Ok - Here's Another Try!

I intended to post last night but was tired enough to go to bed around 10:30 after watching the movie "Neverland" and actually slept well aside from getting up a number of times to go to the bathroom.

Yesterday was pretty full. Walked in the AM with Linda, had some breakfast and then worked again in the garden despite it feeling like a steambath out there! Wasn't even 90! You could almost swim in the air! But we did finish cleaning out the south row (the longest!) of the blackberrys so there's a sense of accomplishment there.

Linda came over around 1:30 to help me medicate Sugar's ears as I'd never done anything like that before. Sugar's ears are cracked in side and bleeding either from ear mites or gnats so we treated for both! As always, Sugar was amazingly cooperative and, I think, glad to be separated from the rest of the gang--Eubee, Duke, Sky, Twinkle and Fran. They on the other hand were wondering what the heck she was doing outside the pasture while they were still confined to the inside!

Meanwhile, Dad was driving the truck in the pasture to secure the fence where it had it broken down from a storm and retrieve the corral panels that had been used as a temporary barrier over the small creek. Then he cut a small amount of pasture to set up the corral and actually did a bit of lawnmowing--he was busy yesterday!

We retrieved Chloe from the vet's after her hysterectomy--she's wearing a body stocking and wondering what the heck happened to her! But this AM she's up and at 'em and see no reason to be confined! The next 5 days will be interesting for us all!

Meanwhile, we need to medicate Sugar's ears for the next 10 days! Life on the farm! Our first real experience with larger animals. Also, we've learned that we've been terribly lax in worming the critters so that procedure needs to be started with a vengeance in the next few days! Fun!

We wonder if it's worth it until we see the two Shetlands and the donkey chasing around the pasture and wonder at the glory of their movements!

And I can't wait for Hannah and Iris to ride Sugar. I hope they can come next June and hope they never want to leave!

Speaking of grandchildren, Benjamin and I had a better exchange yesterday when Jeff came to pick up supper. I'd made garlic shrimp with a bit of sweet mirin stirred into the butter and they taste like candy! (Thank you Megumi for showing me to cook shrimp for longer periods of time and they're still tender!) I popped several morsels into his mouth and he rolled his eyes in pleasure. I'd also made Tilapia which I'd marinated a bit in tarragon vinegar and then breaded wtih a cornmeal and flour mixture that turned out wonderfully pungeant after being cooked in butter (actually a lo-cal recipe!). Then I made rotini (whole grain, of course) and mixed in butter, milk and Velveeta cheese. The meal also included spinach and raw baby carrots toopped off with chocolate brownies.

Jeff told me how Jennifer had gotten herself into a bit of a bind the other day when she asked Benjamin who was the prettiest girl he knew expecting him to say "Mama" but instead he said "Nanny"! Then she asked who was the best cook and he said "Mai Mai"! So I may be the mean gramma but at least he likes my cooking.

Gotta run! Bowling starts today.

Dad's procedure is scheduled for Sept. 18.

I'll try to post tonight.

Peace!

Carol