It's a Sheep Critter

I feel much better after my rant yesterday! Thanks for listening. I'm not grumbling today. Well maybe just a little grumble since I'm not a big fan of housework. I will be dancing with Mrs. Mop most of the day today, in preparation for the arrival of Sonny Boy and Handsome Lad. They will be here tomorrow.  Yay!

Happy Saturday!!!

Linking to Saturday's Critters

Willy Nilly Five

A little Willy Nilly Five this morning. Or this could be titled Willy Nilly Five Grumbles!

1. I'm wondering why bloggers don't hide their blogs where they no longer post.  Unless I'm a regular visitor, I have trouble figuring out which blog is active and which has been abandoned. Something to think about.

2. I am about ready to call our cable provider and cancel service. The internet is still stuttering and my telephone service...well may as well not have it. When someone calls, I can hear them, but they can't hear me. I called earlier in the week to complain, yet again, and I was informed a tech couldn't come out until next Friday. Not this Friday, NEXT Friday. And I just saw a commercial talking about their wonderful service. I'm thinking it is false advertising. Either they have no employees or they have a whole lot of problems, like mine.

3. The maintenance man ran his lawnmower into the front corner of my car, which means I had to make a claim against my employer for damages. Never a good thing in my opinion, but it was too ugly to let go. Note the grass spewed everywhere. This has been the way of it for the past several weeks. I guess I should have complained before he got this close.

4. Winter is just around the corner. The low tonight will be in the 30s. Must bring my plants inside. And they looked so nice on the front porch all summer. Grumble, grumble, grumble!

5. Okay, so I'll end my post on an up note. Cox's Body Shop did an awesome job repairing my car. They told me when it would be ready and it actually was! Now how many times does that happen? It was also sparkly clean. Now that's great customer service. I will be recommending them any chance I get.

Linking to Willy Nilly Friday Five

Red, Squirrel, and a Fence

We don't have many gorgeous fall colors around here. Most trees go from green to a dingy yellow color and then to brown. 

But occasionally there is a touch of red, which is my favorite fall color. I don't think this is a tree, more like some vine but I didn't jump over the fence to find out.

There's a squirrel in front of this fence. He was running away from me, but stopped to scratch an itch.

Sunset over the corn. Add a fence and it's a fine rural scene.

Linking to Good Fences

A Wren and a Hodge Podge

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday


And now on to some Hodge Podge

1. Are the leaves turning color where you live? Have they begun to fall? Will you have to rake when it's all said and done? Is that a chore you love or loathe?

The leaves are starting to fall here, but I love the red leaves and we don't have very many of those around here. I have a tree in the back that is the last to get leaves in the spring, but first to lose them. It is half empty now. We don't rake leaves. Hubs bags them with the mower. Lots easier for us old folks.

2. When did you last shake like a leaf?

A few months ago when a drunk tried to shoulder his way into our house. My teeth were chattering and I was shaking like a leaf. He was fined and put on 12 months probation, plus he had to pay restitution for the damage to our doors. It doesn't feel like enough to make up for the scare, but I guess it isn't a hanging offense.

3. After 20 seasons with the NY Yankees, Derek Jeter played his last official game Sunday afternoon. Jeter has been described even by opponents as a 'class act', both on and off the field. The NFL is back in action this month too, with several players in that sport also making headlines. What are your thoughts on athletes as role models? Should a professional athlete be expected to act as role model or is that going beyond their job description? What responsibility do the organizations these athletes work for have when it comes to dealing with off the field behavior? Discuss.

I'm always hearing celebrities say they are not role models, but it is my opinion they are whether they like it or not. Especially in sports. Young people look up to athletes and want to be like them. They follow their every move and action. So, yes, they should act like a role model whether they like it or not. They should be held to a higher standard—famous not infamous.

4. What season of the year is toughest for you in terms of your health? Why?

Summer. I like to walk to work for the exercise, but in the summer I get too hot and sweaty. Right now is perfect walking weather.

5. The top six healthy food trends of 2014 according to Eating Well are-

clean eating (more veg, less meat, less sodium, limit alcohol and processed foods)
trash fish (you know those fish that get caught in fishermen nets and are thrown back? It seems chefs are finding creative ways to make them more appetizing)
cauliflower (this year's IT vegetable)
kaniwa (essentially baby quinoa, so like quinoa only smaller)
fermentation (think pickling except with twists on flavor we're not accustomed to)
community supported food (farms operating with community support/membership). 

Okay-so how many of the hot healthy food trends for 2014 have you experienced, encountered, enjoyed? Any you've tried and said ewwww? Any on the list you'd liketo try before year's end?

I'm not a seafood lover. I like shrimp, but that's about it so I'll pass on the trash fish. Love cauliflower and have been experimenting with making it in other ways other than steaming. Not sure what kaniwa is, but doubt our local small town USA grocer does either. We have lots of pickles JD has canned himself. Bread and butter is my favorite. We try to practice clean eating, but sometimes get sidetracked. 

6. In seven words or less, bid September adieu.

Goodbye. I will miss your great weather.

7. What's something on your October calendar that makes you happy just thinking about it?

Sonny Boy and Handsome Lad are coming for a visit during Handsome Lad's fall break, so you won't see me on here much that week! 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Last Friday night the oldest Punk had her first date for Homecoming. She didn't wait for him to ask her, she asked him with a piece of candy wrapped up in a note and tucked in his clarinet case. The note said something about how it would be sweet if he would be her homecoming date. He tucked an acceptance note in her clarinet case. I don't know what it said. I wish I could post their picture, but sadly Punky Doodle won't allow it, but I can post a picture of her wrist corsage.

Missy Punk is the one in the periwinkle dress. She looked beautiful. I can't believe she is a young lady already. I still think of her as this...

....little girl helping her grandma make cupcakes.

Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge

Rubbish Tuesday #22

Fairview Drive-In first opened in 1953. In 1992 the screen was demolished by a wndstorm, but it was rescreened and remodeled in 2002 and remains open. 

It is open April through September. Speakers hanging from the windows are a thing of the past. The sound comes through car radios. This is the sign where the movie titles would be displayed if it were still open. It is now closed for the season.

This is the view from the highway.

This is the view from a side road. Wouldn't want to trespass.

And this is where all that wonderful popcorn is popped and served. The concession stand. 

Posting a barn over on Stuff and Nonsense, my other blog, for Amy's Barn Link-up.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will join in the fun.

My idea was to have a place to post 'old things'. Anything old

and/or deteriorating such as, but not limited to, old houses, barns, outbuildings, old cars, rusty things, antiques, interesting junk, or it can be something in pristine condition, but just old. 

1. Link to a post featuring photos of something old.

2. Link back to Rubbish by Roan in your post.

3. As time allows, visit other participants and comment on their posts.

the Bird D'pot

Red Tailed-hawk

 Flying high up in the sky. I'm always on the lookout for hawks while driving the back roads. Last weekend, I found this one. He would fly and land on an electric pole, but when I got close, he would take off again. This is the best I could do. 

And then there was this one....

During a Friday very late evening ramble, I saw this red tailed-hawk flying overhead. I stopped, but he saw me and took off down a dirt road, landing on this electric pole. Of course the sun was setting in the western sky so all I could get was a silhouette. As I got closer he took off across a field where only a 4 wheeler could go. 


Linking to the Bird D'pot


The Camera Club assignment for October is Odd/Quirky. Guess whose idea that was? Yep, mine! 

So I found this oddity back in the spring. I went back a couple weeks ago and took another shot. Which is your preference? The one from spring or summer?

Happy Sunday!