Book Tagging!

I'd never heard of it until it happened to me! Ahhhh!!

I've been tagged. So here are the rules.

1) Grab the nearest book.
2) Open the book to page 56.
3) Find the fifth sentence.
4) Post the text of the next two to five sentences.
5) Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one.Pick the Closest.
6) Tag five people to do the same.

"Let me help" He cut off her protest simply by taking her hand. "I've got time, and the fact is, if I went on my way, I'd worry about you and I'd never get anything done anyway."
"That's awefully sweet," she said, and knew she was a goner. "That's really very sweet."

From 'Remember When' by Nora Roberts/JD Robb

I tag the following people:
~DHW (ha!)
~Train Wreck
~Anya
~Charlie
~Katie

Now get to it!

Lights, Holly & Stockings

I love decorating for Christmas.

To the point that it actually irks other people.

I love that Christmas comes early. And I agree with those who talk about it being so commercialized these days. But thats not the point for me. I like being surrounded by such calm, happy beauty.

But this year, I held off. I actually waited until the evening of Thanksgiving, just to please my man Red.

I have been making a whole weekend of it. I hate cleaning. But if it means I am also decorating for my favorite time of year, than I am all for it.

Fish on a Christmas tree? In my house, oh yes. Have none of you met Red?

I have a new little addiction.

Nutcrackers.

They come in so many shapes and sizes and colors. And how charming?
I like this guy, because he has crooked teeth.

One of my fondest childhood Christmas memories involves a large group of nutcrackers.

I also love Christmas lights. I wish they could stay up all year long.



I also love these littel candle holders.

They were my Grandmas.



And THIS is what happens when punk ass little sisters steal my camera.



My what a big mouth you have little sister!

Do you see that hair color? That is our natural hair color. I have dyed mine so many times that I could never remember.
Now I want it back. Give it back, Tess!

Happy Thanksgiving... for real.

Happy Turkey Day my friends.

What are you thankful for today?

I hope you all will take a moment to remember the past year and to smile as you think about the events and opportunities that have shaped the year. And the people who made the good days good.

I hope you all ate too much, laughed too much and loved too much.

Give thanks for all you have

Em

Happy Thanksgiving

Okay, I realize it's not actually Thanksgiving day yet. But this week is like Thanksgiving week.
So with the onset of my holiday time worry and stress and anxiety, I would like to leave you with this:

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

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FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

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FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

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FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

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FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

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FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

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FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

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FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THA T NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

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FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. ...

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FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

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FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

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FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

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FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

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FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

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FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

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I AM THANKFUL FOR THE crazy people I work with BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

~Author Unknown

The Ball is Not a Ball...

We've had this ball.

Okay, not a ball ball.. But like a round dog toy.

But not as much a round dog toy as it is a... Well its a ball okay!

It's a dog ball. Its this home made dog toy that's actually held up nicely over the years.

It was given to us by a family who sponsored some of our rescue dogs for Christmas.

And the family who adopted the dog it was given to, well, they declined to take it with them.



Most dogs actually dont even take much interest in the thing. And I figured if one did, it couldnt be that hard to recreate it with some more material, right?

Sure. So I wont cross that bridge until the time comes.

At least thats what I thought.

Yup, its held up nicely to the busy jaws of many foster dogs.

Then the Aussie found it.

Its since lost its spheratic shapeliness.

And the green strings that held it together.

Man, she looks a little crazy. A little nutso.


But apparently she was really just seeing it for what it was...


A scarf.



Or a shawl! Perfect for these brisk winter months.

Oh, and a tug toy!




My Aussie is all about the recycling...

Monday Madness

Not really madness. But it is Monday.

I didnt really mean to take an entire week off from the blog. But it happened that way.

Since I got my camera back, I've been trying out some new angles on things.

Like Frankie's fur. I love Frankie's fur.

She's so soft and warm. Its not like my house has any fur-free blankets in it anyways. So what better way to keep warm then letting the Frankster sprawl out in my lap?

I love the cat's fur also.

Except his seems to land everywhere. The guy sheds like a... well like a cat. But its okay. I'm used to it.

We had some fun this weekend. Saturday we had a shindig at the shops and it was fun!

During this time, we also hosted the UFC fight at our house, which was just across the lawn.

It was quite a bummer of a fight in my books. I'm a Randy Couture fan. Big time. And he lost to Brock Lesner. Don't even get me started on Brock Lesner. He isnt a fighter. He's a giant oaf who throws his weight around just enough to knock some guy off his feet. In my own opinion, his win had little to do with skill, and much to do with sheer mass.

Randy is on the TV there talking to Joe Rogan after the fight. I was upset. To say the least.

We had a surprise guest for the evening though.

Mr. Bo Jackson!

Bo Jackson is the newly adopted pup of some friends of ours. Hes a very sweet puppy and the love of their lives. And we discovered that he really loves these chew bones.

Friday and Saturday we were blessed with mail. And in these packages were real, live frisbees. Doggy frisbees. No more of this fabric, fake disc stuff. Nope. We have real discs now!

What? Did somebody say discs?

Now you've gone and done it.

Disc is an Obsession...

I am going to warn you now that in the future, I will be talking a lot about disc dogs.

Frankie and I have discovered that we might actually have some fun playing disc, and rather than the 'just fun and exercise' stance I'd originally taken regarding this fun sport, I think its going to become more than that.

This weekend I was lucky enough to get to meet some of the crew from the Minnesota Disc Dog Club, and man what fabulous group of people they are. Talented dogs, talented people... And more than that, both humans and dogs were just the friendliest, outgoing group I've ever met. They took Frankie and I under their wings and showed us what we can be working on this winter to help build the foundation and drive for a possible future in disc doggin competition!

I know, I talk all smart and positive right now. I am sure there will be many frustrations ahead of us. But I've found something that has really reached down deep and grabbed on. I dont want just a 'fling' with this sport. I want a full blown relationship. Not even the potential for agility has peaked my interests quite like disc has. And Frankie LOVES it.

Just so you can get an idea of what we're up against, check out this disc dog video!

Okay. Enough about disc. For now.

Saturday we had gotten word of a few sightings of a huge buck near the land where we have been hunting. So we spent some time and money at Cabelas buying some good, sturdy winter stuff that would get many years of use. Sunday morning, we woke up at 5am with the intention of heading out with our bows in search of this mighty buck. But we found that the weather had other plans, and due to the high winds and freezing temps we decided even if we did see him, nobody could shoot accurately enough in those winds to even get close to him. Back to bed we went.
Unfortunately, we got word last night that a friend of ours HAD in fact seen him yesterday... And bagged him. MAN! If that doesnt just punch you in the gut. Oh well. Our fault.

No photos for you today. I had taken my camera along yesterday to the park, fully intending to snap a few pictures of all these fabulous disc dogs. But in my excitement, I totally forgot all about it. Whoops.

I'll have something for you soon. I promise. Hang in there, folks!

Oh, and Happy Monday. Of course.