Quick Thanksgiving Update

Helllloooooo says Nessa as her mama Anna walks to the hay feeder.



Thanksgiving here was good! Actually, we cooked one of our turkeys, made the stuffing, a salad and pumpkin pies and took them over to Pats' folks. Pat's mom made the green bean casserole, mashed 'taters and gravy. Kyle and his girlfriend came as well. It was nice, simple and quiet.

Jared ate "the good stuff" out of some MRE's he had for his meal. He was playing his bass guitar when I was talking to him. (Keep practising, kid!) hahahahaha He went fishing but didn't get the bass that kept eluding him. ("I wuz gonna EAT HIM!" I guess for his supper?!!) Guess he is going back out tomorrow to try again.

He'll be home in less than a month--yipppeeeee. They almost didn't get leave, but things went 'back to normal as planned'. (Whew!) We will have another Thanksgiving Dinner next month--we still have two turkeys left in the freezer. Jared will get his meal, just late!!

Kyle and his girlfriend were going out shopping for black friday. (Ugh, they can have the crowds/chaos--not for me!) It's nice to see everyone get some needed R&R for a few days!

Pat is really close on getting the front door done. It might have to wait until next week when I have a few days off to help him. Maybe I won't have to hang a big rug in front of the door this winter when it's really cold and windy out now! :)

It was so nice out today, when we got home I took lots of photos of the cows. Nessa and Dolly always walk to me--out of the shot. (They'd rather sniff and/or lick me!) Weird cows, but lovable cows!! :)
Today was absolutely beautiful--this was the temp at 4:00!!

Hold on to your hats folks

This is similar to what has happened in our nearby community! Downtown is a shell of what it used to be......and they are trying hard to get businesses back there.

If you've noticed, I've added a couple of blog links lately (bottom of the page). These two blogs help keep me updated (fast) on what is going on around the world.
Interesting to note, both blogs within the past week have info on financial advisers getting out and/or warning of the whole system going south. I've seen the signs as well.....it's just a matter of time.

Diesel here went from $3.979 to $4.159 overnight. Little brother (David) in Texas says it's went from $3.649 to $3.879 down there. Gas is holding steady (The cheapest [with ethanol] was $3.439)....but it will follow suit soon I'm afraid.
Now......with diesel getting high once again (the highest we paid was back in 2008--the high here was $4.989). It took us here at our house almost a year to recoup from the higher fuel prices (heating/driving). Grocery prices weren't up so high then as they are now, either.
Prices now in the grocery store have gone up on most everything in the past 6-9 months. Everything I used to get 'on sale' is now double that when it's 'on sale' again. The regular price is like 3 times higher than what 'normal' price was a year ago.....ouch!

The higher fuel prices weighs heaviest on those who depend on it for a living.
Farmers, over-the-road truck drivers (hauling anything from livestock, and our food to farm/livestock/people supplies, grains and even toilet paper!), local haulers (dirt, rock, cement, lumber, etc.) and your delivery people. (UPS, Fed Ex, USPS, etc)
This means what we pay for retail will be higher, even if commodity prices go down.
It costs more even for us to get to work (for the same pay). Someone has to absorb those higher fuel costs--that is US.
I made a joke the other day at work I was going to have to get an extra part-time job to help pay for fuel just to get to work! It used to be that it took 1/2 an hour's worth of pay for diesel to get me to and from work each day. Soon that might take an hour's pay.......yikes.

I think once the holidays are over, and income tax time (refunds) has come and gone and things settle into the 'normal' paycheck/income routine is when people will really have to start tightening their belts.
I am sincerely hoping our winter is on the mild side, a good ol' ice storm/blizzard or two could knock some people off their feet financially (repairs, loss of work time, etc) in a heartbeat. Time will tell the story.

I will keep investing in MY 'stock market' out back that I feed/water/care for everyday. At least I have some say and control of that!! I already have big plans for the garden next year.....bigger is the key word!! :)

OK back to news here! Jared got issued some different ACU's (camo clothes) today--I forget the technical term. He also got issued some heavy duty equipment--good grief his armored vest alone weighs almost 50#! In a month he'll be home on leave, that will be *~*awesome*~*!!!

Kyle's enlistment date is supposed to be June 18. Of course subject to change, but at least we have a target date to shoot for. Speech team practise has started already......one thing ends and he's got another thing going on. Good thing he is young, I can barely keep up with what he's doing!

Patrick is still working on the front door, the weather turned windy and cold, so it's slower going. I went deer hunting with him Monday and had a deer come waltzing out right in front of us. Most of the time I've seen them I've either been riding (horses) or trying to avoid them with the vehicle! So that was pretty cool for me. This fellow lived another day because he wouldn't turn sideways as needed and decided to disappear into the woods and grunt then snort a few times. We heard him later snorting again a few times as we were leaving.

