Ireland

For reasons unknown to me, I have always dreamed of Ireland. The randomness of when these urges strike me are enough to throw me off balance, always.

I am in love with their accents. I melt at the lovely ways that they speak. The landscapes, the weather, the moodiness of it all...



Ultimately, I am a natural born hick. I'm horses and cows and hunting and moose and woods. I'm Camo and Cabela's and fishing and agriculture and that's just always who I've been. But for as long as I can remember, I have always felt a pull at the very thought of Ireland.



Now, I'm not much of a traveler. I never have been. I love the states and have never really had any urge to leave. I love Minnesota, I love the fields and the forests and the wildlife. I've never been a beach bum. I dont flinch at the idea of spending long vacations in the poconos or Jamaica or wherever. If I did, I'd go live in Florida or California. Nor do I have a feel for the fast city life. I will never reside in New York or Seattle or Boston. I'm not a fashion monger, I could care less about current trends, and dont ever plan on stepping foot in Paris or Milan.

There truely is no where else in the world that I would choose to be.

Until I start thinking about Ireland. And I dont know what it is. I have spent years trying to put my finger on it. Mostly I ignore it. I'm not a flyer. I've never been on a plane and I'm not in a hurry to do so, either.

But I cant help but wonder what it would be like to be there, in Ireland, experiencing it all.. On a huge, lush, green, misty hill that goes on forever. Yielding only to the cliffs that drop down into the sea. The rarity of the sun there. The swirling fog, the silverey clouds. There is something there that's got its hook in me, and it wont let go. I feel attached to it.



I've never been there. I dont know anybody who's ever been there. I haven't seen any movies that are set there. I have read a book though. And while it may have something to do with it, I highly doubt this book is the reason Ireland fills my dreams at night. For years.



So what is going on?? I haven't the foggiest. To my knowledge, I dont have any distant relatives there. I have no links or connections to Ireland in any way that I am aware of.

Maybe I need to just go. Maybe I need to swallow my fears, load my butt onto a plane, and go see this place that my dreams are telling me to find.

Hmmm... I wonder if Red would ever consider honeymooning in Ireland...

It's a Boy!

Congrats to my boss, Julie, and her hubby on the birth of their son
Lane!!

Born 7-29-08 at 10:38pm
Weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces
20.75 inches long
Baby and Mom are doing great.

Welcome to the world, Lane!

Coffeehouse Redneck

I've got a new obsession. And while I didnt really realize it was an obsession until recently, I do know that it's been a few years in the making. I was never much of a coffee drinker. In high school, them preppy girls would bring their Starbucks styrofoam cups of coffee in with them every morning and I just didnt get it. I drank water. And Dr. Pepper. I'd tried my parents coffee before and I couldnt quite develop a taste.

Then, I started sitting in on calving and foaling nights. All night up in a barn, doing nothing, without the option of sleeping. I remember the first time I sat in on a foaling... My girlfriend Ashley's mare was about to give birth, and she had been a mare in the past whom generally had difficult births. Her parents had sat in the night before, and being this was a Friday, the ask Ash and I to take over.

A few hours in, we were struggling. Ash's ma brought us mugs of coffee. Plain, black coffee. So I drank it. And I've been addicted every since. And I've always taken my coffee just the same... hot and black. Nothing fancy. But then after high school and a brief jaunt experimenting with Cappuchino, I discovered creamer. And from the creamer I went to Expresso. And on and on and on. Then I started a desk job. And sit down, 9 hour a day desk job. And I realized at that moment on my second day why my parents loved their coffee so much. (By the way, my dad makes a perfectly balaced pot of coffee.. Balanced meaning strong. Super strong. Its gotta be strong if you're going to drink it black)



All that was over 3 years ago.. Now, I cant function without my morning pot of java. Don't freak out, I dont drink a whole pot. Well, yeah I actually sometimes do, but my coffee maker is one of those little 5 cup pots and Red drinks half of that before my feet even hit the floor.

How about Starbucks with their oh so yummy Frappuchinos? And McDonalds with their new Iced Coffees? And Monster Energy with their coffee flavored energy drinks? You just cant go wrong with coffee, folks. Even if you think you don't like it, there is a coffee out there that would suck you into this coffeehouse world so fast you wouldnt even know which coffee bean hit you.

There are so many things you can do with coffee! Its incredible! I'm still generally a hot and black type of gal. Occassionally I will snazz it up with a bit of creamer. But here at work, its all black baby. Strong, hot, black coffee... Gotta go git some.

