Gobble Gobble

Fun With Cor-cor, Lala and Sinsay

We made it to Florida. Katie did great on the plane and actually took a nap. When we arrived at Mom and Dad's house, Katie's cousins were there to greet her. These cousins consist of Cor-Cor who is nine, Lala and Sinsy who are both seven.

Last night Katie and her cousins played with dress-up clothes, which entailed putting princess costumes on Katie. Katie would then rip through the house in a flowing dress. Pretty soon she was tired of the puffy dresses and took off wearing only a diaper. Her cousins then tied a cape on her, and Katie became "Super Baby". The four girls ran through the house giggling and screaming.

This morning Ga Ga, Grandma, set up a treasure hunt for the girls. They had to find clues that were hidden around the house. The treasures that they found were mini Christmas trees. Her cousins got the type that you decorate and Katie got one that flashed different colors.

This afternoon Ga Ga, the girls, Diane and I went to the park on Lake Hernando where the girls got to play on the swings and the jungle gym. We also ate lunch in the park. It's a really pretty park, but unfortunately it also has the park regulars and homeless people.

Rick, his dad and his brother are putting a new motor in Ga Ga's and Pop Pops van, so we haven't seen too much of the men today.

There is so much going on, but I must dash. The roast beef dinner is done. Yum-yum!

"My Buddy, My Buddy. Wherever I go, he goes."

Rick dropped Eric off at the kennel this morning, so I am lost without my buddy. I am so used to Eric constantly following me around both inside and outside that I just went over to the missile base and caught myself looking for him.

The dinner last night at Larry's mom's was delicious. There was turkey, ham and too many side dishes to mention. I swear there were about fifteen different desserts/pies from which to choose. Katie made fast friends with Larry's nephew and niece. At one point they were tossing a hard ball around and Katie beamed the little boy, who was about six, in the head. Rick put her in a time out. When Katie apologized to the little tot it was enduring when the little boy responded with, "That's okay." The little girl was 19-months old and she stole Katie's Disney Princess sippy cup. Katie was a little stressed about that and at one point Rick found her hiding in the dark laundry room gulping down her milk. Apparently that was the only place she could take an uninterrupted drink in peace. It was a good time and great to catch up with friends.

(The title of this post is actually a nostalgic tip of the hat to "My Buddy" doll and his theme song.)

This and That

The simply sensational truffles turned out pretty darn good. It never ceases to amaze me that a simple, two ingredient recipe can turn out so scrumptious.

Eric is getting used to his ramp. He still tries to climb the stairs, so I have to direct him up the ramp. It's funny when he goes down the ramp because he'll turn and look back at me with this genuine look of surprise. He can't believe he made it outside without his back legs giving out.

Later today we are heading into Abilene to have an early Thanksgiving with friends. Larry and Cathy live in Michigan and are here visiting Larry's mom. We picked up the bottles of wine last night and have to pick up two pies in Abilene.

I've been busy trying to get everyone ready for our Thanksgiving trip. We are flying to my in-laws, who live in Florida, early Monday morning and Eric is going to a kennel in Merkel on Sunday. Last night I purchased two pills organizer cases for Eric. I am terrified that they will not give him the right dosage of his medication, so I placed the appropriate amount of pills in the am and pm compartments. I hate boarding Eric mainly because there is not a pet resort in this area. When we lived in Michigan, Eric and Max went to a pet resort when we went out of town. They had their own room with a TV, which was tuned to Animal Planet or the Food Network, and little sleeping bunks, as well as a doggie door to their own private courtyard. Now that Max is gone and Eric is older, it's traumatic for him to be left with strangers. As always, I made a little owner's manual for Eric that I will give to the kennel. I hope they are patient with him as he appears disobedient when in reality he just can't hear as well as he used to.

Rick is working on the minivan and Katie just went down for a nap. I have our suitcases opened and placed on the sofa. After all of my travels, I have become an expert packer and I have learned that a few days prior to the trip if I leave the suitcases open in a room it ensures that I don't forget anything. I just toss items into the suitcase as I think of them.

Katie has flown eight round trips since she was born. This is the first time that she will have her own seat. We are taking her Recaro car seat with us to use in the airplane and in the car in Florida. We are in first class which is the best way to fly with a young child; however, when we take our seats in first class, we are usually met with cold stares and eye rolls from the other first-class denizens. They anticipate screaming and crying, but Katie usually proves them wrong. I hope she keeps up that track record.

