Chillin'

We are joining Ruckus and Barking from the Bayou for the Thoughtless Thursday Blog Hop!

Thoughtless Thursday: Changing of the Guard

We are joining the Thoughtless Thursday Blog Hop with Ruckus the Eskie, Love is being owned by a Husky and Barking from the Bayou.

Laughter Is Timeless...

Laughter is timeless...

Imagination has no age...

And Dreams Are Forever.

Walt Disney

 

It Is Just a Dog...

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand
phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust,
and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away
from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog",
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog"
just smile...
because they "just don't understand."

by Richard Biby

Tulsa, Oklahoma
Contributing Editor VHD 

I am joining the Thoughtless Thursday BlogHop with Ruckus, MKClinton, and Love is Being Owned by a Husky

 

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/02/thoughtless-thursday-110-panda-express.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:#sthash.n4qF7OoU.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/02/thoughtless-thursday-110-panda-express.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:#sthash.n4qF7OoU.dpuf

The Winter Project: Complete!!

Each year, Ben decides on some type of woodworking project to keep himself occupied during the winter months.  In the fall, we had found an interesting looking table in a magazine and I suggested he try to make it.  So, he went out and purchased the wood with no problem as we have a couple of places right near us that supply many different types of wood and he new exactly what kind he was looking for.  

As you can see, the girls were a big help in assisting me with photographing!

The top of the table is made out of Butternut wood.  I had never heard of this type of wood before...so here is a bit of background information about it:  

Butternut (Juglans cinerea), also known as white walnut and oil nut, grows in a northern range from southern New Brunswick in Canada to the North Carolina mountains and west to eastern Minnesota. The tree never appears in stands, but occurs sparsely in rich, moist bottomland soils. A medium-sized tree, butternut generally grows 30-50' in height and to a trunk diameter of 1-3'. But in prime forest conditions, it can reach 80-100' and diameters of 4', For instance, the largest butternut on the Na tional Register of Big Trees stands 88' tall. At a distant glance, butternut resembles black walnut in shape, although it never grows as tall and tends to spread more. And the bark has a gray color instead of the dark brown of black walnut. The alternate, frondlike leaves are 15-30" long and have as many as 17 pointed leaflets, that on the underside, are sticky to the touch. Butternut trees produce oblong nuts with thick, leathery husks and sweet, oily kernels that squirrels love. The nuts drop simultaneously with the leaves in the the fall. Butternut's coarse, straight grained wood features a light tan color and a beautiful luster. At 27 pounds per cubic foot air-dried, butternut weighs less than black walnut. It's also softer, less durable, and not as strong. In stability, the two are equal.  (source:  google)

The legs of the table are made out of Oak.  The most difficult piece of this project was finding the glass!  We needed a particular kind of glass because we wanted it to be blue in color and the glass needed to be cut in a unique pattern to match the woodgrain...resembling water.  We were able to locate a glass cutter not too far away and he followed the pattern Ben made him perfectly.  We are very happy with the way that the table turned out.  The color of the glass is called Caribbean Blue and it is the exact color to match the cottage.  This table will be the new coffee table at the cottage.

When I relocate in a couple of months to the cottage...I will show some photos of how it looks there!

The table in the magazine was selling for $4000.  Ben was able to make it for about $300...not including the labor of course!  Now I just have to find something else to keep in occupied for the rest of the winter!  

Not Your Typical February!

 

We are joining Ruckus the Eskie, Barking on the Bayou, and Owned by a Husky for the Thoughtless Thursday Blog Hop! 

We are experiencing the strangest weather this year!!  Normally, we are buried for the entire month of February under a blanket of snow...usually a very thick blanket of snow!  The temps are usually in the teens or below zero...at least sometimes!!

Not this year, it was 60 degrees yesterday!  We didn't even have to wear a coat outside...

This is REALLY strange...

Can't help but wonder if we will PAY for this later??

We Knew It Was Going to Happen...

And it did!

SNOW!!  