Love Em

Holsteins & Guernseys

Aha! I have finally managed to scrounge up some pictures from my fair days. Not that any of you will know what I'm talking about, since my whole identity lies back at freewebs. But I dont care! We will learn to navigate this together. Who's with me. Anybody? Really nobody? C'mon!

Moving on. Meet Alexa:

Miss Alexa was my very first heifer. Shes a beautiful barely year old Holstein. And I loved her. A heifer, for those of you who are clueless when it comes to things bovine, is a calf who hasnt yet had a baby. I used to sleep on this girl. In between shows, her and I would be so exhausted. So she would lay down and I would curl up next to her and use her for a pillow. I think she enjoyed it. Life for a cow is anything but fun during fair week. They sit there, or in the heat, they lay there, for 7 entire days. The only way they get to move is to A: Get up really early and be milked. Which in Alexa's case, wasnt an option given her age. B: Get up really early and be bathed. This was daily. She was scrubbed, bathed, polished, shaved... Every day. Or C: Show. And none of these tasks are particularly pleasent, for anybody involved. Its cold at 4am, even in August. And lining up at the wash stocks next to 5 other cows and spraying soap and freezing cold water everywhere doesn't help matters

Here are the rest of the girls. Gosh, this had to be back in... Oh I am going to say about 1999.



I dont remember their names now almost a decade later. But I know that orange Guernsey there is Jolene. And I remember because my beautiful soon to be sister in law is also named Jolene, and her hair is about this exact shade of red. Such a pretty color!

Here is some of the old crew. I grew up with these people. They are all hicks. They are all dairy people. They are all aweome with a capital A. I adore every one of them. Except that punk in the white tshirt looking away. But we wont go there.

And lastly, my horse. He's not mine now. But he will always be mine in my heart. Doc is the buckskin gelding I am always raving about. This horse can do no wrong. Even here in the show ring. When during every showmanship event we entered together, he would stop in the middle of my pattern, and piss. And it wasnt a quicky thing. It wasnt a pee that I could jiggle the halter and get him moving again. This was an all out, sprawled wide, 2 minute pee. There was no moving Doc during his pee session. And while I was pretty pissed at the time... I can only laugh about it now.
I am the tall person in the dark green slinky shirt, tan pants and tan hat. And that handsome dude I'm holding is Doc.



Ohhhh how I miss the days.

Love Em

Computer Illiteracy

Due the vast failure of the site hosting my last blog, I have finally decided to join the rest of society here at blogspot. And I look forward to it. Well, I dont look forward to the time and effort that will be required to move everything from there to here. However when its finished and when I can finally understand how to navigate this dadgum site, I am sure I will be a happy woman. I think. Right?

Love Em

Kuma

My apologies for my long time away. But I have been busy searching for those fair pictures! I cant find them for the life of me!But you wont have to wait much longer.. Because I have been invited to prep and show this year! Horses!! Eek!I will be working the old crew, most of the original horses, and a few new ones. I can WAIT! You all have no idea of the excitement this brings about in me.
On a different note, I have resigned from Dogs Deserve Better. I am sad about it, but due to some recent drama added to the stress of running a dog rescue, I need to get out. Temporarily at least. Red is happy with the decision.. Of course.

Currently we only have Kuma here at home. Kuma is a 100lb Malamute whom I'd pulled from a local humane society last winter, they were going to euth him soley because of his size. "Nobody will ever adopt a dog that big!" they said. So I grabbed him up. The couple who adopted him have returned him, through no fault of his own, and while he is now locked into MinnKota Mal rescue, we are fostering him until he is adopted.
Kuma is a gorgeous Malamute by the way. See for yourself!



Kuma is a big dog. Big, big dog. The photo does not do justice to the sheer size and width of this dog.
Kuma does not get along well with Mizz Frankie. He likes to throw his weight around, because... well... he can. And he outweighs poor Frankie by a good 70lbs or so. She squats down and pees out of sheer terror if Kuma even looks at her.

And who in their right mind would want to hurt this precious hunk of merle love?!


Certainly not me. Bad Kuma! Jake tries.... But he fails.


Any "Friends" fans out there??

""Frankie say Relax!""

