Took a horse drawn carriage ride on Sunday with some Belgians...this is Frank and Rusty
Hanging in there part 5
So pretty!
DS es stayed up, and got us up for the eclipse. Brr so cold. but we had a good view. I used binoculars to help. I liked how the moon appeared like a ball while in shadow, unlike the flat look that you normally see. This morning I am feeling the effects of being up in the middle of the night-- ho hum.
Chris, second that, enjoy your party and am wishing for good results.
Chris you are right Clydesdales are huge. When I was a 4H leader one of my 4H kids had one. I got to ride it when I did her barn check. I climbed up the corral fence so I could get on. LOL We also did a trip to a Percheron Farm I think if I would have had the space for a draft horse a Percheron would have been my first choice. I just love this old pic of JR.
Billyporter I agree I would highly doubt the Amish would put wreaths on their personal carriages maybe on carriages they use in a commercial area for giving carriage rides but even that I'm not sure about.
Wow cute picture! How the horses are posed perfectly symmetrical..You must have asked nicely LOL. They must be like sitting on a sofa.
20°with a high of 21°
Through 11am: Mostly cloudy with temperatures steady in the mid teens.
Snow flurries around this morning. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Dyson Dark
FlowAjen, such fun! I love how the horses names are the same as around here. ''Dick'' and ''Dan'' amuse me because my cousins are named that.
Anne, we couldn't see the eclipse. Too coudy :o(
I'll never get to see another, so treasure your memory.
Holly I never thought about a business buggy. You may be right :o)
The picture is absolutely adorable. My favorite little boy pose, with hands on hips. They are perfect at that age!
I love the head dress on the horses too.
We have a wonderful 6'' of snow and went out before daybreak yesterday and hand scooped the driveway and paths around the house. DH had everything scooped two or three times as it fell. We just needed to get the last few inches off.
Then we took a country ride and I tried to get a few pictures. It was almost too cloudy/dark. I'll need to brighten some of them up.
The tree comes down today as there are a few needles falling every day. With the fires being reported here and there, I'm being safe. We'll tie it outside and I'll enjoy it till spring.
I'm still behind on all my threads here.
Merry Christmas Chris, I hope you enjoyed your party.
Yes Jen, there was an eclipse. I got up and watched the whole thing. My pictures didn't come out very good, even though they looked OK on the LCD. I think part of the problem was the wind. Next time I'll set it up in the yard with a weight on the tripod. We had an excellent view till near the end when clouds blew through. We not too cold, part way through we hopped into the hot tub and watched from there. LOL
We had a great Christmas at Josh's house, little Lucas and his dad didn't make it. Lucas had some kind of bug on Christmas Eve and was up all night so Matt kept him home to rest.
No s#%@ yet, but they say it's coming. Ric.
We had a good time at the party, didn't stay late and it was on the quiet side, not like other years. I guess we are all getting older and the economy has hit the practice hard, so we did not even open up our bonus envelopes till we got home. I have not seen the bonus this low since I started working there. We are all hoping things pick up in 2011.
I found a free game on the Internet and I've been addicted to it. You take the part of a wizard student, go on quests, play games to build up you strength and cast magic spells.
I guess my tests came back ok, they are just concerned about my potassium level being low. I had 2 calls from the nurses last week, the one did not know the other called. Both calls were that moment of "now what?" as I beleive in the old "no news is good news" thing.
We got a light covering of snow last night, some areas got more then us but I don't mind. Didn't have to go anywhere today.
Yup ecomnomic things are pretty discourageing still in general. and it hits all areas as you are seeing. People put off on non essentials.
Sorry you had to get that now what feeling
I also played a few online gmaes the other night, that I havne't done in ages. Mindless excitement.
We're getting light snow at the moment and likewise not planning to go anywhere : ^)
I have learned a lot about the Amish going on those bus trips to Holmes County the tour director is a retired school teacher and has made a lot of trips to Amish and has made friends with many of them and is comfortable in asking them questions. I guess that somethings that they are allowed to do is dictated by their Bishops in the area where they live. For instance, the Amish that live in Holmes county are permitted to ride bicycles, but in our area they are not allowed. Amish owned stores and business are allowed to have electric but not in their homes. And most of the horses they have for their buggies are race horses that didn't make the cut and are sold at auction. Young Amish single men have been known to have buggy races. The Amish form of drag racing.
I don't think that they decorate their buggies, they fought the yellow triangles and lights on their buggies till the state made it a law, for safety reasons.
Interesting, thanks: ^)
Holly/Ric, how wonderful to see the eclipse! I love the hot tub viewing, LOL!