Not very much.  This...we can deal with!

 

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/01/thoughtless-thursday-104-starting-on.html#sthash.hn4OrW4h.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/01/thoughtless-thursday-104-starting-on.html#sthash.hn4OrW4h.dpuf

We are joining Ruckus the Eskie for the Thoughtless Thursday Blog Hop co-hosted by Love Is Being Owned by a Husky and M.K. Clinton

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2016/01/thoughtless-thursday-104-starting-on.html#sthash.hn4OrW4h.dpuf

Tradition Continued: Brook House

 

We have continued on our journey photographing different trees to showcase the holiday season!

We are also joining Ruckus in celebrating the 100th Thoughtless Thursday BlogHop!

It's Time To Start!

Yes, it is...time to start decorating for the holidays!  Most of you have probably already started, but I am just beginning!

Yesterday, while grocery shopping, I picked up this cute little Christmas Cactus. 

I hope I can keep it alive as I do NOT have a green thumb!

I am joining the Thoughtless Thursday blog hop hosted by Ruckus the Eskie and Barking from the Bayou. 

Food for Thought...

Some of you may have seen this before...but I still find it fascinating...every time I read it!!

To my grandchildren --How old is Grandma?

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events.

The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general.

The Grandmother replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:

' television

' penicillin

' polio shots

' frozen foods

' Xerox

' contact lenses

' Frisbees and

' the pill

There were no:

' credit cards

' laser beams or

' ball-point pens

Man had not yet invented:

' pantyhose

' air conditioners

' dishwashers

' clothes dryers

' and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and

' man hadn't yet walked on the moon

Your Grandfather and I got married first, and then lived together.

Most families had a father and a mother.

Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, "Sir."

And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir."

We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense.

We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.

Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends -not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CD's, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.

We listened to Big Bands on our radios.

And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.

If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk.

The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam.

Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of.

We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents.

Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all 5 cents

And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your 5 cents on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.

You could buy a new Ford Coupe for $600, but who could afford one?

Too bad, because petrol was 4 cents a litre 

In my day:

' "grass" was mowed,

' "coke" was a cold drink,

' "pot" was something your mother cooked in and

' "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby.

' "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office,

' "chip" meant a piece of wood,

' "hardware" was found in a hardware store and.

' "software" wasn't even a word.

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.

No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap.

How old do you think I am?

I bet you have this old lady in mind. You are in for a shock! 

This woman would be only 61 years old.

**Disclaimer...now...I am not that old yet, but it is pretty amazing how much has changed, isn't it?  It gives us all something to think about!

Thankful Thursday!

We would like to thank Edward and Lily of twofrenchbulldogs.com for our fabulous bully sticks!!

It is such a great day when we go to the mailbox and discover a package for US!!

Thank you so much for sharing your bully sticks with us Edward and Lily!

We love them and will think of you two when we chew them!!

Happy Thursday!!

 

We are joining Ruckus the Eskie, Love is Being Owned by a Husky, and MKClinton

for the Thoughtless Thursday Blog Hop

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton - See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2015/09/thoughtless-thursday-86-looking-forward.html#sthash.Z3wHRqU4.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2015/09/thoughtless-thursday-86-looking-forward.html#sthash.Z3wHRqU4.dpuf

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton - See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2015/09/thoughtless-thursday-86-looking-forward.html#sthash.Z3wHRqU4.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2015/09/thoughtless-thursday-86-looking-forward.html#sthash.Z3wHRqU4.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton

- See more at: http://www.ruckustheeskie.com/2015/09/thoughtless-thursday-86-looking-forward.html#sthash.Z3wHRqU4.dpuf

Thoughtless Thursday: The Condo Edition

 'The girls are constantly fighting to get the "good" seat in their condo...They take turns getting on the top and if they lose...they get the bottom bunk!  :)

Thoughtless Thursday

By Ruckus the Eskie and co-hosts Love is being Owned by a Husky and M.K Clinton