Got my stock tank clean, moved, heater hooked up and plugged in. It's working fine thus far. I need to get the dogs/cats heated water bowl out and plugged in as well. I wish they sold a solar powered one for chickens......as I have no electricity to the shed, just a solar light. I just switch their waterers am's and pm's, and I do that with the waterer for the rabbit as well. The chickens waterer is in the coop and hasn't frozen yet. (A good thing!!)

Wednesday night it started snowing for half an hour or so. Big, fat pretty flakes, but I am so not ready for that! I *know* it's the middle of November already; where does the time go???!!!!

Just another day.....

You missed a spot!

I didn't realize when I snapped this photo last August that Dolly was giving Anna a bath! ;-)

Pat went deer hunting with a couple of buddies Saturday and is working more on making a front door today. More hunting is in the plans for the week as well. ;)

Kyle had Marine PT ("We ran a lot and got yelled at" was his reply when I asked him what they did). I told him to get used to that and add 50+ pounds of weight on his back as well. :( He also had the last night of the play at school and an after-party. I was amazed he left early, he was tired (rightly so!).

I am winding down from working all week and grateful for a couple of days off. I have plenty here I need to do!

Jared's promotion is to Specialist, and next rank is Sargent. :) I'm not sure what Specialist means, but as long as it's a promotion that is good. He had a cold and is getting better with some R&R. He is veg-ing and playing video games, and taking lots of Vit C as well. He has to go back out in the field this week for more training, so I harped on him to take it easy this long weekend. I don't want him getting pneumonia like he did last year!

It's nice out, with a chilly wind today. I know its just a matter of time before the cold north winds come, along with winter snows. So now the lawn is mowed for the last time this year and the tank heater goes back in the tank. It will get a thorough cleaning and moved to it's 'winter spot' so I can plug it in as well.
Yep, it's 'winterizing' time around here! I like to do what I can before it gets too nasty out so I don't have to do much more than the 'usual' chores. (That's always the plan, but it doesn't always go that way.....)
The cows' shed is cleaned out (I'm sure they've blessed it again with poo--a mere few hours later) and it'll be back to maintenance cleaning when it's cold.

One of these days we'll get the pesky roosters dressed.....they aren't going anywhere (they are in the chicken tractor) and continue to get bigger. :)
I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and we are stocking up on pre-holiday sales at the store for things like sugar and extra butter. Figure I use lots of it at times, and I don't think it will get any cheaper so might as well stock up when it's on sale!

Veterans' Day

Just a quick note to Thank all those who are able to be honored on this Veterans' Day.

Our Military now is all volunteer, and no matter the reason of "why" they join, they put their lives' on the line for many others besides Americans.

Freedom is not Free, and too easily taken for granted. Freedom is fought for with blood, sweat, sacrifice and many tears.

Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers.....many are once again not able to be with their families for the upcoming holidays.
___________________________________________________________________________

It's been a quiet week here, colder weather has come, but the days are still somewhat nice.
Jared has a cold,and had a 24-hour CQ duty, but got to have lunch with some Vietnam vets in the mess hall. Since he did CQ duty, he now gets a 5-day weekend instead of a 4-day weekend. (Veterans' Day Holiday)

Kyle is always busy and Patrick is working on making a new front door for the house. I have been working alot, so haven't had much time to get 'homey' stuff done other than the usual chores. Sometimes we have to slow down and just enjoy life. :)

If I hear this one more time.......

In reference to our Military and where most of those folks are going in the world.
IRAQ they are pulling people out of, but adding yet MORE troops to Afghanistan.

Soooooooo if I hear one more time: "I thought we were getting out of there"---people are referring to Iraq, and obviously NOT paying attention to anything else.


As my dad says: You want me to draw you a map and color it in fer ya too?!? ;-) So I'm a butthead--here's a map, and note what is where half way around the world. (Or on the other side of the world, however you want to put it!)

This week has gone by fast, hard to believe it's November already. The weather is colder, and we even had rain and sleet and sleet wrapped in snow on Wednesday. It was slick driving to work. It all melted off before dark. It was weird!

Jared is an alternate for Dog Handling, and he's getting promoted. I haven't had a chance to talk to him much to get more details.

Kyle is helping with the play at school, and is finally catching up on some sleep today. School, work, school activities, (band too), practising for Military Band, doing Military stuff and his girlfriend keep him busy these days.

Pat gave his cold to me, then I must of gave it back, then he gave it back again to me! Or else mine has just hung on longer than his.......but I'd still like just to blame him! LOL Actually with the weather changes and drier air has many people sniffling and their sinus' driving them nuts. Count me in on that latter statement!!

A couple of my chickens look bald and scruffy--they are molting. Today I'm off to finish taking down electric fence for the winter time and do other odd ball things and call Jared and then both my folks and Pat's folks to update them on what's what with him. Never a dull moment it seems........