Love Em

County Fair

Fair time is fast approaching. And while my little town of residence holds the largest Independance Day parade in southern MN, my hometown, where I grew up, holds one of the largest county fairs in the state. And I am dang proud of it.
So as the time approaches, I am fondly flipping through my county fair memory Rolodex... Nobody loves the fair quite like I do. And not because of the food and the games and the rides. And not even because of the beer gardens. I havent actually even been to the beer gardens since I've been old enough to drink.
No, I love the fair because of my past there. Because literally, my happiest memories of later childhood happened right there at the county fair. I used to show livestock. And actually just 2 years ago I was still showing horses there. I grew up showing horses and my favorite, dairy. Yup, dairy cattle. I remember having to learn all of the different anatomy points, and making sure that I knew my heifer's dam and sire's name, because in showmanship, the judge would ask. And I'm sad to say that I have completely forgotten most of the anatomy points. Except for the 'pins'. Anybody, ask me where the 'pins' are on a holstein heifer. And I can tell you without hesitation!
I remember having to go in the night before the start of the fair week, decorating the stalls and the cattle barns with the farms colors. Spending all summer working with my heifers so they would walk nicely in the ring. Spending all summer working the horses I would be showing. The sweat, the blood, the grime.. The happiness. I was in 4H and FFA. I got to work the 4H food stand. No, wait, I HAD to work in the 4H food stand. I think its a requirement. Working along side my friend Brianna.. Boy me and that girl could fight! But we were best friends. Not very many people get to experience the behind the scenes of showing livestock. And while I'm not marrying the horse rancher or dairy farmer I had once thought I would be, I will be damned sure my kids exerpience 4H. My kids better not grow up as city slickers. Dreaming of flitting off to Chicago or New York to join the ballet or opera. Sure, I will raise them to be whatever they aspire to be. But I hope they take on the same passion for agriculture that I have. Because if I were given the chance to go back and live one week of the country fair that I did when I was 16, I would snap it up in a minute. The friends I made... The experiences I was given.
Thank you mom and dad for allowing me to be the hick I always was at heart. I am pretty sure they have no idea where I came from. I was kind of the country alien of the family. All of my sisters are city geeks. They love clothes and makeup and hair and all that fancy stuff. And they should, they are all beyond gorgeous! They are pretty laid back in the sense that all of them love a good weekend on the lake or a good family trip in the woods... They will get dirty with the best of them. But not one of them, to my knowledge, has a biting, scratching need to be in the dirt and the grime of farm or ranch living. I want to bail hay! In fact, I LOVE bailing hay! I love cleaning tack. I love cleaning barns. I have a deep passion for throwing around horse and cow manure. I want old, rusty trucks and big old barns. I want fields. I dont even care whats in them. I want to go to the fair. I want back what I got to have in high school. But I'm young yet, and I have a life to build. And when Red and I are ready, we will be in the country.
And then I'll stop tormenting him with dogs! Ha! And I'll replace those dogs with horses and cattle! Just a couple of beef steers or something, just to have them there. Think he'd let me do that? His momma and sister tell me about the days when they had some cattle way back when. He secretly wants that again.. Right Red? Red? RED! Dammit, he ran away again.
So anyways, come August, why do you all join us at the county fair! I can promise you the time of your life. Tonight I will scrounge my albums and post some of my pictures from a decade ago when I showed animals at the fair. You're gonna love it!
Love Em

Diary of a Newbie Gym Goer

Thanks for forwarding this to me, Cj!

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
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MONDAY: Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
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TUESDAY: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
_______________________________
WEDNESDAY: The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other shit too.
_____________________
THURSDAY: Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny bitch to find me.Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
________________________
FRIDAY: I hate that bitch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
________________________________
SATURDAY: Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
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SUNDAY: I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Red Apple Sangria

There is nothing I love more than Sangria. Okay, thats not true.. I love a lot of things more than alcohol. Like loaded mashed potatos. And dogs. And cat hair. But mmmmm baby I love red apple sangria. And its the perfect summer time, sit out on your deck or porch or lawn or driveway or gravel road with a book or burger drink. This goes with everything. I would even drink it in the middle of the winter huddled up next to a blazing fireplace. Yup, its that good.

Supplies:

~3oz sutter home cabernet sauvinon wine
~1oz dekuyper red apple liqueur
~2oz fruit punch~2oz 7up (or spring or sierra mist or whatever)
~2 Maraschino cherries
~1 orange slice
~1/2 medium red apple, sliced into chunks
~1 lime wedge

Dump the liquids into a shaker and mix gently (dont shake, just roll). Pour into large glass. Skewer the apple chunks and cherries on toothpicks and set into glass, hang orange slice on edge and let lime float in glass. Enjoy!

