth

My tooth or what is left of it doesn't hurt near as bad today. Almost off the drugs. Only really hurts when air goes across it. worst part is that I can't get an appointment with another dentist to finish removing it for a couple of weeks. Will just have to remember not to chew on that side and not to clinch my jaw or grind my teeth.

Dentist

When to the dentist today. He numbed my mouth, removed the cap on the offending tooth, that had already had the root canel 10 years ago, then removed a broken piece of tooth. He said the tooth was broken and couldn't be saved. But he suggested I have the rest taken out by a oral surgen because it was to broken off to pull. So I am home and still have some pain but not as bad. Will make an appointment with a oral surgen tomorrow.

It is my Tooth

After spending almost a month telling myself that the dentist is right, that I do have a bad case of TMJ, I have come to the realization it really is a tooth problem. On Friday evening the cap came loose on the tooth that had been hurting all this time. It is a tooth that had had a root canel done on it about 10 years ago, and then had a cap put on it. Now I can wiggle the cap with my tounge and fingers and there is a gap between the tooth and cap that the bristles of my toothbrush get in and make it really hurt. And when I say hurt I mean hurt. I have been taking heavy duty pain killers all weekend to keep it under control so I don't start screaming. Thankfully we still had some from when we needed some last time someone was in the hospital.
Needless to say I will be calling the dentist first thing tomorrow morning.
If I can handle it that long. Guess I will have to as there isn't any kind of urgent care for dental problems.

TMJ

I had to go to the dentist right before Christmas as I thought I had an abscessed tooth. Thankfully I didn't. But I did and still do have a bad problem. I have TMJ. TMJ is the abbreviation for a long word that means 'pain in the jaw'. I have had TMJ in my right jaw for about 6 years that I know of. My jaw pops when I open it wide and close it. And even worse it will sometimes lock up. I mean it locks to where I can't even get it open. And it usually does this when I have a bite of something in my mouth. It's not fun. When it locks it is painful and takes several minutes of my messaging my jaw to make it open. There have been times when I was terrified it wouldn't relax so that I could open it and spit out or swallow what ever I was chewing. But usually if I am careful there isn't a problem. That was on the left side. I didn't even realize that I had TMJ in my right jaw, until the denest told me I did. And he says it is from grinding my teeth in my sleep. Also from clenching my jaw. I knew I did a lot of clenching my jaw and it was making my mouth ache a bit, but this is a horrible pain like I have a really bad tooth. He said there is nothing wrong with my teeth, according to the xrays he took, but he said my teeth show lots of sign that I grind them in my sleep. He said most people don't know if they grind there teeth in their sleep. Like snoring you can't tell because your asleep. Unlike snoring he said that someone else in the same room may not hear you grinding your teeth.
I take lots of pain killers for other pains like my scolorous in my back, foot pain, and sciatia in my hips and legs, and for my migranes. This pain in my jaw was like having a migrane in my jaw and, like migranes, the pain killers don't seem to do much good.
I looked this problem up on the internet at www.webmd.com and found it is very common. It seems it is caused by stress more than anything else. There doesn't seem to be any way to stop it except by stopping the stress. Ha Ha. It this life, I don't think so. You have to learn to not clinch your jaw and not grind your teeth when sleeping. There is some sort of devise you can sleep in that can help with that. The dentist said about $300 dollars.
More Stress.
So for now I am taking more pain killers and trying not to clinch my jaw, which I have descovered I do even when I am doing simple, mundane things like washing dishes, taking a shower, or playing with the cats, dogs, and horses.
I have to figure out how to stop some of the stress.
I'm not laughing. It hurts my jaw.

Brandlady.com

I have found a new website that I like. It is called Brandlady. and the link is www.brandlady.com
It is a online woman's magazine. It is still very new and just getting started, but looks like it might have some good articles. I really like the one on orchids under the Home & Garden section. They are looking for new writers, too, for those of you interested in writing for free. That seems to mean most of bloggers.

Midnight Walk

Well it was almost midnight when we went for our walk. We normally go out about 11pm for the dogs last walk before bedtime and to check on the horses one last time. Tonight lee decided to stay in, so it was just me and the dogs, Nikki, Codee, and Tuffee. We had about 2 inches of snow at about noon today. There is still a good cloud cover but not any moisture coming down. And not much wind at the moment. It was really still out there, the kind of weather that makes it so that you can hear every little sound.
I could hear a child fussing in a house a couple of hundred yards away. I heard a car door shut a good block away. A pickup going west on the nearest paved road sounded as if it was right beside us.
Snow crunched and squeaked under my feet. Star pony snorted, a thud in Sonny's stall sounded as if he had pushed his feeder against the wooden wall. Codee startled everyone with a loud bark at the moon. My voice seemed overly loud as well when I told her to hush. I squeaked the snow some more as I looked in all the heated water buckets to see if any needed additional water in them for the night. There was a soft, low whinny from my mini horse, Stormy. I also took a look at the 3 little piles of alfalfa hay I had left out near the corner of the shed where the cottontail rabbits go in and out under it. No it didn't look like they had eaten any. We had seen a rabbit out in the snow earlier that day. There are way to many rabbits around here but I still can't help but put out a bit of hay for them when it is really cold and wet. The thermometer read 25 degrees when I came out.
I looked up at the moon which was hazy with the clouds over it. I had seen a planet shining real bright right under it a few nights ago but couldn't see it tonight. Nor could I see any stars.
As I watched the moon a coyote yipped nearby. The neighbors dog answered it. Then all was quiet, so very, very quiet. As I listened for any sound I faintly heard way, way off the whistle of a train as it followed the railroad tracks that run near to the Rio Grande River as it winds and twists through nearby Albuquerque, and the smaller communities of Corrales, and Alameda. As I listen it whistles again a bit louder.
It seems odd or just weird that I can hear the train that I know is at least 10 miles away from where I live. Normally I can't. Normally there is just to much noise. I breath a big sigh taking in a lung full of the moist, night air that has changed the way the sounds are tonight.
The breeze picks up and cuts right though the 2 pairs of sweat pants I have on, and even through my heavy jacket and gloves.
Time to go in.

