Tie Dye Snowman

My friend Sharon, who lives in Bismarck, sent me this photo of her kids. North Dakota got hit by a blizzard last week. After it was over they made a "tie dye" snowman. I thought it was really cute.

Naughty Girl

While we are on the subject of dogs I thought I would share this photo that my friend Beth sent me today of her dog Lily. They call Lily their "little flower". In this photo, however the caption was "little monster". Lily shredded an entire box of kleenex in the back of their car while she was being watched by her human dad.

Pup Step

Daisy has an injury to her right rear leg. I'm not going to go into any detail because at this point it is all speculation and even our vet is puzzled. All that I can tell you is that she is running a temperature and having bouts of pain with certain movements. With that being said the vet told us to limit her activity - especially jumping. We bought her a "Pup Step" to help her get onto the bed. This is one pampered pooch as most of you already know. It was like comedy central around here last night with us training her to use the steps. She got the hang of it by bedtime though. She's still not feeling well today and we go back to the vet next week so I will keep everyone posted.

Awesome Artwork

My friend Becky painted these awesome works of art based on photographs that Andrew and I took. The rabbit is my fawn buck Evan Almighty (who is a real sweetie) and the landscape is a likeness of their field.

Cardy in the Kitchen

I was asked to photograph Cardy for the cover of an Otterbein cookbook. My two co-workers, Kathy (keeper of Cardy) and Julie (campus center liaison and Cardy for the day) agreed to help me out with this task and we all ended up having fun in the process!

Vintage Bichon

We went to the antique show today. They have it once a month Nov.-May at the fairgrounds. Sure beats sitting inside on a crappy day. My big find of the day was this vintage dog pin that I think looks just like Daisy. I had to have it. It cost me a whopping two bucks!

A Hat from the Wool from Wales

A little over a year ago my friend went to Wales and brought me some rare breed sheep wool. I made her a scarf out of it. Now here's the hat to match.

Homemade Coconut Cake with Raspberry Filling

My cousin made one of these cakes yesterday and it looked so good I had to make one for us. It was delicious.

A Soup Kind of a Day

My friend made this soup and brought me a bowl for lunch one day last week. It was so good I made a pot for us today. It is chocked full of all kinds of things that are good for you. It's bone chilling cold outside from all the rain and soup just sounded good.

Slow Cook Tuscan Sausage and Bean Soup
12 ounce turkey kielbasa, cut into 1/4 inch thick rounds
2 gloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1 celery stock, chopped
1/2 medium bunch kale, chopped (about 4 cups)
3 cups fat-free low sodium chicken broth
1 (15.5 ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15.5 ounce) can great Northern beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian seasoned diced tomatos
1/2 cups dry wine or water
1 teaspoon dried basil

Put all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Yummy!

Winter at Darby

Andrew and his colleague had some work conducting a forest inventory to do yesterday with the US Forest Service at Big Darby . They also took some time to do some photography and a quick fish sampling. In the winter it is just beautiful out there. No wonder it has been designated as a national and state scenic river which is home to 86 species of fish-five of them endangered.


Big Darby in it's winter splendor.Andrew doing photography at the creek.

Mac with the seine counting fish.

A banded darter. (It was released unharmed).

A winter stone fly larva on the ice.

Split gill fungus.

A "spirit" tree.

Remembering Doodle

Andrew brought Doodle home for me in the spring of 2000. Someone dumped her at Blendon Woods Metro Park. At the time we had a standard Rex called Funny Bunny. Andrew added on to the hutch to allow for another and Doodle took up residence. The two of them had a divided rabbit run in the back yard and on summer days we would sit in the yard with a cold beverage and a book and the rabbits would happily run about in their pens. After Funny Bunny died and before Doppler came along we would bring Doodle in the house in the evenings. She would jump up onto the couch on her own accord and watch tv with us. When Daisy arrived on the scene in 2001 Doodle made sure she knew who was boss. We've had a couple other rescue rabbits over the years and now the angoras. Personality wise no one compares to Doodle. She was one of a kind. Once I took her to the photo studio in the mall for Easter pictures. On the way out to the mall Doodle sat in the passenger seat next to me. On the way home she stood up on the seat and put her paws on the window in order to look out. There were several surprised drivers (besides myself) that night on I-270. I went out to fill water bowls this morning and upon entering the rabbitry saw that Doodle was laying on her side. I called her name and she raised her head a tiny bit. I could she that she was ailing; for the past few weeks her appetite has declined and I knew she was getting near the end. I gathered her up and brought her into the house. She died in my arms shortly thereafter. I like to think she was waiting until I arrived so she could say goodbye. She had carrots for dinner last night and seemed fine. I think she had a stroke. Andrew and I buried her this evening under the white lilac bush that we planted this past May for our anniversary.

Relaxing in the yard (spring 2000)
Daisy (12 weeks old) and Doodle get to know each other (spring 2001)

Elisha and Doodle

Watcha doin?

Doodle and Greyson pose for Easter pictures (spring 2005)

Summer 2009

December 16, 2009

Expensive Toys

Just back from The Dispatch RV Show. We go every year. It's fun to look at the "toys". Found a couple campers that we liked and some trucks too.

Here's our friend Kirk next to the trailer we liked.
Here we are in a Jayco that we liked better and it has lots of room...

Brother Bob and Andrew are checking out a "toy hauler"...

We all drooled over this F 450 Ford pickup truck

and this custom chopper...

...and Bob tried the Smart car on for size. He's about 6'3".

Snowflakes III

We are having too much fun with this. We need more time to play outside!!

Lots o Snow

Here's a few photos I just took of the snow that is presently coming down at a fast rate. At the moment I can't see the road that goes to the building. These are from the balcony door that g into the side of our offices. Our building was built in the 70's during the energy crunch and thus there in only one set of windows in the second floor overlooking the football field and none in the office suite.

Snowflakes II

It's a winter wonderland outside. Why couldn't we have had this last week during Christmas break? Here's a few more snowflakes. Isn't it amazing how different they are?

The Winter Woods

Everyone is out and about when the sun is shining. It's neat to walk in the woods during the winter because you can see where all the critters have been. Everything looks pretty with a coat of ice or snow on it too. This is the trail for the hikers.

This is the trail made by a pair of foxes.

These are arrow wood viburnum berries.

The frozen creek with the sunset reflected.Tracks made by Millie muskrat. The conecting lines are from her tail dragging.

Squirrel tracks....

...and Mr. Robin with his plumage puffed up for warmth.