If this doesn't make you smile widely from ear to ear and say AAAWWWWW for the next couple minutes then you either have had a really bad day or you don't like animals. If the latter, come back later.........
Enjoy blogging friends and family!
If you asked me what award's show was coming up this weekend, I would probably give you an educated guess, because truthfully I don't know. Nor do I care. Oh wait, my local radio station just advertised the Grammy's will be on Sunday. Is that so? Hmmm, like I care. As much as I love music, very much so in fact, I couldn't name one person who is up for prettiest singer of the year or best dressed in a video or had the most creative dance move. Course I'm not even sure there are categories for that. Okay, I'm not that naive, there aren't.
Bear with me. I'm out of the loop on any new TV shows or award shows that occur every week and provide hours of enjoyment. I haven't even watched American Idol yet! I will, maybe. Perhaps once Yooper grows tired of watching college or NBA basketball. Sigh, that will never happen, not with March Madness around the corner. Have you figured out we only have one TV hooked up to satellite in this house of mine?
Truth is, I don't watch TV much. If I do happen to plop down onto my couch and curl up with a cat and/or Ruby, I'll channel surf. Kind of like surfing the web. Except I like surfing the web better because I find what I am looking for and what appeals to me, not what television is programmed to show on channels. All that junk they call television. So I'll check out HGTV first and see if House Hunters is on. I do like that show, but wow, what scary houses sell for $300,000 in California. Are you serious? They all look like they are still in a 1970's time warp. If that show isn't on I'll scroll to the Comedy channel looking for some Bill Engvall or Jeff Foxworthy, because who doesn't like that kind of humor. Disappointed they aren't on I'll hop over to TLC, squirm, laugh and shake my head at Jon & Kate plus 8. I can actually watch that show, now that all those kids are older and seviceable on their own. After 15 minutes of that, it's onto a channel that has Project Runway and another one that has America's Next Top Model a la Tyra. Maybe they are the same channel? See how out of the loop I am? Yooper doesn't get how I like America's Next Top Model. I just do. I think I like seeing their photo shoots and how much Photoshopping was done to make them look that darn good! Yooper actually watched an episode with me one night, after I beat him into submission to hand over the remote. He mocked it, made faces, shook his head and then finally left me in peace and went to bed. If a repeat espisode is on, I'll keep pressing my remote's buttons and check out what is on Animal Planet which has some fun shows for Ruby to view, cause I'm always thinking of her viewing pleaures. My kids got me hooked on that show with the pretty British dog trainer gal. She rocks! I love how she takes control of those pet owners and trains them, not the dogs. Okay, so she works with some of those nutty, cooky, overally bred, breed dogs. You do know that dog training begins with the human, don't you? Ponder that thought. After enough watching of an episode of how a dog eats his own poo, and then licks his owner's countertops, proving there is enough E. Coli there to build a boat, I'll gag, then quickly switch to The Weather Channel and listen intently to what handsome, smart Jim Cantore has to say and see which weatherwoman is pregnant for the month. Do you think those women plan their pregnancies around the weather? Cause I do.
Sadly I rarely check out ABC or NBC or FOX. I just can't get into some of those drama shows. There is just too much, oh what is the word? Drama, yeah that is it. Our satellite provider doesn't provide CBS because they felt we could watch it if we "hooked up rabbit ears". Long story, but I'll just say I need to find other "people" in another satellite network provider. Funny how a block away, I mean a country block away, cable is accessible in their homes. That kind of nonsense just leaves me cranky.
After almost an hour of sitting on my rump, and my body is now covered with two cats and a dog, I'll eventually flick on ESPN and watch basketball. Why this makes me settle down and just watch television, I'll never know. I do know Yooper is to blame. Yeah, I am pretty sure he had something to do with that.
If you live in a state where winter has been quite cruel and your body has not felt any humidity in months, then you will totally relate to my list of gear I need in order for my skin, my well being, sanity and overall health to survive. Like totally.
My skin needs this! And lot's of it! Don't ask me why I began using these products. All I know is that I am very much stuck on them, and them me, well sort of. I love Neutrogena skin care products and that may have started years ago when I was once a teenager. It may have been after I grew sick of smelling Noxema after washing my face 6 times a day in order to remove zits. Doesn't work folks. The Noxema part. Washing my face that often however, did leave me with more zits.
The body moisturizer has saved my skin this winter. I love it so. Smells awesomely fresh and keeps any itchies of dry skin at bay.
And for the hand lotion? Holy wazoo! Yooper and I can't use enough of this stuff. Him especially. His hands become so dry during the winter and especially from heavy scrubbing during surgery days. But I love it just as much. Past winters I would develop these painful cracks on fingers by my cuticles, due to being on my hands and knees scrubbing floors, dusting baseboard trim, picking bug poo off windows, you know like Cinderella. But not this winter. I've been saved! Yes, I've been saved by lotion. 