Yard Work

I have another goal for this year. To clean up the yard. That doesn't sound to daunting until you realize I have at least a half acre of 'yard' that needs a lot of tender loving care. We started today. Put about 6 wheelbarrow loads of horse manure on the garden area so it can be working down to get ready to fertilize the tomatoes and all the rest of the veggies this summer.
Next we dug about a couple of hundred iris rhizomes from around 2 of the redbud trees. I put a few iris around each of 3 redbuds, an ash, a lilac, a vitex, and a catalpa when we first planted the trees. The iris multiplied, and grew, and grew, and more and more grew around the trees. The trees have not done as well as the cherries, apples, cottonwoods, and pears we put out without iris around them. Now the iris are trying to choke out the trees. So the iris had to go. It was quite a job digging them out. Many of the rhizomes were sliced into by the shovel but it was the only way. I am sure a lot of the iris won't bloom or even survive when I replant them in a bed special only for iris. But the trees will appreciate all the trouble we are going to to rid them of the strangling horde of iris.
there is lots more work to do other than the iris. All the container pots are asking for new homes, or at least I have decided they need new homes in a different part of the yard. The roses need drastic pruning as well as several of the trees when the right time comes for pruning.
And of course there are the a few dried up tumbleweeds that never made it to the burning barrel last fall along with some of the other weed.
I would like to build a few trellis for growing morning glories, and cucumbers.
I wonder if the work will ever get done.

Bull Riding 2009

Tired of football? Try watching bull riding for a change. The 2009 season starts tonight. There isn't all that 'team' stuff when watching bull riding. It is one rider against one bull for 8 seconds. It's the best sport to watch as there is always action. For more information watch an event on Versus or NBC or go to www.pbrnow.com

Goal for the Year

I don't normally do the New Years Resolution thing, but this year I have set myself a goal. I would like to dig out all the stuff that my mom and her mom, my dad and any other relatives have left me that are packed in boxes. I want to make a brief note of each item, and take a photo of it. That way I will know what I have without having to go into each and every box to see if I have what I think I have. That way if there is something valuable maybe I can find an estimate of it's value somewhere on the internet. That way if I want to give something to my son, or my sisters kids I will know where to find it. By organizing things a bit better if I hear of something gaining value I can check a list on my computer to see if I have such a thing. But I am dreaming when it comes to thinking that there might be something of value in all that junk. My family has always been a bunch of packrats - keeping everything that they like and a lot that they didn't like just thought it was something that should be kept. As of this writing I have not found anything that is worth trying to find a way to sell it. Most of it is collectible junk. Would someone please tell me what you do with 100 years of collectible junk other than keep it packed in boxes.

Happy New Year

Wishing Everyone

The Happest

and Best

For the New Year

Christmas Lights

These are our lights for Christmas. Electric ones and luminerias from our front door. Hard to take photos of lights.

Luminaria

luminaria, a paper bag with a candle in it

Good Tidings

What ever you celebrate make it a good one.

Merry Christmas

Good Winter Solstice

Happy Holidays

Where ever you might be.

Luminarias?

So you are asking what a luminaria is - it is simply a paper bag with dirt and a candle in it. Sounds weird to those who have never heard of such a thing, but to us here in New Mexico it is a Christmas tradition. Sometimes now they are called farolitos. When I was growing up I never heard them called that, but both Spanish words mean the same thing - small fires. For hundreds of years the tiny bonfires were lit to guide people to church for a Christmas mass. In time some said it was meant to guide the Christ Child, or St. Nick, to the homes with children where St. Nick or the Christ Child, depending on who is telling the story, would leave a gift for good children. When paper bags were invented it became tradition to put a small amount of sand, or dirt in the bottom of the bag for weight to keep the bag from blowing away, and a votive candle in the center. The sand will hopefully help to put the candle out if it catches the bag on fire.
People all over New Mexico and the southwest put out thousands of these luminarias on Christmas eve to light the way for Santa Claus, as well as for the fact that they look really nice. They even seem to blend in well with all the electric light displays that we are so fond of putting out for the holidays. I remember doing this back in the late 60's when I was in highschool, and I have done it off and on over the different Christmas's since, especially when my son was of an age where it was fun for him to do.
We hadn't done it for a number of years and tonight, Christmas Eve, spur of the moment, we decided to see if we could put a few out. They look best if you can do at a minimum 25 or so, but a 100 or more always looks better. Old Town Albuquerque always does thousands of them as well as a few other places in Albuquerque and other New Mexico towns. There are even bus tours in the Old Town area for those that don't want to fight the crowds of cars that line the streets to see the luminarias. Lots of people park and go walking among the luminarias and shop at the little shops that stay open on Christmas Eve for the festivities.
As I started to say we decided to put some out this year. It was already dark when we decided this but we have plenty of sand everywhere so that wasn't a problem. We located 20 bags and 18 candles. Soon we had a little fires lining the driveway to the house. There are no children here for St. Nick to visit and we don't go to church but made it feel more like Christmas to set them out.

