Anecdotes, Antidotes, and Anodes

Blogging Friends Come to the Rescue

Blogging Friends Come to the Rescue !!

Several weeks ago, I put out an All Points Bulletin for a

Tickle Me Elmo.

Here is the post:  Finding Elmo

My blogging friends came to the rescue, and not only did Junior receive a new Elmo, Bubba did, too. If I ever had to give a reason for blogging, this would be one of them. There were blogging friends going through toy boxes all over the United States. We had offers of Care Bears, Tiggers, and every kind of Elmo imaginable. It is a constant reminder that people are generally good and will go the extra mile to help out. No one wanted to be reimbursed for the toy or for the postage. (((HUGS)))

Thanks to all of you with your concerns for Junior. After almost 4 weeks of undergoing chemo for lymphoma, he has finally started to respond to the meds. He spends most of his time sitting in the window with his new Elmo watching the rabbits. As you can tell from the above picture, Bubba loves Elmo, too.

Serene Skies

To my blogging friends and visitors...because of the holidays and loved ones expected to visit this week, I will just be leaving pictures that I hope you will enjoy. My visits to  your places will be random, and I may not have the time to comment.

Have a wonderful week celebrating in your own traditions of thankfulness...and may they continue throughout the rest of the year and into 2007.

No Words Today

Animals at Our Place

For so long now, I have seen posts that other Bloggers have shared with absolutely breath-taking photographs of horses and other livestock. This has gone on for a couple of months. I have tried so hard not to upstage any of them, but the urge has just taken over, and I can't stand it any longer.

I took great risks taking these pictures to get just the right shot of all the animals that live on the premises. Since the inception of this blog (glob), I have posted serene pictures of sunrises and sunsets. . . still shots of morning glories and daisies. I captured the beauty of a hummingbird at my feeder and have shared endless photos of Junior and Bubba. Hans has become a well-known celebrity due to the "What Is This Man Doing?" series. It is almost impossible for him to appear in public without having to sign autographs these days.

Well, I have let my competitive spirit get the best of me, so today I am posting our livestock and other animals that live at our place and in the wilds around the house.

This was once one of those Oklahoma Wild Mustangs that we drove out here on a long cattle drive...well, this was a horse drive.  It took the expertise of a horse whisperer named Hans to tame it.  Then we installed rockers on its feet to slow it down just a little.  It is very difficult to locate a farrier that has the knowledge and is brave enough to even attempt this very dangerous task.

Unbeknownst (is that a word?) to many people, there are tigers living in Colorado. We not only raise them, but have been very successful in training this particular tiger to do somersaults. A few of the friendlier ones can even talk, but we've not figured out what language they are speaking yet...Tiggerese, we think.

We also raise these exotic, hairless, polka-dot rabbits that are available in two colors: blue and pink. Unfortunately, the pink ones were hiding today, so I wasn't able to capture them on film. I think just maybe, Junior and Bubba might have been stalking them. 

This is one of our many dairy cows from the Gateway Guernsey breed.  Unfortunately, they only give licorice-flavored milk. We are trying to breed them so the spots are brown instead of black, hoping to get chocolate-flavored milk.

And, last but not least, one of our many fine thoroughbred steeds from the rare Stick'n Ride breed. These horses are of a pure stock with official pedigrees.  They are thoroughly trained and cultured.

Here at Swampwitch's Ranch, you never know what sort of critter you might find.

Being a Typical Granny

Just being a typical Granny... more pictures of our new granddaughter.

Big brother, Harrison, being very gentle with his new baby sister.

Mommy, Reese Elisabeth, and Aunt Ashley Elisabeth

Harrison's first look at his baby sister

Mommy, GaGa, and Reese

These pictures were taken November 12. 

Mommy and Reese are doing well at home now. Harrison is the big boy at the house, as Daddy is serving in Iraq. We will be celebrating Harrison's second birthday this weekend.

Thank you to all who have sent their best wishes to this little family...a special thanks to all who ask about their daddy and husband, BEN.

"O-h-h-h, That Tickles"

This post could have several different titles:

"Life Without Elmo"

"Run, Rabbit, Run"

"The Food Chain"

"Fatal Attraction"   sub-title: "Rabbit Stew"

Please suggest any titles of your own.

In order to fully understand the reason for posting these possibly disturbing pictures, especially to Bugs Bunny lovers, it might be helpful to read a previous post entitled, FINDING ELMO.

These pictures were taken just before we found out that Junior has lymphoma and just after Elmo fell victim to the gnarling, gnashing teeth of June Bug.

I must warn you that what is to follow is not for the faint-of-heart, so if you fit into that category, maybe you should stop here.

It wasn't that the rabbit couldn't out-run Junior in an all-out foot race, but, that he was a frequent visitor to my "salsa garden," and had put himself in a precarious situation. My thumb is not green. My only success is with tomatoes, onions, and peppers. But this season, much to my surprise, the lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower flourished.  Because of those 3 crops, my very small garden was visited nightly by local critters who seemed to think that a Western Sizzlin' Vegetarian Buffet had been provided for them. Realizing that if I wanted to harvest any fruits of my labor, I would have to construct a barrier for the pesky little animals. My fence consisted of ski poles and chicken wire. Neither of which I do or have...ski or chickens.

