DOESN’T THIS LOOK GOOD?!

With all the heat of summer, doesn’t this look yummy?  It is a frozen fruit salad.  Here is the recipe---straight from the card:  The only changes I make are that I subsitute mandarin oranges for the apricot halves (because the halves are so HARD to deal with frozen!) and add a can of Very Cherry fruit cocktail instead of the jar of maraschino cherries.  I also have used Cool Whip instead of the whipping cream.  Your choice!  Instead of putting it in a pan and cutting it into square, I simply put it into to little yogurt cups (that yogurt comes in) or other small plastic containers with lids.  Then, one can just snatch one from the freezer at will, and it’s still fresh and good.  The boys really love this frozen salad---almost as much as ice cream!  It takes some time to make, but it’s worth it!

Enjoy!

Miscellaneous Stuff!

Yucky, you say?!  But that is what the blue-green algae looks like on our nearby lake.  They’ve closed down most of the parks in the town that are on the water’s edge, warning not to drink(?) the water, or swim in it…as if anyone would!  This nasty stuff not only looks bad, but has the odor of an open sewer.  Even on my trips to Safeway, which is about 15 blocks from the water, the smell is enough to knock you over.  Imagine living on the shore.  We had this same algae last year and are SO glad our houseboat is out of it this year and safe at home.  Some places take high powered water hoses and try to wash it out away from the shore, but it drifts back.  I’m afraid the only cure for it is to wait until rains come and wash it away.  We don’t usually see that until October.

Other than that, not a lot has been going on here.  It’s been warm but not unbearably hot here.  The lawns have turned mostly blond in the forever-sun and the fire danger climbs.  The winds keep me awake at nights sometimes.

Work has been good for me this summer with August promising to be another busy month.  School sports starts gearing up in August as well (even though school doesn’t start until after Labor Day for Max) with soccer tryouts and practices.  There is also a freshman orientation later in the month that Max is looking forward to.  No word yet on the new Band instructor---but I’m trying to dig up some news. 

The chickens are doing great, but no eggs yet.  They are all growing and Charlie is in good voice.  A few nights ago he started crowing at 1 in the morning, so Hubby went out to see what was up.  Nothing appeared to be wrong, but he might have scared something away that was frightening the chickens (who nest in their protective metal shed at night).  Upon Hubby’s return to the bed, Charlie was silent….for the rest of the night too.  We blocked a couple of iffy spots near the fence bottom of their yard the next day.  No more night crowing!

Enjoy the rest of the summer and no complaining about the heat---winter will be upon us sooner than you think!

Pays to be a celebrity...

I'm outraged. I saw an article today about how Lindsay Lohan will only serve about 15 days of her 90 day sentence...because her lawyer managed to pay off the right people. What a rip-off. Celebrities also get private cells and in some cases, special foods so they can stay on their diets and not gain weight. They also are not subjected to strip or body cavity searches (in most cases) like other prisoners after being booked. So, what's going to keep her from doing it again? Did she really learn anything important about her crime, that is, other than she can get away with it? Perhaps if she was treated like the other prisoners and NOT given special handling, she would actually benefit from her incarceration.

More importantly, what does that show our children when celebrities can get away with crimes? I personally believe that jails and prisons should give inmates LESS rights and privileges than they currently do. Prison should not be FUN or COMFORTABLE at all. It irks me that taxpayers foot the bills for TVs, computers, and other technology for our prisoners. They should lose those rights when they are behind bars. Prisons should provide only clean but stark rooms, healthy outdoor activity and nutritious food for their inmates. Perhaps as a priviledge, they could visit a library and check out books, but that's all. No TV, no radio, no computers and no phones.

Am I being too harsh? I don't think so. What do you think?

Anita Renfroe "Don't Breathe" - Hilarious!

Enjoy this one!

Cool Theme Song!

