Sunday, January 25, 2015
Super Bowl Bound! Seattle vs. Green Bay in NFC championship Jan., 2015
http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/videos/Seahawks-Saturday-Night-Micd-Up-Russell-Wilson/68757028-1866-455c-8d89-1121fd2d5f9c
Seahawks website...
Saturday, June 22, 2013
New news...for June, 2013
Wow! What a crazy month June is-not just this year, but every year. Hmmm...It is half way through the year, so it is fitting that a lot of things should happen. Some months go by, and you barely notice them. But June! Ahhh, June! Birthdays, weddings, graduations, last day of the school year always seem to be happening in June.
Our family has more than our fair share of birthdays. I need both hands and one foot, I think, to count all the family and friends with birthdays in June. Mine being one of them...at the very tail end of the month. Dear daughter's birthday is on the summer solstice. It seems fitting, to have a summer girl for me and Gary. She is, after all, our sunshine.
This year we had two graduations in the immediate family. Granddaughter #1 graduated from high school. Big congratulations out to her-it was tough work, and she was persistent, and finished all her required credits for the diploma. She actually has been attending college for her junior and senior year, in the Running Start program. This program has been in place for over twenty years; it gives high school students the opportunity to work on a college Associate Degree in conjunction with their high school diploma. Some of the kids do very well, and earn both simultaneously. The trouble with the program is that neither the college nor the high school have counselors dedicated to these particular students. The students have to work really, really hard to figure out which classes at the college will count as the necessary credits for the high school. Choosing the proper classes, passing them without dropping them, and making sure that all the senior student projects, etc., are completed on time is very challenging. The whole process has been like this for years. Dear daughter did her high school diploma this way, although she did take some classes at the high school, some at the college. Needless to say, granddaughter, we are very proud of you!
Granddaughter #2 graduated from middle school to high school. Although not quite as "noteworthy" as the high school diploma, this graduation is fraught with its own challenges. One of granddaughter #2's biggest hurdles has been that she is a bit younger than her classmates. She is, ahem, however, quite brilliant. She won a Presidential Award for Outstanding Academics, signed by President Obama. She maintained a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.5 from sixth grade through first semester of eighth grade. Pretty amazing, I would say, as she also participated in sports all three years, as well as maintained her very busy social calendar. So very proud of her, too!
Daughter had her birthday this weekend. Lots of fun-I love to see her smile. Big loves, daughter!
I decided to have surgery this month. It sort of threw my workout schedule into chaos. I had a rather large cyst on my forehead. Oh, you say, you didn't know this? I have always been pretty good at hiding it with my hair. I had it removed once; the doctor didn't quite get all of it, so it grew back. I have had it all my life-I was ready for it to be gone permanently. So, I had my GP recommend somebody, and he decided to remove it via same-day surgery. Wow. That was last Monday (today is Saturday). Stitches come out on Monday. It is painful and tight in the general area, but the doctor says it should be gone for good this time. One can only hope! I had quite the shiner this week; all that fluid had to go someplace, so it decided to hang out around my eye. Loverly!
I hope to get back to training next week, after the stitches are removed. I have missed my workouts; I really can't believe how much I have truly missed them. Rather difficult to work out with a swollen eye, stitched-up head, and on pain meds. I'm not really supposed to drive on the meds, either. I don't even want to talk about the difficulties of hair washing...I went up to see my hairdresser the other day, because I couldn't stand the way my hair looked and felt. Ugh-I couldn't imagine if I was getting sweaty, too! (Oh, and for the record, I am still trying to stick with my proper nutrition program, regardless of my lack of workouts. I feel it is important to keep the foods healthy, not only to keep my weight stable while I am out of commission, but also to allow my body to heal quickly and properly.)
Now we will be gearing up for our annual Independence Day party-probably the last one. The kids are all growing up, and it is so much work to put the party on; I am so ready to let somebody else take over.
So, that is what June has been like. Here's what tonight's sky looked like-we couldn't see the "super moon" because of cloud cover, but here is the spectacular sunset. Enjoy!
