Just time for pics of animals!

Darjee in mom's lunch box-the perfect size really.

Pfefi with the cat toy.

Pfefi Not going to let go of the mouse...

Rigby snoozing. let pfefi have the stupid mouse. he has really long legs, doesn't he?

Yep. Still got the mouse.

Darjee and Rigby. so cute when they're asleep!

Pfefle and Tink in their new sweaters!

Amazing home made truffles by Mwah.

Pete, settled in for the night. See his nose?

Grandpa's 91st

Grandpa had a great 91st Birthday--

It all started with the phone calls from everyone.

Followed by Pics with mom and me.

Don't we look cute! :)
We ate a LARGE fry up breakfast, eggs, pork chops, donuts and coffee. And we watched all kinds of football that Saturday.

On to church the next day with the cake, and here's gpa walking into the building.

Then we ate cake and came home to watch more football (I think it was Michigan playing too)
Yay for 91 years!

The Night of the Blue Knats

Is that NOT a great name for a fairy tale!? or an Aesop's fable?
Tonight was the night of the blue knats, little creatures that live for about 24 hrs, fly around like mad (probably mating) and then die. Millions of them.
Great night for walking the dog right? heh. as they pelted my face, I thought of my blog and how many, many stories and great pics i have to share. But not enough time tonight for everything.
Are you ready for Fall?
:) catch up soon....

SOB stands for shortness of breath

Having a horrible time figuring out all the 'stuff' going on this quarter. you know the kinda stress that makes you crave indian food.
yea.
and listen to the blues. hmm!

hope to catch up soon. I gots pics of gpa's bday, my tomatos, and cats too!

2nd day of school

Wow, day 2 already. All is going well. the course load this quarter is fairly large, but I feel like its do able.
I am typing this from my NEW netbook, nicknamed the TARDIS-a reference that most of you will shake your head at, in wonder, while others (fans of Dr. Who) will giggle along.
So far, this tiny little laptop has been perfect for me! Oh yes, Em, a net book is a mini computer. most people kinda frown at them, b/c they can really only run two programs at once eg internet and word, but it is totally awesome for me to take to school. weighs like 3 lbs, does internet and takes notes. I'm very happy so far. this is the second day of our relationship, but I'm hopful that it will be a very healthy person/computer experience. :)
As i type, there is a thunderous noise, mixed with clunks and chirps. Yes, the vents are being sucked out. ServPro is here and they first look, then vacuum, then brush/vacuum all the 'hot' vents. these are the ones that blow out air. then they look, vacuum, brush/wash all the 'cold' vents, the intake variety. Very interesting. maybe not the perfect atmosphere for homework, but hey-make lemonade!
My tomatoes are shivering in the 40 degree nighttime weather. I think today is the first day of Fall? Man-crazyness.
Have a great day everybody!

Crazy Day before School

This was a NON stop day. 

I have been in:

DSW

Swank (a clothing boutique)

Starbucks

Bed Bath and Beyond

KMart

Parking office @ school

Locker room @ school

Dutch Brothers

Post Office

Radio Shack

Staples

Best Buy

And finally Costco

yes. All those places. And I bought something in most of them. Eih. Good thing I'm made of money (heiheiheiehie hysterical laughter)

Didn't make it to Green bluff, which is the one place I really WANTED to go (but didn't need to). I finally found a netbook at costco-so glad to finally have something.

I'll sign off with one thought: its a billboard on a major road here. all black and white.

"Abstinence Works; Building families and character" 

Now really, how fast are ya going ta be building families by practicing abstinence?!? 

I'm a little suspicious.

Sunday In September

So I had a crazy dream last night-

I was supposed to baby sit for someone, no idea who, and I went out to buy gelato and kids movies (thats the first thing all you babysitters do right?) So I'm walking down my street which had been changed into a "No Car Zone", so all pedestrians. Then, a six year old in a golf cart offers me a ride. So I accept, naturally. Then, I exit the public transport and go to the gelato store. Which is on the corner of Hawthorne and Division here in north spokane (not really, but in my dream). That area was COMPLETELY different, all small shops and cobblestones instead of the gas station/sub shop there now. The gelato place was so nice, the owner was a very thin older woman with crazy blond/white hair. She helps me to get the movie and pick out gelato, just as the place is overrun by children!!! Like ages 5-8. everywhere. So I maneuvere outta there, an extra large cup of gelato (no cone, cant have wheat, remember?). I think it was pistachio. So i'm walking back home, and the six-year old golf cabbie was off duty, instead a crotchety, grumbly old man with patches of white hair had taken over. He drove off before I could get on the cart.

So I'm like. ok. I'll just walk home, maybe 10 mins. IT STARTS TO POUR. I mean, turn the gelato into soup kinda rain. So I start running-one hand has the bowl of gelato, the other with the movie. Then i woke up.