Christmas Cards

When I was a child growing up my mom would let me help her with the Christmas cards. At first all I could do was help pick out which ones to send to who. Later I could address them and put stamps on them. We would send them to just about everyone we knew. With a lot of friends it was the only time of the year we heard from them and there would be interesting letters in with the cards. Sometimes mom would let me write the letters we put in with our cards because it was in the time before computers. It was almost as exciting to get a Christmas card as it was to get a present.
But it seems that Christmas cards are now a thing of the pass. Even though I see stacks and stacks of boxes of cards in the stores, and I buy some and add letters or notes to them I never get as many back as I send out. I wonder if other people don't receive cards form their far away friends when they send them out? Or doesn't any one send out cards anymore? Am I the last of a dying breed of card senders? I would think that if I send out a card to you you could have the descentcy to return one or at least a letter. Or let me know that you don't want to receive them any more and I will not send any more. This year I have decided that if you don't respond I won't send you more.

Bad Weather

We have had a bit of snow and rain here but nothing like what is happening in the northern half of the United States. It is really nasty with tons of snow and broken water-main lines, electrical outages, no mail, and no deliveries of propane, or other heating oils and such, and airports closed down, and stranded travelers, people that can't get to their jobs, causing many cities and towns to basically close down. After watching what is going on every where else we can't complain about what is happening here.
Our wish for Christmas is not only peace on earth but that the weather slacks off so that everyone having problems, and troubles can have at least a halfway decent Christmas.

Love

'Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened

Nita

And Nita said nothing doing, she wasn't going to be caught with a silly Santa hat on her head.

Stormy

Stormy needed a little encourgement but then seemed to think he was having fun as can be seen in the photo to the right.

Traveler

Traveler wasn't sure he wanted to wear a hat.

Star

Star didn't want to stand still for her photo with the Santa hat.

Santa Hat

Sonny agreed to pose in the Santa Hat as did all the other horses and ponies and even our cat Murphy who can be see at the end of this blog'

Hubbys Turn

Sonny was better for Lee than he was for me.

Crowbait

Here we are in the driveway. And ole' crowbait decided to let lose a big fart and scare himself so that he started crowhopping for a few seconds. I wasn't expecting that.

Ultimate Reality

THE LAWS OF ULTIMATE REALITY
Law of Mechanical Repair > After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

Law of Gravity > Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of Probability > The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of Random Numbers > If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

Law of the Alibi > If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

Variation Law > If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

Law of the Bath > When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of the Nap > As soon as you doze off the phone will ring. (reminds me of the bath)

Law of Close Encounters > The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Result > When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics > The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

Law of the Theater > At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the asle arrive last.

The Starbucks Law > As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers > If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Physical Surfaces > The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Brown's Law of Physical Appearance > If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy > As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Doctors' Law > If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.

Sunset

Sonny

Then Lee rode Sonny and I took photos.

Riding

I decided to ride Sonny today and Lee took a couple of photos. Wish I felt like riding more often. In this photo we are at the back of our property. Those are the Sandia Mountains behind be.

Sandia Mountains

Customer Service

Good customer service has become a dying art. No one seems to be able to do it. Especially big business.
I have had to make several calls to big business companies in the past few weeks. Calls to credit card companies, TV companies, and companies where I want to buy something. I have had one really big problem with these companies. No one speaks decent American/English at the call centers. Why don't they speak good American? Its because the call centers arn't in the United States. I'm sure everyone has experienced this problem. It is beyond me why so many companies in the US are 'building' all their call centers in other countries - places like India, and the Philippines. There are a higher number of Americans out of work than ever and yet we have to try -note I say try - to talk to someone in another country. Someone who doesn't speak English or even Spanish as a first language. And, Yes, they do speak a type of Spanish in the Philippines but not the same thing that is spoken in most of the US.
Why arn't business keeping their call centers in the US where someone can have a job and we can understand what they are saying. It would help keep our economy better and keep the customers happier.
No one wants to talk to someone in another country when they are having a problem right in their own home.
On last Friday my husband and I received a card from DirectTV saying that we could get a new, upgraded, control box as a free gift for being with the company for 10 years. So I called to get the new box as ours is several years old and our satellite dish was 10 years old. having this old equipment meant that we couldn't get our local channels from Albuquerque without turning off the DirectTV box.
It took me 2 days, and about 3 hours of first talking to people in another country that couldn't understand what I was talking about and that I couldn't understand half of what they were saying. Finally I was transferred to a tec in Florida. But still she didn't want to believe that we couldn't get the local channels on our equipment. She insisted that we go through an hour of doing this and that on the remote control to see if what I was telling her was true. Finally - finally she agreed to send the new box, and satellite.
It was as if she was going to do everything she could to keep from having to send us new equipment even though we had been sent this card saying we were loyal customers that deserved it.
Why, oh, why does big business think that they have to do their best to make their customers seem as stupid as possible, when it is big business that is stupid.
I have had several other people say that they are having the same problems with Dish TV and the cable companies. Credit card companies are some of the worst.
Why does a company that wants customers in the US give us such hell when we call to resolve a problem. When we want to remain their customers if they would just give a little decent customer service.

