turtles don't talk back

Perdi is growing up

2012-01-30T19:44:00.000-06:00

Perdi is doing just fine these days. She was quiet a weak little lizard when I got her. With daily leg exercises and hand feeding, she is using 3 of her 4 legs regularly now. She just LOVES my laptop. She likes to sleep on my laptop keys. Puff used to do this until he got too heavy. Then he kept typing letters so I had to move him. Francis loves to display his dominance over her. He bobs his head and she waves her arms in the air. K~

Beautiful Morning

2012-01-29T18:10:00.001-06:00

I woke up this morning to this sight.

I sleep right under a sky window.

I see stars on a clear night and clouds floating by.

I love when it rains and storms.

The lightening is stunning.

I recommend a sky window. K~

2012-01-25T20:34:00.000-06:00

I know I am just talking to myself (and maybe Bobbi :-)) but I have several things going on in my head today. One thing that stands out is:

I wonder if anyone that I know eats food from a "regular" store that sells food, and not only in their organic section. Some foods I have in mind are fruit and veggies, frozen chicken strips, pizzas, waffles, milk, cheese.

Frankly I am trying to find people that I don't need to feel shame every time I get home from being out with them. I am quite tired of being sad about what I provide my family. I am convinced that people must eat stuff from say Super Target (where I shop) because, if the didn't the store would eventually close right? Or at least stop selling food. Rainbows and Cubs would close. Walmart's that carry food would be gone. No fast food would be eaten.

I was just starting to feel good about myself for buying fruit and cheerios to feed my family. I have been buying meat and preparing it instead of having it all come from a bag. I have been working really hard on providing only whole wheat bread. I now find out that it's all bad and I have not even begun to do anything good for my family.

I suppose I just don't get it. I frankly know one person who, in front of me, fed her kids chicken strips from a bag. (thanks to you know who you are) I don't want to mention names because she, perhaps, feels like I do, and would like to remain in the closet.

Poop

2012-01-15T19:49:00.000-06:00

You know, I have a lot of animals. Caring for them is constant and brings me joy. There is a loose routine for me to hold them all, especially my new special needs animals Perdi and Medusa. Cookie is ill too and needs medicine once a day and special food 3 times a day. She had to go to the vet on Thursday. Of course it is poop related. I have been waiting for Perdi to poop since I have had her and finally it happened. I needed to hold the snake yesterday, and well need I say it??? Bing and Nala even are having a bit of a problem down there. Sigh. So, I am almost literally covered in it at any given time. Lots of wipes, bathes, showers, paper towels, regular towels and so on and so on. Yet, I still keep up with it. I still reach into the cage for an unsure snuggle. Diapers are hard for snakes and lizards to wear. Believe me I have tried. K~

2012-01-11T19:39:00.001-06:00

It has been 11 days of the new year and so far things are holding steady. I am sitting here after feeding Perdi and Francis. Now I am holding Medusa. I really get a feeling of satisfaction taking care of may family and my animals. I have been working on the house too. We got a "new" couch and a "new" chair and ottoman. I have been starting sure but slow to go through things and get rid of things. It feels good. I was working on an afghan I am giving as a gift, and Medusa is now snuggled in it and I can't work on it. Sigh. That's ok. Just hangin out tonight. Homework starts soon. K~

Welcome to the Zoo

2012-01-07T12:43:00.001-06:00

This is Perdita (which means rescued), we call her Perdi

She is the smaller Bearded Dragon. She was a rescue. The vet at work called me and asked me if I could take her. She has Metabolic Bone disease. This has limited her use of her hind legs and tail. Her tail is 1/2 gone too. Someone just dropped her off at a vet in St. Cloud in very bad condition. She had to have medicine when she came to me. I need to work on feeding her everything other than crickets. I do leg exercises every day to help tone her muscles. She has improved some.

This is Medusa. She is an adoptee. She is an albino corn snake and is about 3 feet long. I adopted her from the same owner as Boris and Natasha. She is sweet, but has a biting issue. I need to hold her daily at risk of being bit to get her used to me. She has not actually bit me, but she has struck at my head, neck and arms. She used to be extremely tame, but needs more lovin. Thus the adoption. She does like to sit on my lap like a cat. Her she is curled up by a stuffed animal I use as an elbow pillow. She is huge compared to our little Mazey. K~

The Jesus Barn

2011-12-18T18:48:00.002-06:00

It was last night and I asked S if he had seen the Nativity set that I put up. He went into the dining room and came back and said "oh the Jesus barn, yes, it's beautiful". K~

Rose Ireland

2011-12-12T16:05:00.003-06:00

Welcome to my new niece Rose Ireland. Born 12-5. K~

results of snail love

2011-12-10T22:56:00.002-06:00

When 2 snails meet and fall in love, this is what happens. All of these snails are a result of 2 romantically involved snails. What you are seeing is just the survivors. There have been at least a thousand pin sized babies sliding down the side from the egg clumps on the wall of the tank. Those that have lived and thrived have grown and grown. Now here's the important question. What happens when any two of these snails meet and fall in snail love? If I think I have a snail problem now, I can't even imagine what's up for me in the future. K~

Hoarder or Holiday Boutique

2011-12-08T21:59:00.003-06:00

Something just dawned on me this holiday season. I was shopping at a local nursery (not the picture, but you get the idea) and I had my purse over my shoulder and a basket in hand. It was totally decked out for the holidays. From wall to wall and floor to ceiling, it was packed with holiday ornaments, clay pots, gnomes, this and that, all of of them very breakable. With my purse and basket, at every move, every turn, I was going to break something. The "aisles" were so narrow, it was like driving over a one lane bridge in a traffic game. And then it hit me, one of those life changing aha moments. My house is not on the verge of being condemned for being a hoarder garbage house, it is on the verge of it's grand opening as the local Holiday boutique. Suddenly, my head was being held just a bit higher. I have been a bit more inspired. I have been a bit more accepting of my house for what interest and beauty it holds. It has only been about a week since this revelation, but it has brought a bit of a smile to my face now and again. I guess the saying is true "It's all the way you look at it" K~

My Dad has passed

2011-12-06T18:04:00.002-06:00

My Dad passed away Nov. 1, 2011.

He was a wonderful man, artist, and researcher.

I will miss you dad.

