I'm feeling a tad bit unwell, and won't be posting for awhile. It's nothing serious, so please don't worry.
Please know that I love you all and will miss you.
Hugs,
Laurie
Monday, July 30, 2007
A bit under the weather
I'm feeling a tad bit unwell, and won't be posting for awhile. It's nothing serious, so please don't worry.
Please know that I love you all and will miss you.
Hugs,
Laurie
Thursday, July 26, 2007
One Perfect Moment
Our county fair was last weekend. For months Cousin Kay had been planning to bring her nieces and nephew to town to go to the fair. My conservation district sponsors a booth every year and they were going to help us with it and then go to the carnival. They were going to stay at my house and hang out all weekend long. We were SO excited!
Then last week Kay's car broke down. It was a catastrophic failure and it would cost more to fix than the car was worth, so she decided to trade it in, take the loss and buy a different vehicle. The car she was buying had a couple of minor problems that the dealership promised to fix before Friday, so that she could have it in time for the trip.
When the mechanic started working on the car, he determined that the problem was more serious than he had originally diagnosed, and another part needed to be ordered. Kay and the kids were beyond distraught at the thought that they'd miss the big weekend, so I drove to Billings to pick them up. Rissa was so excited about the trip that she woke up at 5 am. By that afternoon, she was a very tired young lady!
Even though the temperature at the fair hovered around 108F, we had a blast! We worked the fair all day Saturday and went home for a barbecue.
I surprised Sadie with a late birthday party and afterwards we sat and relaxed in the living room.
My son had just called and I'd talked to my brother earlier in the day. Everyone was fine; in good spirits and good health. Kay was sitting on the couch, with Sadie and Eric on either side. Both kids had their heads on her shoulder and Rissa was napping on the chaise.
It was a beautiful scene; one I'll always remember. You know it. That perfect moment, when all's right with the world. Everyone is where they are supposed to be and the earth and stars are in perfect alignment. That's the feeling I had. And for once, I didn't jump up to take a picture, I just lived it. It felt good. I was content. Perfectly. Content.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
YOU could be the lucky winner of one of these fine prizes!
And the answer is...
We were out on an adventure; Dad, Mike, Shasta and I. Of course Shasta had to Nature Poo, so Mike, being the responsible pet owner he is, picked it up with a doodoo bag to dispose of. There were no trash facilities nearby so he tied a knot in the end of the bag and shut the trunk lid. I teased him mercilessly until he threatened to remove it and put it in the trunk for me to smell all the way home.
The X over the Bush/Cheney bumper sticker is my doing. Imagine that...
The X over the Bush/Cheney bumper sticker is my doing. Imagine that...
The first person to correctly guess not only what this is, but how it came to be where it came to be, will receive their choice of one of these fine prizes:
1. an all expense paid trip to beautiful eastern Montana or
2. a bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill wine.
C'mon folks, give it your best shot.
And for those of you who don't have anything to do tonight (no hair to wash, paint to watch dry, that kind of thing), feel free to click on this link to see what I was up to last weekend.
1. an all expense paid trip to beautiful eastern Montana or
2. a bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill wine.
C'mon folks, give it your best shot.
And for those of you who don't have anything to do tonight (no hair to wash, paint to watch dry, that kind of thing), feel free to click on this link to see what I was up to last weekend.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
A quarter of a century old today...
Wolf, my son and best friend in the universe was born on July 24, 1982 at 10:47 am. He arrived several weeks early, weighing nearly 6 pounds. He could hold his head up from the very start and he rarely cried. He was an even tempered, snuggly baby who was nearly always content and happy. He smiled at an early age and was talking in full sentences by the time he was a year old.
He could read long before he went to kindergarten and had (and still has) the best memory of anyone I know.
As a child he was kind to everyone, most especially animals. He saved birds that had fallen from their nests and took in every stray he could find. All of our pets had been rescued in one way or another and we always had a house full of critters. Fish, however, trembled at the sight of him.