Chris, I'm glad you had a nice party. I've been skimming thru posts trying to get caught up and haven't said a lot. I hope to get caught up everywhere today. That's too bad about the bonus check. Was it expected to be low? At least it wasn't taken entirely away.
For potassiom, drink two glasses of tomato juice daily if you like it. It's loaded with potassium. More than bananas and nuts. I got my tests back. I'm on the low side of potassium and high side of sodium. At least I know where I stand and can start eating sensibly again. At least after hearing both phone calls about the same thing you could breath a sigh of relief!
I play Jill's "Circle The Cat" and Solitare. I'm not very competative :o)
There are two Amish stores I go to. One is the ''Little Country Store,'' and Stringtown. There is also what I call a Scratch and Dent grocery store. None use electricity. I've never seen anyone on a bike, but I know the kids have peddle car toys.
I love the Country Store. They sell more goods and kids toys with just a few groceries. I bought canning supplies and large large bowls over there. Stringtown is a grocery store with repackaged good at a good price. I bought a lot of nuts over there.
You have to go early to the third. Things are bought out as soon as the tuck arrives. There are very good prices on dented boxes of cereals and cans. I was always careful of the cans and just took safer things.
Over the last few years we've had buggy accidents and it's a terrible thing to happen. I haven't been over to Kalona for a while and can't remember if I've seen the slow moving signs on any buggies.
Almost all are friendly and will wave or say hi. If we drive the countryside, we're careful not to raise a lot of dust as most have a daily hanging of laundry.
I am catching up on my housework and trying to catch up here and elsewhere, so I can devote some time to looking at the seed catalogs I already have. New tomato seed is a must. I have all the other seeds that I bought last year.
Yesterday we took the Christmas tree out and tied it in the garden. Cleaned up the needles and I just got started on the house. All of Christmas is packed away for next year. I'm dusted, and vacumed again for the third time. The carpet should be pretty clean by now! Plus DH shampooed it right before Christmas so we're good to go all winter.
It was nice outside, so I re-scooped paths wider too. Sure felt good to get moving again!
One of the nurseries I go to is Amish. The women and children do most if not all the work. They do not have lights, use and old punch key calculator only take cash or checks and most of the younger girls are working without shoes. The greenhouses are heated by steam. The Vet I use to use for my horses did a lot of work for the Amish farms and I remember talking to him one day and I said that they must take very good care of their horses they are working animals used for transportation and farm work. He said they are just like everyone else some are really nice good people and some aren't. You can't really paint them all with the same brush just like you can't paint any other group of people with the same brush.
The bonus were going down a bit every year sine we got into the economic slump, business cutting back employees and cutting benefits. So it was expected to be low, but I did not expected it that low, I felt bad for the younger girls that have children at home, but you can never count on a bonus check.
I have the potassium pills and have been drinking low sodium V8 juice, sometimes I forget to take the pills.
We have had buggie verses auto in our area too. They usually happen in the evening when it is starting to get dark. Another tid-bit of info: their Bishops are chosen by putting the names of those eligible for the position on pieces of paper stuck in the pages of the bible, they let the bible fall open and that name is the next Bishop.
I'm not competitive either but I like a good adventure, and the graphics are great, like being in another world.
My thoughts are starting to turn to spring gardening again, time to start working on my seed list. I'm not sure how many Early Girl tomato seeds I have left, might be time to order more.
A men...sister. LOL
Got three catalogs today! Territorial is the once that I will browse most excitedly of them.
Ladyg, My thoughts are turning to how soon can we get the GH up. LOL
Sally, I got a catalog the other day, too. Might have some time to peruse it.
Holly, I've been to ''that'' Amish nursery too. Actually the Amish horse is the most worked animal there is, and often worked to near death.
Chris, when you have a good job with people who are like family, you can understand the cut backs. It's sad, but at least no one is being let go.
I kind of like the Bishop method. Sometimes that's how I read the Bible. I want to see if I need a special passage.
Any Zen is a good Zen and if you're creative, all the better :o) My getting ''lost'' is doing jigsaw puzzles of country scenes.
I got Johnnies catalog yesterday, but things are sooo expensive! I order a lot from Pinetree Seeds. I like the smaller packets. Especially if I'm trying something for the first time.
I also have so many flowers seeds left over that I doubt I order anything again this year. I'm still needing to enlarge beds and transplant.
Today the weather is warming up and we start taking lights down outside. The inside is done except for my three old family lights in the windows. They stay till New Years.