Arizona

2011-11-01T08:16:00.005-05:00

My dad in hospice. We were able to have a very nice visit.
All of us were able to go to Arizona to see him.
His brother was even able to come. It is tough.
I'll be going back very very soon. K~

Rosemarie

2011-09-16T07:55:00.006-05:00

We all miss Rosemarie. My wonderful mother-in-law for 25 years. She had such a peppy presence. She passed on the Sept 18th. She was one tough cookie. She rebounded so many times that it is actually hard to believe she didn't this time. An active artist, this was one of our close connections over the last 25 years. The other of course was Rick. It was a joy and a privilege to help care for her at the end, and that too I will miss. K~

Cheese

2011-09-13T08:29:00.002-05:00

This is cheese. Hi is a wonderful, obnoxious, annoying imaginary friend. He is all that is my memory of raising a 3 year old. If you have not raised or have been extra exposed to a 3 year old, he may come across as abrasive and intolerable, but, that is the point. I Love Him. K~

School has begun for the oldest 2.

2011-09-01T09:08:00.003-05:00

Well Wednesday brought the first day of school for C and D. It was so nice to see them go off to school together. D has been doing really well. It is his third day and he has been in a good mood for Wed and Thur. This morning he happily went off to school. Homework has not started, but I think we are going to get that worked out too. One day at a time. K~

Day 8 - yes i am nuts

2011-08-23T21:55:00.002-05:00

right now it is almost 10 pm. I have been home today, staying out of the heat. The din is deafening at times. Usually the quiet times are so few and far between I hardly notice them. The house is staying relatively clean. Being in the sandwich generation is my new norm. This summer has been what I figure to be my initiation into the sandwich fold. Soon the evening fire will need to be started, I will curl up between my 2 boys and the dog on the air mattress on the living room floor, well essentially, it is the living room floor, and prop up my numb arms and fingers on one of the many pillows. ( I am up to being about 1/3 of a Norm Gamble) My thumb has been numb for about 10 days now. I thought it was the scrubbing of the floor around the oven, but, I know it is now my grizzled arms. Well, 6 more days of the Walsh "Bed and Breakfast and Lunch, Dinner, camp fires, conversations that go on and on." Well that's about it. Can't type no more. K~

learning to be me

2011-08-12T08:40:00.002-05:00

Well It has been a full summer. Most of it has been cleaning and more cleaning. Scrubbing and organizing. I have worked at so much that my poor arms have taken a bitter toll. Every day I ice my shoulders and my elbows. I muddle through with my numb finger tips. I can hardly hold a book for the pain. Crocheting and needle work is a precious few minutes a day. However, through it all, I am working harder on accepting me. I have been struggling with my home. It is small and full. Full of life and clutter. I think of what it would be if I didn't have all my family or all my animal companions and it just makes me sad. I feel that I have been torn in two for far too long. I am embarking on the journey of stitching those two halves together. The one half is my longing to be a "normal" homemaker - clean, organized, motherly, prepared and the other half is Children, animals, collections of little things, and having a "Yes" house.

That said...My mom and dad are coming on Sunday to stay here for 2 weeks. It will be a house with 7 people, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 bunny, 1 gerbil, 1 snake, 1 lizard, 12 turtles, and several fish. I hope my nerves with hold out that long.

S catches a fish!!

2011-08-06T09:24:00.001-05:00

S hauled out this 7lb catfish by himself. WOW. what a fish!
D is a bit jealous, but handled it like a good big brother. K~

so I'm 44

2011-08-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

I had my 44th birthday on Sunday. I find that so far it has been pretty good. I had a nice birthday. It was the same as every other day, just without the guilt. Yeah!! K~

A place for me to dangle my feet

2011-07-26T09:32:00.002-05:00

I always need to be reminded how sweet my husband is. He built this for me to dangle my feet in the pool. It works great. He thought I would like the decor kept on the platform. He is kind of right, in a hillbilly sort of way. I think it will work nicely, while I learn to play the banjo?? By the way, I have been asking for a banjo for about 5 years now, and have yet to get one. :-) K~

Buttons!!

2011-07-19T09:39:00.003-05:00

Went to a yarn store and got some buttons. Really liked them. K~

the reason one goes to the BWCA

2011-07-15T09:04:00.005-05:00

The BWCA is by far one of my favorite places to visit.
It does come with a price, however, as you saw in my previous post.
These photos show some of the things that happen between the family disasters. K~

The dark side of the BWCA

2011-07-07T21:32:00.008-05:00

For the Walsh's, doing anything the "normal" way is unheard of. We wait on the sidelines for the patriarch of the family to do the deciding, planning, "packing" and bossing around.

Once you fall in, you may as well sit and catch minnows. Later in the trip, I caught his poor little neck with a hook. After I got over my horrifying shock, I realized that it was nothing. The hook just caught a tiny part of his skin. Phew.

Looking for a lost reel part. The water is tea colored and the rocks are slippery with slime. 3 finally went in and looked, and D came up with it. This was after a long long long morning of emotions over needing to leave due to the deer flies and horse flies, the mosquitoes and no fish to catch.

It's always nice to eat a meat stick with out having to cut it. yum??

Curling up on the moist ground and sharing the only towel with a wet smelly dog is as close to relaxing as one can get.

The little red dot is not a bead. It is a bug. A mite to be exact. These like to inhabit the waters of our shoreline. Pretty to look at, not pretty to swim with. They are carnivorous.

Water Mites of North America - Hydrachnidiae

HUGE THUNDERSTORM!!!
The second night a huge thunderstorm rolled in. It sounded like the lightning was sitting right on us. Our 6 1/2 foot tent was laying on D. During the storm, tent poles cracked, rain came spilling in and there was very little dry inside and out.

There are not photos to show the lost canoe, raining in the tent, emotional breakdowns, burnt hands, mosquito infested latrine (out door latrines are so scary by themselves), red hot sunburns so bad the muscle hurts, the sound of swarms of mosquitoes outside the tent, and so on. K~

A Crow from work

2011-06-30T08:55:00.003-05:00

–noun Animal Behavior, Psychology .

rapid learning that occurs during a brief receptive period, typically soon after birth or hatching, and establishes a long-lasting behavioral response to a specific individual or object, as attachment to parent, offspring, or site.

