Thursay

These little tomatoes are growing in my dining room window. Pretty tasty. There's supposed to be a pepper plant in there, and I see it's got one bloom on it. But I think it's been kind of crowded out by the tomatoes. This is in one of those AeroGrow gardens. I'm going to Colorado for the weekend to see Paul and Tracy. Charmian is going to Frisco (CO) to see some friends, and invited me to ride along.

A long time ago, I used to enjoy a cartoon in the newspaper, but couldn't think what it was called. Thanks to dreaming about it and Google, I found a few samples of the cartoon. "Droodles" (doodle/riddles) were created in the 1950s by humorist Roger Price.

Maybe no one else sees the humor in these, but they still make me laugh.

A ship coming too late to rescue a drowning witch.

Four elephants sniffing an orange.

An egg, sunny side down.

A worm on roller skates.

A pig coming out of the fog.

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What is this from?

"Keep your stick on the ice."

Tuesday

I,m sure this is at least a six foot fence. Maybe more.

This is Panda, Barrie's newest dog. This reminds me of those pits or whatever they call them - that kids skate board in

I tried to upload a video Barrie took from her dog sled the other day, but I finally gave up. Maybe the file is too large. She posted it on Facebook. Maybe I will too.

Barrie sent Kasey upstairs to ask me if I was hungry. When Kasey came up, she started telling me about a dead bird at Grandad's house and forgot about breakfast. Barrie gave up and just yelled to me upstairs.

She fixed me a wonderful plate of sausage, eggs, and hash browns. I showed my appreciation by dribbling egg yolk down the front of my shirt.

Monday

Judi had a picture of these mailboxes up Horse Creek, and I knew I had an old photo somewhere. I finally found it, and you'll never guess where - yeah, in the basement. I have an antique oak dresser down there that was my grandmothers. Seems Barrie filled one of the drawers with good stuff

Had my own darkroom back then, and I think probably Barrie developed the film and printed this herself. The mailbox on the left is for Boroff, Roberts, and Thompson. A couple of them are old refrigerators.

I had these two pen and ink drawings in frames. I decided today to take them out of the frames and put in some of the colored pencil drawings I did of Barrie's sled dogs. Maybe Barrie will hang them up.

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Barrie and I actually cooked together last night. She fried hamburger steaks, and I made fresh french fries. Yumm - peeled and cut up the potatoes and fried them in my deep fryer. What? Eating healthy you say? Forget it!

Saturday

Some time ago, I asked Cat for a good photo of Rant, one of her sheep guard dogs. I finished this colored pencil drawing of him and put it up on the wall in the Art Room at Rendezvous Pointe. I e-mailed Cat and told her it was there. She went in to look at it and nabbed it.

She posted this drawing to Stephen Bodio's blog (she is a regular contributor there.) Here's the link if you would like to see Stephen's blog and see what Cat wrote about the picture.

Nice compliment!

http://stephenbodio.blogspot.com/2011/03/rants-work-of-art.html

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What a hard day I've had! Had to go downstairs and make my own coffee. Then I found the WD40 and sprayed the plunger on my water spray bottle. Then I made some changes on my playlists and synchronized my iPod.

Maybe I'll make my bed . . . . later.

Friday

Barrie took her camera with her when she and Kasey went to feed the dogs yesterday. I stole some pictures.

There's a small girl child in there somewhere.

Notice the frost on Jarvi's hair.

Kasey and Tank.

Kasey and Nellie.

Kasey and Moose. He looks like he's enjoying this.

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My uncle Bill (Mom's brother) died yesterday in Torrington. He would have been 98 this summer. He ranched all his life. He gave up his ranch at Hawk Springs and was living in a nursing home in Torrington.

Now playing on my iPod, Bobbie Gentry, "Ode to Billy Joe".

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I've never understood that song. What did she and Billy Jo throw off the Tallahache Bridge? So I googled it. First, Bobbie Gentry admitted she did't have anything in mind when she wrote the song. She didn't even know what they threw off. The most popular idea seemed to be a baby. But now I find they made a movie of this. Billy Jo was black, and he was gay.

Okay, I'm not sure I want to know any more about the story.