Worth Repeating

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions

Good Thoughts to Remember

After hearing about all the bad things that have been going on lately around the world a friend sent me this in an email. We all need to try to remember to do more of it.
Except I do have a problem with number two, as when you get older your hearing gets worse. And for number six - it would be smart to be engaged for at least six months but Lee and I had only known each other for four months and had been engaged for only two months when we got married - and that was 38 years ago. And I do believe in number Seven

Mental Feng Shui
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much. NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. W hen you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.
-- Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. Dr.Seuss ____________________________________________________________

Sane People-Or Insane

Cactus Jack Splash says that the only sane place is on their ranch. I think that the only sane And maybe cats and dogs. All I can say is the rest of the world doesn't know what they are missing. I am staying as far away from stores as I can probably for the rest of my life. I detest it when I have to go to the store to buy food or new clothes when the old ones wear out completely. I go hide in the horse pens as much as I can when the rest of the world becomes to much for me to handle. And this time of the year seems to bring out the worst in the human race.
It is hard to believe that a gang of people trying to be the first into a Walmart would trample and kill the person unlocking the door for them, and injury others.
And that other people would fight and kill over who gets to buy an item in a store.
No, I am not one of those that is a goody two shoes, got to go to church everyday, and say 'God Bless', to everyone I see. I just believe that the human race should take a good look at what they have become, and maybe opt for a little change for the better instead of believing that the only good life is to spend money as fast as possible on junk. How, or how, did people get so materialistic.
All I want for Christmas is more peace for the world, a load of hay for the horses and a load of dog and cat food as well as some for me, and all the homeless, starving animals and people in the world.

Thanksgiving Rain Storm

We had a drizzle of rain when we got up to feed the ponies yesterday morning which was Thanksgiving day. We hadn't planned anything special as we couldn't afford to go visit any of our family for the day. Nor could any of our family afford to come here. So we called and talked and wished everyone a good day.
I kept watching the sky. I had a feeling that there was more rain to come. And there was. About noon it started raining harder than it had earlier that day. Then the wind came. And with it a huge whirlwind or maybe it was another of those little tornados. I watched from the front door as the horses ran around their pens in fear and I couldn't do anything for them. It looked as if the roof of one of the shelters came up off the walls a few inches and then came back down. The wind hit the tree near the door and I saw the leaves picked off the tree, whirled into the air, and dropped back down onto the ground right around the tree.
In minutes the wind was gone, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining. Thankfully there was no damage.

Really Black Friday

I can not believe that people will stand in line that long and get up that early to go to stores and trample the people in front of them on the off chance that they will get to buy something that they don't just have to have. There is no way I would get up that early to go to a store to buy gifts or even stuff I can use even if it is on sale.
And why do stores do this? Why do they have to open so early? And why do they put things on sale for only a few hours? Is it really worth it to make people fight and kill to get into the store so that the business can make a couple of extra dollars?
Is this what the people of the United States have come down to?

Wild Horses Situation

Here is a link to an article about the wild horses that the goverment wants to destroy. A fair article but it doesn't mention any way to adopt a wild horse or to write or contact a congressman about them. Nor is there a way to contact the woman that wants to take care of them until they can be adopted out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/17/AR2008111703680.html

Wild Birds

As I mentioned in my last posting the roadrunner is the state bird of New Mexico. Did you know that each of the 50 states has named a bird to be their state bird? And each state also has a state flower, state mammal, state fish, state reptile, and maybe other state things similar that I know nothing about. It is interesting to find out about these things.
Here at the Tumbleweed Crossing we get a lot of wild birds coming in to either find water, food, or nesting places. Most of the time they are welcome to come and stay as long as they want. I have always been some what of an amiture bird watcher. Roadrunners are one of the rarer birds that come through. Most of the time they are as welcome as the other birds. Roadrunners are members of the cuckoo family and can only be found in the lower elevations of the southwestern United States and Mexico. They are a fairly large bird that looks to be about 18 to 24 inches tall depending on if you count just the head or include that long tail that is usually sticking straight up behind him except when he is running and it is stuck out behind him. I like roadrunners as they eat snakes. Yes, you read that right they eat snakes and that includes rattlesnakes. It can be quite a sight to see a roadrunner killing a highly poisonous snake so it can eat it.
Roadrunners also dine on lots of mice and small rats which is a plus any way you look at it. But on the down side they will eat the baby quail that I dearly love to see, as well as young doves, sparrows, wrens, finches and other birds. Roadrunners are in the carnivore category. Last winter we had one that found that we had water in the heated water buckets for the horses. Each day it would come in and get a drink out of one of the heated buckets and then leave.
I have mentioned the quail. We have what is called 'Scaled Quail' which are similar to the top knot quail of Arizona, only they don't have as large a top knot. In the spring you can see the large winter flocks breaking up into pairs and a few weeks later the pairs will have tiny puff balls following them. By fall the puff balls are almost as big as their parents and the winter flocks form again. I have seen as many as 20 at a time coming in to water in our yard. We keep solid hubcaps for the quail to drink out of. They want water on the ground as they don't fly unless forced into it. They seem to prefer the shallow hubcaps to deeper containers. Hubcaps work well as they can be scrubbed out when they get lots of algae in them, and don't cost anything at the junk yards. I have used the deeper black hamburger trays that are about 4 inches deep but in the spring the baby quail drown in something this deep. I found it out the hard way and don't use them any more in the spring but do in the fall and winter.
I can't afford to feed all the birds that come in so all I put out is the water. We have other birds that come in every morning and evening to drink. Lots of sparrows, red headed house finches, starlings, and doves that are the year round residents, but during migrations we get hummingbirds, gold finches, fly catchers, swallows, and ravens. We are lucky that we get a few redtailed hawks, sparrow hawks or kestrels, coopers hawks, and on rare occasions a golden or bald eagle. We used to see several vultures around but not in a long time. Although not pretty they are good birds as they eat a lot of the road killed rabbits. And we have lots of rabbits. Mostly the desert cottontails but also jackrabbits. They seem to know that they are safe inside of our wire fenced yard where the coyotes can't get to them.
And yes we have coyotes. We see them at times and hear them yipping and howling almost every evening. I am not overly fond of them but know we need them to keep down the rodents and rabbits. And they did live here before people did.