Our family has more than our fair share of birthdays. I need both hands and one foot, I think, to count all the family and friends with birthdays in June. Mine being one of them...at the very tail end of the month. Dear daughter's birthday is on the summer solstice. It seems fitting, to have a summer girl for me and Gary. She is, after all, our sunshine.
This year we had two graduations in the immediate family. Granddaughter #1 graduated from high school. Big congratulations out to her-it was tough work, and she was persistent, and finished all her required credits for the diploma. She actually has been attending college for her junior and senior year, in the Running Start program. This program has been in place for over twenty years; it gives high school students the opportunity to work on a college Associate Degree in conjunction with their high school diploma. Some of the kids do very well, and earn both simultaneously. The trouble with the program is that neither the college nor the high school have counselors dedicated to these particular students. The students have to work really, really hard to figure out which classes at the college will count as the necessary credits for the high school. Choosing the proper classes, passing them without dropping them, and making sure that all the senior student projects, etc., are completed on time is very challenging. The whole process has been like this for years. Dear daughter did her high school diploma this way, although she did take some classes at the high school, some at the college. Needless to say, granddaughter, we are very proud of you!
Granddaughter #2 graduated from middle school to high school. Although not quite as "noteworthy" as the high school diploma, this graduation is fraught with its own challenges. One of granddaughter #2's biggest hurdles has been that she is a bit younger than her classmates. She is, ahem, however, quite brilliant. She won a Presidential Award for Outstanding Academics, signed by President Obama. She maintained a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.5 from sixth grade through first semester of eighth grade. Pretty amazing, I would say, as she also participated in sports all three years, as well as maintained her very busy social calendar. So very proud of her, too!
Daughter had her birthday this weekend. Lots of fun-I love to see her smile. Big loves, daughter!
I decided to have surgery this month. It sort of threw my workout schedule into chaos. I had a rather large cyst on my forehead. Oh, you say, you didn't know this? I have always been pretty good at hiding it with my hair. I had it removed once; the doctor didn't quite get all of it, so it grew back. I have had it all my life-I was ready for it to be gone permanently. So, I had my GP recommend somebody, and he decided to remove it via same-day surgery. Wow. That was last Monday (today is Saturday). Stitches come out on Monday. It is painful and tight in the general area, but the doctor says it should be gone for good this time. One can only hope! I had quite the shiner this week; all that fluid had to go someplace, so it decided to hang out around my eye. Loverly!
I hope to get back to training next week, after the stitches are removed. I have missed my workouts; I really can't believe how much I have truly missed them. Rather difficult to work out with a swollen eye, stitched-up head, and on pain meds. I'm not really supposed to drive on the meds, either. I don't even want to talk about the difficulties of hair washing...I went up to see my hairdresser the other day, because I couldn't stand the way my hair looked and felt. Ugh-I couldn't imagine if I was getting sweaty, too! (Oh, and for the record, I am still trying to stick with my proper nutrition program, regardless of my lack of workouts. I feel it is important to keep the foods healthy, not only to keep my weight stable while I am out of commission, but also to allow my body to heal quickly and properly.)
Now we will be gearing up for our annual Independence Day party-probably the last one. The kids are all growing up, and it is so much work to put the party on; I am so ready to let somebody else take over.
So, that is what June has been like. Here's what tonight's sky looked like-we couldn't see the "super moon" because of cloud cover, but here is the spectacular sunset. Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wow. Lots of Things!!
We had a pretty rough beginning-she is a rescue dog. I think she was at best, neglected, and at worse, abused.
Oh, and by the way, this photo was taken by my daughter, Stacy Graves (Rare Reflections Photography). Great shot, huh?
Anyway, since the end of January, Chili has become thoroughly ensconced in our lives and we are so happy that she is with us!
So, that is one big bit of news. The other? Well, I have been on a personal journey. See, this is me, last year, in April, in Hawaii with my husband:
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Well, we were planning my dear daughter's wedding for the next September. She was in bridal panic mode-we had purchased her dress, and she had gained some weight. Well, she and I decided to embark on a weight-loss mission, just so she could fit into "the dress." We started going to a gym in July. Now, I don't know how much good it did me; but at least I was trying to be a good mom. There was a lot of other things going on in our lives at that time, too. Husband and I were selling the business we had grown since 1994. Our other "baby." That deal was completed in July, too.