A long time ago, I visited Paul and Tracy when they lived in Aspen. President Bush and Margaret Thatcher came to town, and I bought this commenorative envelope. I stood out on the highway and watched the cars come in. I'm sure Bush and Thatcher were in one of the black limosines, but the windows are dark and you can't see in them.

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Got my income tax finished and e-filed today. I think I better rest now.

The people in the humor writing class have talked about a writer named Dave Barry. I downloaded one of his books to my Kindle and finished it last night. I laughed all the way through it. The name of the book I read is "Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys." It's a good read.

New Artwork on display

Vicky's beautiful rabbit.

Terry's colors in her snow picture are incredible.

Wow! Linda just whipped this one out during art group this morning. She should be proud.

Les has three beautiful oil paintings up on the wall.

Isn't this a gorgeous fish? Another one of Conley's paintings.

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My horoscope just told me in so many words to stop shopping. Darn! I want a new tube of paint - that beautiful red color Linda used on her bird.

Took this picture out my upstairs window yesterday. Typical spring day in Pinedale, right? I think Winnie the Pooh would describe this as a "blustery" day.

And she's not even Irish! Kasey tells me that Mamma painted her nails green because everyone would pinch her if she wasn't wearing pink and green.

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Tracy called yesterday. She and Paul are planning their summer trip to Pinedale the 4th of July week, and have a campsite at the lake reserved. While we were talking, she was on her computer and reserved a campsite for me the last week in August. They had that site reserved last year, and then weren't able to come. So Barrie put a tent up, and she and Kasey stayed up there, and I went up during the days.

Judi spent some time up there too. Maybe this year some of us can get together and do some pleine air painting .

When I told Kasey we had the campsite, she informed me we can't go camping until it quits snowing.

Monday March 21

Now playing on XM Radio - Alabama, "If You're Gonna Play in Texas, You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band."

First Day of Spring

A lot of noise and laughter was coming from downstairs, so of course I had to get down there and check it out. Kasey and Barrie were telling Jarvi to "bring the boots." Barrie and I used to do this with her when she was just a pup.

Barrie's big white Sorrels were in the bathroom. Jarvi brought gloves, hats, toys and whatever else she could find. When she finally brought one boot, we all cheered and clapped for her. After she brought the second boot, she laid down and panted. Poor old girl! She's still a pup at heart, even though she's 15.

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The ABC News on my Yahoo page listed three news items, all videos.

• Watch: Child Killed in Family Park Accident
• Watch: College Student Gets Sucker Punched
• Watch: Tiger Woods New Girl Friend

I think I can live without watching any of those.

I really wish I could make a painting from this picture. Maybe I can someday. This guy is gone now. He was a close neighbor to my brother. Either his widow or his daughter posted this on Facebook and I snagged it. I can just SEE this as a painting, and wish I had the talent to do it.

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I see the libarary is showing an R rated film for the Daphne Platts Film Festival. Love it! Does anyone remember when the local movie theater refused to show the movie "Brokeback Mountain", and Daphne showed it at the library, free of charge, and free popcorn? What a great lady!

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I tend to forget the Iditarod Race, but it's not over yet. There are still about five teams out on the trail, but they're close to Nome, God, they must be tired!

My Friend Sally posted this photo about the time change last year. I thought it was funny enough to save and post again.

When I was a member of a photo group, we had scavenger hunts. We were supposed to take a picture of something that showed "The End." I thought this picture did the job.

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I can see I'm going to have to make some changes while I am taking the humor writing course. I have been trying to struggle through Shakespeare - you know, improve my mind and all that stuff. Well, Julius Ceasar is not conducive to humor.

Thursday

The daffodils are open, and Kasey posed for a new picture for me today.

I am taking an online class on humor writing. So the next time you see me, I should be really funny. Be prepared.

Just read on the internet that Sandra Bullock contributed 1 million dollars to the Japan earthquake relief. I remember she did the same thing after the big earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 and the destructive Tsunami resulting from that.

Wednesday

I ate lunch at Rendezvous Pointe today with Judi after art group. Carl and Peggy W. sat with us.

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Barbara always comes late to art group, but today she was especially late. She forgot to set her clocks forward. She had baked a cake for us, and had Vicky frost it. So Vicky brought the cake. It was delicious.