Roadrunner

The Roadrunner is New Mexico's state bird and we have a few that pass through here occasionally. Usually if I see one before I can think about getting the camera it is gone or so far off I can't get a decent photo. A roadrunner was the fartherest thing from my mind the other night when I went to feed the horses. It was the last feeding of the day at 9 pm which meant it was dark and all good little roadrunners should have been in bed. And this one was but in an unusual place.

Lee was trying to get a bale of hay down off the top of the stack, about 7 feet up and was having trouble getting ahold of the string that keeps the bale together. So I turned around to get the hay hook that we have hanging near the hay shed door. Surprise! I found myself being stared at by two shiny, glaring, black roadrunner eyes. Roasting on a 2 x 4 above the door was one of the birds. I stepped back in surprise. And especially at the size of the sharp beak that was pointed at me. You can see him in the photo with his tail up unsure of weather he should stay or leave and knowing that he can't see in the dark he decides to stay put even though there are two humans getting hay for the horses in the shed, as well as a dog with them. You can see the handle of the antique hay hook that I was reaching for next to the hammer and the top of the door in the lower right hand corner.

As quickly and quietly as we could, we got the hay, which did include getting the hay hook and dropping a 50 pound bale of hay onto the floor, and then I decided to get the camera and take his photo hoping that the flash wouldn't destrub him even worse that we had. It didn't seem to bother him at all.

The roadrunner had got into the hay shed because we leave the door open a lot, so we left it open for the night as we figured he would be gone at first light the next morning which would be earlier than when we feed the horses. But surprise again. He was still there at 7 am the next morning. We decided enough was enough. We didn't want such a big bird living in the shed. lee got the broom and shoo-ed him out the door. He ran like a flash down the driveway, under the gate, and disappeared down the road.

I think it might have been a young bird that was confussed. He certainly wasn't as big as some I have seen so it could have been one that had recently left it's parents.

Offended

And if I have offended you by giving my opion about junky emails - you don't have to read my blog.

Loading Loading

Neither am I going to take the time to stare at a screen that continues to say "Loading-Loading" while I wait for some dumb video to download that some one else thought was cute, cool, outstanding, funny, ect. And I don't have high speed, only dial-up, which means that it can take as much as an hour or more for a 1 minute video to load to where I can see it. If I can. And normally I can't. So don't send them.

Junky Emails

Ok, I've had it with the junky emails. Emails that are from my friends that I correspond with frequently. They get them from other friends and think they should be sent on to me, and everyone they know. Emails about "friends/love/god/support/cute/care-for/political/awaaa-for-the-day/bad-luck/good-luck/send-to-so-many-in-such-and-such-a-length-of-time/". Even though the election is over I am still getting political emails. What gives????? Don't you think I have anything better to do that go through your crumby "Be-my-friend/support-my-cause/I-care-for-you/vote-for-so-and-so/you-HAVE-TO-pass-this-on/Do-Not-Delete-This/" emails.
I'll let you in on a little secret. Every time I see a subject line that has one of the above words in it-I delete it-unopened. If it was really important-oh well-it's gone. And I haven't read your important email.
I can handle a few of these but it seems to be going to extremes any more. I can handle the cute pet photos a few times but aren't there any new ones out there in cyberland? The same ones over and over get old.
And as for as the ones that say "you'll have bad luck or good luck if you don't send it on to 3/5/10/ or however many email friends in a certain amount of time. Well, I just can't believe that you, my friends, believe that sh---.
So from now on think before you pass it on. Is it really important? is it the first time you have seen that cute photo? (or the tenth), is it a joke that's been around for 20 years and everyone has heard? (or is it a new one, that made you laugh).
THINK! Don't just forward everything to everyone.

Gourds

I raised some gourds this year. They did better than I expected as I have never got that many gourds off the vines. In fact I got 35 of them. Four are still hanging in the redbud tree where the vine grew up in it and I didn't notice the gourds until they were almost full size. 2 of them managed to wedge theirselves in a wire fence the vine was growing on and we had to pull the fence apart to get them out. They were fun and easy to grew and very interesting watching the gourds grow. Some are fairly good sized and others are just average and a couple are even on the small size. I cut them off the vines when the vines died after the first freeze and put them on the back patio to dry only to find that they were developing spots of black mold which I had never had happen before. After reading about gourds on the web I found that this is common. I wiped them down with the 10 percent of bleach water as recommended and put them in the shed to finish drying as they are still very green.

I also found out that they can be used for a number of crafts. Bowls, vases, cute animals, lights, jack-o-lanterns, bird houses, trinket boxes, Halloween and Christmas decorations, and lots of other things, including just using them to paint designs on. When mine dry I might try some. But I found out that the mold on them and the stuff inside, and dust from cutting them open can cause flu like symptoms and allergies, itching and other problems so you have to be very careful when doing the crafts. but it does sound like an interesting project for when they dry. I differently plan to grow more of them next spring and hope to find some different kinds of seeds as there are 1000's of kinds of gourds.

Over

Well it's finally over. the Election that is. I just hope that our new president will be able to pull this country back together and make it the wonderful place it used to be. And if he could do something about all the political phone calls it would be a big help. At least for the time being they seem to have stopped. No political calls, no survey calls, no bashing of each other on dumb political advertizements on TV. What a relief.

