Sunday

Now playing on XM Radio, Johnny Cash "Riders in the Sky."

The Prime Country Channel on XM is playing special Halloween songs this morning. I never dreamed there were so many songs written about ghosts, bones, the devil,and other scary things.


Another picture of the old home town. The former Prom Queen used to work here part time, the famous Derby bar and supper club. Good steaks!


This is the back of the building. It has been gutted by a fire. Evidently someone used the old gambling room, where Nick used to let drunk sheepherders and others sleep. The fire started in the old matress, so they think somebody was sleeping there. I wonder if it's haunted?

Another photo. I think I rode to the prom in the blue one.

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Took over an hour to get my computer started this morning. The screen said something about damaged start up files, and looked for repairs. After a long time, it asked me to do a system restore, which I did. Then it started, but I couldn't get on the home network. Restarted it again, and I think I am up and running again.

My upstairs room is so cluttered it is driving me nuts. I organized a few art supplies, and now I am going through a huge stack of art magazines. I'm tearing out a few pages, and the rest will go to the recycling center. Stuff has to either be put away somewhere, or get thrown out.

Friday

I finally tried the new Daniel Smith triad I got. Don't ask me why the bird on top of the birdhouse ended up looking more like a duck. This is tiny, only about 4" x 5"

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Thanks to Tracy, I have a couple pictures to post today. She sent me several.

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I need to watch the schedule more closely for the Radio Classics channel on XM. There are some good old radio shows on there. Most of Sunday is "Halloween Hitchcock" - 18 hours of radio shows or adaptations of some of his movies.

On Monday, some of the programs are the old Jack Benny radio shows, Fibber McGee and Molly, Our Miss Brooks, The Green Hornet, and Sherlock Holmes. They used to have the old Lone Ranger programs, but aren't able to carry those any longer, for some reason.

Do you know why The Lone Ranger and Tonto had a falling out?

Wednesday

Now playing on XM, Orson Wells, "The Shadow". (Old Time Radio.)

I bet this is the most unique jack-0-lantern in town. Barrie got a pumpkin that was not quite right. The bottom is out of line, and it won't stand up. So she carved the face in it sideways, and keeps the lid on with duct tape.

I've always said you can fix anything with three items - duct tape, WD-40, and baling wire.

Chloe showed up on the front porch again, and we let her in. KC is so delighted with this cat. Chloe loves to be petted, and tolerates being picked up. She just kind of turns into a slinky.

Heading out to feed.

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We all did "negative painting" in art group this morning. I didn't end up with much.

I ate the last of my QVC sirloin steaks last night. So I ordered more today. They are from Kansas City Steak Co., not too expensive, and very good.

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A little trivia from XM radio - the most popular Halloween costume this year is a Chilean miner. Sarah Pallin is still a very popular costume for girls.

And some guy in England has been saving his belly button lint for 26 years.

Now playing on XM radio, Vince Gill - "Liza Jane

My friend Nancy J. sent me these two photos of a black fawn. I've seen albinos before, but never a black one. Great pictures.

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Tracy called. They were getting some snow (Silverthrone, Co). She wants to do the last three months of her life over again - the refrigerator in their camper won't work, after spending a lot of money to have it fixed. A tire blew on their boat trailer when Paul was bringing the boat back from Denver to have it winterized. Their hot tub spring another leak. The gas fireplace isn't working, and the glass is broken. The washer at their condo in Fla. flooded the bathroom.

Sunday

The leaves on my quakies are falling. The ground is gold! Something tells me this might all be white soon, so I better look at it while I can.



These are the cottonwood trees in the back yard of the house down the street. I love the old corner posts of the fence there. Might be a painting in this? Most of the fence has fallen down.

I'm trying to decide what I want to paint in art group next week. We are going to do a project - negative painting, and we are going to use the same colors. Should be interesting.

For my friends who are bored with life and looking for other interests: Chinese scientists announced that they're looking to add new members to their special team searching for Bigfoot in the Hubei Province.

http://www.wikihow.com/Search-for-Bigfoot

Finished a painting

Now playing on XM radio, Garth Brooks, "The Dance".




I am calling this one finished. I left a lot of white space. Not sure I've got enought lights and darks in the car.

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The cat was busy playing with a toy this morning. After a while I noticed the toy was moving. Yeah, another mouse. I didn't want to stay around and watch the torture, so I went downstairs. After a while, the cat came down and lay down by my feet and stretched. So I came back upstiars. No mouse.

I looked and looked. Finally tipped the recliner chair over, and a dead mouse fell out.

So another one bit the dust. Kat is sound asleep on the top shelf of her cat tree.

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I finished the book "Tempt Me" in one night. 'nuff said. Now I need a good book to read.

I remember winter!

Do you remember winter? You know, when it's all white outside and cold? Should be here by now, but I'm afraid the National Weather Service has screwed it up. They have forecast cold and snow. Every time they make a forecast, it's wrong. So we'll see. Maybe we really will get some winter weather.