Drink at your own risk

Different Viewpoints

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary:

• 8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
• 9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
• 9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
• 10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
• 12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
• 1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
• 3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
• 5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
• 7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
• 8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
• 11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary:

Day 983 of my captivity.My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously stupid.The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now . . .
~Author Unknown

Misc Weekend

What a beautiful weekend! At least here it was. Friday was terrible, super high dewpoints and humidity so thick you could swim in it. But some storms rolled through that really cooled things down and gave us a perfect weekend.

Sunday I drove a rescue transport from Clear Lake, Ia back into Minnesota. 4 beautiful Australian Shepherds and a Husky mix found rescue this weekend. Its fun to drive those runs and I would recommend it to anybody. You meet such fabulous people and even cooler dogs.

One of the Aussies came home with me. Her name is Umi. I'm having trouble coming up with a new name for her... Originally I was thinking Cami or Cam or Cameron or or or... But I really like the name Frankie. I know its a boys name. But why does it have to be a boys name? Last night I was watching an old AFV (America's Funniest Home Videos) with Daisy Fuentes hosting, and Umi started barking at something outside, so I yelled to her and accidentally called her Daisy. Shes not a Daisy.

This is Umi. Or Cami. Or Frankie. Isnt she beautiful? Shes a blue merle Aussie. Shes very small, probalby only 35lbs or so. I love her to death already. I see agility in this girls future!
Jake was feeling pretty confident going into this brawl. His 75lbs could take her scrawny little butt no problem. But he was wrong.
Umi is quick. And agile. And super athletic. And she may be just a baby yet, but she can hold her own.


Tennis balls are her life. She will do anything for a tennis ball. And this stuffed bird, which I can honestly say I have no idea where that bird came from...



Saw the movie "Hancock" over the weekend with Red. Great movie, I would highly recommend it. It was actually quite funny and there are surprises that I didnt anticipate. Go see it! Next we are going to see Wanted, and after that, X files. I always liked X files because I love the paranormal stuff. But Red is obsessed with XFiles.. And the thought of an X files movie coming out, well, he acts like I would if there were a "Friends" movie coming out.
What, there's a Friends movie coming out???? Oh, wait, that was me. Well they need to make a damn movie already.
Oh, I almost chopped my finger off this weekend. My right pinkie. Yup. Bled all over the place, I think it went down to the bone. And it was at just the right angle that a little bit of fat can be seen in there even. Sorry, I dont mean to be graphic. But, well, I had to see it. The least I can do is tell you about it. Dont worry, I'm not posting pictures of it. But its all good because since I broke my right hand a couple years back, I already learned how to do everything with my left hand.
Have a great week, folks!

Love Em

4th of July recap

I did it. I finally sat my butt at my computer and I updated this site. Woo! And don't give me grief for finally posting 4th of July pictures a whole week after the fact. You know I'm a procrastinator! This should not surprise a one of you. Now, can we get down to business??? Its like 101 degrees outside. Minnesota would be the perfect state if not for the 90% humidity all summer long. And maybe the -75 winter windchills could give it a rest too... Oh, wait, thats not what you are here for. You're right, I'm not a weather man. Okay.

Can I just start out by pointing out that I do not kid when I talk about my hippy sister. She's a hippy. A hippy, folks. Do not call me a lier. Just take a look for yourself.

That's a hippy if I ever saw one.

"But Emmy, dont you think Tess will be mad at you for posting pictures of her on your website without her permission?"

No. This girl waived those rights by being born 3 years after moi. I came first. She came second. And I never let her forget it.

Naw.. I love her. Doesnt she look so pretty?! And in all honesty, since I am all about keepin' it real around here, she actually told me to sit my butt down at this computer and get the 4th of July pictures posted. So she has no room to crab. Love you, sistah!

Following the town street dance the evening before, and considering my glorious hangover, we all decided to head down to the central park to join in the festivities and see the parade. We first enjoyed some Pronto Pups. Who doesnt love a good foot long Pronto Pup doused in ketchup and mustard? Tell me who!

Sister Tess certainly has nothing negative to say about these amazing grease coated dogs.

In the picture above Tess and her dog, I would like to affectionately point out the Cool Delicious Malts stand in the background. Ohhhh how I love that stand. I love dairy, I love cheese, I love milk, I love malts, and I love cheese. I love everything dairy, especially ice cream. But especially I love cheese.

The crowd was thick.. Everybody in town shows up for at least one pronto pup and cheese curd.

What in God's name is this mess?



I eyed the stuff for a while... A little unsure. But my ever lovin' affection for cheese won over, as always, and I sampled the concoction. It wasnt bad. Curly fries and beef and cheese. Oh heavenly cheeeeese....