Wow, I came across this cool song (be sure to click on my Spaces main blog to hear it) when I was downloading some free stuff. It was like hitting a gold mine for me as I am, and always have been, a huge Sammy Davis, Jr. fan. There were tons of songs that I didn't have and haven't heard. This particular song, entitled "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME" is the theme song to "Hawaii 5-O" those many years ago. There was also a hot big band version of "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz," the Alka-seltzer ad that had me rolling on the ground in laughter! Sammy also sang the theme song for "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and was featured in "Laugh-In" ("Here come the judge!") and I recently saw him guest star on an old episode of "Wild Wild West" as well. He was, in my opinion, the most all around talented member of the Rat Pack.

Hope you will enjoy this song!

Child Abuse

Just finished reading a book from the Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro entitled, “4th Of July.”  I can’t seem to stop thinking about it and decided to broach this very taboo subject----child abuse.  Nowhere on the covers or in the inside blurbs does it even make mention of child abuse, but that’s what it all boils down to. 

With giving away the book, on a very basic note, this murder mystery deals with vigilantes bent on taking care of child abusers themselves by bypassing the system.  Although murder is not OK, one can certainly understand the murders’ anger and craziness when faced not only with young men abusing boys, but parents abusing kids by refusing to let them eat solid food, or parents trying to sell their child on the internet, or a nice young couple secretly trafficing young Mexican girls out of their barn…selling them for sex.  It makes one think about how many hundreds of ways kids are abused every day and refuse to talk to anyone for fear of their own lives or the lives of loved ones.  It is SO sad.  Many times it leads the kids to become criminals themselves and no one ever knows why.

This is perhaps the best written book that I’ve read by Patterson and I’ve read all of the Alex Cross ones and the first 4 of the Women’s Murder Club.  The book has many subplots but they all relate to children in one way or the other and thus all fit together to form a picture that still haunts me as I write this.  If you like mysteries, you must read this book.  This whole series would make great movies, but especially this one offering.

Happy reading!

Panting Chickens

It’s been so hot out here lately that when we go check the chicks in the late afternoon, they are all panting! I’ve never seen a chicken pant, but their little beaks are open and they look so hot!  Can you imagine being out in 90 degree days in a coat of feathers??? 

Two days ago, when all three of us went out to see them in the early evening, Charlie flew up onto one of the chicken “huts” as easy as pie.  Time to clip his wings—again!  So, Max and I cornered him and caught him.  He didn’t try to peck at us or be nasty at all---just tried to get away.  Then, as we were doing it (it took all three of us) we noticed two chickens had escaped outside the pen.  So Max and I went out and caught them fairly easily.  That’s when we decided to clip all their wing feathers.  It is a quick and painless deal, but a few of them were NOT happy about it.  Now, at least they won’t be able to fly out.  They can still jump and climb up on many places in their yard to get off the ground.

When I went out the next day, it was like they were still mad at me… they huddled together inside the metal shed- --three tried to squeeze into one little cubby reminding me of kids trying to fit as many as possible in a VW bug!  Amazingly, the shed does stay cooler than outside at certain times of the day.  We also mist their outside area (which is already shaded with trees) as well to keep things cool and the bugs to the surface for them to snack on.

Have a great day and stay cool any way you can!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN!

  WOW!  You’re 26 already!  It seems like only yesterday you were a round faced happy baby! By age 10, you were a true ham in front of a camera (note the Navy T-shirt!) and by age 14, a full-fledged tragic teen, busy with baby Max .  Now you are a young man, on the underside of 30, traveling the world and becoming a caring, thoughtful, and pretty brilliant adult (OK, I AM your Mom, but you really are brilliant!).  Words can’t express how proud I am of the choices you’ve made and the paths you’ve already trod.  You are, indeed a special person, in spite of that wacky sense of humor! May your dreams comes true and may you be all that you can be (oops, that’s the Army, isn’t it?!)!  Live high---live mighty---live righteously!

SAY IT AIN’T SO!!!

