Dog Days

I’ve been in sort of a melancholy mood. My get up and go has got up and went, if you know what I mean.

I can’t quite put my finger on what is wrong. Is it the weather? Is it my Lupus? Is it old age – no wait it can’t be that! I’m still young. Is it the end of summer blues? Heck, who knows. I just know I’ve not been myself lately.

There is one reason why I’m in a stewing, not so great, mood, but I’m not able to put that into words yet. I’m still sorting through it in my own mind. If I would put my feelings in words right now, I would come across as a very selfish, uncaring person. And I’m really not that way. I promise – I’m not selfish or uncaring. So, that post will wait until I come to terms with how things are. (Got ya wondering now, don’t I….)

Another creature who is not at all himself is my little Chihuahua, Whiskey. Whiskey is a very aggressive little demon. I finally gave up buying him toys because he becomes very possessive of them and then proceeds to tear them up within days. I swear he has shark teeth.

I relented last week, though. I happened on to this cute little giraffe toy and bought it. So what if it is a few dollars down the drain. Right? Imagine my surprise when Whiskey took to that toy like no other – in a good way! He sleeps with it. He carries it with him when he comes snuggle with us on the couch. He hasn’t made a single move towards ripping its head off yet. And to top that off – he shares it! I can take giraffey toy from him and smooch on it and then hand it back and he is ok with it! What’s up with that! This demon dog has taken my head off for much less transgressions.

And he posed with it for me. Whiskey is a quite the camera hound. He loves to get his picture taken. So, here he is – demon dog and toy.

Historic Treasures

Historic Treasure One.  Good friends. 

I met “Snowman” Dennis in chat quite a few years ago.  We quickly became friends, both online and in “real” life.  So that makes his and his wife’s friendship historic. Right?  And they are definitely a treasure.

Dennis and Kris live in Wisconsin (Ya!) and we live in Missouri.  We’ve visited each other’s homes quite a few times.  This time we decided to try something different and meet each other halfway.  So we met at the Amana Colonies in Iowa.

Historic Treasure Two.  Amana Colonies

The Amana Colonies are a National Historic Landmark and one of the America’s longest-lived communal societies with its history beginning in 1855.  The residents were fleeing Germany from persecution and poverty when they came to the states.  Their communal life where everyone had a role to play and no wages were earned was one of simplicity and humility and worship.  This way of life ended in 1932 during the Great Depression.

General Store

Today The Colonies are a national treasure with the buildings restored to their 1800’s simplicity.  We were constantly grinning at the friendliness of the many shop keepers.  Yea, that’s right.  The colonies are now a tourist trap made up of shops and restaurants. 

 

I didn’t buy anything Jim – really I didn’t!

Lilly Tomlin, eat your heart out.

We were able to step back in time mentally as we’d walk past the simple buildings or the many old barns.

These historic old barns are so cool.  I can just imagine what they were like when these were working farms

Trellises are anchored to almost all of the buildings for grapes to grow on.  Sometimes there is a cut out area for the windows and sometimes not.  I’d need the cut out myself.

Historic Treasure Three.  The weather. (ok not much historic about weather, but it was definitely a treasure)

Small vineyards were sprinkled in and amongst the buildings.

Clear skies – gorgeous weather!

We couldn’t have placed a special order for better weather!  The evenings actually dipped into the 40’s.  During the day it was nice and warm in the sun and a little cool in the shade. 

Everywhere we looked we saw sunflowers, coneflowers, and grape vines.

It was fun laughing, eating, shopping, drinking, laughing, shopping, drinking, eating, eating, shopping…  with Dennis and Kris.  We always laugh until our belly hurts when we are with them. 

Did I mention that we ate a lot of food?  The restaurants served German food family style.  Lots and lots of potatoes (usually fried) sauerkraut, pancakes, fried catfish (whole, not filleted), pork, German chocolate cake, cheese cake… Oh my poor diet!

There were quite a few wineries.  But I’ll have to say the wines are just “ok”.  They were mostly very sweet with a twang of some kind that we couldn’t quite place. So why in the world do we have so many bottles of wine!  I have this thing that when I go into a place to taste wine, I feel guilty if I don’t buy. 

        

Lilly Lake.  I like how the clouds intermingle with the lilies.

We enjoyed the trip – but it is definitely good to be back home!

The law of the garbage truck

I’m going to be away for a few days and wanted to leave this with you while I’m gone.

By Anzelle En Juan Bezuidenhout

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us..

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.

As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

so...Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

My Missouri – KATY Trail

One of our favorite things to do is walk or ride bicycles on the Katy trail. 

According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources :

Katy Trail State Park is built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad (better known as the Katy). When the railroad decided to cease operation on its route from Machens in St. Charles County to Sedalia in Pettis County in 1986, it presented the chance to create an extraordinary recreational opportunity -- a long-distance hiking and bicycling trail that would run almost 200 miles across the state.

What they don’t mention is that all those many years ago when the land was taken from the farmers and landowners to operate the railroad, the agreement was that if the railroad ever ceased operation, the land would revert back to the landowners. 