I received 4 catalogs between Halloween and Christmas, T & M, Pinetree, Parks and Bluestone. They send them earlier every year. I have a lot of seeds in my stash also but there is always something new I want to try. I guess I have no control in that area.
We are to get a warm up too, it will be nice to get back to above freezing temps. We have enough snow on the ground to protect the plants from heaving out of the ground. There will be some plants that need to be pushed back in when spring comes but as long as the snow blankets them they are safe.
maybe we should buy new seeds using the Bishop method LOL
Good idea Sally, will that also take care of the shipping and handling charges LOL
haha, You made me chuckle !
ROTFL!!! I love it!
Chris, I get those four too and usually order from all of them. Yesterday I got Gurneys, Jung and Territorial.
My oldest Grandson is on his way to the hospitol for tubes in the ears and adenoids out. I've been waiting for this for a year. I wish Dr.s weren't so held back on decisions. He's been talking thru his nose and has had constant stuffy noses. Plus, he's been snoring for more than a year. Kids aren't supposed to snore!
We're out today to get Christmas lights down while we have a warm-up. Yesterday, I went to my elderly relatives and took her Christmas stuff down.
Well I broke down last night and ordered 3 Amaryllis bulbs from American Medows, after I checked their rating on DG . They were 50% off and if you ordered 2 you get the 3rd free, their choice of what they send you. I ordered Novella, which is a pink-white and Lemon Star, and yellow-white.
These are not cheap bulbs even with the discount so they should be a good size. I ordered some from Brent & Becky's last year but they are all sold out so no deals there.
I'm planing on bringing one of last years bulb up from the bastment today as it has had it's rest period. I guess I need a plant to fuss over now. LOL
Billy I hope your grandson gets better, hate to see a kid not feeling well. With the snoring he is probably not getting a good nights rest.
T & M sent another catalog today, something to look at while I'm eating my lunch.
Ladyg, Talk about Brent & Becky's, Last year Ric and I were headed to the beach and we took a different Route than we usually do. We were Zipping down the road and I saw a sign for Brent & Becky's, I had no idea where they were located.
Billy, I too hope your GS's operation goes well and takes care of his problems. Hope he is felling better soon, too.
So, Holly, did you stop?
No we traveling by and didn't stop and go back. I might try the next time I am going through there.
Hm yeah I should gte the lights too I guess.
need a plant to fuss over. I agree! Couple weeks ago, DH noticed that there were ants coming from my asparagus fern. I had to take the thing outside, rip off the cheap plastic pot, and made up a bucket of soap solution and soaked the whole root mass. Then drained it and left it in the bucket, in my laundry room. it has responded to this insult by sending out new growth ha ha ha. Tomorrow while its still sort of mild I have to pot that up. I love potting plants!!
And Joyannas Zombie amaryllis is in my room waiting for a signal to grow.
and wouldn't you know, the other day when I finally had a chance to take a good look at some plants, I see spider mites on the verge of overtaking them. GR. I KNEW I couldn't be lucky enough to have kept the mites out.
Chris, both amaryllis sound beautiful. I can't wait to see their choice. What color is in the basement?
Anne, you're tough on ants! Pretty cool that it's going to grow more fronds :o)
Grandson went thru surgery well and was home in a few hours. By evening he hadn't had any Tylenol, and by the next day, when we went out, was happy as can be. I look for much improvement! They'll check his hearing next week. He had so much fluid, his eardrum wasn't even moving.
Ladyg, I was thinking how this thread has turned into a general discussion thread with a lot of chat and how blessed we are to have you as a friend here chatting with us. May the New Year bring you as much joy as you bring to our lives.
Billy so glad the GS is though his surgery and bouncing back like only a child can.
billy-- the asparagus fern is my nemesis- ? just when I say I'm tired of it and it could croak, it goes and survives. Its a pretty plant but when mature they get STICKERS! I'll have to wrap the stems in a towel or something to get them out of the way. In the house for winter it drops lots of little needle like leaves. At least thye go in the vacuum easily.
Ditto to Holly ((Chris)) !
Sally--
I remember the Asparagus fFern I had eons ago.
I think it was one of my first houseplants..I think it lasted about 3 years,
in and out---in and out--as the years went by. The stickers are a bummer on this plant!
I even used to grow it from the seeds it made. When they are ripe--they are bright red
and the size of a lg. peppercorn. These come from the small blooms it makes.
If you try this--the first thing that comes from the seed is a single, skinny blade.
Then it branches out at the top with some nice, small fronds.
Plant a bunch of the seeds together--and you will have the beginnings of a new plant.