He was usually very helpful around the house, although every time I'd ask him to clean his room he'd say "maybe amorrow". As you can see here, he was always a snappy dresser (I am in so much trouble for posting this photo--but it could be worse, Wolf, it could be the bathtub picture).
He volunteered during and after school and on weekends. He spent many an hour at the Beartooth Nature Center in Red Lodge, building and cleaning pens and doting on the animals. In his junior year a fire threatened the compound and he stayed there for several nights, making sure the animals were alright and preparing to transport them if the fire switched directions.
Wolf always loved the great outdoors. We camped and hiked throughout most of his formative years. Those were some of the best times of my life and I'd like to think some of the best of his youth as well. We'd gather up two or three of his friends and head to the mountains or the lake for days on end. No matter what time of year or how lousy the weather, if he wasn't in school and I wasn't at work, we were camping.
Fast forward many years. Wolf's father and I had long since divorced and he had remarried Kristine, a very nice woman who had a son from a previous marriage. Together they had one daughter, Abigail. After several years, Kristine became ill with cancer and after a time, passed on from the disease. Jess, her firstborn, went to live with his biological father in New York City but after a short time, it was obvious that Jess was miserably unhappy.
Wolf (then age 16) decided we should ask him to live with us, which we did. The two boys shared a room until we could find a bigger house to accommodate us. That Wolf would be so kind as to share all he had with someone less fortunate, is so like him.
Wolf's senior prom was a night to remember. His fondest wish was to have his 11 year old half sister there, so we drove to Gillette and picked her up. We bought her a beautiful dress and had her hair done. When Wolf was crowned Prom King, his first dance wasn't with the Queen, it was with his little sister. It was so beautiful that nearly everyone in the room cried. I wish I had that picture, but it's at my dad's house. The photo above is her senior picture.
When Dale was in the hospital, Wolf spent countless hours visiting with him, picking up things that he needed, comforting him when he was nervous and entertaining him when he was bored and frustrated. Despite his intense dislike of hospitals and all things medical, he put someone else's needs ahead of his own. How like him to do that. When Dale needed him most, he was there for him. When Dale passed on it was Wolf that went to the hospital to collect his things so that Cousin Dan didn't have to make arrangements to have them sent home.
I could go on and on and on about what a wonderful person my son is (oh wait, I have), but I don't want to lose my audience (all two of you). Ha! Suffice it to say, my son is a big sweetie and I am very proud of him. He's the best person I know and I'm a better person for knowing him.
He could read long before he went to kindergarten and had (and still has) the best memory of anyone I know.
As a child he was kind to everyone, most especially animals. He saved birds that had fallen from their nests and took in every stray he could find. All of our pets had been rescued in one way or another and we always had a house full of critters. Fish, however, trembled at the sight of him.
He was usually very helpful around the house, although every time I'd ask him to clean his room he'd say "maybe amorrow". As you can see here, he was always a snappy dresser (I am in so much trouble for posting this photo--but it could be worse, Wolf, it could be the bathtub picture).
He volunteered during and after school and on weekends. He spent many an hour at the Beartooth Nature Center in Red Lodge, building and cleaning pens and doting on the animals. In his junior year a fire threatened the compound and he stayed there for several nights, making sure the animals were alright and preparing to transport them if the fire switched directions.
Wolf always loved the great outdoors. We camped and hiked throughout most of his formative years. Those were some of the best times of my life and I'd like to think some of the best of his youth as well. We'd gather up two or three of his friends and head to the mountains or the lake for days on end. No matter what time of year or how lousy the weather, if he wasn't in school and I wasn't at work, we were camping.
Fast forward many years. Wolf's father and I had long since divorced and he had remarried Kristine, a very nice woman who had a son from a previous marriage. Together they had one daughter, Abigail. After several years, Kristine became ill with cancer and after a time, passed on from the disease. Jess, her firstborn, went to live with his biological father in New York City but after a short time, it was obvious that Jess was miserably unhappy.
