I apologize for not being around.  My Mom is huge and my Dad is OMG, MA you are not dependable!

Life stinks, and then the bald guy tells you what for!

I have 30 little kids.

The dogs are my thingy in life. They have actually cost me over
$1000 in the last month.

I have to go where my mother is.  Funny, they were supposed to know she needs oxygen 24/7.  I found her w/out  her oxygen and she's been stupid ever since.

She's hospice now.  I'm Daddy's undependable girl.  

Life Sucks!  Then you become MaryAnn!

Dad, always wanted me to find a Dr or a Colonel.

Who knew, I needed a vet.

My rotti, decided to be stuff on wheels Friday morning.  She ran into the water tank trailer.

It had to hurt, I heard it the thump when it happened.  I actually thought a tree branch had fallen down.  It was a big thump.

When she started crying; we were getting ready to give her big timeout.  She cried like the Chihuahuas.  We thought she actually did some damage to Pilot or Pip.

Long story short, the rotti is ok and she's a big woous; who doesn't mind milking the deal.

I have a new dog.  A chihuahau/terrier mix; he was a tinkle king until I had him neutered.

Ok, he's still a tinkle king, just not so much.

The rotti, is  upset .  She wants to be jealous or  kill me.

They are actually getting along well.  I was worried, my Sugar, can be a nasty girl.

Starvation, he looks like no one has fed him his entire life.  Sugar looked like that last summer.  

His name is Pilot, have to name all my dogs after Daddy.  Sugar is named for her personality and my Dad's call letters in WWII. 

I must be doing something right.  The new dog comes when he's called.  The rotti, swims like grandpa and fishes like him too.

MaryAnn

Yesterday, I allowed the birds to free range while I was in SA, with family.  Before I left, the birds had 90lbs of feed between 3 feeders.  1 feeder is about 2 inches off the ground so the little ones can eat.

Last night, the little birds feeder had maybe 2 inches of feed left, but the majority of it had been poured out on the ground in at least a 4ft diameter around the feeder.  The feeder was still intact.  Now I knew this wasn't right, because:

A.  the feeder bottom should have been hanging with only 1 prong in it or completely on the ground.

B.  when the birds do tear up a feeder the above happens and it's directly underneath in a big huge pile.

A few weeks ago, I came home from Johnson City to find a golf ball in what is eventually going to be the outside brooder pen.  The yard needed a big huge mow so the neighbor came over and did it.  While I was paying him, he asked if I had taken up golf.  No, why, because there are golf balls all over the back.  I have been going out every day for 3 weeks and I'm still finding golf balls, some way too close to the house.

This morning, the dog went out for duty call and decided to cavort at the back fence.  I have human damage to my brand new fence.

I know I'm going to have to install a solar electric fence.  Any suggestions of how high and far away from the normal fence?  I'm going to have to do it for the entire property line, so I might as well make sure other peoples dogs can't get in and mine plus guests can't get out!  The bottom wire needs to be high enough so it won't short out.

Has anyone out there installed cameras yet?  I may do that as well.

Today, I had, once again had women ask the question.  R U her grandma?  I was at the nursing home trying to feed my mother with my favorite squirmy worm on my lap.  It's fine, I'm actually more grey than most women my age, been that way since I was 28.

Thought it was over. I had explained the chatterbox worms' ownership in relation to me,  specifically. 

Nope, when my DB and my DSIL showed up, these same women asked me if I was my DSIL's mother!  

Now; I ask the question.  This is the second time this has happened (1st at Sea World last summer); should I start dying my hair again? LMAO and ain't going to happen. 

O, this comparison went on all day long and I really consider it a compliment. 

My poor brother, today; everyone asked him; how he was related to my niece, my DSIL and me.

That has gotta suck!

MaryAnn 

The dog slept for 24 hours except for 15 min. of duty time.

I understand the rest of the pack did the same.

I knew today my dog was up for stuff, she started trying to eat her cats again.

My cats on the other hand, loving the fact she was useless.  My 2 favorite boys, had to love and sleep with me most of the week, while the dog was in the bed as well.

This weekend's camping adventure was wonderful.

My dog did not start any of the fights!  Woohoo!!!!!

She also didn't cross the river to chase cows or join in the barking fest with the other 6.  This weekend she discovered tadpoles and minnows.   Stood in the same place for over a hour trying to catch them.

