Life trodds on

And that is just fine with me. Slow and steady is just my speed these days, LOL.

We had a few nice warm days with melt. I can see my roof and the ice dam is almost gone. Darn roof shovel broke, but they just don't make things well these days. So of course they are predicting sleet, ice and snow this week. But a few good days of warmth was so nice.

Zoey is much better. Still a soon to be 11 year old dog, but definitely moving easier so the glucosamine must be working. Rick and I started taking it and the omega 3 also and are hoping for as good of results. Actually Rick's back is better.

I made an appointment to see the doc who did my hand surgery to find out what is going on and if there is anything I can do short of a repeat surgery to stop the progression of loss of function in the wrist. It is stiff and painful and all the exercises in the world haven't seemed to help. Now my fingers are starting to trigger. One thing after another. It's really going to be a challenge riding my bike. But..... I am still hopeful the glucosamine helps. Hope, its a good thing.

I worked last night. Several of our patients were my age or younger. I am in much better condition then them. Puts it in perspective. I am hurt and have stiff joints but my mind is good, my heart is good. I have no major illnesses and don't have to take a slug of meds a day. So I know I should stop my whining about my aches and pains, but heck. I am human and to whine is a human condition. Sorry. It's therapeutic.

I decided smelling some flowers would be good today. When the entire world outside is white and shades of black and gray it is good to see color. Don't they smell lovely. And on my kitchen table is my perfect rose from Rick. Who is making taverns which smell wonderful.


I have been watching the horror in Haiti. It is simply horrific and my heart goes out to them. I can't imagine how awful it is and now people are fighting and anarchy is breaking out all over slowing the relief efforts. May God help them all. Going over to assist in the relief and being put in danger by the people you want to help is difficult for all and I understand the panic of the people and fear. One of our nurses has a niece over there in a medic unit. My prayers go out to them and all the doctors. Working on so many with so little is a terrible burden.

Well. Enough of that. Time to get ready for work. I had a good night last night we were busy so it went by quickly. I hope the whole week flies by. Have a great weekend all.

Health care debate.

This is so true and makes so much sense. Are we really going to let this happen.

Scott Brown, My hero

Now this man I would vote for.

For Jimmy

These are terrible shots because I was shooting through the screen. This doe is very skittish since she was shot this year and doesn't pose like the old mama deer used to. The other fawn is in the woods. They look so furry and soft and the color of their coat isn't red like in the winter. I may hide in the garage one of these days and take shots through the door. As you can see they really like that old TV tray. I knew there was a reason I didn't toss it. In fact we are thinking about hitting the goodwell store to see if they have a couple more.

Bad thing about the deer is they will eat 20 dollars worth of feed in the blink of an eye. Since I saw them waiting for me I only put a small amount of seed out so they would eat the carrots and apple first. When they leave I will put out more for the birds.


Today we have to go across town and hit the pet store. The Petsmart we usually use had their roof cave in from the snow. Then the sprinklers went off and flooded the place. Since the temps were below zero it all froze solid and all the animals had to be rescued. And that is where we get our treats for Zoey and the Chester's feed. So its across town we go. I need more suet balls also.

Above Zero

Oh it was lovely to be above zero and be able to leave the thermals off. I feel like a stuffed sausage in this weather with all the layers on. I think it got to 9 above which felt like a heat wave!

Out the window I saw a woodpecker pecking on the tree. What do they eat this time of year from the trees? I know in the feeders they seem to like the sunflowers and suet balls.

The snow drifts look like meringue. Stiff peaks from the wind blowing the drifts around. I would love to go for a ride in the country to get some shots but the roads are still iffy out there. Getting stuck would not be fun.

Zoey is doing better, still stiff, but she only needed some pain med this evening. She even played a little last night with her ball. She is still having some trouble getting on the beds but now will wait until we help her up, spoiled thing. A friend of mine is making us a ramp that we can use for the van and beds. It will lay flat under the beds when we don't need it. I decided even if the medicine does help her she is going to be 11 this year, might as well make it easier on her.

Today the mother deer and her babies came by. They must just know when I have just filled the feeders because I was still taking off my coat when they came. The carrots were gone in seconds and the apples also. It must be a real treat this time of year to get those. They looked fat and healthy and I am pleased to see her looking so well. It was pretty touch and go for awhile for her. Even with her thick winter coat you can see her scars. Her babies are almost as large as her now. The birds were out of luck in getting any apples as that was my last one until I go shopping tomorrow.