Wolf (then age 16) decided we should ask him to live with us, which we did. The two boys shared a room until we could find a bigger house to accommodate us. That Wolf would be so kind as to share all he had with someone less fortunate, is so like him.
Wolf's senior prom was a night to remember. His fondest wish was to have his 11 year old half sister there, so we drove to Gillette and picked her up. We bought her a beautiful dress and had her hair done. When Wolf was crowned Prom King, his first dance wasn't with the Queen, it was with his little sister. It was so beautiful that nearly everyone in the room cried. I wish I had that picture, but it's at my dad's house. The photo above is her senior picture.
When Dale was in the hospital, Wolf spent countless hours visiting with him, picking up things that he needed, comforting him when he was nervous and entertaining him when he was bored and frustrated. Despite his intense dislike of hospitals and all things medical, he put someone else's needs ahead of his own. How like him to do that. When Dale needed him most, he was there for him. When Dale passed on it was Wolf that went to the hospital to collect his things so that Cousin Dan didn't have to make arrangements to have them sent home.
I could go on and on and on about what a wonderful person my son is (oh wait, I have), but I don't want to lose my audience (all two of you). Ha! Suffice it to say, my son is a big sweetie and I am very proud of him. He's the best person I know and I'm a better person for knowing him.
I love you son. Happy 25th Birthday!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Shoe Fetishists
The fair is finally over and I'm
Why are cats so fascinated with footwear?
too tired to think...
too pooped to party...
but even I'm not exhausted enough to sleep next to (let alone on) Cousin Eric's shoes!
too pooped to party...
but even I'm not exhausted enough to sleep next to (let alone on) Cousin Eric's shoes!
Why are cats so fascinated with footwear?I'll write a post about our county fair soon. Right now I'm going to put my feet up and read a good book or fall asleep trying.
Hugs,
Laurie
Hugs,
Laurie
Friday, July 20, 2007
If it's over 100 degrees every day, it must be fair week...
Forsyth, MT Detailed Local Forecast
- Today: Mostly sunny. A stray afternoon or evening thunderstorm is possible. High near 100F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
- Tonight: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
- Tomorrow: Generally sunny. Very hot. High 103F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
- Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies early will give way to clearing overnight. Low 67F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
- Sunday: Plenty of sun. Highs 103 to 107F and lows in the upper 60s.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Too tired to write a post, but I can cut and paste...
This is especially for Cathy, who is allergic to cats, and for Carol who is currently catless...
This is not my cat...
How to tell if your feet stink...
This is not my cat...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Now where'd I put the number for the H.P. help desk?
This is why I don't get quite as much done when I work at home as I do when I work at the office.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Feelin' a little sheepish...
...about not posting anything, so here's a photo of a sheepherder's wagon I took on Grove Creek near Absarokee, MT.
Day one of the 7 day, too many hours per day to count marathon, is over. Only six more to go.
Wish me luck.
Day one of the 7 day, too many hours per day to count marathon, is over. Only six more to go.
Wish me luck.
Friday, July 13, 2007
See how lazy I am?
I am so lazy that I cut and pasted this from an email (and I can't seem to make the font all the same and I'm too tired to play with it anymore), but I think the message is absolutely beautiful.
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying life.
The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about
300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki
River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore
when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on
December 26, be fore wildlife rangers rescued him.
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying life.
NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami
waves on the Kenyan coast has formeda strongbond
with a giant male century-old tortoise in an animal
facility in the port city of Mombassa , officials said. waves on the Kenyan coast has formeda strongbond
with a giant male century-old tortoise in an animal
The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about
300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki
River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore
when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on
December 26, be fore wildlife rangers rescued him.
"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a
male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to
be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu,
who is in charge of Lafarge Park , told AFP.
"After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized.
It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother.
Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond.
They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.
"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it followed its mother.
If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive,
as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.
"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and
by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their
mothers for four year s," he explained.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."
This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter
much when we need the comfort of another.