PBR Fans

I guess I am not the only PBR fan. Callie let a message that she is one too. I hope there are lots more out there in cyberspace.

PBR Finals.

I am in bull riding heaven this week. The PBR (Profisional Bull Riding) is having their finals this week. We normally get bull riding on Versis TV channel on Saturday and Sunday. This week we had it on Friday Saturday and Sunday will have a couple during the week and again next weekend. A full 8 days of bucking bulls and flying riders during 11 days. Maybe I will get my fill for a minute or so. Would dearly love to go to Las Veges, Nevada for the finals some time. But it takes more money than I can afford. So I will be content with watching it on TV. As some people say you can actually see more on tv than at the event. But you have a chance to actually meet some of the bull riders, anouncers, ect and to see the bulls.
Of course I like anything that has to do with rodeos and horses.
But many years ago I said I would never get involved in watching a sport on TV the way so many watch the football, basketball, and baseball games. But I did. And it was bull riding that won out.

Time Change

Well the politicians are at it again. No one that I know of wants to do this time change bull every six months like the politicians want us to do. Maybe for them and big business it isn't that much of a problem. But for those of us who have to take medications at a certain time every day it can be a pain in the but. I even forgot this time. Got up at regular time turned on TV and was wondering what the h---- when the TV seemed to be off until I remembered. Then I realized that my meds would be off and I would either have to feed horses at a different time or start training them for a different time. All because some idiot politicain says I have to change the time. Funny the sun doesn't know about this time change.

Unhappy Cat

I was trying to take some photos of the cats and dogs with a Christmas hat on so I could add to Christmas cards this year. Murphy did not like the idea and kept insisting he was a Halloween Cat rather than a Christmas cat.

Kasie

One of our cats, K.C. as my son named her, but I prefer to think of her as Kasie. I don't know why some people have a thing of naming people and pets with initials. I never made much since to me. My son has has K.C.(Kitty Cat) the cat, and D.D.(Dustins Dog) the dog, and now has another cat named O.C. (orange cat) and had a horse C.W (her registered name was Charging Walk). I watch bull riding and it seems half the riders go by their initials. J.W. Hart. J.B. Mooney, L.J. Jenkins. I have known lots of people that went by their initials or JR if they were a junior. And all the business that go my their initials. I think I'll try to stay away from that trend.

Arte

A better photo of Arte.

Murphy

Murphy admiring a couple of the last morning glories we had just before all my annuals froze. I already miss the new flowers that were waiting for me to see them each morning when I got up.

Tuffee

My border collie Tuffee at the back door.

Mystic Art

This my son's stallion Darkan's Mystic Art. He is half Arabian, and half Saddlebred, and all beautiful.

Tony Hillerman

It is a sad day. I just heard that Tony Hillerman died today. Tony Hillerman was another of my favorite authors. He was from Oklahoma originally but had lived in Albuquerque New Mexico for a very long time. He wrote mystery novels who's main characters were Navajo policeman on the Navajo Reservation. I believe that I have read all of his books and enjoyed every one.
We will miss Tony Hillerman and his books, and writings.

Tomatoes

It finally really froze and we had to pick all the tomatoes to keep them from freezing. Of course it got worm again afterward. But what to do with all those tomatoes, many of them are still green. You can only eat so many green fried tomatoes and tomato salads, and the neighbors will only take some many, too.
After spending several hours on the Internet looking at recipes I settled on a recipe for enchilada sauce. So I spent this morning finding and cleaning all my canning equipment that hasn't been used in about 5 years, and then I boiled the tomatoes just until they split for peeling. Next hubby, Lee, and I took turns using the old antique, cone-shaped juicer and wooden cone-shaped crusher for smashing the warm fruit until the juice and pulp were separated from the seeds, and pulp.
Now to add the chili power and other seasoning and let it slow cook in my slow cooker. If the sauce comes out I will add the recipe later.

Nevada Barr

Nevada Barr is one of my favorite authors. She writes the Anna Pigion mystries. All of the stories are set in a National Park, and she does the best of anyone I have ever read in describing the wonder of nature. This year she has a new mystry out entitled Winter Study. I haven't read it yet as I can't afford the hard back books and will have to wait for the paperback to come out. I read on her website that there will be a new one next spring called Borderline. I look forward to both of them. But for now I am enjoying the blog that she and her sister do. Give it a try at http://thorpunious.wordpress.com
the web site is www.nevadabarr.com

Non-Believers

I am so glad to get the comments from people who have had migraines. Sometimes it feels as if I am all alone in fighting with mine. And that no one else ever has one. I still know lots of people who had never had one, including lots of doctors, and they usually of the opinion that a migraine is just a headache. I don't think anyone can imagine what a migraine is like until they have had one.
My dad was that way. He thought that my mom and my sisters and I were faking it for sympathy and to get out of work until he had his first one in his late 60's and I had to take him to the hospital because of the migraine.
So to those of you who have had them. Yes, that one will pass but there will always be another one at another time.
To those who haven't ever had one. Count your blessing and prey you never do.

Journeys of Cactus Jack Splash

Found another blog that I like. Its the Journeys of Cactus Jack Splash. A nice appaloosa horse. Give his blog a try. The link is on my list.

My Problems

When I re-read the last post I started to remove it from my blog. But I decided not to. I have never mentioned these problems before on my blog. I have kept most of my medical problems hid from strangers all my life. But it is time to let everyone know I have these problems. A lot of people don't beleive me and that includes most doctors. If you don't want to beleive me thats fine. I'm used to it. Those of you that have these problems will. And I want others to know that they aren't alone as I used to think that I was.

