Coneflower Ranch

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

BFF Becky and I went to bingo last night! 

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This was quite unusual because we only go during the summer and only on work nights if, A) Becky has a rare Thursday off or B) when BBF Becky's husband's work collegue, Robert is in town.

This week the reason fell under the catagory of "B".  Robert was in town.

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And when Robert is in town, that means that Becky's husband Andy gets to is forced to come too! 

 

 

Doesn't he looked thrilled?

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Unlike Robert who embraces everything about it.  Including the rules.

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 There's a lot of rules in bingo.  Who knew?! 

Of course Robert is so funny we were a little loud and they almost had to separate us.  Like in school.

 

They made Becky put her head down for a two minute time out.  But that's a story for another time.

 

 

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There were moments when I thought that Andy and Robert were going to get a time out.

 

Andy is giving Robert the loser sign here. 

Um, Andy, you do realize that you are playing bingo on a Wednesday night, right?

 

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And although all three of them made fun of the random good luck charms I brought with me last night, guess who was the only person that wasn't a loser at our table?

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 Yup! HA!  So there!  I think they will think twice next time before they make fun of my Harry Potter pin and Plaza Hotel swizzle stick.  But that's a story for another time...

Taking the new lense out for a test drive!

Bought my new Nikon 35mm lense today and having some fun!  Here's a sample of the results:

Timmy nose

Cookie monster

Timmy is my poser.  It's as if he knows I'm taking his picture!

This is his, "Hand over the biscuit and nobody gets hurt" stare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Timmy lights

Love the 3D effect that this lense gives.

 

 

Please joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was finally able to gain enough cooperation to get a decent picture of Joy! 

 

I'm sure it had nothing what so ever to do with the cookie in my right hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony & joy 2

Here they are.  Daddy and his other little girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony & joy

I think it's pretty obvious how much the man loves this dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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He's been overly protective of her since the day we brought her home.

 

 

 

And I'm pretty sure, no, I'm POSITIVE, without a doubt the feeling is mutual.

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Prostitutes, Lepers & Convicts, oh my!

I had my last of 2 craft/festivals of the season on Saturday. It was a great success!

Here's my display:

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What you can't see completely in the photo is the red poster on the wall behind the table with my soap display. It says "Lepers, Prostitutes and Convicts are welcome here at United Church of Christ". haha, yes, I don't discriminate, I'll sell to anyone. A few of the shoppers had fun with that one.

And here is one of the non-leper, prostitute or convict shoppers BFF Becky!! She loves my candles! She made me take a break and eat something while she manned my booth. I have to admit that she is a MUCH better salesperson than I am. I've decided that I can never do another show without her.

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It sounds so much more convincing when SHE is singing the praises of my products. And people listen!

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Thanks Becky!  You're the best NON-prostitute, leper or convict spokesmodel a friend could have!  Love ya tons!

 

 

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winnahh!!

Ever since Alexa did this:

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                          And started this:

My baby's first day of College

 
she's been worried that she is the only one that hasn't decided what she's passionate about and what to choose as a major. We assured her that most students aren't sure and even change their minds the first year and not to worry, but we are her parents, what do we know?

Well, I'm happy to report that my baby has chosen law. I have to say this wasn't a surprise to me. The pre-law course options are right up her alley, plus, she loves to argue, can be very manipulative, and knows just how to bend the truth without really telling a lie.

So in approximately 6 years, if you are in need of legal counsel please feel free to give my baby a try.
I promise you will get more of this:

Alexa highlighted eyes

And less of this:

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Words

Aftermath
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When the summer fields are mown, 
When the birds are fledged and flown,                       

Bokeh assignment fall 1

 
And the dry leaves strew the path; 
With the falling of the snow, 
With the cawing of the crow, 
Once again the fields we mow 
And gather in the aftermath. 

Not the sweet, new grass with flowers 
Is this harvesting of ours; 
Not the upland clover bloom; 
But the rowen mixed with weeds, 
Tangled tufts from marsh and meads, 
Where the poppy drops its seeds 
In the silence and the gloom.

Aftermath

Oh, how I will miss you...

I welcome Fall.  It's my favorite season with Spring as a close second.  Cool, crisp days, cuddling under the blankets at night and the lowest electric bills we see all year!  The only down side (besides the comforter har har) is saying goodbye to my lovely garden until next year...

