Words to chew on

We had some fun tonight talking about all the different idioisms we use as every day language and how much of it most people don't understand, use it incorrectly and end up making a fool out of themselves. Funny how the English language has changed so much.

Like "pulling someone's leg" Formerly used to describe a person who would trip up someone, aka pull their leg, in order to make them fall and rob them. So the act of stumbling, mishap and comical effect of someone falling over came to be adapted to the making fun of someone in general.

Or "getting someone's goat"? Ever wondered about that one? Back in my grandfather's day, they would place a goat in a stable with the prized race horse. For some reason they had a settling influence on the horse. Now if you were the competitor, you would try to steal that goat, aka getting someone's goat. So today we use it as a reference to an act that upsets someone.

Another one is "to get a rise out of someone". Basically it's to to succeed in annoying someone. Over 300 years ago this phrase was coined by fisherman. Just as the fish rises to the bait and is caught, the person who rises to the lure of a practical joke becomes the butt of it. From its original meaning of raising a laugh at someone's expense.

The last one we talked about was "ego trip" Not much as far as origin on this one other then it was first heard in the 1965-70's--way cool man! The description-Some incredibly annoying people are on permenant ego trips. Wheee. They're fun to watch, being so absorbed in themselves that they can't even listen to anyone else speak. Still, in the end, nobody looks out for you or cares about you more than yourself. Perhaps being on an ego trip is better than having unrealized potiential.

Yes, we do have some interesting discussions at home. With a smart kid, college student and husband as the self proclaimed encyclopedia of useless knowledge, what more do you expect? So when was the last time you gave someone "an ego trip" by simply "pulling their leg" and getting their goat" and all for the sake of "getting a rise out of them"?

Later gators...
C

Spring Fling

Sun is out. Dogs and kids are bored. Bristol is on a rain delay. David's working on our taxes. Time to go for a walk, or in Pete's case--as few swims.


Pete doesn't just go to the creek to play, she goes for the swimming.


The intrepid explorers with the tools of the trade-bucket, fish net and stick. Time to stock the duck pond with more minnows. Today they came home with some bullheads, several large fish and minnows and a HUGE crawdad carcass. For those of you who haven't been to our place, the upper left hand corner is the house and barn or part of it.



This one cracked me up. I usually can't get good action shots of the dogs, but this one caught Pete in a moment of glee. Man that was really a good spot to roll.

And guys, you can explain why Moose looks a little uncomfortable as he went across the creek. The water is very cold, especially with all the melted snow from yesterday's storm.



Ah, there's my Moosie man. Wish I could have caught him on level ground so he doesn't look high in the rear, but he does strike a pose for the camera. Needed something with a little more class after the first one in the creek.


Pete, swimming, again.


Just a little bit of foot traffic on the beach. Dog, kid, coon, goose, heron, otter, mink and a few that I didn't id.


Oh, Pete, Oh Peterman. She does strike a pose. You know, I'm the first to admit that she is not perfect. Far from it. But she's also not that bad. I'm still on the fence about keeping her. You know how sometimes you have these high hopes about a dog? This one I don't and it's kind of a relief. She may or may not finish, no biggy. I can go in the ring with her and just play, have fun and enjoy it without any pressure. There are moments I go"what was I thinking?" Then there are times like this when she's trotting around and her movement is OMG. Or when she strikes a pose like these. Then there are the other times when you get her aunt's and cousin's-WHAT?? look. Eeks, that's just trouble.





I couldn't really get the Red Man to stop long enough for good photo. So most of Frankie is either on his back rolling or I got his butt. Oh and that's Pete in mid roll as she went off the bank-almost landed in the creek, again. Anyway, Frankie has said it before, his contract stated after he finished, he didn't have to pose for photos, go back in the ring or make any effort to stay beautiful. Diva dog, if you can call a boy that.