Migraines

Migraines and pain have taken over my life. Again. I have had migraines all my life and they come and go. This past week they have come again and invaded everything I do. Which isn't much when I have one. The pain makes me wish I something could be done at any cost but there seems to be little that the doctors can recommend for them. The normal meds for migraines don't seem to do me any good. Best I can do is find a very dark, very quiet place where I can coddle up in a soft, warm blanket with an icepack. When the bed doesn't work I resort to hiding in my small walk-in closet where I have a corner where I have placed several large pillows and blankets. Usually a couple of hours in there will take care of it. Sometimes. But this past week the headaches have continued off and on for days. Cluster headaches they are called. Any light and any sound makes it worst. I feel like a bomb is trying to go off in my head. The sides of my head, my checks will feel numb. My hands won't be able to grip things as well, and I won't be able to walk straight.Like I was drunk when I don't drink. I have threatened to take up drinking as then I will have an excuse for feeling this way. There is no way I can do housework, help with horses, or work on computer. Driving would be a deathwish.
I am hoping that maybe this time it is being brought on my the weather. We had terrible rain storms, and then it got first cool and then we went back to summer. Last night we had horrible wind all evening and night. And the temperatures have gone way down. And we had a full moon recently. I really think that the weather and the moon can effect the way a person feels especially if a person is prone to headaches to start with. The weather also seems to make the constant pain in my back, legs, and feet to get worse. According to the doctors the only thing I have is the start of some normal arthritis for a person my age. Although I have been told that I have scoliosis, which is a curved spine causing me not to be able to stand up straight, and deformed feet, mostly very large bunions. yEAH yeah bunions can be removed. And the left one has been about ten years ago, which just made my foot hurt worse. Now I get terrible cramps in my toes and it feels like someone is jamming an icepick through the top of my foot right behind my middle toe. Or how if feel that an ice pick jammed into my foot would feel. I can't wear womens shoes because of how wide my feet are and have to buy large boys or small mens shoes. Mostly slippers. Which means a lot of times I don't do much that requires walking.
Anyone that has bad headaches or migraines or any of these other problems I have has my full sympathy. And I do know several people who do have these problems so I know it isn't all in my head.

The Rain Came

The rain came sideways last Saturday. I don't think any of it came straight down as it should considering it comes from the sky. The winds were terrable and the rain was hard with a bit of hail mixed in. And again I say it came sideways or horizonal. The barn leaked, the yard was flooded. You would have thought we had a pond in the big horse pen, and in our back yard in the garden area. And the horses were drenched. They wouldn't stay in their shelters but I don't think the shelters were doing that much good considering that slanted rain. Then a block down the road from us someones big camptrailer must have been leaking as they were standing on it trying to put a tarpe on it. And that caused my bay quarter horse mare Nita to panic, even though it was almost a block away from us. Thankfully none of the other horses seemed to care about that, only the rain. Poor Nita, she just stood staring off toward the trailer, trimbling with fright and cold. I gave them an extra flake of hay to try to calm them and to help keep them warm. By the end of the day rain seemed to be gone.
But it froze my tomatoe vines that night. Not bad but enought that I knew it was only a matter of time until we have a hard freeze so we pulled all the green tomatoes and have them sitting around the house so they can rippen. hubby loves them but I have to force them down even though I know they are good for you. Any one know of anything to do with green tomatoes other than frying them?
Monday we dryed out a bit then today, Tuesday we had more rain, off of Hurricane Norbert. At least this came straight down instead of slanted. Have clear skies tonight which means it will be cold.
Moon is full and bright.

The Deer Hunt

This is something that my dad always had a copy of. I'm not sure where he got it or who actually wrote it. But it is cute and I have heard of so many hunting trips that ended up some what like this. It is hunting season so decided to post it. Those that hunt will laugh and those that oppose hunting will laugh.


The Deer Hunt

2:30 am Alarm clock rings
3:00 am Hunting partner arrives, drags you out of bed
3:15 am Throw everything except the kitchen sink in the truck
3:30 am Leave for deer woods
3:45 am Drive back home and pick up the gun
4:00 am Drive like hell to get to woods before daylight
5:15 am Set up camp, forgot the damn tent
5:45 am Head into the woods
6:05 am See 8 deer
6:06 am Take aim and squeeze trigger
6:07 am “Click”
6:08 am Load gun while watching deer go over hill
8:00 am Head back to camp
9:00 am Still looking for camp
10:00 am Realize you don’t know where camp is
Noon Fire gun for help --- eat wild berries
12:15 pm Run out of bullets – 8 deer go by
12:20 pm Strange feeling in stomach
12:30 pm Realize you ate poison berries
12: 45 pm Rescued !!!
12:55 pm Rushed to hospital to have stomach pumped
3:00 pm Arrive back at camp
3:30 pm Leave camp to kill deer
4:00 pm Return to camp for bullets
4:01 pm Load gun. Leave camp again
5:00 pm Empty gun on squirrel that’s bugging you
6:00 pm Arrive at camp. See deer grazing in camp
6:01 pm Load gun’6:02 pm Fire gun
6: 03 pm One dead pickup truck
6:05 pm Hunting partner returns to camp dragging deer
6:06 pm Repress the strong desire to shoot partner
6:07 pm Fall into fire
6:10 pm Change cloths – throw burned ones into fire
6:15 pm Take pickup – leave partner and his deer in woods
6:25 pm Pickup boils over – hole shot in block
6:26 pm Start walking
6:30 pm Stumble and fall – drop gun in mud
6:35 pm Meet bear
6:36 pm Take aim
6:37 pm Fire gun – blow up barrel – plugged with mud
6:38 pm Shit pants !!!
6:39 pm Climb tree
(:00 pm Bear departs – Wrap #### gun around tree
Midnight Home at last !!!