So, then, in August, dear daughter talked to her personal trainer from her college town (3 1/2 hours from here). She convinced him to come down and lead a group bootcamp over a weekend. She worked hard, getting people signed up and motivated to work out. Both husband and I joined. Anthony McClanahan of 41 Sports Fitness Boot Camps came to our little berg, and whipped up some whoop-ass on 9 unsuspecting campers. Wooo-weeee! I don't know if he was extra hard on us, to show what he could do, or if that was what he did to all his boot campers, but it kicked my butt HARD!
Well, he went home on Sunday. The group as a whole met for a couple more weeks, then people started dropping out. Pretty soon there were only four of us left. Then two-me and dear daughter. We kept working hard. Now, I don't know how you feel about hard workouts, but most people don't have the discipline to keep going if someone isn't there to urge them on. We kept it up right up to the wedding-and "the dress" fit. The dress I custom ordered for myself? It was a bit big, but that's ok. It wasn't about me, anyway!
So, does my journey end there? No. We kept going. At least for another month. Then, dear daughter dropped out. I was on my own. Wah!! What to do? What to do? Well, I felt better. I even looked a bit better. The workouts were getting easier. Not easy, mind you, but a bit easier. I kept going. Anthony sent me text messages, emails, food plans, encouragement. He told me what I should be doing for a workout. He mixed things up, kept me going. Asked me how my plan was working. Asked me about my weight loss. Buoyed me when I started sinking. What a struggle. Holidays-oh, man, the holidays! A trip to Vegas-for a week-didn't stop me. We walked all over-didn't even rent a car. Then Christmas. All of a sudden, it was New Year's Eve.
Wow. Now, I don't know without going to my calendars and journals, how much weight I had or had not lost. I just kinda kept going. And, as a general rule, I don't make resolutions for New Years'. But this year I did. I vowed to lose 100 pounds in 2013. I know-pretty industrious. But, that is something I committed myself to do. So, January 1, I weighed in, and told Anthony that it was the Year of the 100 pound weight loss. He told me I could do it. He said he would help me. And he has been.
Ok, so here it is April. No, I haven't lost 100 pounds yet. I have my goals in mind. I also know that it isn't going to go smoothly every month. I want the weight to be gone by November (around Thanksgiving). So, here it is, April 10. Where am I? Well, since January, I have lost a total of 27 pounds. Not exactly where I want to be, but since I started, way back in July of 2012, I have lost sixty pounds. Sixty! Whew! So, you tell me-is it working?
This is from a correspondence I had with Anthony today:
Me: "Ok, so, since I've been so frustrated with weight, I decided to do measurements today. I took measurements on Sept. 5, 2012, Nov. 18, 2012, March 28, 2013, and today (April 10, 2013). Over all, I have lost over 26". That is measuring neck, upper chest, lower chest, waist, hips, upper thigh, knee, and calf. I actually reduced my neck by 1/2"!! Ok, feeling better. Waist is down 5", while hips are down 5 1/4"!!
Anthony: "That is awesome. keep on hitting it hard. Big changes coming..41
should I say more changes...41"
Me: " Yup. So happy, energized, and excited!! Hey-I actually have a waistline now-it curves in! Lol!"
Anthony: " Thank you so much for following me. I wish everyone had your drive and self discipline..."
Me: "I can't say I'm always perfect-you know that, but for the most part, I do what I can. I was a diet counselor at one time, did you know that? I lost weight 3 different times with (X Program), and I was a counselor for them for over a year."
There was some other discussion, then I told him, " If only people would look forward to their workout. I hate you while I am sweating, but love you when I'm done, especially when I've actually completed the work. I feel so much better these days, and I really appreciate you listening to my bitching. Ultimately, it's all me; if "I" don't do the work or eat right, it is my fault, not yours. My dad used to say, "I didn't force it down your throat." This from man who baked fresh bread two-three times a week-and he lived with us!!!