I got my hair cut the other day and I am happy with the new do. I always love how healthy my hair feels after getting a few inches chopped off. It also takes me a while to get used to shorter hair. I will be brushing my hair and get surprised when the hairbrush runs out of hair.

Well, that's about it for now. I think I will go and locate the simply sensational truffle container and have a few.

The Simply Sensational Ramp, Truffles and Christmas Stockings

Earlier this week Rick ordered a ramp for Eric and we received it today. It is a 8' folding ramp that is made out of aluminum. The walking area of the ramp is covered with a sandpaper like material so he doesn't slide and it has a handle on the side so it is easy to carry around. We got it for the front steps since Eric is getting progressively worse at climbing stairs. He has stumbled quite a few times while climbing the steps, which resulted in him sliding backwards down the steps and then rolling away like a little sausage. Eric didn't know what to make of the ramp, so I had to put his lead on him and coax him up the ramp. He was a lot more confident when he used it to go down.

Today I tried a new recipe called Simply Sensational Truffles. And seriously, they were simple. I have to wait for them to chill to see if they are sensational. Both Katie and Rick got to lick the beaters after I made the filling. Katie was covered in the creamy mixture and Rick commented that he was probably Katie's age the last time he licked a beater. In any case, they were two happy chocoholics. If they turn out okay, I will make a big batch which I will divvy up among the Christmas baskets that we give to friends. Click here for the recipe.

Page, another fellow blogger and a member of my MOPS group, posted on her blog about the Christmas stockings that she made for her girls. It got me to thinking that I need to make a stocking for Katie. My mom had made mine and it stayed with me right up until it burnt in the fire. So I have been googling for Christmas stocking kits. There are some really gorgeous ones out there, but I haven't cross stitched or needle pointed in years. I don't know if I have the patience for it and without a doubt I probably won't finish it until next Christmas. Perhaps I will design my own that I can make on my sewing machine.

That's it for now. Another low key day.....wait, I shouldn't have typed that. Last time I did, Rick came a knocking with a rattlesnake in the snare. (See yesterday's post.)

Leave It To Hubby To Liven Things Up

Just when I think there is nothing to post about my dear husband spices up the day. Imagine me sitting in the office at my laptop and contemplating about what to post when all of a sudden I hear Bam! Bam! Bam! on the front of the house. Then I hear Rick's muffled voice yelling for me. Rather freaked out, I run to the front door and what do I see? Well, its Rick standing on the sidewalk with a rattlesnake in his snake snare.

Rick found him in the shop, snared him and walked back up to the house with this very angry rattlesnake. I got the 410 and Rick had me hold the snare while he shot its head off. It's just been too warm here and those slithering buggers are not denned up yet for the winter. I know I promised not to post any more pictures of rattlesnakes minus their heads, but I going to anyway because it's my blog and I hope and pray the Angry One is the last one until spring.

"What Is Mine, Is Yours"

Here's the new thing. Katie likes to diaper the much aligned Baby. When she is not in her room or when the diaper bag is not handy Katie simply removes her diaper and puts it on Baby. This gives a new meaning to the phrase "she's so kind that she'll give you the shirt off of her back." Thank goodness each time Katie has done this her diaper was unsoiled. Note to self: Make sure there is an extra diaper within Katie's reach at all times.

Snowsuits and The Land of Unicorns and Lollipops

I had Doodlebug try on her snowsuit to see if it still fit. The pants are fine, but the jacket and its sleeves are now too short. I also took video of her in her snowsuit as she walked around the house because she looked hilarious. She reminded me of Randy, Ralphie's brother, from The Christmas Story when Randy is in his snowsuit and exclaims, "I can't put my arms down." By the way, that movie is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies. Everyone tells Ralphie "You'll shoot your eye out!" when he states that he wants "an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle" for Christmas. What always gets me laughing, no matter how many time I see the movie, is when he uses the gun the first time. The BB bounces off of the target and hits his face, his glasses to be exact. His response is "Oh My God, I shot my eye out!" (I am even chuckling as I type this.) Also, please stop chuckling about the fact that Katie lives in Texas and has a snowsuit. We bought it for when we visit my parents in Michigan.