ARGH!  Baskin-Robins is “deep sixing” French Vanilla from its flavor list!  How can they do that??!!!  I personally love French Vanilla better than regular vanilla as it is creamier and richer. Next thing you know, they’ll be getting rid of chocolate or strawberry… I can understand taking flavors like Lunar Cheesecake (after the space walk in 1969) or Saxy Candidate (after Bill Clinton), but not FV! 

 

Over the years there have been some unique flavors that also are on the brink of extinction like Campfire Smores, Apple Pie A La Mode, Caramel Praline Cheesecake and Superfudge Truffle.  The most popular ice cream flavors according to a Yahoo pole are:

1. Vanilla
2. Chocolate
3. Strawberry
4. Coffee
5. Banana
6. Bubble Gum
7. Oreo
8. Peach
9. Custard
10. Mango

1. Peanut Butter
2. Green Tea
3. Lemon
4. Chocolate Chip
5. Butter Pecan
6. Raspberry
7. Mint Chocolate Chip
8. Cherry
9. Neapolitan
10. Fudge

 

And there’s Vanilla right at the top! So, what’s YOUR favorite flavor???

Chickenland

Thought I’d check out this Live Writer thing and see if I could put it on both blogs with one writing.  Bought new chicken food today and managed to muscle the 50lb bag into the trunk myself---although it was touch and go getting the stupid bag out of the shopping cart.  The chicks are old enough now to have regular “layers” food instead of “chicken starter.”  It’s kind of like going from Gerber foods to the real thing, I guess. 

They are growing by leaps and bounds and both the two Orpingtons and the 4 Rhode Island Reds along with Charlie (Arcana Rooster) are getting more mature.  They love it when we have corn on the cob for dinner because they get to peck on the cobs afterwards and they LOVE that! 

Spot still lets me touch her, but she’s the only one who does. There is one Orpington I call Fluffy because she always fluffs up her feathers to make her look enormous! All the chicks come running to greet me when I come to see them.  It warms my heart.  Yeah, I know they are JUST chickens but they’ve become more than that.  They’re my little “herd!”

A Bit of Everything

Promises to be quite a day---got to sleep in a whole 15 minutes longer this morning, in spite of our Kit-Kit alarm outside our bedroom window at 5 this morning. I stumbled up and shut the window (that quiets her down) and fell back into bed for another hour or so.

Let both cats in and Caruso tried to sneak up onto my lap. When I pushed him away, he turned and lunged back up---claws out. Well, I wear these nice short knit shorts to bed and since he had nothing to grab, when he slid back, he left two long scratches in my thigh (which bled like crazy!). Nice scar for summer...
Then, I read in our local paper about a guy who was arrested in K-Ville for "discharging a firearm recklessly." Apparently the Shooter and another "Friend" were feuding about some woman (isn't that always the way?!) and the Friend came tearing up Shooter's driveway the other day, stopping at the entry gate to his yard. Shooter came out and saw Friend trying to force his way through the gate and warned him to leave. Friend ignored the warning and continued to come through, so Shooter retrieved his gun and fired a warning shot in the air, again warning Friend to go away. Friend made it through the gate and onto Shooter's property, where Shooter discharged his gun, wounding Friend in the arm and shoulder. Friend turned around and went back to his truck and left. A Witness told Shooter not to call the police, but Shooter insisted. Thus, Shooter was arrested and had to post a $10,000 bond. Looks like you can't even defend your own property anymore. Oh, and by the way, the Friend cannot be located at all at this time. Wonder how they can arrest this guy at all without proof of a crime...What's this world coming to???
Then, to top the morning off, that ugly, scraggly, chicken-thieving black cat (who hasn't shown himself in ages) tried to come through our dog door into the house. Caruso growled before he could get through the door. I went running out onto the porch, screaming and yelling like a banshee and the cat took off like a shot across the porch towards home, never looking back! I probably scared the neighbors, what with my scratched leg and all...

So, that's how my day has started. At least it ain't boring!!!!

Catch-up Time!

