over the river and through the woods

OK so it's through the mud

and down the trail

to the bees house we go.

The bees came in a day late, got lost in shipping, it was not a good day to put bees in the hive, raining, blowing and cold, didn't go well. So I am hoping for the best.

The dogs always enjoy an outing, this is the hound in stealth mode. Since she can't hear and doesn't see well, there are no big bad scary things out there just fun things to sniff for. In her younger days she was always by my side, now she wanders off in the woods more, but she still catches up to me when we are out walking.

Here's the lab, she is getting better about staying close, and obeyed with the stay command to take a photo, I think she likes having her picture taken, my other dogs didn't like it to much kind of like me.

spring is almost here

Son #1 and granddaughter came down to visit last weekend, and a muddy time was had by all. My finally clean house it not so clean any more someone put muddy hand prints outside and inside of the sliding glass door. That's OK Windex will take care of that, it was nice to have them come visit. I got home from work on Saturday afternoon and couldn't figure out where they were, knew they were close because all the dogs came running. I have always known that the property in certain areas turns into a lake in the springtime, but here is proof that the lakes exist in the spring time. They used shovels for oars, and the water isn't really deep, but enough to float a canoe.

The charity quilts that were dropped off last fall to be quilted, all got done before the lady came back to get them this spring. The picture is to far away to see the quilting, but I was grateful for the chance to get to practise on the quilts. I would like to keep doing some quilting for the group. Sounds like they will have more available for me to quilt.

Things are looking a little brighter. Maybe part of it is the spring, and some sunny weather.

Update on the sailors, they have finally left the pull of Vancouver Island and are officially on the inside passage, a couple of really good days has gotten them quite a way towards home.

life

Life is slowly getting back to normal (what ever that means) I have days where only sleep feels right, days were only eating feels right and have been reading lots of books. I need to get out and walk more, but the lab had gotten a split toe nail, I thought it would grow out, but she kept snagging it and it wasn't healing, so finally took her to the vet, they knocked her out and removed the toe nail, put a big wrap on the foot, that she had to keep on for 3 days, sent her home with pain killers and meds to keep the infection away. Did manage to keep the wrap on her foot for the 3 days and kept it dry in this sloppy weather. I put a newspaper sleeve over the wrap, then a fleece bootie and another newspaper sleeve with lots of tape. That worked to keep it dry and just the bootie to keep her from chewing it off, I brought her to work with me and kept her in the car. Took the wrap off last night toe looks good. She is so happy to be able to walk with out pain. The vet said to keep the toe nails short, I never thought she had long toe nails, but they cut them all and they are short. So guess I better start cutting them. Any way now that the dog is all healed up, I will be able to get out and walk more. The other project is my kayak I have been trying to re-varnish it all winter, not very successfully. But I promised the mechanic that it would be done when he got back. So I need to get busy on it. Did work on it for about a hour last night. Hanging out in the garage is just not my thing. I like hanging out in the sewing room better. I have been quilting some. Got 2 quilt done since I got back from NM on the long arm and another ready to put on the frame. The mechanic and buddy are on the sail boat heading to AK. He has a "spot" that send a e-mail to let me know where they are at, a google map shows the location. He sends a message in the evening when they have reached their designation at the end of the day.

hard times

If I could have got up at talked at my moms memorial service, this is what I wrote down to say. But I could not get up and talk it was way to emotional to handle. I have to say that this time has been much more difficult than I ever would have imagined. I know my mom was not in the best of health, but was not prepared (but who ever is) for her death.

DONNA
daughter
sister
wife
mother
aunt
sister-in-law
grandma
step-mom
beloved friend
great grandma

A few sentences can't describe the life she lived.
My loss is...someone who kept me safe and was always ready to talk, and listen.
She was always easy to please, but not always easy to appease.

Her life was varied, full, lived with color, light and joy, in spite of many difficulties. No subject was to small to learn more about.

I am missing you so much.

broken heart

A trip was scheduled to visit my mom in NM, instead of a visit, there is a memorial service.

silver lining

sometimes one just had to look hard for the bright side. I had a bad day at work, but my son and granddaughter came to visit so that was nice. About 730p grandkid and I drove up to the store, after our shopping we went out to the car and it had a flat tire. That's the 3rd time this winter that tire has gone flat. So I put the spare on which is just one of those funky little tires, but that went flat as we drove away. So here is my jeep in the road in the winter with 2 flat tires now. The silver lining. It wasn't very cold out, there wasn't alot of traffic around, we had lots of grocerys in the car. Called my son to bring me a summer tire. So today I drove the mechanic vehicle to work with my 2 flat tires in the back to drop off at the tire place today.

weekend

My daughter and SIL drove down for a few days, the plan was to go snow machining up in the hills, but as the day got later and we hadn't even left the house it was decided to just go out behind the house. Turned out to be a good plan her machine broke and had to be towed home. We still got to go out for a nice ride until the neighbors lab got caught in a trap. So we started back home. The lab is OK, but I have 2 new dog bites on my arms to add the the 2 scars I already have from dog bites. It was a nice day and a good day for a ride. My ole hound doesn't like to lay in the snow, so a nice soft bed on me she found. They also got to come watch me play hockey, and took some pictures of the game. That's me on the bottom of the picture.