She just woke up from her nap and the unsure look on her face indicates that she must have been dreaming pretty heavily. It's as if she is thinking, "One minute I am in the land of unicorns and lollipops and the next I am in this darn crib"

Still confused about her surroundings, she needed Dada to hold her and make it all better.

Another Trip Around The Sun

Today I am 44 years old. I am one of the lucky ones that does not mind getting older. I do not regret or mourn the spent years because each year I improve, evolve and learn. I take ownership of the choices that I have made and won't have my life any other way.

The day started off by opening cards from Rick, Katie, Eric and Lupe. Then Katie helped me open my present, which was a beautiful cream colored electric blanket. It is soft and fuzzy and has dual controls, which is a marriage saver. I dislike being cold while I sleep. If I crank up the temperature on the furnace, I wake up with a headache from the over abundance of dry air. An electric blanket will solve that conundrum.

I had a MOPS steering team/table leader meeting. Rick drove me into Abilene and he and Katie ran errands during my meeting. At the meeting, the MOPS ladies sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I also received e-cards and regular cards from various MOPS members. MOPS has been good to me and for me.

My sister Maryel pointed out a fact to me the other day. I am now the same age as my brother was when he died. My birthday inspired reflection on life has caused me to know that 44 is too young to die.

Another day of celebrating my entrance into this world is slowly winding down. The cards are proudly displayed on the fireplace mantel; the wrapping paper is in the trash; the blanket is on the bed; the candles on the yummy chocolate cake are blown out; and the cake itself is minus a few pieces. My actual birth time is still twenty minutes away and forty-four years ago I was getting to ready to take my first breath. I slowly inhale and exhale as I try recreate that precious first rush of air. It's good to be alive. Dear God, I don't mean to be greedy, but please grant me another forty-four.

Wedding Day Rememberances

I did not post about our wedding on our anniversary, so I figured better late than never. I won't go into too much detail. I want to keep you, dear blog reader, engaged and not miserably bored.

Wedding Portrait

Rick and I met in January of 2005 and we were married in a small, intimate ceremony nine months later on September 10th. Our nuptials took place on Mackinac Island, which is an island in the Straits of Mackinaw where Lake Huron flows into Lake Michigan. Once you step on the Island, you are transported back to the Victorian Age. There are no automobiles on the Island, except for the ambulance. To get around you either walk, ride a horse, bicycle or take a horse and buggy. The homes on the Island are these unbelievably gorgeous Victorian homes with picture perfect manicured lawns.

Our wedding was at the Little Stone Church, which is, as the name implies, a little stone church. Brad was the Best Man, Dana was the Maid of Honor and Rick's niece Courtney was the flower girl. We stayed at the opulent Grand Hotel in the Dolly Madison Suite. It was done in mauve and pink, so Rick dubbed it the Dolly Parton Suite. If the Island and The Grand Hotel look familiar to you it is because the movie Somewhere In Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed there. The Grand Hotel also has the longest porch in the world. I believe Rick's favorite memory from our wedding is when we left the reception and took another carriage ride back to the Grand Hotel. Once at the hotel, he took a seat on that long porch while I twirled and twirled in my wedding dress. For you see, my dress was one of those that was just made for twirling. Rick thinks it was the champagne that flowed freely at our reception that had me spinning, but it was the pure happiness I felt that day that had me as giddy as a schoolgirl.

A white carriage transported Dana, my maid of honor, my mother and me to the Little Stone Church. After the ceremony, Rick and I enjoyed a carriage ride around the Island, which offered several photo ops. Luckily, our photographers were in the carriage with us! Our reception was held at The Island House, which is like a mini Grand Hotel, with a cocktail reception on their huge, open air porch and the reception in the Webster Room.

Below are a few of my favorite pictures from our fairytale wedding. You can click on the hyper linked text to learn more about Mackinac Island, The Grand Hotel, The Little Stone Church and The Island House.

Getting ready in the Dolly Parton suite.

One of my favorite photos from the wedding. This is me with my dad in the church doorway.

Rick and I on the bluff that overlooked The Grand Hotel.

On another bluff that overlooked St. Anne's Church.


Arriving at the reception in our carriage.

I See The Light

Today, I was taking some practice shots with my camera. Katie was sitting on our bed and the sunlight was streaming in the transom windows, which are at the peak of the vaulted ceiling. The above picture is the result.

Slow News Day

Slow news day here at the ranch.

