Change is good.

This coming holiday season, we have a bit more traffic at the shelter. A lot of folks stop in to see the dogs and cats, and some even take one home, which is fantastic. However, some of them come right back again, because the adopters didn't get what they expected.... So, here's a list I've compiled to help those who want to bring home a new, fuzzy family member, and what they should look for BEFORE making a commitment. Adopting an animal is a lifetime commitment , and should be a carefully thought out procedure. 1. Make your own list of what YOU want in your home . Ask yourself : Am I ready to have my belongings peed on, pooped on, chewed up and covered with hair? How much time am I willing to commit on a daily basis to caring for this animal? Will this pet be a strictly indoor pet, or do I have the means to allow this dog or cat to roam freely/in a fenced in area for a little while? Do I have the financial funding to properly care for this furry creature? What is the ...

Death is not something I really want to think about, but eventually I'm going to have to make some sort of arrangement... After all, there are three things certain in life: Death, taxes, and Taco Bell winning the restaurant wars. As I've mentioned in a previous blog, I'd like to be 187 years old when I die... However, I'm a tad concerned with what happens after I die. Not when it comes to my soul... no... with my physical being. Sure, I could have all the last wishes in the world, but I'll be dead... Who's to say my body won't be stuffed with straw and piked in the garden to keep crows and small children away? In the good 'ol days in this country, the family would dig a trench, stuff you in a pine box, and throw some dirt on you... perhaps in the family plot, so while Ma's washing dishes, she can look out the kitchen window and remember you fondly. In some countries, your body would be tossed onto a burning pire, and your wife would throw herself...

"I am my father's daughter".  Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (1998) Those five words, I find, are quite powerful. Whether or not they were actually spoken by the Queen, herself, or cooked up by a group of writers huddled around a small table in the wee hours of the night, they certainly make a bold statement. Elizabeth the First, being challenged from every angle by those who would dispose of her simply because she was a woman, was not about to skulk away because of fear or intimidation. She was the child of Henry VIII - a man of great power, and as the old adage goes, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree".  This makes me think about my own family tree. My sister has delved into the genealogical history, and found lots of neat things. For instance, I am related to Robert Dudley (who was Queen Elizabeth's favorite - for a while), and somewhere down the line there's Robert E. Lee and Dwight Eisenhower. I must say, I'm proud of my lineage. W...

**** This was the first "review" from my other blog, which I've decided to move to a single blog page, rather than having to try to manage two... I posted this one in May of 2011... **** First, I'd like to put the spotlight on a fairly new product - Johnsonville Original Bratwurst Patties. I have just noticed these in the "burger" section of my grocery store, and had to give them a try. I've always liked J-ville Bratwurst - they're about as close to the real thing I've tasted since I was in Germany, many moons ago. They cost about eight dollars for six patties - the very same amount as the Angus beef burger patties that I usually buy - but I find that they are much larger. My husband started them out on the grill, but we ran out of propane, so they were finished on the stove. They tasted fantastic, but I found the texture a little off-putting... those of you who've had the pleasure of eating both hamburgers and bratwurst will know the di...

This blog was originally posted on 5/27/11 *********** Earlier this week I had to put my cat to sleep. She was sixteen years old, and had developed a tumor between her shoulder blades that seriously hindered the use of her front left leg, and - I imagine - caused terrible pain and discomfort. Being elderly and frail, her chances of making it through surgery were very slim, so we decided the best course was to just... let her go. So, I dedicate these reviews to my Gracie, and I hope she's in a better place... For starters, I'd like to cover cat food. Cats are strictly carnivores, so check the ingredients on the food you buy... the first ingredient should be some kind of meat. You'll find that most of your inexpensive kibble uses corn meal or other corn-based fillers to cut the cost of the food for both the manufacturer and the consumer, but ultimately, it's your cat that eats it. My suggestion for those who buy food at the grocery store, go with Iams brand cat food...

**** This was first published on my other blog page on 6/13/11 **** The first day of summer is creeping upon us here in the northern hemisphere, and we have the temperatures to prove it. This morning when I woke, just before nine in the morning, it was already 82 degrees, and muggy to boot. So, without further ado, we'll cover a few things meant to beat the heat. My first summer savior is, of course, the air conditioner. If you have the luxury of central cooling in your home, kudos to you... but my family uses window units. Not that I'm complaining, after all, last summer all I had were fans. I have 2 small Kenmore models, and one Frigidaire... and all three have been running at full capacity for the last couple of weeks, and I must say I love them dearly. We put the Frigidaire model in our daughter's room. It's simple to operate, and runs quietly...which is great when one doesn't have to turn up the stereo full blast in order to hear the music. T...