So, in an almond shell, that's "all" I've been doing. Last time I went to the doctor, he drew blood to test it. I had been having to go in for A1C tests (to keep an eye on my blossoming diabetes), as well as having the cholesterol tests and thyroid checked (been on thyroid meds for years). Doctor could NOT believe his eyes. He told me I didn't have to worry about the big D now. Hm. I do know something about something. I have another appointment next week. Let's see what he thinks of the sixty pounds gone, hmmm?
Me: " Yup. So happy, energized, and excited!! Hey-I actually have a waistline now-it curves in! Lol!"
Anthony: " Thank you so much for following me. I wish everyone had your drive and self discipline..."
Me: "I can't say I'm always perfect-you know that, but for the most part, I do what I can. I was a diet counselor at one time, did you know that? I lost weight 3 different times with (X Program), and I was a counselor for them for over a year."
There was some other discussion, then I told him, " If only people would look forward to their workout. I hate you while I am sweating, but love you when I'm done, especially when I've actually completed the work. I feel so much better these days, and I really appreciate you listening to my bitching. Ultimately, it's all me; if "I" don't do the work or eat right, it is my fault, not yours. My dad used to say, "I didn't force it down your throat." This from man who baked fresh bread two-three times a week-and he lived with us!!!
So, in an almond shell, that's "all" I've been doing. Last time I went to the doctor, he drew blood to test it. I had been having to go in for A1C tests (to keep an eye on my blossoming diabetes), as well as having the cholesterol tests and thyroid checked (been on thyroid meds for years). Doctor could NOT believe his eyes. He told me I didn't have to worry about the big D now. Hm. I do know something about something. I have another appointment next week. Let's see what he thinks of the sixty pounds gone, hmmm?
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The Great Dog Search
So, Friday we went to a shelter that had many, many dogs that needed to find homes. I kinda fell for one of them, but it was too late to adopt her that day. We were told to come back at noon on Saturday-first come, first serve.
We showed up at noon, and asked to have some time with her-paperwork all filled out, etc. The clerk behind the desk told us that the dog was 15 minutes away, at Petco, for outreach adoption. Gad, really? I didn't want to waste time going back through the kennels looking for another dog. Off we went (we were in separate cars, as Gary was heading to the airport). They wouldn't call Petco to see if she was still there, either.
Well, Gary called the store (after we had driven 1/2 way there)-the lady hadn't taken the dog, because she couldn't get her in the van! Ugh! Now I am freaking out. That meant all those people that were already in the shelter were LOOKING at the dog I wanted.
We get back to the shelter, and go into the kennels to see her. Her kennel is open-she's not there. Apparently, she was on a "meet and greet" with a family with a dog. So, we look around a bit, and a volunteer tells us to wait a bit. So, I find another dog-just in case-and start to fall in love again. I am such a wimp-on Friday I kept crying because ALL of them were so scared and sad.
The volunteer comes back, apologetic, saying that the first dog is adopted. She was in her kennel, and so I went back and wished her well with her new family. Yes, I am a sap like that.
Back out to the ding-dong out front. We ask to spend some time with the other dog-the second one. We had petted her, talked to the volunteer about her, gave her treats. Yes, I was falling again. Ding-dong looks through some files, and announces that this one is "on hold for a meet and greet." WHAT??? I didn't understand. No sign on the kennel. I thought I was gonna lose it, totally melting in tears. I didn't want to do that in front of all the little kids that were there, looking for pups and kits. I said rather loudly, "Gary, I can't do this. This is ridiculous. Let's just go." He agreed, and left with me.
Once outside, I totally lost it. This was a hard enough decision for me in the first place. I still miss Buddy so much, I can hardly stand it. But to fall quickly in love with two dogs, to have them snatched away by people who are incompetent at their jobs is so beyond my pain threshold.
At this point, Gary went back inside. I am not sure what happened, but he told me that one man took his little boy and left. Only because he had witnessed the whole thing-and probably didn't want his son to be disappointed the way the 51 year old woman was. Yes, they had other dogs I would have considered, but I just couldn't deal with all the shenanigans.