We could all learn a lesson from these two creatures of God,
"Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together."
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Bee-cause...
Bee-cause I'm brain dead from working too much...
Bee-cause I've got to work 7 long days in a row next week...
Bee-cause I'm sunburned and tired...
All you get is this.
Bee-cause I've got to work 7 long days in a row next week...
Bee-cause I'm sunburned and tired...
All you get is this.
And yes, I do know it isn't a bee, it's a Yellow Jacket, but I'm tired, so cut me some slack, OK?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Cruel Shoes
Because my son might have mentioned that these shoes aren't very attractive or trendy (I think the words "ugliest shoes I've ever seen" might have been mentioned)...
I present to you these "keen" shoes.
They might not be very attractive, but they ARE trendy (and waterproof)! And speaking of unattractive, get a load of that left ankle...I twisted it on my walk today. It is just now starting to turn purple. Ain't it purdy?
Don't forget to check out the music video on my sidebar. You won't be disappointed!
I present to you these "keen" shoes.
They might not be very attractive, but they ARE trendy (and waterproof)! And speaking of unattractive, get a load of that left ankle...I twisted it on my walk today. It is just now starting to turn purple. Ain't it purdy?
Don't forget to check out the music video on my sidebar. You won't be disappointed!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Someone in Saskatchewan Reads my Blog...a lot!
I rarely look at my stat counter, but decided to today. Imagine my surprise when I saw this:
71-17-52-204.msjw.hsdb.sasknet.sk.ca
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Friday, July 06, 2007
A most splendid weekend in the making...
Being the lucky girl that I am, I get to spend the weekend with most of my favorite people in the world. We are all gathering at my daddy's house to spend some time together.
My dad and brother, pictured above on one of our infamous Buck Creek walks, will of course be there.
Cousin Kay and Sadie Rose will be there as well. Luke won't be able to come because the heat bothers him so and it is supposed to be over 100 F this weekend.
Big,strong, handsome Eric will be there too. He has the most amazing sense of humor and is kind hearted and full of love.
Rissa, family beauty and socker-star is coming too! I can't wait to spend time with her. She's a love-bug.
Of course there are family members I wish could attend, but for various reasons cannot. My son is in Colorado, Cousin Sharon can't attend for health reasons, and of course my mom and Dale won't be there physically, but I know they will be there in spirit.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope you are surrounded by the people you love. Because in the end, it really is love that makes the world go round.
I'll tell you all about the weekend soon. There WILL be pictures.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
I am so loved...
I am the luckiest person on earth. I truly mean that. I have wonderful friends who love and support me. They love me for who I am, not what they think I should be. They love me unconditionally and there is nothing more wonderful than that, in my opinion. How did I get so lucky?
Bobbi, my dear friend and co-worker, who despite being several decades younger than me, treats me like a sister. She's kind and loving and one h*ll of a good friend. (She's single, just for the record...oh wait, never mind...so not a good idea there, forget I said anything--she'd kick my bum for even suggesting it)
Danae, Christine and Michelle are a mix of co-workers and friends and always there when I need them to help out. Here they are working at our fair booth last year. (Please don't club me to death, Danae)
And there's Larry, this is what we did to him last year when he went on vacation. ---->
Carol and Kelly are also dear friends of mine. Aren't they beautiful?
Then there's Ron, my dear friend and roommate. He's got a heart of gold and the man can even cook!
There are several other people I consider my dear friends, bloggers included, and then of course there are family members who I consider my closest of close friends, but this list will have to suffice for today. Blogger is giving me fits with the formatting and I want to get out and enjoy the day.
Thank you, dear friends, I'd be totally lost without you.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Hot in the city...
My fishing plans didn't work out, so it looks like I'll be here in sunny Forsyth for a few more days. I've been invited to go camping this weekend with a bunch of my friends, though...so life is good!
Happy 4th of July, everyone. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Much love to you,
Laurie
Happy 4th of July, everyone. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Much love to you,
Laurie
Monday, July 02, 2007
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