The weekend went by way too fast. At least the 7 day forecast doesn't contain that four letter word-snow, but it does have the other one-rain. Meredith has suggested that next weekend we plan on having a picinic at the creek and I'm hoping that we can. But that's after we get our taxes taken in to the tax man, move Ellie and Ian to their new apartment, work on fence repairs now that the snow is out of the pasture and hope that the front yard is dry enough to do the finish grade and seeding that we didn't get done last fall. I'm tired of muddy paws!

Ah yes spring is here and I'm ready for it.

Later gators....
C

Three Kings

Some years they visit and it's not too bad. Then there's this year. 4" of snow overnight. Yes I measured it in the front yard. But now......it's gone and well, this is what is left behind.

Now, here's some fun. If you can ID the feet in these pictures, I might just have to a prize or two to give out. How does a box Walker's Shortbread and a package of Yorkshire Tea sound? Enter in the comment section and if there's a tie, I'll have the Ms draw a name out of the hat. You've got till Wednesday afternoon!

David suggested the next contest will be ID the muddy foot print on my clean carpets :)

Later gators...
C

Bestest friends

Or is it the Three Stooges?

Later gators....
C

Not good

Should I start worrying now or later?

Later gators....

C

SaPaDaPaSo so so so so

Sorry these are late. We enjoyed the parade on Wednesday-lunch was awesome and the parade was a welcome diversion.

Now I didn't get great shots because there were these kids that kept creeping up in front of us. So here's a just a few of the front of the parade.

A look west down 3rd Ave, right in front of our offices. Across the street is the historic Guarantee Bank Building. On the corner the Armstrong building, now housing Hills Bank. Formerly the home of the Armstrong Dept Store.

Colour Guard

Can't have a parade in his honor, without him! St Pat!

Local off-leash dog park group.

Yes that is a green Great Pyrenes.

Later gators....

C

Finally!

So Thursday was a nice day. No gorgeous compared to what we have just dealt with for the last 5 months. And considering what this weekend is like, gotta take it while you can. Nothing major to do outside and the umpteen loads of laundry are not going to get done while the sun is shining. Meredith spent the day up in Dubuque with her Nana and cousin, touring the River Museum and keeping them from getting lost. The kid has been in that town enough times to know her way around.

It was 62 degrees per the bank clock on the way home so I made it my mission to enjoy what was left of the day. Change clothes, rearrange dogs, pull on my new wellies, grab the net, bucket and walking stick, a couple of kids and of course some dogs. Off to the creek we go.

Last week, David and the Ms got a close up view of a new resident in our creek---an otter. The argument at home that night between them and Alec over it was funny. Continued for a few days. But from what they say, it wasn’t the mink or the weasel that we know are down there. It was indeed an otter and after last night, the tracks all over the banks prove it. Of course we didn’t see it ourselves but it’s exciting to see that it’s there. The heron is back too-tracks all over. A few coon prints, I think we saw some of the mink’s tracks too. Now this is just a little head water creek meandering through a little pasture, but it’s a gold mine for wildlife and we love it.

Kids took the big fish net and bucket. Caught some minnows for the duck pond and then found some dead baby snappers. Hate to say this, but rather have them dead then biting my dogs. BUT the find of the night was a nice healthy red eared slider turtle! They are endangered in Iowa and illegal to take. We checked it out a little, making sure it was in good shape and let it go in the bog area. So happy to have that little guy around and Meredith is making sure she checks up on it regularly.

Did I mention dogs? Oh yeah, took the Old Man, Moose, Frankie and for her first ever creek adventure, Pete. A few PETERMAN’s were yelled along the way but for the most part, she was perfectly behaved. Did I also mention that I breed water dogs? The boys knew darn well what we were doing when I opened the paddock gate—SWIMMING! Fred was in first, followed by Moose. Frankie brought up the rear and not to be left out, Pete jumped right in and started swimming. And swimming and jumping and swimming. Frank tried to jump the creek in one spot and like a cartoon, he wasn’t going to make it, stopped in mid flight and belly flopped. They all had a blast. Mud, sand, water. All of them went not only wading but swimming too.