There is a crow at work that has been raised from a baby. It has unusually imprinting. Last night, I had to clean a pen that had 12 juvenile crows in it. It was kind of daunting. They are large birds with large beaks. Most of them just yelled at me and moved away. But one, sat and yelled in my ear and pulled on my NEW shirt I got from Gull Lake. At one point he was on my shoulder. (Arrrr matie ) I warned him that if he bit a whole in my new shirt that I would have to bill him. Well, I got out of the pen and sure enough, I have a very small pin hole in my right arm sleeve. sigh. I don't know how I am going to get the money from him, but I will hopefully find away :-) K~

Day 6

2011-06-23T09:08:00.005-05:00

Surprise! It has been rainy for 2 days and now it is still quite overcast.
We are hoping for a better day today. I am going shopping in about an hour and a half. Hope to find some goodies.
Things have been interesting up here to say the least, but the drama has been defused some, so that's good.
I have yet to fish. I am going to later today, off the dock or paddle boat.
Went to see KungFu Panda 2 yesterday. It was about a B in relation to the first one which got an A+.
Here are some fantastic photos my wonderful C took of an Eagle that was just sitting around.
The photos are just wonderful, enjoy. K~

The Drama has begun

2011-06-20T14:51:00.002-05:00

C took this picture.

Day 3 and the drama has begun. LUCKILY it doesn't involve me much. "They" think I am involved, but I am just nodding my head a lot. K~

Gull Lake - Day 2

2011-06-19T08:49:00.003-05:00

Well it's early yet. Only 8:50 am. The Bacon and eggs have been started and the pancakes are going to be under way soon (my job). I watched Bringing up Baby with Tom Sr. last night on movie theater volume. It was really nice. He really enjoyed it. We love talking old movies. I am watching Uncle Tom and his kids fish off the dock, while I enjoy the very quiet cabin here.

oh no.... too late they're up! K~

We made it!

2011-06-18T21:29:00.002-05:00

Well we finally got packed and we were on our way. We were 2 hours late (due to Ricks work schedule and rain) Then we needed to pick up Ricks Mom and Dad. That took about 30 minutes. Then off we went. 30 minutes later, we were at Wendy's for lunch. Finally we were on the road and off to Gull Lake. I have sat here and relaxed. I am planning to do this for the rest of the week. It worked out that we have our own cabin and WOW I tell ya - this is great!!! Here's hoping it continues.

Never mind. Just walked into an open dishwasher and smashed both shins. OUCH! K~

Flowers fanfare to Summer

2011-06-14T12:52:00.005-05:00

Summer is here at the Walshes. It is the last day of school for the boys and C is keeping me very very busy running around....but....that is another blog. My flowers are beautiful and I just love looking at them and photographing them. We are on our way to Gull Lake in a few days. That should be worth a few laughs and hopefully I will steal some relaxation time. Summer officially begins for me tomorrow. sigh. K~

Moving on

2011-06-11T21:52:00.006-05:00

C's graduation from 8th Grade. Yeah!!
She got a special award for "Perseverance"

D's graduation from 6th Grade. He looked so handsome in his hat and vest!
K~

gee i'm thirsty

2011-06-06T18:47:00.003-05:00

Masey is thirsty! She drinks water right off my arm. K~

Warblers

2011-06-02T08:28:00.004-05:00

Blackburnian Warbler
Cape May Warbler

Science lesson of the day. There are 114 warbler species in the world.

spe·cies

noun /ˈspēsēz/ /-SHēz/
species, plural

A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g., Homo sapiens

That means that there can be subspecies. If you have ever tried to ID most warblers, they are very small greenish grayish brownish birds. But these 2 are hard to miss. We had these 2 at work yesterday in the flight room. The thing that makes my job so awesome, is that I get to see these incredible birds up close and personal. I love my job! K~

New square

2011-05-21T12:11:00.003-05:00

Inspired by a bag
This is a square inspired by a bag. I really liked the colors.
It was interesting trying to figure out how to finish off the boarder.
I think it worked out pretty good. K~

to be a dog

2011-05-17T12:52:00.002-05:00

Bing just doesn't care what he does or what he looks like. He likes the tissue paper. So he rips it and he wears it. I think he's happy. I am going to take a lesson from him. Enjoy things and live confidently....ok, I'll try somewhat confidently and enjoy as much as I can. It's a start right? k~

C is 14!!!

2011-05-14T22:08:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it!! C is 14. It seems too impossible. She has turned into such a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday C. I love you! K~

A story from March....Polyphemus Moth

2011-05-11T09:27:00.005-05:00

So last August C found a huge caterpillar and brought it home to photograph. I told her that I would bring it back to the place she found it in the morning. By morning, it had made itself into a huge cocoon. I read about it and the info said it would stay that way until spring. So we kept it over the winter and once spring came, we put it into the mesh cage I have for outdoor time for the zoo. In only a few days it emerged. I was so glad that it didn't pass away in the winter. I looked up what it eats and drinks to I could try and keep it until it warmed up.... This is what I found.... Polyphemus moths do not eat or drink. Once they emerge, they live for only 4 or so days. WHAT!!! NICE. So I let it go so it could fly among the clouds until it passed. sigh. K~

Feed us~

2011-05-09T20:08:00.002-05:00

So I set up the 50 gallon tank. I think they like it ok. It is nice to feel needed. They sure do know when it's feeding time! Afterwards, they are all quite happy to sit and sun for awhile. K~

He's growing!

2011-05-03T20:06:00.002-05:00

Francis just finished shedding. Look how beautiful his orange markings are. He is resting on me now. He likes his daily "skin" time. K~

S's Birthday Wish

2011-04-29T20:32:00.004-05:00

The Pie in the Face!!! Yeah.... and the brother and sister too!

Oh and Bingy! K~

Officially Welcome Francis

2011-04-28T08:09:00.004-05:00

I have named him Francis.

Just like this little fella looked at me through the store glass, his name came to me out of the blue. I was trying to think of a non gender specific name, due to the fact that Francis could be a Fancisco or a Francy:-). I won't know for sure for quite some time. So there it is. He is officially part of the Walsh Zoo. Francis loves his daily snuggle and snooze under my tank top strap. He sometimes curls up on my tummy, always under my shirt. Just like Puff, he likes his snuggles and his head covered. I am really in love and very pleased. :-) K~

2011-04-22T07:40:00.002-05:00

Easter Chicks

I hope all of you have a very blessed Easter weekend. Jesus Christ died for our sins, and raised again in 3 days. I am so glad, that I do not have to have a sacrificial alter in my back yard to atone my sins with God. After reading all the detailed requirements in my daily bible it made me nervous to think if I might forget something in the process. I think that the gift of Jesus to us from our loving God, shows how well he knows his creation. He knows we are fickle and forgetful. He loves us in spite of who we become. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for never giving up on me. K~

finishing up projects

2011-04-19T13:06:00.002-05:00

Well it is time to finish up some of those projects that are heavy and hard to work with without getting too hot. Here is one of my afghans that I have been working on. I just finished a second that I will post soon. K~

Lucy Goosy

2011-04-16T13:47:00.003-05:00

Lucy Goosy

This is a goose that I did for Rick. He wanted a goose done so he can put it up when he leaves work. He tends to come and go at odd times - lucy goosy times. thus the goose and her name. K~

meet ??