Mr. Bunny must have been more than just startled to see a 75-pound dog drooling and quietly, "on point," watching him from the other side of the chicken wire that day. I'm sure fear turned to panic as he watched Junior bound through a flimsily-built gate, not meant to keep out anything larger than a rabbit or chipmunk. No amount of screaming on my part seemed to distract Junior from the job at hand.

Because Junior took Tickle Me Elmo everywhere with him, it was necessary to dispose of the rabbit immediately.  I wasn't too keen on the idea of Junior bringing his new "stuffed animal" into the house. Junior had gone out and captured his own, new breed of Tickle Me Elmo. Funny thing is, I never heard the rabbit say, "O-h-h-h, that tickles."

And now, "The Rest of the Story"...told in pictures.

Please, no letters from animal rights activists unless you address them to Junior.

More Pictures of Reese

Just a few more pictures of Reese.

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes for this little family. I have just now blown in from WY, literally, ahead of a typical Colorado blizzard. Watch for us on national news, I'm sure you'll see something about a winter storm warning.  I won't be taking the time to respond to each of your good wishes from yesterday.  Just know that I appreciate ALL of them and I thank you for stopping by, even though I haven't been visiting you lately. I posted these while I was still at the hospital just hours after she was born on Sunday.   I don't have a clue where this text will end up, but I'm not going to mess with trying to "fix" it.  The last time I did that, I deleted 3 out of 4 of the pics.  DUH...Still don't know what happened.  Someday soon, I will have the time for blog visits.

Final decision on spelling:  Reese Elizabeth

Virtual Post

 

 

 

For several days, I will be without a computer, A-A-R-R-G-G-H-H, so I won't be knock, knock, knocking on your door to read and comment. Or, will I be able to respond to your comments that you make here. One nice thing about Typepad is that I can set up the clock to publish a previously written post at a certain time on a certain day. With my cornpooter skills, who knows what is going to happen. I take no responsibilty for what shows up here in the next few days. The computer will be at the hospital so that Daddy, who is in Iraq, may be able to be in contact and see the baby with the webcam.

On the previous post, Looking for Elmo, I have responded to all the comments made before the computer was packed in the car.

QUESTION: As a blogger, do you come back to a previous post's comment section to read my response to you? Just wondering, as I do try to respond regularly to all your comments.

Here are two pics for you looking into the sunset from the west end of Duval Street in Key West.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINDING ELMO

Junior loves Tickle Me Elmo. He is pictured here with his Elmo that has been his "security toy" for over 3 years. (His first one lasted for 2 years.) He took very good care of both friends. Elmo giggled, wiggled, and said, "O-h-h-h, that tickles." Any other stuffed animal that comes to live at our house lasts about one week before being disemboweled by Junior. Every last bit of that stuffing is fastidiously removed, then the ever-lovin' daylights is shaken out of the poor creature. . .another new addition for the ever-increasing population for the stuffed animal graveyard. Junior is such a vicious-looking dog when he chases rabbits with Elmo dangling out of both sides of his mouth. When we arrive home, Junior always runs to find his Elmo and brings him to us. Unfortunately, when June Bug came to live with us last month, she kidnapped Elmo while Junior was sleeping. I'll not go into the gory details, but it was not a pretty sight. Junior is lonesome and looks everywhere for his old friend.

We have searched everywhere for just a plain 'ole "Tickle Me Elmo" to buy for Junior.

On E-Bay, I have found the 1oth Anniversary Elmo for a whopping $199.99, an Elmo wiggle chair, a Knows Your Name Elmo, an Elmo ball, and on and on. Many sites tell me that Tickle Me Elmo can only be found in stores.  Which stores?  When Hans travels, he always looks for one. He even bought one off E-Bay, but it was not as described, and it didn't wiggle and giggle.

If you can locate a "Tickle Me Elmo" for Junior, please give us the information with your comment.

Junior would really appreciate it.  As many of you know, Junior has been diagnosed with lymphoma and has started a series of injections. The prognosis is not good, so we would love to hurry and find a Tickle Me Elmo for Junior.

We are prepared to purchase several and donate the extras to Toys for Tots.

Yesterday's Post: Thanks to everyone who suggested names for the grandbaby. It's always fun to know what favorite names others have for a new baby.

If the baby is a boy, his name will be Lucien Charles. (Charilie)

If the baby is a girl, her name will be Reese Elizabeth. (Reese)

Big brother is 2 year-old Harrison.

We are two days away from the due date.

Names for the Baby

This is a continued post from yesterday, in keeping with the tone of "mid-term" elections. Actually, this is a "full-term" election. Readers were "voting" for boy or girl. Our grandbaby is due November 12.

Here are the tabulations:

Shauna:    boy

Claudia:   girl

Red Neck Girl:   boy

Heather:   girl

Mysti:  girl

BarnGoddess:  boy

Her Indoors:  girl

Lael:  girl

Gawilli:  boy--but really doesn't matter as long as baby and mom are in good health :)

"And in the spirit of Tuesday's election, BRIAN votes for none of the above."

Girl:  5 votes

Boy:  4 votes

None of the above:  1

Today, please submit suggestions for a boy's name and a girl's name. (First and middle if you wish.)

Search Word Feedback:

From Lael:  Weird Home Schoolers

When time permits, please check your Search Words, and share some of your most interesting. I want to create a post with them some day. (See yesterday's post for 3 of mine.)

I know, I know...this is a boring post. At least there was a sunrise waiting for you.  This was taken looking east from the end of Duval Street in Key West.  I hope you enjoy it.