Whew! What a week! Finally, I can get some of the pics from the July 4th picnic out to you. It was a hot day--into the 90's, but the creek was a popular place. Hubby and Max took floaties out on the blue float, Coach in red shirt and Max on white float) and Max managed to get dunked by our Judo Coach..was a true blindside! He took in good spirits, though---he chose wisely. Then later, there were raft races. Some of the "big" kids helped the wee ones with their rafts (that's Max helping a small girl bottom center) and all the kids had a great time of it. I chose to stay on the bank and take the photos rather than get wet...with my trusty Iced Tea by my side.

Everything seems to be going smoothly on the homefront---Charlie and his little hen herd are doing well and growing up. I'm beginning to hunt for any signs of eggs, but we don't expect them until about August (which it soon will be!). Charlie is a good morning alarm now with his rooster crowing. So much BETTER than those hounds next door. Our pool is a great place to frequent on these hot days and Hubby likes to get 40 winks on a raft in the heat of the afternoon there (usually in that piece of shade by the umbrella). Max had his friend E overnight and they love sleeping on the houseboat---they don't have us bugging them to GO to sleep or keep quiet. They aren't noisy anyway, thank goodness. Yesterday the boys went to another Hot Springs to a going away party for a girl in their school class who was moving. It ended up being three boys and a whole gaggle of girls that showed up for it! Heard no complaints from the guys, though...

Next week my calendar is FULL so don't expect too many entries. I'm glad to have the work and that my stomach is better and almost back to normal. If I only make a few appearances here, don't worry---I'm also in the process of putting together another short story to be unfolded in "parts" in the near future. Have a GREAT week!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.
Erma Bombeck

I have always been among those who believed that the greatest freedom of speech was the greatest safety, because if a man is a fool, the best thing to do is to encourage him to advertise the fact by speaking.
Woodrow T. Wilson

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!
Thomas Jefferson

May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!
Daniel Webster

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dad's Birthday

If my Dad were still alive, he would have been 94 today. However, he passed away with colon cancer at age 62---so he never got to meet his grandkids. I think of him on this day and know he'd be as proud of my boys as I am. It was so weird---last evening as I was getting ready for bed, I was thinking about my Dad and how much he would have loved to see Tennis as such a popular and televised sport today---and how proud he would have been that Max has become quite a good player. I remembered that today would have been his birthday---and then I heard Max doodling on his bass guitar and he started to play Happy Birthday! Now, he didn't even remember that today would have been my Dad's birthday. How weird is that??!!!

At any rate, my Dad was quite a guy. I don't EVER remember him ever using the "F" word or raising his voice--no matter how mad my Mom got. He was always ready with a joke and a twinkle in his eye. The first time he took me outside to teach me tennis, I was in college. My Mom had warned me not to tire him out. However, when we finally came inside, he was fresh as a daisy---it was I who was sweating buckets and panting. He knew all the spins and trick shots so he never had to move on the court. He and his doubles partner won a Michigan State tennis title back in 1934 when he was in High School. His town was so small that they didn't have tennis courts, so my Dad built a court in their back yard and they played every chance they got! Remnants of that court still exist somewhere under the overgrown weeds.

He had learned to read by the time he went to school (at age 4) and because he graduated so young, he spent a year working in his dad's hardware store before going to the University of Michigan, where he got degrees in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Metalurgy. He went on to design bomb casings in the 1960's.

Besides telling jokes, he loved bridge, cribbage, sports on TV, his after-work Manhattan, traveling, photography, doing crossword puzzles in his head, candy, and fishing. Even though he traveled a lot, I was always closer to my Dad than my brother was. In fact, one Christmas he gave me a white football (which I treasured), much to my Mom's dismay. I guess I was more of a tomboy and interested in sports than my brother was. I remember how astounded (and proud) he was the first time I brought a piano action home to work on. He couldn't believe I was so mechanical-minded.

I still miss my Dad and often he still appears in my dreams at night---always the same age he was when I was in High School---young and vibrant. Thanks, Dad, for all you taught me.