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I will miss you dear coneflowers.  Your abundance in my gardens inspired the name of my business.  Working just won't be the same without you but I will welcome your children next spring with open arms. 

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In the meantime you will help to feed the finches, life goes on...

 

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Oh, dear bagonia, Tony picked you out himself...you served us well in attracting the many hummingbirds to our deck.  Thank you.

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My oldest and dearest friend to my garden Stella D'oro lillies, you were there for me all summer always fending for yourself in the dryest of days and never once complaining or refusing to bloom.  I will see you again and your new offspring next spring.

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Purple Astors, I hardly knew ye.  Thank you for decorating my pond during this fall transition.  I'm so sorry I wasn't outside in the rainy time to appreciate you beauty enough, but there's always next year.

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Flowering Dogwood we were in awe of your abundant blossoms in spring. You now have the ability to feed the birds with your red berries.  Thank you for your continued support!

 

 

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Last but now least, Gerbera Daisy, you are literally the last of your kind in my flower pots.  Thank you for popping up unexpectantly last week and surprising me with one more fresh summer bloom.  You're gorgeous and will be sorely missed but have inspired me to plant them again in my pots next season.

 

Goodbye, farewell.... 

 

 

Morning sun...two ways...

I took this photo Sunday morning.  I bravely flipped to the manual function on my camera and played with the aperature and speed settings.  Very cool!

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I took these this morning, about an hour ago when I got out of bed, grabbed a cup of coffee, and saw what the sunrise looked liked:

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What a lovely surprise to look at while I enjoyed my coffee! 

Animal rescue request

This is a repost of an entry from my Live Journal friend Valerie Fausone.  Please read.  Thanks!

 

This is reposted with permission from http://bluesgirly.livejournal.com/

Dearest Readers:

I am posting a special story today and asking for your help. This week, LJ reader jeditigger sent me a message asking for my help with a dog case (out of Leland, Mississippi)  she'd heard about, wondering if there was anything I could do for this animal. Our rescue policy prohibits taking dogs from out of state because we operate with the spirit of saving the dogs in our community as a #1 priority. Six million dogs die every single year in America, put to sleep due to over over population, and Sonoma county is full of homeless dogs. I told jeditigger  I would look into it, but in the back of my mind, I knew, taking on a dog that wasn't local was going to be a hell of a job.

Once I read April's story, and saw her picture, I sent in on to Mary, our director. In an instant, we knew, we had to act. We've been in constant contact with the rescue authorities in Leland, Mississippi, and they've agreed to let us take April. Ladies and gentlemen, here is April and her story:

April, the burned Pit mix, on death row!!!!  April survived a fire, rescued from a burning building, as she tried to save her puppies, who all perished. April spent months at the vet's recovering from her burns which was a painful and difficult process. She suffered permanent disfigurement to her back and feet from the burns. April has been cared for by angels in the Mississippi Delta, who operate with almost no resources. After 8 months, nobody has come forward to adopt her so she was about to be put down. The rescue ladies at  arrf-arrf.org did not give up and fought like gladiators to get help for this dog. April survived heart worm, the fire and losing all her puppies.

All Aboard Rescue, my rescue, agreed to take April. Once she arrives, we will hold her at our ranch until suitable foster care can be found (like my house after Kitty gets a home) and we will ensure she is adopted by the best family possible, no matter what or no matter how long, it takes. We will insist on an adoption contract that allows us to follow up on April's progress, in person, for the rest of her life. April is going to California, for permanent security and care.

I am asking for donations for the considerable transport costs and for money to take care of April. I want her seen by a vet at UC Davis to evaluate her skin. April's days of suffering are over. Period.

As a mother, I could not let this dog die in a shelter like a piece of garbage. Life is not black and white and sometimes, rules need to be broken. We have a rough website that isn't even finished yet, but the PayPal link works. Any donation you make will go 100% for April. Stuff we need for administrative tasks, like envelopes and pens, we steal LMAO! BUT ONLY FROM OUR FRIENDS. We need to get her here and that's my first concern. Anything you can do, whether it's give money or send her a prayer for wellness and strength, is appreciated. Also, I am begging on my knees like a money whore so this is what my life has come to.