The day started early with Katie deciding that 5:15 a.m. was a good time to get up and start her day. I put her in our bed with us and turned on Baby First TV, but I couldn't fall back asleep. Then Eric pooped in the kitchen, which is becoming a regular occurrence. A few months ago we started baby gating him in the kitchen at night because we got tired of shampooing the carpeting. He is getting senile and it is evident because he will actually poop lying down, as if he doesn't know what is going on or coming out.

I received an email yesterday that one of Katie's fellow MOPPETS was taken to the ER with a staph infection in his nose. I called Katie's doctor and they advised me to keep an eye on any cuts or rashes that she may have. So far, so good.

After Katie goes to sleep we are going to go down into the Launch Control Center or LCC. When we were cleaning in the shop, we found two end tables and other items that would be of more use in the LCC's living room than stored in the shop.

Katie and I painted today. I was attempting to do a landscape picture and the Doots insisted on painting a yellow splotch on the mountains. She claimed it was Baby.

Yup, pretty slow here....

Because It Makes Katie Laugh

"The Girl Loves Her Curlers"

At the advanced age of 43, soon to be 44, I find myself reverting to my childhood. This is a direct result of having a two-year old child. Often I make a complete fool of myself in an attempt to amuse Katie. But I don't care because it makes Katie laugh that childlike, pure laugh that is a true display of joi de vivre. It warms my heart, matter of fact it warms my whole body right down to my little toes.

For example, Katie likes to grab the edge of my shirt and follow me around. One day I decided that we looked like a momma duck and a duckling, so I bent my arms in the classic duck wing fashion and marched around the room quacking. Katie, the ultimate imitator also began to quack. Rick threatened to get the video camera because we looked so idiotic. But I didn't care because it made Katie laugh that beautiful joi de vivre laugh.

Yesterday Katie and I walked up the driveway to lock the gate. I decided to pretend I was a horse. Flashback to my own childhood where my one sister, Maryel, and our neighbors, Scarlet and Lolly, and I would spend the entire summer galloping around my parents' huge yard as we played horses. In the winter, we rarely made snowmen. Instead we made snow horses. You had to roll two huge snowballs and then smash them together. The neck and head were made from two smaller snowballs that you planted in the appropriate place on one of the larger snowballs. My parents' side yard looked like the starting gate at the Kentucky Derby for we built all of the horses facing the same way and side by side. Even though we wore snowsuits, we froze our little behinds because we would sit for hours on our frozen steads and used our vivacious imaginations to gallop along imaginary fields and hills.

Getting back to yesterday....Rick spray painted the survey spikes in the driveway. The original spikes are painted yellow and the spikes from a survey done 10 years ago are painted red. To assist Katie in learning her colors, I told Katie that we were only going to jump over the yellow ones. So we became steeplechase horses navigating a course. Did I look idiotic? Yes, but I didn't care because it made Katie laugh that beautiful joi de vivre laugh.

So if you see me acting like a fool, which I often do right in the middle of Wal-Mart for Katie's entertainment, stop a minute to listen for Katie's laugh and you will understand.

Lupe The Minority

The above are pictures of the most low key member of our family. His name is Lupe. Katie calls him CAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! He is eight years old. In our household, we call Lupe our little minority. Kate, Rick, Eric and I are all white while Lupe is black.

I first saw Lupe at the Lansing Mall in June of 2000 where the Humane Society had a temporary adoption center set up. I usually didn't go to that mall as it was cross town from where I lived, but my Bath and Body Works store was closed for renovations. I made the journey to the west side of Lansing and on a whim popped into the Humane Society's "store". There sat Lupe in a cage. Not wanting to make a hasty decision I returned home only with my smell pretties from Bath and Body Works.

Three days later I left work early to go get Lupe from the Humane Society's main location. I always confused Grand River and Saginaw Street in Lansing, so I went motoring down Saginaw to the very western reaches when I realized that I was supposed to be on Grand River. I raced north as I warily watched the clock. They closed at 5 p.m. and it was 4:40 p.m. before I skidded into their parking lot. Once inside, I told them I was there to pick up Lupe, a four month old, domestic long haired black cat. They set me to the kitten room. No Lupe. They were still pouring over their paperwork trying to figure out whom I was seeking. I was then directed to the big cat room and there he was in a cage with his two sisters. His paper work was stapled beneath his sisters so that is why they thought I was delusional. They freed him from his cage and I paid $90 to take him home and call him mine.