Cat Baths

There's been an awful lot of itching going on around here and when Hubby found a flea biting him, he'd had enough. So, yesterday, he and Max did a quick Cat Wash on both Caruso and Kit-Kit. Although I missed the Caruso bath, Max said, "I've never heard such sounds come from a cat before!"Caruso got his name for his unique voice, and I've heard it all every time he goes in the car to the vet.

However, I did get to see some of Kit-Kit's bath. I heard her screaming and rushed outside to find a very bedraggled black cat glaring daggers at everyone and swearing up a storm. She's not an easy one to hang onto when she's mad! But they both made it through their flea baths OK.

Later in the day, Caruso had totally forgotten and forgiven all and was his usual talkative and affectionate self. Kit-Kit, on the other hand, was not a happy camper and would only let ME touch her...not those awful guys who held her down and tortured her so. Now they've both been doped with flea and tick meds, so they should start to feel some relief. Ah, the things we endure for good health!

TOO HOT

It's been too hot to do much lately. However, I have been playing tennis (yes, in the SUN) for too many days this week! I come home from it just wiped out from exhaustion. Work has been local, which is nice, so haven't had to spend hours driving. Hubby left at 4:40 to go "cowboying" today out at the ranch. He looked so handsome in his cowboy hat this morning! His exhuberance reminded me of small boys and their desires to be cowboys! Just glad they got out before it got too hot. We've had close to 100 degrees for the past 3 days along with a gusty wind in the afternoons. At least it cools off at night.

Dragged out a simple recipe last night---a really crowd pleaser when it comes to the boys: (and so easy for me to make!)

BEEF NACHO CASSEROLE

1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
1 jar chunky salsa (about a cup)
1 c. corn (canned or thawed frozen)
3/4 c. Miracle Whip (or mayo)
1 T. chili powder (I use taco seasoning as I have a large contain of it)
2 c. crushed tortilla chips, divided (don't crush too small)
2 c. shredded cheese (I use Mexican four-cheese)

Heat oven to 350. Brown meat, drain. Stir in salsa, corn, mayo & chili powder. Layer 1/2 mixture topped with cheese on top of chips (start with chips), then repeat. Bake 20 minutes. Can top with shredded lettuce and chopped tomato. Makes 6 servings.

Love this in hot weather as you don't have to bake it long (everything is already cooked so you can cut back the time some if you want).

Watching Alex in the Gulf. Hope all that oil doesn't "land" eventually. What a REAL mess that would be. We can hope all that churning does help it dilute and disappear as they hope it will. Time will tell. Glad I don't live in its path (the storm and the oil!).

Enjoy the day!

What about this plant?

We have this plant in our backyard that is a mystery to us. Can you help us identify it? It is tall (almost as big as I am) with these enormous blooms on the top. They don't appear to be fragrant but make the plant look topheavy. If you can help identify this weed, please let us know. Could it have been dropped by aliens???

Chicks are fine!

Yup, they are really growing up! The hens are getting big, especially the light colored ones, and Charlie is growing into quite a proud bird. Woke up to his crowing this morning. Not obnoxious, like the hounds next door, but a nice cock-a-doodle-doo for sure.
Sean got home just fine and went to a wedding with his girlfriend yesterday. He's back on board his ship on Sunday and gone for a short cruise (only about a week or so). He's not too excited about that. He's getting itchy feet and wants to get "on" with his life.

The boys have been working hard weed-eating and have one more small job this morning---that is, if they ever get out of bed. They worked hard yesterday and Friday and goofed around outside last evening until dark. Not sure WHAT they did, but they had fun with cardboard and other miscellaeous stuff around the yard. Have to get them up and feed them breakfast so they can get at that last job before it hits 90 here today!