I searched my bookshelves for a cheerful and happy book today. I finished "Grapes of Wrath." last night. I've read it before, so I knew what was going to happen, but what a depressing read! I found a book called "Tempt me Tonight." Have no idea where it came from, but it was on my bookshelves.

Wednesday

Here are three portraits Vicky brought to share. She did them a long time ago. Aren't they great? What talent she has!




This is the Rhinestone Cowgirl. That's what her shirt says, anyway. Those things on her legs are spurs.

I let Kasey take a picture all on her own with my compact digital camera. I think I've created a monster. She wanted to use one of my big DSLR cameras, but I didn't think that was a good idea.

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Art Group was enjoyable today. We almost filled the room. Les Burroughs joined us. He does beautiful oil paintings. After seeing what he was working on, I now have the urge to get my oild paints out. Sure wish I had more time!! I thought retirees were supposed to have lots of time on their hands. Not true!

KC was hanging out with me upstairs last night. She is determined that Kat is going to let her pick her up some day. Don't think it's going to happen. Kasey was on the floor under my drawing table, trying to get the cat to be friendly - and she said "Grandma, there's a mouse."

Sure enough, the cat had left me another dead mouse. It was under the drawing table, in the shadow, and a mouse kind of matches my carpet. Sure glad Kasey found it!

Now playing on my iPod, Ian Tyson, "Early Morning Rain."


Barrie let KC get some candy last time they were at the store. This is gross stuff! Kasey took a bite of hers and tried to get Barrie to eat the rest of the piece. I tried it and threw it away.

Vicky sent me some really funny photos. You are supposed to guess what it is. I only got three of them right. I won't make anyone guess on this - it's an iPod. (eye pod)

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I hope no one is offended by this. My step daughter-in-law sent it to me. It makes me laugh. Click on the picture to see the animation.

If your computer does this when downloading a file, You know it is infected with some kinda shit

Now playing on my iPod, Nancy Sinatra, "Boots".

Hmmm - I was prom queen in this town, about a hundred years ago.

The dance student.

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I just made curry white sauce with hard boiled eggs in it, and ate it over rice. I don't know anyone else who will eat that, but I love it.

The National Novel Writing Month is starting in November. I did it last year, and am planning on doing it again this year.

Sunday

Now playing on XM Radio - Josh Thompson, "Way Out There."

I love the lyrics to this song: "Dogs run loose, we smoke and chew, and fry everything out here."

I think I used to live there!

I pulled this out and finished it today. Had to straighten the shoreline (Judi always tells me when it's not straight) and work on the reflections in the water. It's better, but definitely not one of my best.


The quakies in my front yard have finally changed color. They are so slow every year. Slow to leaf out and slow to turn gold.

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Started a monumental project today, and not sure how far I'll get. My Dad served in the South Pacific during WWII. My mother saved every letter he wrote, plus newspaper clippings and other papers. Before she died, she took all this to a copy shop and made notebooks, or scrapbooks. I think she had three or four copies made. They completely fill two big three ring notebooks, and each page is in archival plastic sleeves.

I started reading it all before, but didn't get through them. I have decided to try again.

Saturday

This is a photo I took at the CCC ponds a couple years ago, and applied an infrared filter to it.



Hard to believe. This picture was taken from the exact same spot I'm sitting in my upstairs room right night. This was the destrucation phase.

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Barrie says she is never going to to the Food Basket again. Judi told her there were some special pumpkin carving knives there. She and Kasey went, and came home with a Fisher Price lawnmover, a little bike, and princess truck, and I don't know what else!

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I learned a "new" word from the Stephen King book I just read. It's not one of his novels, it's the book he wrote about his writing. The word is "fuhgeddaboutit".

I heard some guy on XM radio say yesterday that they are getting a new channel. It will be the "Hitler" channel during the day, and the "Drug" channel at night. WHAT?? That's got to be a joke, or somebody's sick idea of a joke.

Friday

Now playing on ny iPod, Kate Wolf "Eyes of a Painter."



I did a quick painting yesterday. This is a Strathmore greeting card.

Kasey got a pumpkin yesterday at Ridley's. We didn't carve a jack-0-lantern last year. We'll see how artistic Barrie is.

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There must not be any news in the world since the miners were rescued. in ABC news this morning, there is an article about Cheney shooting the guy with buckshot five years ago while hunting quail. Seems Cheney never apologized. At least that's what the article says.

Thursday

KC loves to paint. Sometimes it takes the tongue sticking out to get it just right.



(Blogger is a pain in the neck sometimes. There was supposed to be a short video
here of Kasy practicing her dance moves. Maybe another day.)

KC is taking a dance class.

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To "Anonymous" who left a comment on my blog yesterday, that's great that you find it somewhat enteretaining. But please don't bother telling me when you get high. I really don't give a damn.

Tuesday

Now playing on XM Highway - Carrie Underwood, "I Don't Even Know My Last Name."