I watched "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid the other day. I've seen it before, but not for a long time. Great movie.

Tracy's Grandad LeClair had stories about Butch. His father, Edmo, had been an Indian Scout and a US Marshall through the years. The old LeClair Ranch was on the Wind River over by Riverton. Tracy's great grandad knew Butch pretty well. It seems that when Butch was on the run, he liked to stop at the LeClair Ranch in the middle of the night and trade their tired horses for fresh ones. And he always left money in Edmo's saddlebags.

He also told that Butch had come back from South America and hired him to take him up in the mountains with a pack horse. Butch took the packhorse off and came back with the packs loaded. When they got out of the mountains, he left with whatever was in the packs.

Well, the story about trading horses I believe. I'm not sure sure about him coming back from South America. After all, I just saw him killed the other night on my TV screen!

Tuesday

Judi stopped by this morning with two daffodils so Kasey can watch them open. It's neat that they they aren't fully opened yet, and KC can see it happen.

Kasey talks about buying flowers for the pots in the yard. She loves flowers. I hope Beau has her nursery again next summer.

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Watched the live finish in Nome of John Baker in the Iditarod this morning. He broke the record set four years ago by about 3 hours. I got tears in my eyes watching it. His daughter was there, and people from his village, including native drummers and singers . He won a new Dodge pickup, plus over $50,000.

The second place winner, Rayme Smyth, was not far behind him.

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I have Barrie's computer up here to install programs on it.

Monday

Still in progress, but I don't have any photos to posts. This silverpoint drawing is on toned paper. I mixed a little sepia watercolor into the gesso. It's hard to get darks and contrast, but the "old boys" used white ink or white charcoal for the highlights, so that should help.

I am really hooked on this silverpoint. But I'm not sure about the toned paper. Maybe I made it too dark.

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I see my friend and old teaching partner, Cristy, is getting a new Mac powerbook. I'm envious.

Barrie picked up the computer that Mike repaired, but I haven't seen it yet. It will have to have all the programs reinstalled.

She (Barrie) said spring is really here. It took her several tries to get up the driveway yesterday, in 4 WD, and without her trailer.

The bread I baked yesterday was good. I cut the heel off while it was still hot. Then Barrie came along and cut a piece (still hot), and the loaf kind of squashed.

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Last night, my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them , 'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug. They got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.

They are SO on my shit list ...

Saturday

My scanner didn't want to play well with me this this morning, so I shut it all down and started over again later. And it worked perfectly. Kind of like putting a kid in "time out".

I scanned three more of the old negatives from Bondurant. I bet the house is still there. Does anyone recognize it?

Is this a garden? Are they picking peas?

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My ankle kind of hurts today. I was on my feet too long this morning, I guess. I cleaned out the dishwasher and put more dirty dishes in. I started a pot of beans and started a loaf of bread in the bread machine. Also did a load of laundry.

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The leaders in the Iditarod race are on the Yukon River. John Baker is in the lead now. I would like to see him win it. He is a native Inupiat and lives in a village above the arctic circle.

I listened to K2Radio interview Cat about air pollution in Pinedale. It was an excellent interview.

http://k2radio.com/air-pollution-in-wyoming-ozone-affects-sublette-county-audio

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Friday

Now playing on my iPod Ion Tyson "Four Strong Winds"

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Just a silly still life I set up to photograph one time.

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My cousin in Adelaide, Australia e-mailed me with the New York Times article about the quality of the air here. Also listened to Cat's radio interview on the subject. She did such a good job.

There was a pickup in my driveway this morning and several people unloading sacks of dog food. Barrie wasn't able to get what she needed in Idaho Falls. So Jerry Bath, from Lander, brought her over some today.

My big brother's birthday is today, and I just finished talking to him. They are in Arizona, right on the river and never know for sure what time it is. One of their phones shows Arizona time, and the other one shows Calif. time.

Thursday

Judi brought this for Kasey - she found it at the Food Basket. Kasey loved it and sat upstairs with me over an hour last night and played with all the things in the box. I had her leave it up here, for her "upstairs toy." I'm afraid if it gets mixed in with her piles of toys downstairs that she'll never see it again.