So, off we go to Tacoma, to visit another shelter. Another hour away. Very sad, but they only had about 8 dogs (I guess that is good?). The majority of them were pit bull mixes-and the majority of the rest were older dogs. I don't want either. Not to be mean, but we did the pit bull thing before, and the older dog thing, too. We were told that the reason they didn't have many was because they were not taking un-neutered dogs just then, as the vet they use was closed for remodeling.
All this came after I had called a particular rescue organization about a particular dog. THAT woman didn't even take my name for a possible call back. Witch!
So, I don't know now what I am going to do. God will provide, I am sure. He knows me better than anyone-and
We showed up at noon, and asked to have some time with her-paperwork all filled out, etc. The clerk behind the desk told us that the dog was 15 minutes away, at Petco, for outreach adoption. Gad, really? I didn't want to waste time going back through the kennels looking for another dog. Off we went (we were in separate cars, as Gary was heading to the airport). They wouldn't call Petco to see if she was still there, either.
Well, Gary called the store (after we had driven 1/2 way there)-the lady hadn't taken the dog, because she couldn't get her in the van! Ugh! Now I am freaking out. That meant all those people that were already in the shelter were LOOKING at the dog I wanted.
We get back to the shelter, and go into the kennels to see her. Her kennel is open-she's not there. Apparently, she was on a "meet and greet" with a family with a dog. So, we look around a bit, and a volunteer tells us to wait a bit. So, I find another dog-just in case-and start to fall in love again. I am such a wimp-on Friday I kept crying because ALL of them were so scared and sad.
The volunteer comes back, apologetic, saying that the first dog is adopted. She was in her kennel, and so I went back and wished her well with her new family. Yes, I am a sap like that.
Back out to the ding-dong out front. We ask to spend some time with the other dog-the second one. We had petted her, talked to the volunteer about her, gave her treats. Yes, I was falling again. Ding-dong looks through some files, and announces that this one is "on hold for a meet and greet." WHAT??? I didn't understand. No sign on the kennel. I thought I was gonna lose it, totally melting in tears. I didn't want to do that in front of all the little kids that were there, looking for pups and kits. I said rather loudly, "Gary, I can't do this. This is ridiculous. Let's just go." He agreed, and left with me.
Once outside, I totally lost it. This was a hard enough decision for me in the first place. I still miss Buddy so much, I can hardly stand it. But to fall quickly in love with two dogs, to have them snatched away by people who are incompetent at their jobs is so beyond my pain threshold.
At this point, Gary went back inside. I am not sure what happened, but he told me that one man took his little boy and left. Only because he had witnessed the whole thing-and probably didn't want his son to be disappointed the way the 51 year old woman was. Yes, they had other dogs I would have considered, but I just couldn't deal with all the shenanigans.
So, off we go to Tacoma, to visit another shelter. Another hour away. Very sad, but they only had about 8 dogs (I guess that is good?). The majority of them were pit bull mixes-and the majority of the rest were older dogs. I don't want either. Not to be mean, but we did the pit bull thing before, and the older dog thing, too. We were told that the reason they didn't have many was because they were not taking un-neutered dogs just then, as the vet they use was closed for remodeling.
All this came after I had called a particular rescue organization about a particular dog. THAT woman didn't even take my name for a possible call back. Witch!
So, I don't know now what I am going to do. God will provide, I am sure. He knows me better than anyone-and
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Resolute Resolutions
Happy New Year!!
If you know me at all, you know that I have been struggling with my health, weight, fitness for YEARS. Well, that is all about to change.
I have been working with an amazing trainer, Anthony McClanahan, the owner and fitness guru of 41 Sports Fitness Boot Camps. This is a pretty amazing story, now that I think about it. It all started a couple of years ago...
Stacy had moved to Bellingham to finish her Bachelor's Degree at WWU. She got into a bit of a funk, for numerous reasons which I won't go into. Although she was not technically a freshman, she was a junior, she started gaining the infamous "freshman 15." Pounds, that is. Her father and I didn't know what to do to help her.