The Asparagus Fern along with Ivy and Spider Plants are available as "Accent Plants"
to be used on container plantings. Haven't seen the Asparagus F. in a long time---
Same as the Swedish Ivy, Prayer Plants, etc...Many that used to be comonly available--
you don't see them any more.
Gita
Billy, Here is a picture of the Amaryllis last April, the pink flower is a Bergmansia.
I am so glad your grandson is home and doing well. I bet he will be a different child now that all the fluid is gone, it must have been hard for him to hear.
Holly, that is so sweet. My plans are to stick around as long as I can. I believe in making plans for the days and weeks ahead, knowing things could change. But that is what living is all about, you never know what is around the corner.
I am feeling very good, the ribs are sore, but tolerable, I have a high threshold for pain. I know that they can radiate the area to relieve the discomfort but I want to try to stay away from that as long as I can. I don't want my lungs fried, and it is short treatments over a long period of time, so traveling every day for treatments would be really hard this time of the year with the weather. I see the Doctor in Jan. a week after I get scanned again. So I'll get news on how my inners are doing.
I am so lucky to have all of you at DG as friends. You have given me many laughs and smiles.
Everyone have a great New Year !
every laugh & smile is worth it... wishing everyone lots of hugs & kisses for the new year!!!!
My gym was so busy this AM that it went on a timed rotation. That was a first in my time there. There are a lot of gift sessions in play. That will thin out in about two weeks. There were over thirty cars in the parking lot with an overflow to the neighbors lot. Working off the holiday fats. LOL
Happy New Year.................keep it sane and safe tonight.
Doc, you don't have to worry about me. I'm usually in bed when the ball drops. Paul is planning to go on a ride along with the local police tonight. He may have some interesting stories to tell tomorrow.
The gym will probably be more busy with New Year Resolution folks, and many of those will go by the wayside after a week or two.
There are lots of one month gift certificates that for the most part get lost from their owners before the month passes. Then there are the mirror members. They did not like what they saw. They come in only to find out the walls are covered by huge mirrors kept sparkling clean. By the end of January there is lots of room for more new health club members. LOL
Doc, mirror members.... too funny.
I did stay up past 12 last night, watching Criminal Minds. It was funny as there was no big todo at midnight, no one shooting of guns or fireworks in the neighborhood. And the fire scanners were quite, usually eash department gets on a wishes a Happy New Year. I had to look at the clock to be sure 2011 was here.
I opened a bottle of wine and had a glass. I'll have a glass again tonight.
It is raining today, very dark and gloomly. Not many snow piles left. I did get outside yesterday and noticed a few crocus showing their green tips. They are tough little bulbs.
May 2011 bring good times to everyone.
Love, Chris
Happy New Year wishing you all Health, Wealth and Happiness in the new year.
doc,those mirrors!! Thats one thing I remembered disliking about going to the fitness place. Thye were designed back in the decades of huge bodybuilders that wanted to look at their muscles. DH an I went to the fitness place yesterday- the population is certianly not predominated by bodybuildrs like that but rather by People of a Certain Age who want ot keep moving, like all of us! And who like me probaly don't want the mental distraction of all the xtra visual stimuli.
Chris, in September I found a handful os little daffodil bulbs in an empty clay pot. with some roots starting. I pottd them and left them out. Now I have a little pot of green tips on my cool laundry room window. They'll be fun to watch and guess if theyll bloom or not.
Health Wealth and Happiness to all--by the way does anyone hee have a Lucky Bamboo they will photograph for me? I am doing an article. And Health waelth and happiness are some of the basic luck they are said to bring. I haven't founf any locally, they are pretty cold sensitive so the dollar stores aren't selling them. Well, I have not looked in a flower shop but I don't wan to buy a 25 $ arangement for a picture for an article. Hm, maybe an independant shop would let me take a picture.
Our Fitness Center has evolved to a nice balance of body builders and body condition maintainers. A large segment of the population is Speed and Agility Training for the younger sports training kids and gentle weight management and mobility training for the seniors. Our large mirrors reflect the natural light back through the gym as well as help all age groups and training purposes to observe proper form in body exercises and work. There is hardly any grunting and strutting of the body as was portrayed in the early weight lifting gyms. We have lots of room to work however we wish. The gym exceeds fifteen thousand square feet and includes an in house masseuse center with two well trained and experienced full time shop owners and a group of personal trainers for the gym numbering at least a dozen. A food management group is forming to assist those interested in serious weight loss.
I sold my personal interest in another club and joined this one feeling it was better for me.