2011-04-14T17:35:00.002-05:00

Wel,l I got a new little baby today. I am not going to name him, yet.... I am going to check it out for my 15 day trial. I just LOVE him already. He slept in my strap of my tank top right on my skin for a long time. He sat and warmed himself on my computer fan for about an hour ( just like Puff). But Ramses was a new baby when I got her and passed way after 2 years. She always smelled bad. This is a sign of kindey problems, according to my vet. So... I am nervous about baby beardies. I don't want this one to die after 2 years of loving, so, I am taking it easy, making sure he smells right and eats and poops ok. So far, I think he is in love with me too. I have never seen a juvenile beardie sit like this. So calm and content. He does take off running, though. So, I know he is quick. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I so badly want this to work. K~

Semi back.

2011-04-08T11:38:00.001-05:00

Well it has been a few weeks since my first computer crashed! Since it was non recoverable, I am having to start from scratch. I really like my new computer. I decided to go larger than smaller. My new computer is 17.5". It has a nice big screen. I am learning about all is lost. I didn't lose a lot. I readjusted my laptop doily. I am all set to figure out what I need to re buy and what is not necessary. K~

A quote to contemplate

2011-03-29T09:50:00.002-05:00

"Can I have some grape pop? It's the rarest of all the pops." SW (8 years old)

Lost in translation?

2011-03-21T07:50:00.002-05:00

Ok, so I needed directions to a gathering me and kids were going to on Saturday night. I knew how to get to the 35/36th exit. I also knew how to get to the destination once I got to the lake. I grabbed the directions from Rick and left with the kids. Once on 35th, I looked at them. And then I saw it. This was written by a self proclaimed "professional driver". I proceeded to tell D to look for "zero" street and then keep an eye out for "?" street. Nice. K~

Puff

2011-03-17T06:41:00.000-05:00

Puff passed away sometime last evening. I miss him so much already. K~

Chocolate pearls and Masey

2011-03-15T08:15:00.003-05:00

I got these Chocolate pearls for Valentines day. I realized that Masey matches them just perfectly. Note to anyone trying to photograph a juvenile snake. It is kind of hard. They don't stop moving. K~

Good Morning

2011-03-13T10:24:00.002-05:00

Well good morning Kirsten. Hey... where's our lettuce?

Good morning Kirsten. I really wish you wouldn't bother me right now.

Hello Pebbles it's Kirsten. Pebbles? Pebbles? Well.... I know how you feel.

Clyde??? You grew a second head!!!

Oh... Well, carry on you two. Hey Cleo, someones blocking your warm! K~

babblings

2011-03-10T22:01:00.004-06:00

So I have wanted to write down some of my thoughts, but I can't even seem to formulate many complete ones. I have been running around kind of like a chicken that has lost it's head. I have done enough coordinating of schedules, appointments, homework, monies, play dates, sleep overs, family stuff, phone calls, computer updates, vet appointments, med refills and on and on, that I just seem to be like a hamster running on a wheel. Except then I would be 40 lbs lighter, but I digress. Today I was trying to shuffle around my zoo so everyone could be comfortable. My big project is the water turtle need to be moved and their habitat deep cleaned and moved further from the window. But true to "If you give a pig a pancake" form, I got Boris and Natasha cleaned and moved to a new home, Yuri, Shelley and Pebbles cleaned and moved to a new home and the water turtles, are still in there not so clean home... sigh. That I believe, would literally be 2 steps forward 1 step back. I am a week behind in may daily bible. What would have taken me 15 minutes per day will now take... well 7 x 15, what ever that is. With the amount of homework I have been doing, you'd think I could do that figuring in my sleep... wait while I get the computer calculator up....105 minutes, now for my next trick, I will convert that into hours....1.75, which I think means 1 hour and 45 minutes cuz it can't be 1 hour and 75 minutes cuz that would be 2 hours and 15 minutes, right??

Tomorrow night i need to be 3 places at 7 PM. So in order to make that work, I needed to potentially enlist 3 more adults plus me, after many phone calls and re coordinating, I only needed 1 extra adult and me. I still don't know who is doing what.

It's not enough for me to write stuff down in my notebook, which I still do every day. As I complete my various tasks, I cross them out with a highlighter, a neat trick I learned from the nurses at the nursing home I worked at in 1996. That way you can look back at your list and see that you did do the dishes. I was giggling to myself the other day after checking over my list, some of the "to do" entries were as follows: Vet appointment-Bing, Submit Community Ed form, Shower, Call Raptor Center, Application for Washington Tech - David, Email Cindy - Enrichment, Update Webroot, clothes, wrc, clean water turtles, feed Puff, water grapefruit plant, David's 504 information, Refill meds, put away clothes. After I read this discombobulated list I glanced at my hand, on it read, Kaohly 7:30. I reserve my left hand for immediate immediate info. stuff I just can't forget. I always say "if I lose my hand, I have bigger issues than what was written on it.