One evening, I was watching a locally-produced tv "magazine" show, and they profiled this sports fitness trainer-and he was based in Bellingham. I sent a link for the clip to Stacy, and let her take it from there. You see, in the past, I had been an exerciser. I played softball from elementary school all the way through junior year of high school. Then, I became one of those crazy 80s joggers...so I knew what exercise could do for your weight as well as your mental health. But, I digress a bit.
Stacy watched the video clip, and arranged to meet Anthony with her fiance, to discuss what he could do for her. It was like magic. I had never seen my daughter work so hard at something before. What a change! She didn't talk about it much, but she got her butt out the door, and it (her butt, that is) began to disappear!!
Fast forward a year or two. College is just about done, but her savings has run out. She and her fiance have decided it was the year to get married. February 2012 we find a gorgeous wedding dress-so we order it. The happy couple moves back to Sequim...and no trainer to work with her.
Well, at some point, she got in touch with Anthony, panicked about her upcoming wedding. Mom and Dad paid a LOT for that dress-it better fit!! She arranges it with Anthony that she would get a group of people together, and makes arrangements for him to come to Sequim to work with the group for the weekend. She also recruits Mom and Dad...Oh, my!
The big weekend comes, we do the workouts, I felt like dying. But, I didn't die. Actually, I wasn't even as sore as I thought I would be. Then, I kept at it. Anthony kept sending workouts, and I kept doing them. Before I knew it, I was down 35 pounds and two pants sizes. Really???
The wedding came and went-the dress fit, however, the dress I had ordered was a bit too big (oh, darn-there are worse problems in the world). Anyway-the workout group slowly fell apart. Stacy and Les moved. The holidays came. Gary went back out on the road sporadically. But I kept working. Until I fell...
Yes, I fell. I had talked Gary into taking a hike with me, off the main forest service road, into the woods on a footpath. It was great! Warm in the sun, cool in the depths of the forest. Absolutely gorgeous. We hiked uphill for over two miles. Then we headed back down the hill. Wouldn't you know it-I hit some loose gravel, and down, down, down I went. Oh, the agony! Scraped up elbow, knee, and hand. Goose egg developed on the side of my knee. I took a couple of days off from workouts, then had to baby my poor old body.
So, now I don't do things where I might fall. The strange thing about all this, is that my balance is so much better know. Probably from spending so much time on the exercise ball. But again, I have totally, totally gone off track.
I kept working with Anthony. Just me. I missed my workout group. I missed working out with somebody. So much easier to do those things when you have to be accountable to another person or person in the group. I told Anthony to call Stacy and get her back on track. So he did. Now I have my workout buddy back!
So, for 2013, I resolve to lose 10 pounds per month. I resolve to workout 4-5 times per week. And I resolve to eat healthy, and drop 100 pounds this year. Yes. THIS year. I can do it, and you, dear readers (although you number so few) should cheer me on!!
If you know me at all, you know that I have been struggling with my health, weight, fitness for YEARS. Well, that is all about to change.
I have been working with an amazing trainer, Anthony McClanahan, the owner and fitness guru of 41 Sports Fitness Boot Camps. This is a pretty amazing story, now that I think about it. It all started a couple of years ago...
Stacy had moved to Bellingham to finish her Bachelor's Degree at WWU. She got into a bit of a funk, for numerous reasons which I won't go into. Although she was not technically a freshman, she was a junior, she started gaining the infamous "freshman 15." Pounds, that is. Her father and I didn't know what to do to help her.
One evening, I was watching a locally-produced tv "magazine" show, and they profiled this sports fitness trainer-and he was based in Bellingham. I sent a link for the clip to Stacy, and let her take it from there. You see, in the past, I had been an exerciser. I played softball from elementary school all the way through junior year of high school. Then, I became one of those crazy 80s joggers...so I knew what exercise could do for your weight as well as your mental health. But, I digress a bit.
Stacy watched the video clip, and arranged to meet Anthony with her fiance, to discuss what he could do for her. It was like magic. I had never seen my daughter work so hard at something before. What a change! She didn't talk about it much, but she got her butt out the door, and it (her butt, that is) began to disappear!!