I wonder if I will ever get this painting finished. I've been at it for several weeks.

I gave Kasey a magnifying glass to play with last night.

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KC has a new thing going. Last night, I said "I wonder where my camera is?" She said, "I think Momma moved it." This morning Barrie asked her where her pink jacket was, and she said "I think Grandma moved it."

I think I should teach her to answer "Damned if I know."

Star Wars

Star Wars DUH! There are several episodes of Star Wars. So wouldn't you think the orignal Star Wars would be Episode I? Wrong! When they released the movie again, they called it Episode IV. And I have it. So I watched it today.

Kind of a silly movie, actually.

Sunday

The news about the "red sludge" in Hungary is despressing. And so is the story about 12 young women overdosing at a college party.

On the other hand, some good news. The miners in Chile who have been trapped underground for sixty-some days are being rescued. Wish there was some way to filter the news before you read it and read only the good news.

Printed on a tee shirt.

The movie "Star Wars" was a total bust. First, I could not get the VCR player to play with the TV. So I changed some connection. Still wouldn't work. So I made Barrie come up and help me. Finally - Yay.

And then the movie was not Episode 1 - is was number 4 or something. So I guess I'll have to keep looking for the original episode.

Saturday

I have been wanting to see the orignal Star Wars, and it's hard to find. I got a collection of three episodes that I thought it was in, and it wasn't. I finally found this some strange place on the Internet. It is a VHS tape.

Maybe it will be a good way to spend a windy afternoon.

Got three new tubes of Daniel Smith Paint. It's their "Birdhouse Triad." I love to paint using only three colors.

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Why does the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize always cause so much fighting? Last year it was Obama, and people threw a fit. This year it's an imprisoned Chinese guy, and the citizens of China are throwing a fit!

Now playing on XM Radio, Dan Seals "Meet me in Montana".


I've been meaning to post this picture for a while - it's one of the gates on the road to Barrie's dog lot. Does this mean "No Tresspassing, but if you do, please close the gate?"

Took this early last spring right after we got Maddie. Kat was sitting in the bedroom window downstairs checking her out.

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Got our money from the silent auction yesterday. I think we all sold things, and are ready to do it again next year.

We (the art group) bought Cindi flowers in appreciation for all her help getting it all set up. She's wonderful!

Tuesday - visit from Chloe

Kasey was delighted this morning to find Chloe on the front porch. She fed her and watered her, and wanted to pick her up. I wasn't sure how Chloe would react, but Barrie said "Well, I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

It's kind of like picking up a Slinky.

"See Grandma? She likes it."

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After Chloe was here, Kat came upstairs and fought with her tail for a while. Now she's cuddled up sound asleep on my feet. But I can't pet her. Besides being weird about being petted, she never purrs - Never!

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Summer is officially over - Barrie rolled up the hoses today and put away all the stuff that's been on the lawn.

Sunday

Now playing on XM Radio - Montgomery Gentry "Back When I Knew it All."

I've spent a lazy Sunday with my colored pencils and a book. This chickadee is little - only about 3". This paper doesn't let me do much detail. But I still enjoyed messing around with my colored pencils.

The book I'm reading is Steinbeck, "The Grapes of Wrath". I've seen the movie, and I'm sure I read it sometime in the past too. But it's been a long time.

I copied a line from Steinbeck's "Travels with Charlie.." He mentioned how much Seattle had grown, and he wrote "I wonder why progress looks so much like destruction?"

He could have been writing about Pinedale today, don't you think?

Flat Bed

After

Room for lots of dogs!

Before


Barrie's Dad has been working on her truck - took the bed off and made it into a flat bed, then mounted her old dog boxes. She has gone from eight boxes to twenty four! Nice.

Here is how I spend my days.

Friday

Now playing on XM - Sawyer Brown, "Some Girls Do".

It's strange to stilll have dandelions blooming in October!

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I’m on my soapbox. I can’t believe this:

More than 10 million children's toys have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the toys' manufacturer Fisher Price, the CPSC announced today.

The toy giant has recalled toys -- including tricycles and play places -- citing potential dangers from falling onto certain protruding parts and choking hazards from small parts.

Who the heck are these guys on the Product Safety Commission? Do the taxpayers pay their wages? I’m sure the underlying idea here is good – protect the people, right? But let’s use a little common sense, please. Ohmigosh! Heaven forbid a child should trip or fall! Or swallow something they shouldn’t.

This pisses me off. Think of the cost to the taxpayers for these guys’ wages, and the cost to Fisher Price, the “villains.”

I guess I should never have allowed my girls to climb trees or play in a treehouse, (sorry about that, Tracy) or ride a horse, ride a bike, or play with small rocks, buttons, or nuts and bolts, or hammers and nails.

Another thought – When I buy something that is “sealed for my protection”, I am tempted to open it by smashing it with a hammer.

Okay, I feel better. Have a nice day, everyone. Don't trip over any Fisher Price toys.