Sunday – Watch football game on TV, slowly tearing deer license into little pieces, place them into envelop and mail to Game Warden with very clear instructions on where to place them. !!!!

Freedom & Privacy

I have decided that I will vote for any politician that doesn't call me on my phone or knock on my door. I have solved the door knocking problem by having fenced my property, then having a 300 yard driveway with a locked gate and a "Beware of Dog" sign. The phone call are beginning to get to me. The best way to stop them seems to be by still having dial-up Internet connections. As long as I am on the Internet - no calls. But I can't be on 24 hours a day, and it seems that politicians and their helpers are calling day and night. If not in person then with the aide of recordings.
So - I repeat - I am voting for anyone that does not call and that will try to stop political surveys. The surveys are as bad as the politicians. And I know they won't stop even after the election.
Besides - it's none of anyone else's business who I plan to vote for and how I feel about any person running for office.
It was my understanding that the United States was a country all about "freedom". I don't feel that we have any freedom any more or any privacy.

Balloons

Winking Kitty

Wally

We chose a balloon at random to watch as it went up from the beginning as they unrolled out the balloon from it's bag onto a tarp, filled it with cold air, heated it with the propane burner, rose up into the air and then lifted off to fly away, or in this case maybe swim would be the better word. This is the first year that Wally has come to the Balloon Fiesta, so it was his first flight here. Maybe even his first flight in New Mexico. We learned from the card that was handed out by one of the crew members that he was from Wisconsin and had just been "born" this year.
Most balloons have a web site and many give out cards simular to baseball cards that have information about the balloon.

Bee Balloons

This is Lilly and Joey Bee. They hold hands when going up. Maybe with velcro.

Blue Dragon Balloon

One of my favorites of the special shapes.

Up Close

You can see the white truck and trailer which gives a good idea just how big hot air balloons are. Balloon crews use a pickup or SUV with a trailer to haul their balloon and gandola around. Once the balloon is up and away the truck tries to follow the balloon from the ground. Of couse they use cell phones and 2 way radios to help keep track of the balloon. Some balloon owners bring their own chase crew, as the people who follow the balloon are called but some don't and the Balloon Fiesta is always in need of people to work on the chase crews.

More Balloons

Balloons from many Countries

The International Balloon Fiesta is called that because they have many balloons come over from other countries to participate in the fiesta. This one was the only one I saw that I could really tell was from another country because I couldn't read the writing on it. I suppect Germany but I could be wrong.

Pink Elephant Balloon

Jug Balloon

Darth Vader Balloon

Church Balloon

Beer Mug Balloon

Crowded

I heard there were some 600 balloons registered for the fiesta. I have not heard exactly how many went up yesterday, nor how many people attended. I did hear that there were some 25,000 cars in the parking lot at some time during the morning.
The morning was perfect, but the afternoon turned into a sand storm with lots of wind, followed by a rain that kept the balloons from doing the evening balloon glow, and then a harder rain during the night, (we had 1 and a half inches in our rain gage) caused a cancellation in this mornings mass ascension. But I heard the this evening the balloon glow was supposed to go. So if you don't like crowds don't go.

Raise and Fly

First the balloon which is about 3 stories high when inflated is unrolled from the large bag it is kept in. Then several people hold the bottom open while cold air from a large fan is forced in. At the proper time a propane burner which is attached to the top of the basket that holds the balloonist under the balloon is used to heat the air in the balloon. As the balloon heats it raises until it standing straight up. The balloon crew holds it on the ground with ropes until it is told it can go by the balloon referees. In this photo you can see the baskets, called gondolas with people in them. Each balloon is piloted by a licensed balloon pilot. Most balloons are from the United States, but there are pilots and their balloons as crews that come from lots of other counties.

Early To Raise

Balloon people seem to take the idea of getting up before dawn to extremes. Early morning in the fall seems to be the best time to fly hot air balloons. So going to the balloon fiesta meant that my aunts and I got up at 4 am, drove to a designated parking lot in Rio Rancho where we caught a special bus that took us to the Balloon Park in Albuquerque. That was at 5 am. We arrived there while it was still dark and waited impatiently for the Dawn Patrol to take off, which they did about 6 am. The Dawn Patrol are the first few balloons that take off right before dawn to make sure it safe for the other balloons to fly. Sometimes it may seem safe on the ground but higher air currents can be a lot different. Balloons don't fly if it is raining, too windy, or snowing. But this day was perfect. No wind, rain, snow, and it wasn't even that cold. Balloonist don't understand the word cold. It seems the colder the better. By 7 all of the other approximately 600 balloons were preparing to fly.

Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is in full swing, or should I say flying high. It is held every year in October. This year my two aunts, ages 80 and 78 came to visit us and other friends and relatives in New Mexico and wanted to go to the fiesta. I had not been for a number of years and decided it would be fun so off we went to see the balloons. On the weekends the balloons do what is called a mass ascension, and during the week they have different kinds of competitions. There is also, balloon glows on some evenings, and a special shape rodeo when the odd shaped balloons are featured. In this photos are mostly the normal or regular shaped balloons. Some are up and flying while others are just rising.