Fast forward a year or two. College is just about done, but her savings has run out. She and her fiance have decided it was the year to get married. February 2012 we find a gorgeous wedding dress-so we order it. The happy couple moves back to Sequim...and no trainer to work with her.
Well, at some point, she got in touch with Anthony, panicked about her upcoming wedding. Mom and Dad paid a LOT for that dress-it better fit!! She arranges it with Anthony that she would get a group of people together, and makes arrangements for him to come to Sequim to work with the group for the weekend. She also recruits Mom and Dad...Oh, my!
The big weekend comes, we do the workouts, I felt like dying. But, I didn't die. Actually, I wasn't even as sore as I thought I would be. Then, I kept at it. Anthony kept sending workouts, and I kept doing them. Before I knew it, I was down 35 pounds and two pants sizes. Really???
The wedding came and went-the dress fit, however, the dress I had ordered was a bit too big (oh, darn-there are worse problems in the world). Anyway-the workout group slowly fell apart. Stacy and Les moved. The holidays came. Gary went back out on the road sporadically. But I kept working. Until I fell...
Yes, I fell. I had talked Gary into taking a hike with me, off the main forest service road, into the woods on a footpath. It was great! Warm in the sun, cool in the depths of the forest. Absolutely gorgeous. We hiked uphill for over two miles. Then we headed back down the hill. Wouldn't you know it-I hit some loose gravel, and down, down, down I went. Oh, the agony! Scraped up elbow, knee, and hand. Goose egg developed on the side of my knee. I took a couple of days off from workouts, then had to baby my poor old body.
So, now I don't do things where I might fall. The strange thing about all this, is that my balance is so much better know. Probably from spending so much time on the exercise ball. But again, I have totally, totally gone off track.
I kept working with Anthony. Just me. I missed my workout group. I missed working out with somebody. So much easier to do those things when you have to be accountable to another person or person in the group. I told Anthony to call Stacy and get her back on track. So he did. Now I have my workout buddy back!
So, for 2013, I resolve to lose 10 pounds per month. I resolve to workout 4-5 times per week. And I resolve to eat healthy, and drop 100 pounds this year. Yes. THIS year. I can do it, and you, dear readers (although you number so few) should cheer me on!!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Adventures in Ranching, er, Cow Farming?
We had a calf born on the farm yesterday. This was quite a big adventure. In hindsight, it seems that the mama had been in labor since Friday-she was lying down in the field in the morning, at her usual breakfast time. I noted to Gary that it was a little odd that she was lying there, but we didn't think too much more of it.
Yesterday, Gary came in from the grocery store, saying that it looked like one of the cows was going to calve. That was at 6:45-7:00 p.m. By 7:45, this little guy was born.
That wasn't the end of the story, however. Mama was in a little distress; she was worried about her baby, lowing while he was trying to gain his feet. She had her back end away from us, but eventually Danette said it looked like she had a prolapsed uterus. How did she know that? you might ask. Well, apparently she has read James Herriot - a LOT - and what was happening to the cow looked just as he described.
So, the scramble was on to find a vet. We were called back by one from town-she has only been in the area for 3 weeks! She said she needed to find some help, and would be here soon.
Mama cow was NOT happy with the baby by this time. He had gained his feet, and wanted to nurse, but she was exhausted and in pain (I imagine!!), and had parts of her insides on the outsides. She kicked him a few times, and the other cows were very distressed. The baby tried to get milk from another cow, but she wasn't having any of it, either. Eventually, the cow and calf headed down to the lower pasture, with the others following.
After a bit, Gary herded all the other cows and the bull to the east pasture (no easy feat in the dark), and began to gather whatever the vet might need. He came up with a plan to get the mama into a confined area.
When the vet arrived (it was now between ten and ten thirty), she and her assistant helped Gary, Les, Ryan, Stacy and I herd mama to the confined area. Emily, the assistant, went back out to the pasture and carried the baby back to the same area.