A Boy For the Weekend

Well, Sean went home yesterday. Haven't heard when he got home, but feel he made it safely. He had a wonderful visit and it was so good to see him again. He looks in tip-top shape! He's hankering to get through with his stint in the Navy and go back to school, so he's trying to wrangle an early-out to go to college and finish his B.A. on the GI bill. He's due out by April of next year, but he's got this burr under his saddle that keeps pushing him to do it earlier. He even talked about possibly going to the University of Montana, in Missoula, for law school after he gets his Bachelor's. Montana is rated #6 in the country for law schools and many of the lawyers I worked with when I lived in Montana graduated from there. Both Sean and Max were born in Montana.

Max's friend, L, is here to visit and do weedeating with Max until Sunday, so things are never dull around here. They camped out on the boat last night and have two days of weed-eating duty ahead of them. L is saving his money to buy a dirt-bike and Max is collecting for an upright bass. Yeah, they're learning about working hard for the money and saving it for something they want!!! Many adults don't know how to do that yet...

It's supposed to be up in the 90's by Sunday around here and things are going from green to light brown already. I fear this will be a large fire season this year...

Enjoy the day!

PROBLEM CAT

No, I'm not talking about the chicken-problem-cat---who, by the way, has not been seen for a couple of days...I'm speaking of our little princess, Kit-Kit. She had us up most of the night. We put her outside at bedtime (which is the usual procedure). By 3:00, she was meowing and clawing at our open bedroom window screen. So, Hubby got up and LET HER IN...I never do that and this is why:

Well, she came in and presumably checked her food dish, then set up a toot of meowing and getting into things---like walking on the desk, walking on us trying to sleep, rummaging around in the closet, tearing on and off the bed at record speeds. Hubby said, "Better let her out" so I got up and called her to the door. She just looked at me like I was crazy and dared me to come after her. When I took a step in her direction, she ran. She just wanted me to chase her. Forget that! I threw up my hands in disgust and went back to bed, muttering to Hubby that she just wanted us to be up with her and refused to go out. Well, she waited until we dozed off again and then started in all over again. This time, Hubby got up and managed to catch her and throw her out. It was about 4:30 when this happened. So much for a restful night. This evening, she goes out and STAYS out!

How about that Wimbledon tennis match---you know, the one that is continuing today---the score is 59-59 and they've been going at it for over 10 hours!!! WOW! How can they even walk off the courts after so much playing? Boy, I'd hate to end up as the lose in that one...what a downer...but then, the winner will be overjoyed!

Have a great day---it's really summer here---expected in the mid-80's.

Cuprit found???

Yesterday when Max was outside, he heard a commotion in the Chick yard and upon investigation found our neighbor's long-haired black cat INSIDE the yard. The cat scurried up the corner post and through an opening at the top. Now, if you remember, this is the SAME CAT that I was complaining about attacking our cats, eating our catfood and fighting at night. At least he was found out before killing another chicken! Hubby promptly put up a tangle of wire in the corner to close up the hole and dissuade the cat next time (we hope!).

So, THAT is probably what has been stealing our chickens. If they left any feathers, due to stress, they wouldn't be noticed that much in the yard. We did see scratch marks on the outside of that post, so that cat has been up there before. I'm pretty sure it is NOT Caruso that's going after them. We've called and coaxed him to follow up from INSIDE the yard and he looks like he can't do it. He does TRY, but can't find an opening. Little Kit-Kit doesn't even stalk the chicks, but lays in the outside yard and watches all the commotion.

But we're keeping a close eye on that yard, hoping no more chicks will disappear. The hens were actually outside their shed for a while yesterday afternoon, so they're not as worried as they were. Keep your fingers crossed that we have indeed found our thief!

Good things come to those who wait...

It's been GREAT having the family together again! Sean looks fine with his new glasses and it's fun to watch him tease his "little" brother! He was appalled to find our little TV (that I dragged from Max's room to use--it's a 17") and when I told him about how the other one died, he agreed to help with the cost of a new one. So we went shopping yesterday and he helped me get brand new one along with a new stand for it. The old "entertainment" stand I had was too small for the new TV and it was looking pretty ratty, having been used for almost 30 years. We brought them all back to the house, with Hubby gone and Max at school, and Sean put the "stand" together (it took almost 2 hours!) and set up the TV. Hubby was astounded! Max was delighted! We're all still in shock over the new addition! WOW! I'll provide pics tomorrow for sure.