I missed Chugberry, but it was so much easier without him there.  It definitely changed the doggie hierarchy.  The border collie that my dog always gets into a fracas with, actually laid down in the submissive position when they were escorting me back and forth to the 'library'.

The only major incident was when there were 7 dogs around the Sunday breakfast buffet.  The neighbor was over with his little boy and of course the dogs were all there to take advantage of stuff that would get dropped.  My canine immediately came into the house when I told her time out!

I didn't sleep well Saturday night, so the 3 dogs that have to be with me or my friend were up all night.  The BC, looked like she had hangover eyes, mine gave us dirty looks everytime we would get up and move on Sunday afternoon and the jack/chihuaha mix Took every opportunity to hit the sack.  They can't just sleep while we go do the Sunday chores.

I had to do a lot of dishes this weekend which sucked, since I did half of the cooking.  The other friend on Sunday morning said I'll do the breakfast dishes today.  She heard from my friend and I, oh sweetie that's a given. LOL

The cooking went well and I used a new appliance I purchased for taking back and forth.  It's a keeper.  Presto, Kettle Kooker, boils, steams, roasts and deep fry, it's worth the $25.  I used it for the sweet and sour sauce, I made chinese.

I will eventually post my teriyaki marinade for everyone.  That was fabulous in the pork butt, slow cooked on the smoker.  Next time I'll make sure I make a triple batch in the blender, so I have enough to inject and baste with and the ginger can be sucked up in the injector.

So happy we had fun this weekend.  The next 2 involve physical labor.

Just once I wish my dog would behave!

She was such a good girl.

Then these 2 guys were paddling down the Pedernales. They stopped to look at whatever. I told my friend, Cathy, there are people here. CATHY, THERE ARE 2 GUYS HERE!!!

That got a big what??? Then she saw them, yes I've been trying to tell you!

The dogs, still didn't give up squat! We had 5 dogs, who cares, we're swimming! That's what I believe the canine brains thought.

Then one of the guys said, we're just paddling the river. I'm glad I wasn't one of them. My dog, mixed rotti, first at greeting; then the others showed up including the blind and diabetic boy.

The older guy kept saying I really like your dogs. We just said thanks and told the dogs to shut up. He got that! We never told the dogs to back off.

Thank heavens my Sugar, likes men. I do believe the younger guy might have had an accident. She went up, growlin, baring teeth and then said PET ME!

They took off, not as quickly as I would have prefered.

Sleepimg up there, is almost impossible. My dog, who would let in the nastiest person in her own home, is on ultimate guard duty when it's only my friend Cathy and I up there.

You have to be there, when I'm in the pop up; I do believe she would let me die. Put her in the main camper and you are getting the greatest guard dog ever.

My dog, abandoned mixed rotti; best girl...and biggest snot!

Stay tuned, next weekend is a big girl party.

I forgot my dog, who didn't have a clue how to swim last fall, thinks that's the best thing ever now. She's actually good at it and wants to do it.

We had a great time as usual.

My friend's daughter and friend were there. They had the mule, got stuck. My dog decided to hangout w/the girls. Ultimate good time.

She, (my dog), swam across the river and decided to check out the neighbors cows.  While the girls were stuck.  The girls were trying to decide whether to walk back or wait until we came and found them.  

How happy am I, that ranch man wasn't there to see it.  Since she's a Rotti, I'm sure it would have been a bullet.  Luckily, she came back safe and sound.

The mule is a Kawasaki, that we call Jezebel.  The dogs have been allowed to run with it, but we are rethinking that since the smallest dog did get nipped by the tires.  She normally sits in Jezebel with us, but she decided to play with the big dogs.  I swear she's made out of rubber because she bounced back better than a super ball.

I cooked this weekend, everything was a hit except the baked potatoes.  The taters were on the grill for 18 hours and never did cook.  Trust me, I brought them home put 1 in the nuker for over 20 minutes, it never cooked.

Time to come home; the dog, who saw the suitcase go in the car doesn't leave my side.  When I'm ready to leave, does she hop in the car, NOPE!   She chases Aunt Cathy in Jezebel.