Baby was given a checkup, and then mama was restrained and sedated. Then came the "fun" part. It took about an hour and a half to put that poor cow back together again. Ryan and Stacy took turns rubbing down the baby during this, and my daughter didn't even faint, not even when the mama got a needle in her! (I am so proud of her!)
After all that was over, the vet and Gary milked some of the colostrum from the cow to bottle feed to baby. We tried to get him to nurse, but mama was still not having any part of it. Stacy and Les ran to town to get baby bottles (it had been a LONG time since there were any bottles in this house!). Baby drank 24 ounces of colostrum (yay!) from the bottles, then spent the night in the barn, in a hay pen. Christina and her friend spent the night with him, on cots, to make sure he and mama were ok.
In the morning, the girls called, saying baby wanted out of that pen-he was probably hungry!!-and mama seemed to be ok. Gary went out and brought baby to mama. Mama let him nurse, without too much trouble. Now we wait to see how things go, watch for infection in mama, and keep an eye on their general well-being.
The calf is a bull, and he is quite lovely in the daylight. I will try to get a picture-he has white stars/stripes on the front of his hind legs.
Many thanks to everyone involved. Tiffany and Danette were so helpful! The vet was wonderful, as was her assistant. Stacy, Les, and Ryan rocked! And the "barn angels" were wonderful!
Yesterday, Gary came in from the grocery store, saying that it looked like one of the cows was going to calve. That was at 6:45-7:00 p.m. By 7:45, this little guy was born.
That wasn't the end of the story, however. Mama was in a little distress; she was worried about her baby, lowing while he was trying to gain his feet. She had her back end away from us, but eventually Danette said it looked like she had a prolapsed uterus. How did she know that? you might ask. Well, apparently she has read James Herriot - a LOT - and what was happening to the cow looked just as he described.
So, the scramble was on to find a vet. We were called back by one from town-she has only been in the area for 3 weeks! She said she needed to find some help, and would be here soon.
Mama cow was NOT happy with the baby by this time. He had gained his feet, and wanted to nurse, but she was exhausted and in pain (I imagine!!), and had parts of her insides on the outsides. She kicked him a few times, and the other cows were very distressed. The baby tried to get milk from another cow, but she wasn't having any of it, either. Eventually, the cow and calf headed down to the lower pasture, with the others following.
After a bit, Gary herded all the other cows and the bull to the east pasture (no easy feat in the dark), and began to gather whatever the vet might need. He came up with a plan to get the mama into a confined area.
When the vet arrived (it was now between ten and ten thirty), she and her assistant helped Gary, Les, Ryan, Stacy and I herd mama to the confined area. Emily, the assistant, went back out to the pasture and carried the baby back to the same area.
Baby was given a checkup, and then mama was restrained and sedated. Then came the "fun" part. It took about an hour and a half to put that poor cow back together again. Ryan and Stacy took turns rubbing down the baby during this, and my daughter didn't even faint, not even when the mama got a needle in her! (I am so proud of her!)
After all that was over, the vet and Gary milked some of the colostrum from the cow to bottle feed to baby. We tried to get him to nurse, but mama was still not having any part of it. Stacy and Les ran to town to get baby bottles (it had been a LONG time since there were any bottles in this house!). Baby drank 24 ounces of colostrum (yay!) from the bottles, then spent the night in the barn, in a hay pen. Christina and her friend spent the night with him, on cots, to make sure he and mama were ok.
In the morning, the girls called, saying baby wanted out of that pen-he was probably hungry!!-and mama seemed to be ok. Gary went out and brought baby to mama. Mama let him nurse, without too much trouble. Now we wait to see how things go, watch for infection in mama, and keep an eye on their general well-being.
Many thanks to everyone involved. Tiffany and Danette were so helpful! The vet was wonderful, as was her assistant. Stacy, Les, and Ryan rocked! And the "barn angels" were wonderful!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Sew what?
One Jr. bridesmaid outfit, done! So, one whole outfit done, one is like 97% done (I need more lace to finish), one groom's jacket done. Wanna see? Leave me a comment, if you see something you like!
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