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Mike called and told me the computer is fixed. He will leave it at Rendezvous Pointe andd Barrie can pick it up there today.

Wednesday

Another KC Argument

Barrie and Kasey went to Idaho Falls yesterday. The trip was mainly to buy dog food, so Barrie was really disgusted that Sam's Club only had three bags!

Kasey got a new swimming suit. She showed it to me, and I said "It's a 'Speedo'!" She looked at me in disgust and said, "Not it's not, it's a swimsuit."

Okay, I stand corrected.

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Barrie got a new iPod Shuffle. Isn't it cute? I haven't even seen her yet today, so don't know how it is working for her.

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I called HP today to increase the warrantly on my month old notebook to two years. I have put it off because I dread talking to those companies. I never get anyone who can speak English. After being put through to three different people, I finally talked to one who could almost speak English.

The hard drive on my last HP notebook failed after one year and 15 days.

Tuesday

Time for your daily laugh. Yes, this is me, in 1945. My Dad was home on leave from the Army, and that is his duffle bag on the porch behind me. We lived in Albin, WY at the time.

I have never understood why my mother dressed me that way. She could have purchased another three inches of material and made my skirts a little longer. She always insisted I looked cute, but I don't see it.

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I was scanning some slides for Judi, and did a little more work on the box of old pictures I found. A long time ago, before scanners and digital photos, a woman brought me some old black and white photographs she had from Bondurant. I would put my camera on a tripod, upside down, over a photo and take a picture of it. Then I would develop the film. For some reason, I still have the negatives of these.

There are about 15 negatives, but I only scanned a couple today. Interesting.

Monday

Barrie posted this on Facebook the other day:

I have done a horrible thing....cleaning out the truck one day I had an old icky barbie of kc's in my hand, and in the dumpster it went. I HATE those things! Well she missed it about a month later. Mom did you throw my barbie away?(does she know me or what?) not wanting to fess up i told her maybe when lance and newton borrowed the truck, they accidently grabbed it with their stuff....I should have told the truth.





We found this photo of Newton at the start of the Iditarod in Anchorage. Barrie showed it to Kasey, and Kasey said, "He's got my Barbie!"

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Ahem! Drum roll. I cooked last night. And it was good! It was nothing but chile and hot dogs rolled up in four tortillas, and lots of melted cheese on the top.

Sunday

This stretch of highway over South Pass almost makes me believe the earth is flat. One time when I was on my way home, I was listening to a tape - one of those twangy country singers, and he was singing "Send Me The Pillow That you Dream On." I was on this flat stretch of highway, and could see something in the road ahead. It was a pillow! I kid you not, a pillow was laying on the highway. Creepy!

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Mike called about the computer. He said the hard drive was bad, and he was calling HP and trying to convince them to send a replacement, free of charge. They didn't want to, because the warranty was up (two weeks). Mike called back later - he was able to convince HP to send a new hard drive, and when it gets here, he will install it. I don't know if he'll be able to save any files or not, but I will have to reinstall all the software (again!.)

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I'm loving the silverpoint on toned paper. I wasn't sure how the silver would show up on the color, but it's looking good. Will post a photo when I get a little more done on it.

Now playing on XM Radio - Taylor Swift, "White Horse"

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KC was upstairs with me, (we were making her mom a birthday card on the computer), and that song came on. Kasey said "Taylor 'Swiff' is my favorite singer." Then she sang along. She knew every word.

Making a card with her was an experience.

"What do you want to write inside the card?"

"ABC's"

"Don't you want to write something like 'Happy Birthday to You'?"

She looked at me like I was nuts. "It's not my birthday, it's Momma's."

Well, I did say "to you.."

She went downstairs to get the card out of the printer. She brought it up, we folded it, and I helped her sign it. I told her to take it down and put it on the table to give to Mom the next morning, and not to tell.

As she went downstairs, I heard her tell her Mom, "Momma, you can't see this card until tomorrow."

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Okay, what would you do? Would your ankle still hurt if your supper was delivered to you? Fried potatoes, pork chop, and a yummy salad with fresh mushrooms.

Oh, yes! I think my ankle still hurts!