Three years later when my apartment building burnt, he is the only possession that I grabbed as I ran out of the door. Matter of fact the only other object that I eventually retrieved was my car, which had been blocked in its carport by the fire trucks. So if you were not a three-lettered item beginning with a "C" you didn't survive the fire.

MOPS, Shots and Wasps

We've been crazy busy. Yesterday I helped Rick clean and organize the shop/Quonset Hut. We just got one tiny area done and a lot more to go. Thankfully, we didn't find any live or dead snakes.

The back brakes on the minivan are leaking brake fluid and Rick has been so busy and hasn't had time to fix them. (My dear husband is a true Renaissance man and one of his many accomplishments is that he is a certified Master Mechanic.) Rick doesn't want me driving the van until they are fixed, so he drove Katie and I into Abilene today at the crack of dawn so we could attend MOPS and MOPPETS. He then had to drive back home to give a Web Telecast Class to the a state's Department of Corrections. After that he drove back to Abilene to pick up the Doodlebug and I. That's a lot of driving considering it's 70 miles round trip to go into Abilene.

All three of us then got our flu shots while in Abilene. I have never had one before and this is Katie's first. The minute she saw her doctor's nurse, she started to cry. Linda, the doctor's nurse, is a very nice lady but to Katie she is the one that hurts her. To top it off, Katie grabbed the needle while she was receiving her shot and got scratched on her leg. She also did not nap, so we had one cranky little girl on our hands. She finally fell asleep at 5 p.m. I have been checking on her as I am always concerned when she gets a new shot since I don't know how she will react. Katie has to get another flu shot in one month since this was her first time getting the shot. Apparently when you are a wee one, they give you a booster a month later. Who knew?

When we got home, the living room was inundated with paper wasps. I don't know how they got into the house, but Rick and I spent 15 minutes killing wasps. I think we killed a total of about 25-30.

Tonight we have a tornado watch until 7 p.m. At least Rick is home so if we have to seek shelter in the missile site I won't be as stressed.

I know a lot more occurred, but my foggy brain cannot recall. The minute I post this entry, the "a lot more" will emerge from the mist and I will be posting again. So til later........

Baby's Sight Restored

Operation Paint A New Eye For Baby was successful. Katie is happy.

The Saga Continues

After Katie painted Baby, I gave Baby a bath. I popped her in the dryer to speed the drying process because Katie kept on asking for Baby. When I got Baby out of the dryer, she was missing an eye. I searched for the eye, put no dice. I don't dare show Baby to Katie in her current condition. So now I have to paint an eye on Baby.

Thank Goodness For Washable Paint

Katie paints everyday. Today painting on paper wasn't enough. Katie decided that she needed some pizazz. I didn't take a picture but Katie painted her legs and feet as well. Once done with her own body, she turned the brush on Baby. Poor Baby, she's frequently the target of Katie's creativity.

Sundials, Angels and Honey

Saturday was an active day. We headed out to Buffalo Gap to have lunch at Perini's with fellow Atlas F Missile Site owners Hugh and Patsy. Texas Monthly says Perini's is the third best steak house in Texas. Considering how big Texas is and how many steakhouses there are, that is really saying something. It was the second time that I have eaten there and once again I was not disappointed. Anyway, David, Hugh and Patsy's son, graciously picked up the tab for lunch and Rick vowed revenge. You see, Rick always likes to pay.

After lunch we motored over to their Atlas F Site. Hugh, or Buddy as he is known, is quite the character and a very interesting person with whom to talk. They bought their site from the military after the decommission, so they have owned it for quite a few years. We were in Nolan County which has wind farms. A wind farm is where they erect those gigantic turbines that are used to produce energy. As far as the eye could see there stood these white angels gracefully twirling their long arms.

We drove through Mulberry Canyon on our way back. We stopped in Abilene and finally got home about 6 p.m. Katie was cranky for the last two hours of the road trip. She barely touched her lunch and had run out of milk. Remarkably, Eric didn't poop in the house even though he was inside for most of the day. At his age, he just can't hold it anymore, so I was proud of him.

The new development on the Katie front is that she has a new name for me. Today, she was tapping me on my leg to get my attention. As she did so, she was saying "Honey, Honey" and she has done that several times today. She picked that up from me because I call her Honey a lot and she has learned that term of endearment.

