Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tempting Fate...
This is Specter eating a frozen breakfast and one very brave, very hungry, or very stupid (your choice) Magpie.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Our second feral cat - Loper. He's smaller and younger than Specter. He's not as skittish as Specter. He will run just out of sight when we feed them and can be seen peeking around the corner while I put out the food.
Roger shot this photo a few days ago when Loper came to eat breakfast (frozen cat food - it's really cold outside).
As shy as the cats are, there are times when we see them sitting right outside the glass doors peering into the house. I think they really are curious. I wish we could makes friends with them, even if I am allergic to cats.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
I guess you know (from my lack of posting this last week) that we have not done much on the barn lately. I’ve been wrapping Christmas gifts and baking cookies. Roger has been working outdoors on the Christmas lights.
The lights are a valid project; one we decided last year would be good for this year. Unfortunately, the project has involved a lot of preparation.
We dug trenches (Roger did) last summer and laid down some water lines for the 9 fir trees and single maple tree lining the driveway. We also put down some electrical wire before we filled in the trench. The trees have benefited from the extra water: it has been dry this year. But, it must have looked curious from the standpoint that we had fence posts staked out at each tree with wire tied around them. Maybe people were too busy noticing the lights on the hill and didn’t notice the wires sticking out of the ground. Then again, maybe they’ve come to expect the unexpected at the RJ Ranch.
We (Roger again) dug a trench across the driveway and ran the wires to the pipe the previous owner was kind enough to install in the cement under the drive so that electricity could be run to the other side (where the trees are located). I’m not sure what we are doing is what he had in mind when he put in the pipe but we do thank him for the foresight to do it. That’s where the work on the lights stopped; wires sticking out of the ground and out of the side of the house (until now).
Roger has spent the last two days finishing the wiring to the trees. The trees are now ready for lights; the next step. He gave me a small display of what it will look like when completely finished. I can hardly wait to post a photo of the completed project.
I took the photos of Roger as he was trying to figure out what wires went where. He tells me he likes to work on electrical things because electricity doesn't leak. That may be true but I also know that even though it doesn't leak, I know it bites.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
KIDSLets see, we bought dolls, puzzles, magnetic numbers and alphabet for the refrigerator. We bought color books and dinosaur toys, videos and sticker books. We even heated and chlorinated the swimming pool.
Now, what do you suppose was their favorite 'toy'?
Friday, November 10, 2006
BARN UPDATE... November 2006
We now have the exterior roll up door installed (no more chasing panicked birds out of the barn). There's still a bit of trim work to do on the door but that's a minor issue at this point.
We also have a second roll up door installed to Roger's work shop. This is so he can roll his electric VW in and out of the shop.
We still have the small openings running the full 60' length of the barn to seal up but that should not be that difficult.
It looks like he's getting ready to insulate the work shop. It looks cozy doesn't it?
I get the feeling my studio (on the other side of the barn) is going to be delayed a bit longer.
A FAMILY VISIT
Well, it's about time I got back to work. We just spent the last week with my son, my daughter-in-law and my two grandchildren. We didn't really go many places, just stayed here.
The weather didn't cooperate fully. It wasn't really cold (except for the first day) so we were able to go out without freezing. It rained every day. We showed them around the ranch and the sites of our little town.
We heated the pool so everyone got a chance to swim and play in the water. I think everyone had a great time.
We did have a bit of a problem with the flu bug so we washed a lot of sheets, bedspreads, clothes, etc.
I now remember why God gave children to young people. I really had forgotten.
They left to return home on Tuesday. I had to work so Roger took them to the airport. It was a great visit and I hope everyone returns again soon. They are a handsome family aren't they?
Well, it's about time I got back to work. We just spent the last week with my son, my daughter-in-law and my two grandchildren. We didn't really go many places, just stayed here.
The weather didn't cooperate fully. It wasn't really cold (except for the first day) so we were able to go out without freezing. It rained every day. We showed them around the ranch and the sites of our little town.
We heated the pool so everyone got a chance to swim and play in the water. I think everyone had a great time. 
James had a ride in the helicopter while we were taking photos with the pumpkins.
We did have a bit of a problem with the flu bug so we washed a lot of sheets, bedspreads, clothes, etc.
I now remember why God gave children to young people. I really had forgotten.
They left to return home on Tuesday. I had to work so Roger took them to the airport. It was a great visit and I hope everyone returns again soon. They are a handsome family aren't they?