I love correct coats. The water just shed off them, the mud dried and fell out of their coats. Granted they did spend more time in the yard after we got back to dry off but it didn’t take too long.

We did have an incident and now Frankie is considered a tattle tail. Fred and Moose ran ahead while we were admiring the turtle. Frankie and Pete said, wait, they are wayyyy to far ahead. They actually ran up to the north fence line and were thinking about investigating the cattle pasture. Big no no. So Frankie started barking and kept looking over his shoulder with a –look Ma, they’re not supposed to be there! One holler at Moose and they wandered back down by us. But the whole tattle tail part is now causing issues. Moose tried to run Frankie off the bank and into the creek, more then a few times on the way home.

So it’s now spring in the pasture and I am assured that the dogs will be asking for more adventures to the creek. No worries, as long as we don’t have too much flooding, there should be many more of them.

Later gators...
C

You aren't serious?

Friday Mar 19 40 % chance rain Hi: 55° Lo: 36° Light winds.

Saturday Mar 20 80% chance SNOW! Hi: 36° Lo: 24° Winds N at 18 mph.

The yard has just dried out. It's supposed to be almost 60 today and then this for the weekend? You can't be serious????

Then again, we hadn't had our Three Kings come through yet.

Later gators......
C

Coming back to center

The last month has been, well, interesting. I had all kinds of posts I wanted to put up, never got to or scrapped. I've been blasted from the left, put down by the right and you know, it's actually a good laugh anytime that happens now. I've lost and yes found, in particular, what's important in my life. I swear I was so off kilter at times, I would drop off the edge. Thankfully, I've come back to center.

Loss has been a pretty big item so far. Grandma was just shy of her 94th birthday. The funeral turned out great. Weather held and every bit their tongue for the day. Relatives are strange creatures. I like most of mine and having grown up with lots of extended family, I think I learned at an early age that people can be difficult, weird, and pains. You either take things way too personally, or you learn to look past the differences and see what is good. Unfortunately, that's also taught me that many times, people let their bad overwhelm their good.

Then there's Hope. We had actually gotten her just a week over 14 years ago. 14 month old, yes this is hard to believe, ball of fire. She was our first official dog as a married couple. We had our first real house. She became the dog that defined us for so long. Over the last few years everyone that met her has fond memories of her blackness imbedded on the, exuse me, her couch, aka her nickname, the Couch Slug. Or seeing her just wandering around outside, snooping, using her selective hearing to it's upmost. She was a super snoopy dog. But played the innocent look so well-Eddie took lessons from her. The dogs all took turns sleeping in her spot last night, then would get up and leave it empty. I just think they all knew they would never be able to fill her spot.

But enough of the sad, today is a day for fun. Yeap, it's Saint Patrick's Day and the office is buzzing with excitement. Last year I related, how, in my new job, I attended my first SaPaDaPaSo Parade in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Because of the location of the office, along the parade route and that the parade organizers use the electric in the building to power the announcer's stand, we can't get much done during that time. Lunch is the local mexican restaurant, appropriate for the day-- Carlos O'Kelly's and my folding chair is sitting by my desk so that after lunch I can plant my butt outside, enjoy the sun(I think it will burn through the fog) and relax. I have my camera handy and will make sure to take photos to post tomorrow. I think this is the perfect way to work on coming back to center.

I found this at the end of an email and thought it fit perfectly with my March so far.....

Don't tell God how big your storm is, Tell the storm how big your God is!!!!! Amen

Later gators.....

C

Five Finger Prayer

Got this from my mom in an email. I couldn't help but pass this along.......

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a 'sweet duty.'

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.
Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion.
They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, 'The least shall be the greatest among you.' Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself.

By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Later gators.....
C

Loyal companion, junk food junkie. Never met a person she didn't like and what every person with a lab puppy told me---I want mine to be just like her.