Now what does that mean!?!

After church, we were rushing to get grampa home (mom's been canning plums and prunes....its a good thing we're a close family) and as we get outside, the Same kind of rain pours down on us. And no gelato appeared. I was quite put out.

School starts Wednesday. 

I bought an HP netbook and an Ipod touch.Waiting for them to arrive.

Going to a movie tomorrow. cant remember which one.

OOh! lots of tomatoes coming in. Very exciting.

Started a Bible study today. It was very interesting. We're watching a series by this guy named Rob bell-ever heard of him?

So, he talks to the camera as he's walking around some run-down city, talking about how his own experience as a father is a metaphor for how God loves us. I'm sure I'll have more to say on it. After a little bit.

Thinking of going to Texas in December. 

Sorry about the disjointed-ness today. Probably the Plums... :)

Where have I been!?

I don't know! Well. yes I do. I've been painting. For hours and hours everyday for days. I've been ignoring my email (best vacation ever) and thinking of blogging for you! ;)
All is great. Painting is done. I didn't get to the entryway closet (its a horrible 'ocre' color).
But its good to have goals right? Quick story about painting-I had to put FOUR coats of paint on my bathroom. Yes four. It used to be blue, like an electric sky blue. I wanted a cream/yellow color. Well. So I primed it, and put the first coat on--which dried to a vibrant shade of green! Chartreuse if you want to be technical. Second coat dried into lemon. Third was better, and fourth was finally a cream. But around the toilet its still kinda neon. Not sure what the story is on that.
New favorite thing: a band called Explosions in the Sky. kinda rock band classical i would say. I love it, I get all kinds of new ideas when I listen to it.
I heard about a really cool blend of Music and OT the other day: its a group (25-30) of people with Parkinson's who sing together. They're called the Tremble Clefs! I'm really hoping I can volunteer or something with them. Sounds really cool. There's also a dance group. (how fun would that be?!)

The hall. In 'Swiss Coffee'.

My chiropractor did xrays on me...I have arthritis in my mid back!? very strange...

School starts next week. I'm actually really looking forward to it! Is that sad? or good?
I'm still trying to figure out how to shrink down my photos-I'll put one up of the hall. 
Tomato Update: amazing, amazing tomatoes coming in. Hoping more of the green ones ripen.
See you again soon! ;)

Clocky/Tocky

Brilliant! amazing idea.

Whenever I need a smile...I just imagine me trying to get to it on a dark, cold winter morning...

btw I love the music it starts to play-its all 'bad'. Ooh! Micheal Jackson on the alarm clock! yes! Or the gingerbread man- "run run fast as you can"
http://www.nandahome.com/

Pants on the Ground!

I'm sure that many of you have seen this-but it absolutely made my WEEK!

"Pants on the Ground"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMwhl4IrPNc

Valium Slippers

I'd like a pair of Valium Slippers.

Have you ever seen those sock/shoes they make for dogs? A co-worker of mom claims that every time she needs her lab puppy to settle down, all she has to do is apply these Valium Slippers. The dog immediately becomes drowsy and does nothing but sleep (standing, seated, wherever).

I need Valium Slippers.

Thanks for the check on 'currants'! In my previous post. I do love currants, but I think I meant current. :) They always told me that it was the brilliant ones who couldn't spell...

I heard a really interesting story the other day-this isn't the happiest story-from a friend at our dog grooming place:

On her way home, not 5 mins from there, she hit a deer. A 30lb baby deer. Her dog hit the dash on impact and when ballistic trying to get to the dying creature. The cat in the backseat ran out of the car when she opened the door.

Unfortunately, the deer was still alive. And momma deer was in the forest just off the road.

A car pulls over and three huge guys come over as she's trying to figure out what to do and how to stop panic-ing; turns out they were just some nice college kids who saw the accident. 

She goes back to her car, pulls out her gun in the dash (apparently not unusual in Spokane...are you here yet Cheri?!), goes back to finish off baby deer.

She pulls in the trigger as a cop is pulling over. And just as her neighbors, who recognized her car and 3 huge men lurking, pull over. Woman neighbor has a hysterical fit-she didn't realize that the deer was dying to begin with. 

Momma deer is glaring into her soul, three useless boys are stunned, hysterical neighbors, barking dog. Then, the cop threatens to arrest her. 

She goes to get her license for the gun, and the cop explains that using a firearms on federal (or state?) property, eg the road, is illegal. She was on the shoulder of the highway. She said she understood. Thankfully the cop got another call and said something like, "well, I understand why you did it, and I'm going to go take this call. be sure to drag the body so that it is visible for clean-up". 

Did I mention that her car was totaled? 