Tomorrow is a new day filled with new things for my list. New items I can remember or sadly forget. K~

Winter is hanging on

2011-03-01T16:40:00.004-06:00

These are some cool shots C took for me. I saw them on the way to a meeting and just had to stop and look closer. The icicles are on our neighbors house. The snow curling is on our neighbors fence. While driving further, there was snow pulling away from the sound wall on 35E. It was just curling out, but not falling or melting. It is truly amazing and beautiful. K~

Fun to watch

2011-02-24T18:13:00.003-06:00

Despicable me. Ok, I just LOVE this movie. There are some rich lines in this one. Mostly, I love watching the people. Vector is just wonderful. He is a complete dope, but he thinks he is SUPER cool. K~

Meet Masey

2011-02-21T11:33:00.002-06:00

Masey is our new juvenile corn snake. She is captive born and bred. She eats frozen mice once a week, likes to sun and is BEAUTIFUL! She is technically the boys snake, but of course mom had to approve due to the fact I know I will be caring for her like all other zoo members. It has been about 5 years since we have had a snake. They are wonderful and very clean pets. K~

Kalahari 2011

2011-02-17T18:03:00.001-06:00

We are enjoying a nice visit to the Kalahari. Even Puff. K~

little birds

2011-02-09T08:50:00.002-06:00

Here are a few of my friends I made. I really enjoy this, but they take a bit of time. I do also enjoy photographing them in the snow. It is a fun background. K~

Finished teaching my class

2011-02-01T07:12:00.003-06:00

Well the first class I ever taught is over and I feel much better with the results than I had anticipated. I had some success in my teaching. 13 girls started. I believe it was 9 that did not know how to either knit or crochet. Of those 9, 3 became quite accomplished, 3 are coming along and are at least interested in continuing to learn the craft and 1, well she was a bit distracted. Not a bad record. Several girls worked on gifts over Christmas break. Here is one girls project. I am very impressed, because this particular girl had never crocheted before I taught her :-).
This student has never knitted before.
She is doing very well and is about 1/2 done. She kept up with it.
I am so proud of my class. Several students stuck with it and kept going, even with all the challenges. I am planning on a second class starting in the spring.
The girls wanted me to do another on. That was a nice feeling. K~

Oh there I am...

2011-01-22T13:43:00.003-06:00

I won't lose my place.

I finished this 21 days into my bible reading. Kind of feeling guilty that the red colors number is 666. I think God will forgive me. My inspiration was a towel in the same color.

Parenting?

2011-01-17T18:13:00.008-06:00

Parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I have done some pretty hard things in my day. Being responsible for another life is quite daunting. It's more than can be written in a book or passed on from mom to daughter. Mix into that daunting pot, "challenging" children. Ones that don't "fit the mold", not one, but all 3 and now things get even more interesting. Parenting really takes on a life of it's own in the house. Try as I may, it becomes impossible to integrate parenting and living together into one working organism.

I remember back when I was in one of those parenting classes before I was an actual parent. A man asked the following question (need I mention that MOST questions are not stupid)

The man: "When will my wife have the baby?"

The instructor: "After she dilates to 10 cm and is totally effaced...... blah blah blah."

The man: "No, When is she going to go into labor. I just need to know, I'd like to plan."

Wouldn't we all. Even at that early stage of parenting I knew that was too much to ask for, but I tell ya, I fear some genetics were never meant to be mixed. Rick and mine, NOT A GOOD COMBO! Still, I know how the man felt. Even though I knew that that was a question that could not be answered, of course, I wanted an answer.

I feel like the older my kids get, the more unanswerable questions come up. When their tears and the yelling come, and mine as well, which is daily here, I have to take it as the day has presented it to me. Some days I can handle others, not so much.

Take this morning, please :-) Over a 45 minute period the following things happened:

3 up and "awake"

3 need to be fed

2 need clothes found

2 need constant hounding to get dressed

2 inform me that it is too cold to get dressed

2 need meds

1 needs a quick hair cut

1 goes through his daily 3-4 underwear because they all feel too tight, too poky, to baggy, etc.

1 tells me his whole face hurts

1 is following me around saying he is sorry

1 is on a verge of a very serious fit

1 is still in the bathroom getting more beautiful

1 is ready to go out to the bus in a sweatshirt and a thin jacket and a cotton fashion hat, and no mittens (temp outside 9F)

1 has pulled his boot apart and is angrily trying to put it back together

1 is still in his underwear

1 needs his hair flattened but not too wet

1 needs his coat snapped

1 needs to be reminded that they should be gone already

3 leave crabby

AND I NEED A DRINK

To sum up my rant, if I can look at this from 2 different view points:

1. (Positive view) Every house looks like this in the morning

2. (Negative view) I live in a nut home

snow snow snow clean clean clean it's all the same

2011-01-14T21:42:00.001-06:00

Saw this today. It spoke to me. K~

Been there. Done that. And not very well I might add.

2011-01-11T14:00:00.002-06:00

To all the teachers of elementary school and junior high school.

I am writing this to you in a desperate fit of anxiety. I am a 43 year old mother of 3. I have a 3rd, 6th and 8th grader. I just wanted to share that in all fairness, I have been through Grades k - 12 as well as college. I have finished the former mentioned education in the year of our Lord Nineteen hundred and ninety. I was even ambitious enough to take 8 more college courses 5 years later in 1995. I find myself some ought 15 years later entrenched in nightly rudimentary and new wave school work sessions. Although I have improved my spelling, grammar, reading aloud, history knowledge, math skills along with other topics I am too tired to remember, I find it has encumbered me beyond reason.

My day begins with remembering if homework has been finished, writing notes to teachers with follow up questions, concerns and explanations regarding homework. Then I move onto my day to day homemaking in fear of the 4:00 hour. At this time, the ritualistic purging of my children takes on a life of it's own. "What is your homework?" "When is it due?" and on and on. Then we move onto the panic hours. The dreaded after supper time. This is a 3 hour session of doing homework, printing out homework, crafting homework, and reviewing homework. And lastly, it is the worst of all sound that comes at around 10PM...... "Mom.. um.. I forgot about (you fill in the blank) it's due tomorrow and I totally forgot about it."

I am throwing myself on the mercy of the schools. I don't have the answer, but I sure do have a problem. I may be the only one out there that feels this way. If so, I expect extra special treatment. If I am not, please take my plea seriously, and that is as follows.... REMEMBER I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE. PLEASE LEAVE ME OUT OF THE HOMEWORK SCENE.

Sincerely,
Hanging my a thread.
K~

The Producers - I'm Hysterical!!!

2011-01-10T08:30:00.000-06:00

I love this movie. I think the first 1/2 is much better than the 2nd. Gene is absolutely fantastic in it. This scene hits a bit to close to home for me. I could not stop laughing! enjoy! K~

Back to work tonight

2011-01-05T13:09:00.002-06:00

I look forward to going back to my job tonight. With the holidays and an unexpected sinus infection, I have been off for a few weeks. I just miss all that goes on at WRC. I miss the people and the animals. I miss helping as I can. YEAH! K~

Working with leftovers

2011-01-02T09:52:00.003-06:00

At the beginning of every new year and season, I try and condense the overflow of yarn I have. I am trying to use the yarn for something useful. With my Red Heart yarn, I am going to make a rug. With my cotton yarn, i am going to make a scarf and then hats. The scarf will be for me, and the hats, I might try and sell?? K~

Here we go...