**** This blog was first posted on 6/18/11   ****   In my never ending quest to shed a few pounds, I keep an eye out for fast food meals that are somewhat healthy, especially ones that are A) foods I can eat "on the go" and B) something I can replicate in my own kitchen. I try to avoid going to drive-through places, simply because of their typical high fat and high sodium content (note: I said "try"). But, like most folks I know, I sometimes find myself in a predicament where I need to grab a bite far from home. My daughter and I were out grocery shopping right around dinner time last night, when the "hungries" attacked, and there was Wendy's right around the corner with a giant sign featuring a lovely, crisp salad... We both got the new Berry Almond Chicken Salad at $6.50 each for the full sized version ...I half expected wilted greens and overripe fruit, but I'm happy to say I was wrong. It came with the almonds separatel...

**** I first published this one on 6/21/11 **** Some people have a little. Some people have a lot...No, I'm not talking about money (although the latter would be sweet, indeed). I speak, today, of hair. Every mammal I've ever known has had hair at one point ... My four-legged friends have it on the majority of their bodies... that is, when they aren't shedding it all over my living room carpet. My uncle started losing his while still in his teens (my mother is convinced it was all the chocolate covered graham crackers with bologna he ate as a kid), and I can't tell you how relieved I was to see a certain Disney superstar finally cut his overly-publicized hair. Every day we are bombarded with ads on how to make your hair shiny, keep the hair you're losing, get rid of hair you don't want, and other varieties of ways to tame the mane. It seems as though we are a society obsessed with hair. As a parent, I obsess over making sure my children have clean ha...

I'm going to be moving some blogs from "there" to "here"... because, it's tiring having to shift from one to the other... so, you'll probably be seeing a bunch of new/old stuff... Just FYI...

"I dip my pen into the blackest ink, because I'm not afraid of falling into my ink pot"  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~ I grew up in a military family - my mother was (and still is) a teacher, and my father is now a retired soldier (Command Sergeant Major of field artillery) - where schoolwork was of the utmost importance... as it should be. On more than one occasion my mother would review my homework, hand it back to me and state that while the work was good, the penmanship needed improvement. Do it again... and neater, this time . I rolled my eyes and begrudgingly re-wrote each letter and number to her satisfaction. Of course, at the time, this was pure torture. Looking back, though, I realized that she was completely correct. I've heard on several occasions, "You have very nice handwriting" ... well, yeah... I've had lots of practice. Lots. I have also become very picky about the writing utensils I use. Pencils must have a sharp point - #2, by all me...

Last week I started a new job at my local humane society - a job I've been waiting for since I applied in the beginning of March - and, even over the course of just a week, I am amazed at how very humbling working at a place like this can be. Sure, I've been to the shelter several times... most recently to adopt our newest family member, Delaney. ( A rigorous undertaking because of her Pit Bull breeding) But, a simple stroll past the kennels does not do it justice. To glance at the sad faces, eager pups, barkers, super-barkers, cute kittens, sultry cats and the timid poopers before going on one's merry way gives very little insight into what a facility like this is really about. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? I work part-time, so I only get to be there a few days a week... and, I have been assigned to the "dog side" ... (there is a "cat side", which I get to walk through in the morning, but that's pretty much all I do on that side ...

Just a quick note to say I haven't disappeared. In fact, I've just started a new job at my local animal shelter, which I plan to write about ~soon~. But, for now, I'm sore, dirty, smelly, tired and thoroughly happy with my new line of work. Also, I have two birthday cakes to bake this week (one for my dad and one for my son) and a trip to Luray Caverns this Saturday ... which I will also be blogging about once I get the time... and a much needed nap. TTFN Best Beloved :)

    I've recently become addicted to Regretsy forums. In fact, I'd say I check the forums twice as often as my Facebook page. Yeah... Seriously .     For those who don't know what Regretsy is, let me break it down for you. There is an online market known as Etsy , where folks (such as myself) can sell their handmade or vintage items without having to pay huge fees for short-lived listings; where everything is neat, and organized, and in it's place - eins, zwei, eins, zwie, eins, zwie....     On occasion, you find amongst the products of talented crafters certain items that are... well... not really that great. Trust me when I say I'm trying my best to be a nice person... after all, art is subjective, and one man's trash is another man's collage of seashells and beach junk. Hell - If someone wants to purchase your dead-rat-on-a-hat hairpin, more power to you.     Regretsy is ... to put it mildly ... a place to s...

Some may already be aware of my current situation, and normally I wouldn't divulge such sensitive information because it concerns the privacy of others, but I think it's time to just let the other shoe drop... My husband and I are splitting up. There. I said it. After almost fifteen years of marriage, we are calling it "quits". Now, I could go about picking the man apart, finding fault and start man bashing, but I really don't feel like that would get me anywhere.... in fact, it would just make me look like an ass. He and I are trying to make the best of things, especially concerning the children - my first priority is their safety and well-being. Of course, you wouldn't think that to hear the teenager tell it, but she's at that delicate point in her life where just about anything rubs her the wrong way. I suppose she'll understand once she gets older... at least, I hope she does. I'm not sure exactly how I'm supposed to feel about this.....