 

The scenery along the  trail is beautiful.  This shot happens to be of Cedar Creek.

Many landowners were VERY upset when they heard a trail extending from East to West was in the works.  I remember vividly seeing farmers parking farm implements on the trail area so it could not be developed.  There were protests, town hall meetings, the works.  In the end the government got its way (doesn’t it usually always) and the trail was built. 

Twenty three years later hiking/biking on the KATY trail is a very popular recreational activity for individuals from all over the nation.  Small communities along the trail have capitalized on the traffic with rest stops, restaurants, stores, camping areas, hostels, and bed and breakfasts.  Many start out in Sedalia in the West and days later take out in St. Charles (home of Missouri’s very first State Capital) in the East.

We have met some real interesting people on the trail – often from states far and wide.  I just shake my head in amazement.

        All along the way are old railroad trestles

The area we bike is from the Jefferson City trailhead towards Hartsburg.  At one time we biked the 10 miles to Hartsburg without a thought.  Not so much anymore… but our goal is to once again bike to Hartsburg and then, of course, back home again.  (We always have to remind ourselves that however far we go in one direction, we have to make it that far in reverse)

The trail winds in and out of the Missouri River, creeks and farmlands just like the railroad did.

And as you can see, the bike doesn’t have to be fancy to be fun.  Ours are cheap, end of the season, WalMart models.  I do envy some of the contraptions I see pass us by, though…

Salsa, brownies and tunes. MmMm good!

Julie and two of her boys came over on Saturday to make Salsa since everyone has had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year.  But first we had to make brownies to sustain us through all the hard work ahead of us.

These two are a handful!  Look at them!  Silly me, I thought you were supposed to bake brownies before you ate them. 

  Dakota was sure to get every last bit out of the bowl.  Both boys were determined that I not put too much in the cake pan for baking. 

A face that only a grandma could love :)

We use a Sauce Master Food Strainer with a salsa screen on it.  The good stuff slides down the little shoot on the side and the peelings pop out the front.  It is pretty ingenious and works great.  My job was to quarter the tomatoes, Austin had the messy job of putting them into the white funnel.  Julie proved herself quite capable of pushing the tomatoes into the grinder.  Dakota was the muscles of the operation.  He had to turn the crank.

Who could have known making salsa took such concentration? 

To top the day off, Austin serenaded us.  The accordion he is playing was one I had when I was a child in the 50’s.  Cool, huh.

You can run, but you can't hide...

I received the following from my dad's insurance company today. Now mind you, I sent them notification of his death along with the death certificate months ago to cancel his policy.

Dear Mr:

We have received notice that your premium was returned by the bank for the following reason: Deceased. Therefore, your policy has been removed from bank withdrawal and placed on direct bill.

Should I respond back and asked them where exactly they plan on sending that bill - that I'd like to post a letter or two?

You’re a Gem Award

Thank you, Iggy, for this award. You are a Gem.

I hereby award "You Are A Gem" to the following people that were obviously inspired when they wrote the entry for which I've linked...I hope you will find them well worth the read.

Jeannie - from Jeannie's Happy World is always a fun read. We often see the fabulous cards she makes, or her precocious, adorable daughter, Bella. Her husband, Thomas, is also often proudly featured. Jeannie is a very caring person. She often joins in causes for those in need. And she LOVES her country and don’t you DARE put it down. That is the post I linked to because I LOVE my country too. God Bless America! And check out Jeannie (although I’m pretty sure everyone who reads my blog already does).

Intenseguy - I have to link right back to the person who gave me this award. He is inspiring. He is funny. He opens his soul to us. He opens the world to us with history lessons. He cares with great intensity. I have shed many tear while reading his blog – some from laughing so hard I cry, and others from emotions I didn’t know existed. And I have been sent googling many times because my knowledge is so limited! Intenseguy's “When Friends Struggle” post meant a lot to me. I’ve gone back and read it quite a few times. (And here I keep backspacing because I’m trying to tell you what it is about and can’t find the right words – it is about so much!) But the bottom line is he is here for us, his friends, no matter what.

Ladystyx - I tag Ladystyx's 2 Cents from a Chaotic Mind. I never know what I’m going to find in Styxie’s blog. Whatever it is, it is always interesting. Recently she started a What You Saw/What I Saw posting of clouds. I’ll bet each and everyone of us has played and still play the game of seeing pictures in the clouds. I think her idea to make a blog game out of it is a stroke of genius. And to top it all off when she posts the What I Saw entry, she includes a picture from everyday life showing it. My hat is off to you Styxie (oh wait, I don’t have a hat on…)

In My Mind It’s Always Funny – I’ve just recently started following In My Mind It's Always Funny and always come away grinning. Through the ramblings of everyday life she touches on her own very real problems but always throws in a sprinkle ton of humor. I don’t really have a favorite post of hers, so I just linked to today’s post and hope you enjoy it.

There are many other blogs I enjoy and that have special posts, so to pick a few, I had to just close my eyes and then go after the first posts that came to mind.

I hope those I tagged (except Iggy, he already did this) will tag others, because I’m looking forward to checking out your favorite posts!