Lastly, where skin is concerned, is this gem of a lipgloss. It's C.O. Bigelow, found here, in other words, Bath and Body Works. Simply thee best lip gloss I've ever tried. It has a tint of color, yes hint, but the best part is it leaves a cool feeling on your lips and a minty taste in your mouth. Best of both worlds I say! Go ahead and try some. I promise this stuff will not freak you out and you'll be secretly thanking me, your blogging friend. Yes me, your faithful blogger.
I think I should be a representative for this stuff!
Since we are on a list of things I couldn't survive without this winter, I can't leave out a few of my other favorites that have kept my sanity under wraps and out of a closet. Cookies. Hello cookies! Sugar! Chocolate! Pure bliss and I need so much of it. I just made these little devils the other day to fulfill my yearning for cookie dough and well, peanut butter and chocolate. Because chocolate and peanut butter go hand in hand like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! These never last long around here. Well, how could they?
Last but not least is my dearest friend Mr. Charles Shaw, a.k.a. Chardonnay, or also known as $2 buck Chuck, or found in Trader Joe's. Yes, this goes well with the above cookies, but along with each and every night's gourmet dinners I prepare and serve my family. Also settles my nerves while watching a little Detroit basketball. I think it also inspires ideas for my blog. What do you think?
So what kind of survival gear do you have to help you through this winter? Have any favorites hiding in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, barn? I've shared mine. They work for me and I'm here to tell you, I'm living proof they work.
Oh, and since I'm feeling so happy that I am halfway through winter, it is Thursday, I don't have to wake up early for a Saturday morning basketball game and you actually made it this far through my blog to this part, I'm sharing that peanut butter cookie recipe below. Now go make some and be happy that tomorrow is Friday, and we are another week closer to spring! Yeah baby!
Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup salted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 cup creamy peanut butter (Jif rocks for this)
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Yields 3 1/2 dozen, or however big you want to make them.
Preheat oven 300 degrees
Mix dry ingredients separate, then add butter, eggs, peanut butter, vanilla, don't overmix
Drop rounded tablespoons on ungreased baking sheet.
With a wet fork, make the criss-cross pattern in dough. Bake 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown.
For variation add some chopped chocolate chips in batter or plunk down Hershey Kisses after baking.
Don't forget to lick the beaters!
It has been winter here since the middle of November. Hypothetically speaking in actualality, winter officially started December 21. The snow gods are laughing at that remark. There has been snow on our ground for almost three months. I haven't seen green grass since, well since I went to Florida a couple weeks ago. But that doesn't count. What is true is that this is turning into a very long winter season. I believe just about every person and animal has had enough. 
My horses are feeling the edge too. They are about sick of this white, snowy stuff and cold, blowing winds that ruffle up their fur, releasing any warmth covering their bodies. How can I tell they are fed up with Mother Nature's rule on us? 
Just look at him? Does he looked thrilled that there is a poof of snow splattered across his head?
Wait, how did he get that snow on his head anyway? 
Hmmm, I'm thinking P.I.T.A Pete had a little bit to do with it!
My horses are bored with winter. There is no grass to munch on, just hay that gets thrown to them a couple times a day. But there are trees. Boy does one of them love to chew on trees! In fact, I was recently scolded by Yooper for one particular horse's beaver action to his young pine trees which are growing alongside my horse's paddock fence. Boredom yes. A problem? Yessir! 
This is also what happens when boredom sets in. Who can bug the other the most. Pete usually starts it, and Three pretty much finishes it. I guess when one isn't busy chewing on trees, they turn to chewing on each other. I feel your pain guys. Truly I do. Sometimes I just want to bite Yooper once in awhile as well.
My sweet old mare Deb is holding up very well this winter. Sassy at 33, she's Miss Bossy 24/7. Let's take a moment to reflect on her age. She'll be 34 in May. Okay, she is almost as old as me, and I feel old. Honey, you're looking pretty darn good for your age! She rules the roost and keeps her boys in line. She doesn't much mind winter. She's pretty content to just hang alongside the barn, soaking up any sun that peeks out through gray clouds, warming her oldness. 
This fuzzy wuzzy doesn't give a rip about much either. I mean, look at him. If you had big fuzzy ears like that and a furry body to keep you warm, would you make a stink about life? Didn't think so. To him, not much matters. Bubba's just happy. He just goes with the flow....
Well except for maybe snow depths reaching above his knees, making for tough traveling and escaping that hooligan below. 