2011-01-01T15:24:00.002-06:00

So I read my first day with the One Year Bible. I know now why bible studies are hard for me. I got 1/2 way through the first page and had a few big questions. It's as if I never read the bible before, which I have a few times. I am looking forward to this. I look forward to see how my understanding develops along the way. Thanks again Bob! K~

Oh Bob, Got the gifts, LOVE THEM!! Very sweet. I assume the peanut pudding is for the bird feeder? K~

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T12:10:00.004-06:00

A few necklaces I made from my cross stitch squares

Well it is the end of 2010. I am sitting here with Puff. I have just taken 4 ibuprofen, cold meds, sinus meds, lung meds, put hydro cortisone on my eye lids ( I know it causes glaucoma), drank my pumpkin spice coffee, had my lefse with brown sugar and butter, and am catching up on my craft project piles.

What have I learned in 2010.

1. I am not a boy. I don't understand them and they don't understand me.

2. I love to take care of those who need caring for.

3. I wear the same outfit day and night, in public and at home. (as close to PJ's as I can get)

4. Parenting is HARD and is getting harder.

5. Being in a relationship is hard to do when both of you are never with each other.

6. Crafts will pile up and that's ok as long as you are enjoying them.

7. A "clean house" is one with a defined permanent defined path carved out for walking.

8. I am the sick old gazelle but, I feel lucky that I have a place to rest and hide.

9. It's ok to let go.

10.It's ok to hold on.

I hope that I have a great 2011. I would like less drama and more peace. I am planning on taking deep breaths and taking one day at a time. It seems to work good when i do that.

I am going to be reading a daily bible. Hopefully, daily.

I hope for all my friends and readers :-) that you all have a better 2011 than 2010. That way if 2010 was GREAT then 2011 will be FANTASTIC! and if 2010 was a bit of a bummer, then you only have one way to go and that's up!

Happy new year everyone!!

Nala in the snow

2010-12-27T12:47:00.004-06:00

Nala trying to get a grip on this weather. She was back in moments later. crabby. Only several months to go. K~

Merry Christmas

2010-12-26T19:06:00.003-06:00

Christmas before dawn. 3rd year in a row.

We had such a nice Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas everyone. K~

Vision

2010-12-16T08:40:00.002-06:00

Vision

This is a vision that I had. I needed to do a square for it. The left side is my life. Things in order and the flower buds are troubles that occur, but are handleable. The right side is of stress and incoming turmoil. Each color of the buds are represented on the right side. It really was therapeutic to do this square. I have slowly been settling into my new normal, which, by the way, I feel is life for all of us. We go day by day in our life and it is not for us to sit idle and never experience anything good or bad. It's like the quote from Finding Nemo. Dori - "If you didn't let him do anything then he would do nothing....not much fun for little Harpo." K~

Bingy at 4

2010-12-15T07:27:00.002-06:00

Bing before his shave. He looks a lot like a polar bear.

Bing lovin the woods! K~

Moving on day to day

2010-12-06T11:01:00.002-06:00

Signing off

Well as the days go on, we are hanging in there. We have a lot of new routines to keep up going and seeing how things are going to iron out. It's like riding a wave around here.

Here's a new square.

Kind of reminds me of the stripes on a TV channel that has signed off... Thus the name. K~

Book #100!

2010-11-18T14:39:00.002-06:00

Well it would be a cheesy read that would mark my 100th book. I love this series. A bit raunchy, but funny. Since summer of 2005 I have read 100 books and 29,353 pages!! That's pretty good for a virtual non reader before that date! Yeah! Know It is something I look forward too every night. K~

This ought to be interesting

2010-11-16T20:58:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I need to put in a billion hours of volunteer time at TCA, C's school. So I think, "I know, I will offer a class to people who KNOW HOW to crochet and knit. That way, I can maybe teach them a new stitch, or help them if they run into a snag, but mostly, it will be a quiet class where the kids can work on a holiday project or a project to donate. I give my class write up to the lady in charge. I speak to the coordinator and explain that I really can only teach one on one. That I am not an accomplished knitter, but wouldn't mind if people knitted if they wanted to. I also gave a second idea for a class if crocheting and knitting didn't work. I told her we could do cross- stitch bookmarks in a different class. So.... I read the description of my class and it includes "crochet, knit and cross-stitch class". Oh no.

I get there on Monday and I ask my 13 class members who wants to knit, some hands go up. Who wants to crochet, some hands go up. Who wants to cross-stitch, no hands go up. I say "great, ok, let's get our materials passed out" One girl raises her hand, "Umm, could you explain the difference between them?" Several heads nod up and down.

As if I am reading a book, I "go back a few pages" and start from there. I explain to them the difference. We get a bit worked out, and I get some materials passed out. Of 13 girls, 3 know how to knit and one knows how the crochet. The rest...zilch, zip, nada. As I am handing out materials, I hear a girl ask my helper, who by the way can only cross-stitch, "what's a skein?"

I went home and said to myself..... Class and attitude readjustment time.

Today I did a 3 day our syllabus for myself, and in a 30 minute class had everyone paired up and grouped together. All the knitters had some yarn casted on their needles and all 5 of the crocheters has chains ready to start there scarves.

Way to regroup and get something done.

Next Monday may be a different story.

K~

under sea baby hats

2010-11-09T19:32:00.002-06:00

Some odd little baby hats. I figured if I was going to put a pom pom on the top of the hats, why not an octopus and a jellyfish? K~

What are Bacterial Mats?

2010-11-03T13:02:00.003-05:00

Yellowstone Bacterial Mat

The runoff from this geyser hosts an interesting juxtaposition of Archaea and bacteria living in different temperature ranges. Thermophilic algae (Cyanadium) are green and live in waters 38-56oC. Reddish deposits are siderophilic (iron-loving) Archaea ranging between 50-60oC. http://blackquartz.com/yellowstone.html

They are so beautiful and so delicate! Just a little earth science lesson for today.

insight

2010-11-01T08:20:00.005-05:00

Here is an insight into a matured relationship.

Me "Do you know what's funny?"

Rick "Jokes?"