Jessi

Yesterday my sister had to put down Jessi, her German Shepherd. This is the dog that was there for her as she continued her battle with breast cancer. My sister, the consummate animal lover, is heartbroken.

Creation

When God had made the earth and sky,
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals
the fish, the birds and bees
And when at last He'd finished
not one was quite the same.
He said I'll walk this world of mine
and give each one a name.
And so He traveled far and wide
and everywhere He went,
a little creature followed Him
until its strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
and in the Sky and Sea,
the little creature said "Dear Lord,
there's no name left for me."
Kindly the Father said to him
"I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
And called you DOG, my friend".

(Author Unknown)

Lost and Found

I forget to mention that last night Rick found another rattlesnake in the shop. Unfortunately it got away, so today at lunch time Rick went rattlesnake hunting in the shop. He found what he believed to be the same rattlesnake in the back corner of the shop. But get this, it was already dead!! And even weirder, its head and tail were missing!! I have no idea how it lost its beginning and end and it didn't look torn up or chewed. Rattlesnakes have very few predators with the most common being roadrunners, wild turkeys, king snakes and hawks. None of which hang out in the shop; typically attack full grown rattlesnakes or would just eat the head and tail and leave the meaty part alone. I am wondering if it died and some other animal ate part of it. Or did our next door neighbor kill it, bury the head as you are supposed to do and cut the rattle off as a souvenir and then an animal found it and carried it into the shop. Any other guesses?

Ho-Ho

I just learned that Ho-Ho also lives in the closet. He must be related to Who-Who.

Who-Who Are You?

Katie is an outgoing and fearless child. When I play Mommy Monster, which entails me walking around like Frankenstein and talking in a spooky voice, she giggles and squeals. Even when I jump out from a hiding place. However, the other night she told us that Who-Who scared her. The only information we can get out of her is that Who-Who is in our master bedroom's walk in closet and it may have something to do with the cat. The cat has a tendency to sleep in the closet and perhaps she came across his neon green eyes peering out from his hiding place.

Yesterday I had her point out what Who-Who was. She pointed to the motorcycle helmets that are on the top shelf, but then later she told me that they were not Who-Who. Also, Who-Who is not always in the closet. So who is Who-Who and why is this fearless child scared of Who-Who?

The People Have Spoken

The votes are tallied and Election 2008 has been dubbed as historic. Americans want change and they voiced that desire in the voting booths across this great country. I am excited about what lies ahead. This election's outcome was closely watched by the world and by electing Barack Obama we, the people, have shown the world that we are not an antiquated entity. We are changing and moving forward.

Now, Texas, on the other hand has disappointed me. Both U.S. Senator Cornyn and U.S. Congressman Thornberry retained their seats even though both voted for the bailout package. I was hopeful that Texans would send a strong message to these two Republican incumbents, but it did not happen. I was also hopeful that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals would be shaken up a bit. It desperately needs reform. Matter of fact, in almost every race in Texas, the incumbent took the prize and that incumbent was Republican. Does this mean that the majority of Texans are content with how affairs are in this state and country? Or does it mean that the majority of Texans are complacent? Or does it mean that the majority of Texans are extremely loyal to the Republican Party? Or am I being too harsh on my adopted state?

Interestingly, in both Jones and Taylor Counties the Obama/Biden ticket won only 26% of the vote. Statewide, Obama and Biden received 43.7% of the votes. Countrywide, they received 52% of the votes. Nationwide, 67% of Latinos voted for Obama/Biden and 92% of African Americans did. The young vote and the woman's vote also were in favor of Obama/Biden. So why the low percentages in my area? Obviously the majority of Texans in my area have a different mind set from the majority of Texans, as well as the majority of Americans. Again, I wonder why this is. Is it because it is primarily a rural area? Is it because of the presence of Dyess?

Perhaps my amazement in how my fellow Texans voted in the races is because prior to moving to Texas 2 1/2 years ago, I spent the previous fourteen years in a liberal and culturally diverse college town. In any case, it appears I am not a Texan....yet.

Katie's First Presidential Election

As I posted earlier today, Katie was excited about going to the voting place. I told her Momma was going to vote and Dada was going to vote. Katie asked, "Where-ick vote?" I had to explain that dogs don't get to vote.