Yes, my horses are feeling the crunch of a too long winter. It's getting to them. It's getting to me no doubt! Especially Pete. He seems awfully mad at Mother Nature. Or mad that I had no treats to give him. Or on a rampage to find that particular gopher. He's pretty serious looking here and meant some business. But not with me. Three was ending their little fighting match and Pete was showing his poor loser face. It's okay Pete. Pretty soon you'll be miserable about flies chewing on you. Yep, that will be something to be crabby about. Yes indeed.
Remember this picture? Her expression saying, "I can haz Cheeze It now, non?" This is one of Ruby's tricks. I think it's her only one that she knows how to do and successfully accomplishes. She does this one best for obvious reasons. "Will work for food" stamped across her forehead. It's a pathetic one that Yooper taught her. It is is painstakingly funny to watch, because she does not move a muscle when this all happens to her. Even when a cat walks by, she won't budge or twitch an ear. She just stares down whoever put that treat on her snout waiting for her release so she can finally drop it off her nose and eat it. 
Let's have a look at her first attempt.
She nails it this time. Cute huh? But let's have a look at some of her bloopers. Because I'm all about sharing one's faults. Nobody's perfect. Why should Ruby be? Okay, so she's pretty close to perfect. (Please ignore the purring sound you hear. My camera is a bit loud at times.)
We'll call this her "cheatin' attempt" of a dog trick. You'll hear my son calling her a cheater in the background. This would never happen with Yooper. I let her get away with way too much around here. I think Ruby and I need to have a talk about her cheating ways.........nobody likes a cheater.
Then this happened. I'm not sure if she was showing off for the camera, being a smarty pants or just plain sick of posing for this trick. I'm thinking all of the above.
Yeah, Miss Personality here. Suddenly she thinks she is famous because she has her own day of the week set aside just for her. First pictures, now videos. I suppose she will quit working for food now too. Ruby, you are too much.
Read more...I've been trying to organize all of the pictures that I took and what my son snapped away at during our hiatus in Orlando, Florida a couple weeks ago. My computer's hard drive is now bulging with pictures and Aha! videos as well! My son't digital camera captures video as well, so what fun for him than to bring home some of his fun moments.
One moment I would really like to forget was a roller coaster ride we stood in line for 55 minutes, then to make me and my daughter so nauseous that I wanted to either ring my son's neck or Yoopers, even though he wasn't even on the ride. Nope, while I risked my life on a roller coaster ride, he continued his veterinary education at his conference. The loser. Why did I partake on this wild ride, called Exhibition Mt. Everest? You would think that every 5 minute shrill of screams coming from this would have turned me right around and head right back to that peaceful Tree of Life. But I rode this sucker for my son of course. But never again! Either way, I'm no good with roller coaster rides. I used to be, when I was little, like 11 eleven years old, like Yooper Jr. But once I gave birth to these little rugrats something in me changed and I can no longer handle twisty-turny, upsy-downsy, and inside-outsy anymore. Let's just put it this way, I call my disorder "motion sickness". And I had it so bad after this ride, that even the bus ride back to our hotel, made me woozy.
To prove I actually did go on this awful roller coaster ride, here is a picture below.
Yes, that is me in the second row of that entrapment of a ride. That is Mini Me glued to me like Elmer's, her eyes pinned closed, and not a sound out of her. She was so scared! I'm such a bad mom for taking her! But they said she was tall enough.........
That is Yooper Jr. looking either somewhat scared of the sudden drop coming below or about ready to laugh, cry, scream. I'm not sure. All I know is that the cute gal sitting next to him, gravity getting the best of her, had no relations to us and seemed to be having a fun time, unlike the loser person behind her. My son loved this ride and kept telling me over and over how awesome it was. He kept asking me if I liked this part or that backwards, double barrel role in the dark, then the screeching halt, then drop, no plummet, and spiral back up and then ...............oh I'm getting nauseous again. Course when he saw my pale, white face. my thumb stuck in my mouth, my buckling knees and his sister crying, he shut right up about it.
Once I regained my composer and realized I was back on solid ground again, Yooper Jr. made me purchase this picture. You know the ones. You get suckered into buying them. I think I bought it to prove to Yooper I actually braved a roller coaster ride. $18.06 and a 5x7 photo of complete nonsense and we have instant memories.
Following the ride, Yooper Jr. captured this quick clip of what we he put his mother through.
Go ahead and laugh and say, "Oh that doesn't look that bad." Sure whatever........
Guess what this means now that I have actually learned how to share videos on my blog? Hmmm??
Yes, videos of my neurotic dog Ruby. More laughs coming tomorrow........
I'm thinking, heck with the photography. Maybe I'll go with videos.........or not.
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