1995-2010

Later gators...
C

Breed disclaimer

A dog show friend made a good point the other day. Seems after an accident to which she was recovering the “seedy underbelly” of her breed’s traits came to surface. She goes on to comment that breed/judge seminars should not only highlight the perfect breed example but issue a disclaimer right off the bat about the reason we love to hate our breed, so to speak.

So what is it about Cardigan that we love to hate? Oh boy, here we go.

#1-they shed. They are not afraid to leave traces of themselves at every port of call. When you live with a corgi, you adapt your furniture, clothing, heck even your car, to hide the hair as you know you will never get rid of it all, so why bother.

#2-they are not neat freaks. Goes right back to the whole shedding part. They love mud, water, things you don’t even want to know about. Low ground clearance means lots of dirty undercarriages, so keep lots of towels handy. They walk through puddles, not around and have no concern that you want to keep your couch clean-for them it’s the handiest place to dry off.

#3-too smart for their own good. And they will make sure you are fully aware of it. From figuring out how to climb the four shelves to get to the toy they want to opening doors, making sure you are trained to put the toilet seat down or pick up your underwear, cardigans are masters at the art of training their humans.

#4-oh that mouth. Refer back to #3 in that when they want you to know exactly how they feel about a subject, they will tell you. Some are more suttle as in our Eddie and his incessant whining to Merlot and her ear piercing high frequency bark. Side note-she’s the same dog that can’t howl, but yips. They let you know when there’s stranger dangers, or just a bird flying past the window.

#5-in addition to the mouth that talks, how about the stomach that is a garbage disposal. Corgis can and will eat anything that doesn’t move. Most of them also have a unique trait of passing it too. Ask about the stuffing from the toys, pieces of wood, metal, rocks or again, ask Eddie—straight pins! Watch your fingers when you feed them, actually count them. Not afraid to take a treat with a side offering of the fingers that held the treat. Or the hamburger off the dinner table, potatoes out of the pantry or my favorite- a loaf or two of banana bread!

So--what else do we love to hate about our favorite breed?

Later gators...
C

Lost and found

Things that I have lost and found last week, regardless of actually realizing I did lose it.

Lost-my sanity. I lost it about Tuesday evening when I walked in the garage door and saw the color of my backroom-a study in shades of mud. I was all set on mopping each night but gave up quickly, figuring removing the layers on Friday night would be the best for my back. Dog crates get a nightly mop out and dry. Back yard is off limits, sort of. I seriously need the new door in the garage so that David can stop tracking the barn into the house. The sump is running and running and running, though the ducks appreciate the fresh water in the pond area. Horses have had enough. I’ve had enough. Remember at one point where I said I would trade the snow for mud, yeah, maybe I lost it way back then?

Found-two new dogs. Okay, so not really new dogs, how about the neighbor’s labs who are never locked up, tied up or confined in a yard. Turner, who Alec “lost” for about 2 mins when he didn’t get the back gate completely latched, decided to do the neighborly thing and introduce himself to the girls next door. Alec saw this silver streak trotting up to and stopping at the end of the driveway, giving a "hey girls, what's happenn' " wag of his tail . Alec found himself racing for the garage, to which, one yell of Turner’s name, brought him back down the drive, but with the two labs happily bouncing along with him. Of course, the human girls came trying to get their dogs to come home-again, refer to the running at large part and add in no training. Turner, of course, had to warn Alec of the “stranger danger” fast approaching. I believe I was told that the labs happily followed Turner into the back yard, where all were cornered and returned to their rightful places. Note to self, once again the thaw means time to reset the gate so the latch works properly.

Lost-one brindle puppy. If by chance you happen upon one, please return it. I will gladly exchange it for at solid brown colored dog resembling a cardigan puppy that I seem to have found in my backyard. I think the one I lost also smells sweet, the one I currently have smells totally rotten and seems set on remaining that way. My lovely brindle and white puppy was last seen going out into the backyard Thursday but 5 hours later(yes 5 hours-refused to come inside) when the door was opened, in came this brown thing, wet, dripping and willing to share her filth with everyone. I was told that it spent lots of time wallowing in and sliding through the mud.