Me "Do you know what would make me feel better?"

Rick "Not being sick?"

That was 2 conversations we had in the last week.

This one is my fault but it is too big for me

2010-10-24T20:52:00.002-05:00

One of my kids just told me they don't believe in God.

I have only myself to blame. I am so sad and so not cut out to raise children. I tell ya. After seeing the Dead Sea scroll this morning. I was feeling a bit more renewed in my pursuit to get the family back to church on a regular basis(if at all). Then this bombshell.

I don't even need to ask what I need to do.

Please join me in prayer for my family. Thank you. K~

I'll tell ya what hurts

2010-10-21T09:50:00.002-05:00

I didn't get bitten, I didn't get scratched, but for the second time, I had my finger caught between its extremely strong tail and the spike on the back of its top shell. All I have to show for my incident is a small dot on the top of my finger by my knuckle. But when you touch it, it really hurts. Usually you don't want to pick snapping turtles up by their tail. It is harmful for them. but at work, most of the turtles have shell injuries, making it too harmful and painful for them to be picked up "properly"so we need to grab them by the tail and put are other hand under them to lift them out of the container. Needless to say they don't like this. K~

A conundrum wrapped in a question filled with a query...

2010-10-17T16:17:00.003-05:00

Ok, so hears the deal.... I can't be around dust or my asthma goes nuts. So if I don't dust, it gets too dusty, and I am surrounded by dust, if I dust then I am surrounded by dust.

I can't be around fall leaves or my asthma goes crazy so do I leave them or do I rake them. I just tried to simply sweep the sidewalk and now I sense the deep wheezing set in. so.... there you go. My answer is a hazmet suit. K~

tree house

2010-10-15T08:50:00.002-05:00

Rick and David working hard on the tree house.

Will it be done by winter?

I don't know.

But it is really cute. K~

Finally done

2010-10-08T13:28:00.002-05:00

It took awhile, but I finally finished the "Bison in the Badlands". K~

A lighter side of self discovery

2010-10-06T07:01:00.002-05:00

I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought was "I am Fred Flintstone". Let us do the run down shall we.

1. I wear the same thing everyday

2. I always goes barefoot

3. We are not going to mention my size... but....

4. I shrink when ashamed

5. I let the cat out every night

6. I like to nap

I think 6 distinct similarities is enough to prove my point.

so.... my quote for the day is, of course, "Yabba Dabba Doo!" K~

hats

2010-10-05T09:00:00.003-05:00

Hat for big brother Darby.

Hat for new born baby Finn.

Not Sleeping

2010-10-05T03:03:00.002-05:00

It has been only 4 days since I resigned from Site Council. I am sad that the principal never contacted me after I sent the email resignation. She just put out an email to the council, not sending it to me, and moved on. I guess, it was a cowardly way out, but after all, it was a volunteer position. I was a voting member of Site Council for about 4 years (a long time) I have been going for over 9 years. I guess when you make a decision to quit. You need to be ready for it to be ALL over. But I guess I feel ashamed about it. I have to remind myself that crying after meetings, one of which I volunteer my time, is not healthy for me. It is not a place someone should spend their time. I see people move on from things, and they well, move on, or so it seems. Me?? I am not a mover oner. I think I am sometimes, I want to think I am, but I'm not.

Sleeping has been so hard for me. Well before summer started. Now it is October, and I am still not sleeping. I am tense and a bit of a mess.

I need to take baby steps and learn that everyone, including me, deserves to feel useful and heard. Maybe someday, I will find a place where that is the case.

Being 43 and having no direction is not a fun place to be. I just seem to long to be valued. I am smart sometimes. I have something to offer. I know I do. Don't I??

Maybe I don't. Maybe I am just stupid. Maybe it is safer for me to stay home. Bad things happen when I go "outside" of my house. I don't feel comfortable anymore. Frankly, I have felt this way for years now. After so much time trying to fill the void, I think I need to just except the fact that I have nothing directly to give to others. I am just dopy old me. plodding along. what a doof. I think after 30+ years of "mis-steps" I should at the very least be able to embrace that fact.

I wish that I felt like a high schooler looking for attention and saying things to get it. But alas, I actually know it is who I am and it makes me sad and frustrated.

Just sayin' K~

I'm exhausted and discouraged today

2010-10-01T08:57:00.002-05:00

It seems the more I try and work with Site Council, the worse it gets and the more upset I become. I am a 43 year old woman for cornsake!!!!! I have decided to "piss AND get off the pot" It is what I always say about the group..."why don't we piss or get off the pot" well.... I am now finished and am removing myself. If you read this, send me warm thoughts today. It is going to be a tough one. K~

Love these

2010-09-30T00:48:00.002-05:00

Ok, not a huge shoe shopper. But I LOVE these shoes. I want them really bad. Not gonna do it, but I can look right?? They are $96 on Sale!! That is about 10 times more than I can spend on shoes. But wow are these cute! K~

crafting

2010-09-28T07:29:00.002-05:00

Still Crafting. This is a yarn pull container I made on the trip. It took hours. I have to finish the clasp. I have not used it but I hope it is helpful.

I have to volunteer in some way at TCA, Coras new school. I am going to put a Yarn class syllabus together and present it. I hope it flies, because, I would not like to do office work for free.

The new school year

2010-09-20T12:24:00.003-05:00

Heading out for the new school year. C, D & S started their new school year. It is hard to believe that C has been going since the 1st and the boys since the 7th. I am still behind on life, but am slowly catching up. Ironing the mans clothes today. Washing and putting away all the other clothes. Creating baby gifts for a baby born in late August. K~

In my own little bubble

2010-09-18T07:52:00.004-05:00

I had lunch with some terrific girls yesterday.

You know who you are Bobbi, Kristi and Cassie :-)

I really felt honored to be invited to the pow wow at the French Meadow.

Thanks girls.

In thinking about the day, I find that I really do enjoy others company. But I always find myself in my own little bubble of home. I don't even go outside much anymore.

Sure, what I say is very true.

I HATE the mosquitoes. They find me anytime, any place, no matter who I am with.

I get super nervous talking to people. I am always sure they don't like me much. (odd, but true)

I do like it inside, but more and more, I like editing my communication.

Kristi was wearing a back space key on a cute necklace she made at the junk bazaar. It really wrapped up my communication style. I have for quite some time, loved being able to use spell check, back space, cut and paste functions. When your "out there" it of course is not possible to do that. Then, I just look dumb.