Tess loves cheese too... Look, I'll prove it

And Red, well... You know I think he gets his share of amusement out of watching Tess and I converse. Tess and I talk in code. And while I made that up and its not really code, listening to Tess and I talk to each other is probably a little mind numbing for the average person. But I wouldnt know because I'm not average. I'm special. Wait....

On to the parade. Our town holds one of the largest Independance Day parades in southern Minnesota. And I'm proud of that, considering that the town itself consists of like 1500 people.

Let me start this parade segment with the brave men and woman who work day and night to serve and protect.

If you know me based on this website alone, than you are not yet aware of my passion for horses. You arent aware that nearly every scar and bruise and broken bone on my body has come from these giant equine animals. Those of you who do know me are going to roll your eyes and shake your head when you think back to the horse run. When I used to run around like a horse, thinking I was a horse. Now, reflect on this site, which is canine devoted, and you think about that statement. I love horse more than I love dogs. Oh yeah. Which is why the mounted posse gets first in line in Em's Parade lineup.

Next, fireman! I love fireman. But I hope they never have to visit my house.

With my horse background, my mentor, Tami, made certain us girls could drive a tractor with a shit spreader behind it. And the tractor I learned on was her old Alice, just like this one. Well, not just like it. This one is much shinier than the Alice I learned on. But just as reliable..



I love this little semi thing. Its like smaller than a golf cart... That kid looks huge in it.



And on the walk home, we saw that one of our dear neighbors had a tree that had been hit by lightening during one of the recent storms...

Tess was awed...

It still even smelled like burning wood. And Tess, being a hippy, hugged the tree. Okay no I dont think she actually hugged the tree. But probably she thought about hugging it. Right? No? But thats what hippies do, right? Hug trees? No? Well what do they do then, huh smarty pants?

Happy 4th of July everybody!
Love Em

Family Camping 08

I have finally managed to steal back the camera from my ever loving fisherman hubby and have been able to upload the camping trip pictures..
This place was absolutely beautiful.... Those of you who know me know how fond I am of willow trees...



Shortly after arriving and getting set up, the storms came in.


But you know there is something quite fascinating about being so vulnerable to the elements in such a brilliant area of the state. It was fun! And eventually the rain dissipated and the wind died down, and we were left with a partial rainbow...


We had a couple of stray outcasts join us for the duration of the storms (which last a day and a half) Russell and Lucy are two little JRT's who showed up Saturday morning and stayed with us for the remainder of the trip. I dont know why Red keeps saying that he doesnt like dogs... I think he lies...




We had two canine Jakes this year... My own handsome labby boy, plus a 5 month old Silke Terrier. Do not call him a Yorkie. I did, and I was immediately corrected. Jake is a Silke Terrier. And ohhhhhh i wanted to take him home. Look at those ears!!



Jake and Jake got along just fine...



And Sensi... 4 year old Rottweiler and Jakes cousin... She is the least scary Rottie I've ever met.



Can't forget Marion, Momma D and Dori... They arent scary either.




And to leave you, I will include this stupid sign. Red did not appreciate this sign one bit.




4th updates to come! Stay tuned!

Love Em

Red Hair

I haven't forgotten about ya'll. Promise. I finally managed to get away from my house for more than a few hours! And not to work, but to play!

This weekend was Red's annual family camping trip, and since this is now my 5th year going, its like the biggest summer thing I look forward to. Even more than the fair, yes. Red has got a wonderful family and I feel blessed that they will soon be my own family. Not to say my own family isnt wonderful too... I think my family is the best on the planet. And we have a lot of fun when we get together. But my family doesnt have annual camping trips, or any kind of annual thing. Its too hard because we all live so scattered around the country.

The irony in being a part of this trip is this: Reds cousin, Kara, was my best friend growing up. So you see, Red's family deemed me as theirs long before Red and I ever met. It's a family full of red heads, and while I've always claimed to have no attraction to red heads, clearly I've been lying to myself my whole life. I was always envious of Kara's long red hair. I've only realized this recently. Now I'm surrounded by red hair, including my own animals, and based on the dominence of the different hair colors and genetics, it looks as though my children will also have red hair.
I'm doomed to future full of sunscreen and sunburns and freckles. But you know what? It doesnt scare me nearly as much as it once did. Red seemed to grow up just fine. :o)

My long weekend was much needed and I loved spending it with my future family. I couldnt ask for better inlaws.

And this is why I havent posted anything since the 26th. I promise tomorrow I will post pictures from the weekend. Promise!!!

Love Em