The best part of camping is my dog, who was a dumped dog.  She was mistreated, ill fed and taught all the wrong things of being a good dog.  She comes home from camping and she's happy.  It's hard to explain, but she gets that she has a better life now.

The newbies came today.  5 have already jumped the brooder.  Caugtht all the escapees, I think.

I just don't know how to count chickens.  It's always an hour, with varying results.

My escapees, ran with the big kids, staying close.  I'm hoping I captured all of the little ones.  Mentioned earlier, can't count chickens to save my soul.

I bought 50 Barred Rocks, only 1 was dead at the post office.  Now they are doing the chicken thing and I can't keep track of which chicken I counted.  

The dogs, actually behaved very well.  Old guy, didn't eat breakfast, but stared at the chickens.

Everyone, got along great.  Then the chihuahua/jack russell mix found one of my cats.  Had to get out the flyswatter.

I thought it was big nasty fight.  Not so, my dog, was actually trying to beat up the other dogs from eating my cats or giving them a heart attack. 

I'm so proud.

Today was fabulous!

I made in time to the nursing home for lunch with my mother, after delivering eggs and buying Knotts Berry Farms Strawberry Preserves for my father at Sam's Club.

I did manage to get away by 2 pm, so I could do the Costco & Sam's Club adventure.  Didn't leave that adventure before 5pm.

Driving home I saw black birds on the side of HWY 281, thought they were buzzards, but as I sped by, I realized, somebodies chickens free ranged a little too far.

Called my Dad, he didn't get it!  He did, find me a new egg customer.  My Dad was shocked, the guy wants 2 dozen every week.  Adccording to my favorite bald guy, 'who knew old people still will eat that many eggs a week!'

Get home the dog actually does her business and comes when called.

Good day, fabulous day, even the checkout person gave me back my coupons so I could reuse them at Costco, which I did.

Collected 37 eggs, I was so happy; I actually sang to my chickens.

This is where it all fell apart!

Didn't put the eggs away properly, so I now have 18 to sell.  I hung my egg basket improperly and squish, crack...you know the deal.

The dog immediately started licking up the stuff.  Tomorrow, dog gets the runs, I get to mop. 

I know the above dog situation, so I should be smart and go take a nap. 

NOPE NOT ME, I volunteered to take care of my friends dogs.  She has 4.  One is diabetic, grouchy old guy, the other old guy never fights with my dog except at my house, the female and mine have alpha issues and the little one is the best reason for subjecting myself to what I know will be good funnies at the camp house.

Wednesdays are my Mondays. 

Yep great food and company, but way too much work.

Women stained wood and men built the covered porch.  Did I know this was part of the deal, Noooooooooooooo!

Yesterday had to come home to collect eggs and was asked to make deviled eggs.

The worst devilled eggs I have ever made in my lifetime.  I got in big trouble and heckled horrendously for them.

This morning they wanted me to make breakfast tacos. I redeemed myself, nice light and fluffy scrambled eggs.  This was also commented upon, "well at least your second attempt was a great job".  LOL!

Next weekend will be more work, but we will be bringing the baby truck back, that is mine for the cost of the repairs it's going to need too be road worthy.   I can't wait!  The cab has the small backseat, so the dog doesn't need to ride up front.  It's red!, fire engine red!!!  My favorite color for vehicles of all time.  If it doesn't cost a fortune to fix, I'm getting it repainted, with my rooster and company colors.

Yes, I am going to order vanity plates.  I may even order a magnetic signs for the sides.  

Just thinking about the truck, is making me drool and motivating me to get my second coop finished, so I can build a third.  Oh, the possiblities!

Like said earlier, next weekend will be more work.  I've volunteered the food and cooking detail.  Who cares, I won't have to the dishes and I'm getting a truck!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

MaryAnn 

Yes, I have completed my taxes. Great news, I don't owe anything.

My brain has been having a big huge gas bubble trapped in colander, with no idea of which hole to exit.   (This is how my brain operates from January 15 to April 15 every year.)  I have no problems advising my clients about their taxes, but my own are a different story.

The best news involves my girls and their desire to up the egg count.  

Thursday, my bubble inspired me to sell my extra eggs, when I have an egg delivery to a construction company this morning.  When these guys know I'm coming, they buy big!  Oh, well, not to worry, I nail them next week.

Everyone, have a great weekend!