Just a thought for the day.

money

2010-09-17T11:16:00.003-05:00

There comes a time when a person just needs to make money. I have been WELL past that time. I have decided to try ETSY again, but, we know how hard it is to sell on that. I am still looking for J..O..B. Not super easy with all we have going on. But, I know it has to be possible. K~

Where am I??

2010-09-15T08:15:00.002-05:00

What just happened. I feel like I am in a weird fog. I have been doing domestic stuff for the past day and a half. I have just been wondering if I will ever remember our "vacation" or this summer in general. Sheesh!! This is a black bear we saw. Cora got this shot with her camera. Nice job! K~

The Renaissance Festival

2010-09-10T09:32:00.005-05:00

Fun day at the Renaissance Festival. Full day of dressing up and eating food.

It ended with a beautiful sunset. K~

Labor day

2010-09-06T07:42:00.003-05:00

Made Puff this cowboy hat on the trip. Then I realized he didn't have "a top of a head" He was about as happy as the photo shows, to wear it.
Moonscape over somewhere in Montana

Glacier view

I am hanging in there. I have had a very crazy busy few months. I feel a bit pulled in many directions. Kind of like taffy. I am ready to be taken off the puller and put in a nice plain wrapper and settle into a round glob.

Renaissance yesterday. 7 hours! I am a bit tired. Pictures to come later.

Mom and Dad are still here and will be until at least the 13th. Cora started a new school (Twin Cities Academy) on Wednesday. The boys start tomorrow. I have been up at 655 AM every morning, making coffee, setting the breakfast table for my mom and dad, doing dishes, clothes, cleaning up, etc.

Puff is doing fine. He is taking water and baby food sweet potatoes just fine by syringe. Today he gets to try his super worms.

Enough for now. Enjoy the pics. K~

Puff has surgery

2010-09-02T20:40:00.002-05:00

Well Little Old Puff had to have tail surgery today. I picked him up about 7:30 PM. He had some trauma to his tail and it was dying on the end. He needed it amputated to protect it from going up his tail to his legs or spine. He is resting in 85 degree temps on his towel. Tomorrow, I need to give him his pain meds and antibiotics. He is so adorable. I hope he gets better soon. K~

Why I keep coming back

2010-08-30T07:27:00.002-05:00

After seeing Glacier and the Tetons, I still longed for the Badlands, Black Hills, and Yellowstone. The landscape warms me so. The colors, the animals. the atmosphere. I just get happy when I see the edge of the badlands. I had a great trip. Still hate the camping, but the hotels were so seedy, that by the end of the trip, I preferred toughing it out in the tent with the bears and bison. K~

Function over Beauty

2010-08-06T08:11:00.002-05:00

So, Rick was on his way out somewhere in the evening. He had been busy outside for a few hours prior. He said to me on his way to the gate, "Hey, do you want to see what I made?" I went out and looked in my garden to find this monstrosity sitting there!!! It is a hand made (as if you can't tell) pool heater. I was rendered speechless and just shook my head. After I rescued my "Kiss me over the garden gate" I just proceeded to take a picture. Why do I even bother!

On the flip side, Bobbi got me these lovely organizing pieces for my Birthday! Thanks Bob! They are so pretty, and will make the ugly mundane paperwork items look so much more beautiful. Guess Rick and Bobbi are not cut from the same cloth. Both items are functional, true, but well they don't seem to look the same. K~

Yeah, more flowers!

2010-08-02T17:56:00.002-05:00

How pretty are these! K~

tomatoes

2010-07-30T09:57:00.002-05:00

These are my tomatoes. Luckily the turtles (and rick and I) LOVE tomatoes. There are a lot of them. The plant is nearly 9' tall. Weird. The tomatoes that I planted from seed have potential for growing tomatoes. The plants look good. I just need to be patient. This has been a very good year from growing things from seed. Many of my plants have grown and flowered. Including my favorite Zinnia. My wire plant is doing well too. Can't forget about that one. It is 3 years old now. K~

It's alive

2010-07-29T12:28:00.002-05:00

Well Bob, it seems to be determined to make it. It has a bend in it, but "Kiss me over the garden gate" seems to be making it. Now if I can just remember that it isn't a weed next spring, and pull it. I seem to do that quite often. K~

The zoo

2010-07-27T10:15:00.002-05:00

The zoo is not too far from my house. I have people trying to camouflage into the background. I have people who often show their true colors and are not afraid to stand out in a crowd. I have those people who just hang around in their own wonderful splendor. And I have those who just float along and paddle when needed. That is what makes a house a home. It is what makes life interesting. I treasure these traits. They are challenging, but worth the work. K~

turtles don't talk back

Perdi is growing up

Beautiful Morning

Poop

Welcome to the Zoo

The Jesus Barn

Rose Ireland

results of snail love

Hoarder or Holiday Boutique

My Dad has passed

Arizona

Rosemarie

Cheese

School has begun for the oldest 2.

Day 8 - yes i am nuts

learning to be me

S catches a fish!!

so I'm 44

A place for me to dangle my feet

Buttons!!

the reason one goes to the BWCA

The dark side of the BWCA

A Crow from work

Another Science lesson:

im·print·ing

Day 6

The Drama has begun

Gull Lake - Day 2

We made it!

Flowers fanfare to Summer

Moving on

gee i'm thirsty

Warblers

New square

to be a dog

C is 14!!!

A story from March....Polyphemus Moth

Feed us~

He's growing!

S's Birthday Wish

Officially Welcome Francis

finishing up projects

Lucy Goosy

meet ??

Semi back.

A quote to contemplate

Lost in translation?

Puff

Chocolate pearls and Masey

Good Morning

babblings

Winter is hanging on

Fun to watch

Meet Masey

Kalahari 2011

little birds

Finished teaching my class

Oh there I am...

Parenting?

snow snow snow clean clean clean it's all the same

Been there. Done that. And not very well I might add.

The Producers - I'm Hysterical!!!

Back to work tonight

Working with leftovers

Here we go...

Goodbye 2010

Nala in the snow

Merry Christmas

Vision

Bingy at 4

Moving on day to day

Book #100!

This ought to be interesting

under sea baby hats

What are Bacterial Mats?

insight

This one is my fault but it is too big for me

I'll tell ya what hurts

A conundrum wrapped in a question filled with a query...

tree house