Last week I had researched all of the candidates and proposals that were going to be on our ballot. Rick and I talked about our options and were of the same opinion. I then compiled our decisions in an Excel sheet that we took to the voting place. Rick and I were well prepared so we were able to vote quickly and feel confident in our choices. We were pretty adamant about not voting for those incumbents who voted for the H.R. 1424, commonly known as the Screw-The Tax-Paying-Average-American-and-Reward-The-Financial-Industry-For-Their-Bad-Decisions Plan.

We ended up voting at noon because Rick had so many things to do for work. Luckily our precinct is small. When we got to our voting place there were two machines open, so Rick and I got to vote at the same time. A cowboy-hatted Katie sat quietly at a table with Baby while we did and I am so proud of her. I am also excited for her because it is her first Presidential election. However, they didn't hand out "I Voted" stickers and I had wanted to put one in Katie's Box of Memories.

One of Katie's new developments is that she will tell you that she is "Two" when you ask her how old she is. However, when you ask how old she will be next year, she tells you "Four." Apparently the age of three holds no charm for her. She prefers to only count to two and when she runs out of those numbers she starts all over again. For example if she has four pieces of candy corn, she has "One, two, one two."

Get Out And Vote!

Rick is taking an early lunch so we can go to our voting place. I hyped up going to vote as a big adventure, so Katie is excited about our upcoming outing. She also has on her patriotic t-shirt.

Redundancy

Rick, still angry about the one that got away, went looking for Sneaky Pete. Since Katie was napping, I joined him. On the way back from the shop, I spotted a rattlesnake off the side of the rode. Rick got him and thinks he was Sneaky Pete. Total for today is two.

I also had another thought, my posts about rattlesnakes are getting to be like the weather report---frequent and redundant. To save time and typing, perhaps I should set up a template for posts about the rattlesnakes we encounter. I can then add the date and the number killed that day.

The One That Got Away

Yup, more rattlesnake news. Rick was down at the shop and found a rattlesnake sleeping in a crate next to the boat. After killing that one, he came across another one in the shop that rattled and slithered away before Rick could get the 410. So Rick is not a happy camper. He detests the ones that get away, which thankfully doesn't happen that often.

This is just insane how many rattlesnakes we have had the displeasure of coming across. It's pretty bad when you take the shotgun with you each time you step out the front door. What's even worse is that 50% of the time you are justified in taking the gun with you. Grabbing the gun before you go outside is getting to be second nature just like putting your shoes on. Constantly scanning the ground is also automatic. When Katie and I were at my parents' this past summer, it struck me how much I am on the look out for rattlesnakes here. I recall walking around their large yard and feeling oddly free because I didn't have to worry about rattlesnakes. I was actually able to relax outside and let Katie run around without being at her side or doing advance recon for rattlesnakes.

Our Li'l Van Gogh

I used to have an easel to which I was very attached. It had been my brother's and I took it with me when I left home. I had used that easel a lot and the various paint dots on the easel reminded me of all of the pictures that I had painted on it. I lost that easel when my apartment building burnt down in 2003. As a wedding gift, Rick had bought me an easel in hopes that I would start painting again. I stopped drawing and painting after the fire. It broke my heart, and still does, to remember all of my artwork that I had lost.

Katie loves to paint, so today I set the easel up for Katie. She created four pictures. Here is the budding Van Gogh. I love how she is standing in the first picture and looking at the canvas in the second picture. She looks like such a professional.

Dead Rattlesnake x Four = A VERY Good Day

I took the Halloween decorations down today. As with all the different holiday decorations, we keep them in the shop (Quonset Hut) in color coded toters. Rick took the Halloween box down to the shop and nearly stepped on a rattlesnake while there. He saw another one in the area where all of the toters are stacked. He came back up to the house and grabbed the 410 and his ear protection muffs. The shop is all metal so firing a rifle there can be deafening and dangerous. But Sure-Shot got both of them. He said one was about six feet long........I just heard another shot and went outside. Rick got a baby rattlesnake on top of the missile silo. That makes four today and five in last two days. Come on cold weather.

Another Good Day

Found another rattlesnake by the fueling shaft. He was curled up in the corner that the shaft makes with the missile silo. I didn't have the 410 or Rick with me, so I went back to the house to get both. Rick threw some rocks at him so he would show his head. It took awhile to wake him up and when he did, Rick got him. He was a fat one and rather docile.