Found-two halters, the pooper scooper, a bucket of dead dog toys, my agility equipment and of course, lots of poop to pick up. Funny the things you find that you didn’t know you lost, when the snow melts.

Lost-my back yard. Now replaced by a swamp and brick pit. The dogs have been reading up on their bible and have learned how to work in the mud pits, and how to make bricks without straw. The area in front of the duck yard is a quagmire. Hum, maybe that’s where the brindle puppy got lost?

Found-my sense of humor. I’ve had nothing but laughs this week and I have to thank all my good friends for that. After the weekend before where I was pretty much down in the dumps, they brought me back up. Kim’s been providing us with the New Adventures of Rambo in the Land of Electronics . Rus and Sherilyn are hosting This Old House. My mother is dealing with the Queen and her court jesters. David, well, he’s been on were-rabbit hunts as well as being the lone guard for the northern border(Max of the Border Patrol is on leave due to the mud). Merlot is playing Candy Land—dog’s acts like she's been on a sugar high all week because of the limited play time. She even got the Old Man to frap this week, though he needed an aspirin before bed. Moose has been confused because he got a bath on Monday night along with his nails done-he’s been wandering and bouncing around wondering when the dog show is.

So as you can tell, my lost and found pile is pretty normal. Or is it?
Later gators..
C

Le sigh

The reason this comes to mind is that on Friday night after 7 hours at the funeral home for visitations(yes plural), I ran across this pretty little kitty tip toeing down the middle of the road. I did a "le sigh", gunned the engine a little and followed it as it kept up right down the middle of the road. You ask, why don't you just run over it? Well, some 20 years ago a certain GSD of mine killed one--under my truck--and for a year following, damp or rain or snow or ice, caused my truck to reak. So considering the funeral the following day, I chose to spare it's life and my nose.

Man, Friday was long. It's amazing to see the number of people who came. So many I didn't know, so many I see all the time and way too many that you see not enough of and usually at events like this.

My grandmother's sister's-in-law, sister-in-law--got that? Passed away on Monday. Visitations were held at the same time Friday so it was pretty much a family reunion. That would explain all the hours, they finally had to kick us out at 8.

Funeral was as the boys wanted it-simple and quick. Flowers were gorgeous and all but my cousin from OK made it back. Family took up 1/2 the pews. We even had one of the great great grandchildren there. Thank GOD, He gave us good weather-the rain stayed away till last night. The boys also were able to do something special. On the way to the cemetary, instead of taking the direct route through town, the Marion police blocked traffic as one officer and car lead the way, winding through the back streets, and past the old farmstead where Grandma and Grandpa lived most of their lives. Apartments are there now. We had a board with photos up that showed the farm in it's heyday as well as how it aged. A fitting last tribute to both of them.

Since this is as good a place as any, for the record, here are few of my personal requests, when I die. No sappy songs. No organ music but if you have to, play something with a hockey theme. Lord of the Dance, Let Peace Begin With Me and like Grandma, keep it short and sweet. A plain casket, heck like David wants-an Amish made wood one is just fine with me. Seasonal flowers--NO GLADS!!! Daisy mums are always good and last a long time. I'd love peonies, roses, snaps, hyacinths, lilies and lots of color. White- nah, yellow-ok, but lots of tasteful colors. Bushes to plant or pernnials are good too. Have a party-celebrate life! But you know, I would love a good ol'fire and brimstone sermon somewhere in there :)

Le sigh, meloncally day. The sun comes out and the steam rises in waves off the field. The back yard is a lake, so the dogs go out in the hayfield. I've done how many loads of dog towels, 6 baths, and well, yuck. Le sigh. I need to get out of this funk. I do believe this is a good day to curl up with a good movie, popcorn and veg out. House work can wait!

Later gators..
C

Lator gators....
C