Last night was Max's 8th grade graduation and party. He wore his black suit and looked stunning. The pics I got of the ceremony were a bit too far away for clear ones, but sufficient. Then the boys went goofy on me when I tried to get a shot of them both!

We went home later and watched Sean's favorite show, WHALE WARS. All I can say is WOW!!!

STILL MISSING

No sign of the missing chick yet. I'm afraid she may be lost forever. Yesterday, Hubby came home to find all the chicks outside their compound---and Charlie still INSIDE. Hmmm. He had just herded them all back inside when Max and I returned home. So, we all checked the fence line for possible escapes. Hubby thinks they may have scooted under it at one point---perhaps the opening was too tight for Charlie to handle. He blockaded the spots from outside so they can't slip through. So far, no more escapes. At any rate, all 9 chicks are safe and Charlie too.

We're beginning to think they may have all gotten out the other day and then the missing chick wandered off, to be picked off by hawks or neighboring cats or preditors. I keep hoping she will show up, but as time passes, it doesn't look good.

No. 1 son, Sean, is home for a visit---just in time for Max's 8th grade graduation, which happens tonight. Will be posting pics of boys and such soon...It's great to have the family together again!

And then there were nine...

Ah, a mystery unfolds:

Yesterday morning, things were going smoothly in Chickenland when Hubby first went out to check their feed and water. Then he went off on an errand in his car.

Upon his return, the chickens were all OUT of their fenced in yard---running freely around, accompanied by Charlie. However, when he took count, one was missing. It was one of the yellow, buff ones (which are larger than the brown ones). About that time, I rolled home from my trip down the valley. We managed to herd the "Herd" back into their enclosure (which had been locked from OUTSIDED) with the use of a long rope. Once inside, we checked the fences and all was good. But no sign of Chicken #10.

Back in our yard, Hubby and I searched for ANY sign of the missing chick: feathers, body parts, anything. But we found NOTHING. True, our Caruso was out, but if he had captured a chicken there would have been signs of it---at least some feathers. It was as if someone had gone into the chicken enclosure, captured a hen, then left, locking the door behind them. But why would they do that???

The other possibility is that a hawk swooped down and relieved the Herd of a member. There always seemed to be a buff colored one that separated itself from the group, and probably was the one that was snatched. Well, you can believe I kept my eyes and ears open for any sign of the missing chick. But alas, nothing. When I went out later to look in on them, they were ALL huddled together in the corner of the metal shed, including Charlie, packed together like sardines.

They seemed afraid. Makes me really think it was a flying predator.

So, for their safety, Hubby moved all their food and water and bedding into the metal shed, shoring up the outside edges with escape-proof fencing, along with their comforting light (for one more night at least).

Still hoping the missing chick will materialize, but afraid that wishful thinking at this late time.

What I want to know is HOW the whole herd got OUT of the enclosure in the first place??!!! THAT IS APUZZLEMENT!

A Fresh Look

Welcome to my new/old blog. This blog used to be "Blindsided" which is the name of my first mystery novel. However, since I have another published, entitled "The Rat," that title seems inappropriate. My third novel, "Tasting the Wind" will be in publication (hopefully) by the end of 2010. If you are interesting in reading either book, you can find them for sale at Amazon.com or my web-site, suealehman.com. If you go through my own site, I will gladly autograph any copies you buy.

Currently, I am in the process of writing a sequel to "The Rat" and hope to have it completed in 2011.

Blindsided

Blindsided

Well, it IS available, BUT if you try to obtain it through Amazon or Best Buy or anywhere commercially, you will not be able to get it yet. It is still not available because of problems with the cover art. However, by the middle or the end of February it should be again available. If you want a copy as it stands now, you can still send me suealehman@hotmail.com your address and $15 and I will send you one of the original ones with the boggus cover, autographed. Happy reading!