My first Live Journal dog rescue! Donation link is below.

http://allaboardanimalsearchandrescue.com/index.html 

THANK YOU! Please re-post if you can and I wish you a great weekend. Things are looking up for April. Many thanks to Linda and Ann from arrf-arrf. You are fighting the good fight sisters.... and the only way to win is never, ever, give up.

I WON! I WON! I WON!!!!

The lottery?  Um, no...

 

But....

 

 

 

I FINALLY WON AT BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Last week I won a smaller amount about $50 but this week, amazingly, I won again!  $65!  And even though it's not the Megamillion Jackpot, it sure feels good to win something, anything, and Becky and I have a blast!

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We laugh the whole time and that's worth more than anything!

 

 

 

Oh, before I forget, BFF Becky won too!

 

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Becky seems to win a lot...she's either very skilled at Bingo, wears a lucky charm or something!

 

And speaking of lucky charms, this fella may be ours...

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This is Clem, Bingo caller extrodinaire!  He made us feel welcome from the first day we arrived!  I had a picture of Clem and me, um, but unfortunately, BFF Becky was not clear on how to use my camera and we came out looking like blurry blobs. ;-)  We'll try again next time!  See, I'm already convinced I'll win again!

 

If something seems too good to be true it probably is...

And in this case it DEFINITELY was!  I went out with my friend/realtor Ginna today to see a home I found online.  Foreclosure, bank owned, 5 years old, on over an acre, 4 bedrooms, quiet dead end street with lovely homes in the neighborhood and everything I wanted in a home for the bargain price (for Chester County) of $224,000.  As soon as we walked in the house, or really even before (there was some vandalism damage to the outside light fixtures and gutters) we saw why:

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This is the kitchen ceiling.  Ginna did warn me before we arrived that sometimes in foreclosed homes people do damage to the home before they leave.  My first thought was, "MY GAWN!  THAT COLOR IS HORRENDOUS!!!"  even before I thought about the hole in the ceiling, the missing appliances, and the missing cabinets!  Our theory is that the people left either before or during winter.  Of course there was no heat.  Pipe froze and burst.  Unintended consequences.

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The rest of the house looks fine (and is exactly what I want) although there is a pungent mold smell, which I guess would be expected, who knows how long the water was pouring out of there!  The bank is only offering a $20,000 credit for repairs and upgrades (there is no deck or front sidewalk).  And to that I say HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!  Good luck with that!  Ginna and I figured you'd have to bring a contractor in to see the real extent of the damage and we estimated that it should really sell for $150,000 with all that needs to be done.  I just don't think I have the energy to do it. 

The other home we looked at was a charming house over 200 years old.  It's the kind of classic Chester County farmhouse with super deep window sills, original glass in the windows, hardwood plank flooring and at least 3 working fireplaces (one in the upstairs bedroom).  Dutch doors!  Dutch doors!  Original Dutch doors!!!  I have this weird admiration for Dutch doors.  Don't judge me... There's a brick bake oven in the kitchen (which has a fieldstone wall.  the outside wall of the house before adding the kitchen) and an original beehive oven in the basement.  There was an original well and spring house out front.  My favorite part was the 41 foot enclosed porch on the front of the house all 5-6 foot windows across.  The price was definitely reasonable for a house with that much charm and history.  Unfortunately there are always the drawbacks.  The property backs up to the Rt. 30 by-pass.  And even though there is about 100 yards of woods between the house and the road, and a bamboo screen, it is still loud to me when you are outside.  Inside with the windows closed you can still hear it but not nearly as loud, which makes sense with 2-foot thick walls!  Gravel driveway tends to wash out.  The only shower is in the downstairs bathroom.  The one upstairs only has a claw foot tub.  The 4th bedroom can only be accessed through the bathroom!  Ha ha, I believe that's called an attic!  The rooms are much smaller than they appear online.  Floors need work.  I noticed mold on the attic/bedroom ceiling, kitchen needs update/remodel, and the entire house needs paint.  Other than that, it's perfect! ;-)  If I could live on the 41 ft porch, I'd take it!  This one would probably take more work (that we we would have to do ourselves) in the long run.  Unfortunately it just doesn't provide us with the space that we need, but fortunately we are in no hurry!