Behind our outdoor speaker is a birds nest that is occupied by a pair of sparrows. They have had a nest there for several years, don't know if it is the same pair, but they are always there. I put some feed up high on the ladder we leaned against the garage so they would be sure and get some food if the deer and other critters eat it all first. They will sit on the roof and chatter to us if we are late getting the seed out. Seems like a noisy place to live since we have the radio on most of the time in the summer but they seem to like it and it is safe place for them.

I got my digital photo frames loaded. The photos look so great in them. It almost is like looking at slides the way they are lit and they really enhance the shots. I had to get a flash drive to load them as windows 7 is just not compatible with many things yet but it was worth it. Plus that will make it easier to change the shots. I have several hundred on the bigger one Rick gave me. They have come a long way and I am happy I kept both.

Well, its time to let the dog out and then read for awhile before bed. It is suppose to be nice out tomorrow also. Strange isn't it, calling 12 above nice, LOL. Much better then the - 27 it was. Below is a spot of sunshine to brighten the day.

Snow Shots

The bird feeders are buried so I put out this old TV tray and a old cookie sheet. Works great and you can see the trail from the woods the deer have make plowing through to them.




It's only -1 today so I decided to brave the outdoors and get some shots.


Rick is standing in front of our Iowa mountains. Skiing anyone?

We had this lovely ice in the air which created this pretty ice dog. You can see the flakes of ice glittering. Click on the photos to see them larger. All the trees are frosted.



Its hard to see the the bush is full of Junco's. For some reason that is the bush they hang out in when they aren't at the feeders. Seems like there would be a warmer place to winter.


Below is a shot down our street. You can see how high the grader blocks our drive but Rick has it all cleaned out again.


The ice dam is still there. everyone is buying the ice puckies so we are going to just get water softener ice and toss it up there. I want to make sure the salt won't damage our new roof though.


See what happens when I don't cut my flowers back. What a mess. We don't use the front porch so it is pretty full. I think the Santa is there to stay unless we get a melt.



My car is under there somewhere.


And the work van is under that pile.


Thanks to the snow blower we have our driveway all cleared and the nice thing about a huge yard is lots of place to put the snow.


We are using our old van. I would buy another in a heart beat they do so good in this snow.


The icicles look dangerous. Another good reason not to use the porch.

The back of the house has been really hit hard due to the blowing snow. we are taking the snowblower to that next. Definately going to have some flooding this spring. One back is higher then my picture window. It is bad Rick and I are so messed up this year because if you don't tackle it right away it packs down solid. Our son's are going to help us clear this mess.



I have a ditch in front of my house but if you didn't know it you sure can't see it. It would be bad to drive off the road into it as it is probably about 6 feet deep.

Hello

Another freezing day. - 27 tonight. So stuck in doors what to do? Why make cookies of course. And bread. Check outside often to make sure Rick hasn't had a heart attack while shoveling out the driveway. He clears the snow, turns his back and the road grater blocks us in again. He does the hopping mad dance, kicking at the blocks of snow and faint naughty words drift into the house, muffled by his cold weather gear, but heating the air around him like an oven. I can see ice cycles hanging off his mustache.

Yesterday they started him on a new blood pressure med. Sure hope it helps, LOL.

I see Obama is giving the same ole same ole speech. It's all Bush's fault we are getting attacked again. You know what, give it up already. Who is the one who couldn't be bothered to interrupt his vacation to look into our newest attack. Who is the one trying them in our courts instead of a military court? Letting them protest against us? Who is more interested in adding to the democrats slush fund then protecting the country? This is his watch, his problem. Deal with it. You said you could do the job when they put you in office, prove it. Bush isn't in office anymore and you can't keep blaming other people.

I don't care what anyone says, Bush would have handled this the way it should be handled. And I sure felt safer from terrorist attack then. This is just a disaster the way it is going now.

The stimulus money is all being stockpiled for the Dem's to use come next election time, if we are all standing that is. All they care about is getting more and more and more money out of us. They are cutting social security, cutting medicare, cutting everything. Hiding money in invisible districts ready to pop up and be put to use next election. Just you wait. Whether you vote for them or not you will be paying for their run for office.

So as usual that is my rant for today, have to have something to heat me up, might as well be my temper. Now I am going to list some items on the new site I heard about that lets you sell for free. And they don't allow adult themes so it is family orientated. If it goes well I may try some of my photo note cards on it. Can't hurt. If I only wasn't so chicken to go out in the cold and get some shots.

I hear Florida's animals are really suffering in this cold also. All over the world right now people are cold and shivering almost. So here's to warm sunny days and melting snows. Slowly so we don't flood again. And here's to a new government. One that does what they are suppose to do, not rob us blind. Stay warm all.