While I've never gone through this exact situation (surprised?) somehow, I can identify with this kind of experience. Anyone else?
Also, I'm sure there is a connection to Valium Slippers. 
Happy Labor Day!

Ant, Mountain, Floss

Have you ever had to do one of those essays: "write a story involving an ant, a mountain, and a piece of floss" ?

I used to LOVE those in middle school. I was always very good at them. Just now, I've thought of all these possible stories: How the ant climbed the mountain using the floss as a climbing rope. Or the ant who met an enemy on the mountain and was viciously tied up, by enemy, with floss. Or the ant who climbed the mountain to have some privacy while he flossed. 

My post today will involve the fruit farms, eyebrows, and netbooks.

Challenging eh!? 

So I was out in Green Bluff, my favorite place on the planet, and I first when to the Walters' fruit farm (best place for apples on the planet). I should have left the parking lot after entry. A large, Idaho Roadrunner bus was claiming 5 parking spots. But, ever optimistic, I park and enter the place.

Over 50 'slower than molasses in January' elderly tourists were there! arguing about getting a tour of the farm with some poor wretch who had to explain that they didn't have the staff available (it was a Thursday around 1p). I sorta wondered about that, but then I saw the little cafe area-they had to have 4 people there to handle the ordering/preparing/etc from this tour group.

As some of you remember, I have to be Gluten/Wheat free. Eg. Hot dog, no bun, Salad no chips, does the dressing have wheat in it? So ordering out is always a very treacherous experience, I've been compared to Sally from 'When Harry met Sally' (great movie, watch it). 

So as I saw 5 people still ordering lunch, 30 waiting for their lunch, and 15 in line to order dessert, I had flashes of how my order could be filled: Just the hot dog bun, some tortilla chips with a glutenous ranch dressing.

So that's how I ended up eating at High Country Orchard, my third favorite farm at Green Bluff. (second is Hidden acres, but their strictly U-pick). So seated on my own, waiting for my Nathan Dog, I receive an americano w/cream and straws. Now, straws in coffee is a whole 'nother blog post, so I'll move on.

Next to me was a middle aged woman with a man prolly in his 80s. That's my guess anyway. They were having a very pleasant conversation, but she had to speak VERY loudly for him. (i totally understand how that feels) So I got to hear snippets of the convo. It began with how someone's mother died 50 years ago....

"SO HOW OLD WAS HE WHEN SHE DIED?"

"I think he was....." (old guy didn't speak loudly)

"DID THEY EVER FIND THE MURDERER?"

"(couldn't hear the answer...i'm still wondering)"

Nathan dog arrives....with a great side salad. Very nice, sunny day, Mt Spokane in view.

"....AND THAT'S WHY THEY GOT IN THE CANOES, AFTER LOSING BOTH ARMS, AND SOMEHOW TRAVELED UP THE RIVER TO SAFETY!"

"hmmmhmmm"

"AND IT WAS YOUR GRANDMOTHER RIGHT?"

"Oh no! I never met her!"

--

I really have no idea what they were discussing, but it sure was interesting!

Next, a small rant about eyebrows: Why do we groom them? Who exactly said, "groomed eyebrows are as important as wearing deodorant?" When did this bizarre personal grooming habbit begin? More importantly:

Why are we bowing to the demands of someone who judges us based on how furry our foreheads are!?!?

--

One more thought for the day (this blogging sure is tiring), I've decided to purchase a netbook for the fall. I'm quite sad about this, b/c I have been waiting to buy a Mac since last fall. boo hoo hoo.....

In fact, last weekend I drove 5 hrs to Seattle to spend two grand on a MacBook pro (alright, sign the piece of flimsy paper, promising to repay my school loan which is my currant benefactor) and I had the misfortune of wearing the wrong shirt. The exact same electric blue as the shirts of every Mac employee there...I waiting 20 minutes without even being acknowledged as a possible victim, i mean customer. Went and got a cup of coffee, came back, and still no response. I asked the greeter for the manager (after he spent 5 helping the older couple who needed an iphone 4) and she was 'in the back, she'd come to help whenever she could'. 

So I drove 5 hrs back to good old Spokane. Farewell Apple. 

We'll see how long it takes for this experience to fade enough to allow my interest in your product to reignite.

--

Alright, not all one story. But it was interesting anyway ?

Best wishes for the day everybody-

Tomato Ergo Sum

Who knew it was that hard to come up with a title for a blog!?

Who knew I would be creating a blog!?

Well. No excuses. I'm hoping this will be a way to track my Tomato Garden, a place to post Gluten-free recipes, and be a great place for keeping up to date with friends and family.

By the way- PeppaPlum is my Jazz pen name....its still me. :)

Small bunch of Green Zebra tomatoes.