Way out in the Middle of Nowhere

You can feel the change in the air. It's not as biting as it was last week. Sure, we were deceived by the mild temperatures, but I can FEEL a change in the air...more moisture, more warmth...and that means SPRING!! Our geese have started their mating season. A lot of shagging, a lot of fighting, a lot of egg-laying. I try to stay out of the way as much as possible. Severus got me yesterday because I picked him up and his wing got me in the nose. I'm not sure if he's trying to mate with me or fight with me, but he's failing both! An adorable picture of a goosie girl arranging her nest in the chicken coop. Normally, she'd be alerted to my presence behind her and get all cranky. She'd come at me hissing and honking with wings out to defend her eggs, but she was busy. There's 3 gals laying in that nest, so Dave decided it was time to put up the nesting boxes in the goose pen. They're a bit smaller this year because it seemed as though the girls had ...

Today is recall election day here in Wisconsin.  I'm sad to admit it, but I've learned a lot about how horrible people can be to each other in the last 2 years.  It culminates today, but I do not think I will forget the abuses hurled at me by my own family very soon.  I've learned a lot, and most of it is just depressing. On the re-entry to Uni front: I've applied for admission to our UW System. I am three courses away from an Associate's degree. After High School graduation in 1987, I attended our UW Center for two years.  That is why I've gotten so close to that degree.  I'll just throw that one up with the one I got from BTC.    The important issue is the Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering.  Some smart local businesses got together and and donated money towards land, building and professors so that people like me don't have to drive to Platteville to get my degree, but I can earn it at U-Rock.  That saves a ton of money, commute time ...

I like reading Robert Frost poems.  He's got a writing style that is easy to understand and yet lyrical.   This blog post might be titled 'The Road Not Taken': The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. My road has not been taken by many - Single Mom who got off of welfare,...

It was a tough week last week.  The death of Goosie, then a brutal head cold kept me pretty much laid up on the recliner heavily medicated.   I've been trying to work on a satchel-type bag that was never real popular (except for one Aussie who likes it) but I find real handy. So...for a few pictures.. The first is a delft blue with yellow interior. It's about 15" wide by 12" deep. I need to finish up securing the raw edges. Raw edges like to snag yarn. And now that I look at the picture and  the real thing, yes...the pockets are a bit skewed on this one.  This was the first one made.  I'm not happy with the loops for the strap: too much raw edge showing. I also did not like the size as it's very deep but not very wide. And it's skewed too.  I gotta work on that.  The last one is hard to see the pockets in the front because the interior fabric coordinates with the exterior so well.  Now this one might be a bit TOO big 16" by 14"  ...

The Bad News is that the Goose Chick died Sunday Night.  I miss the lil' pooper.  He was breathing real hard and I heard a rattle in those breaths.  My diagnosis is that he had a lung infection.   We have more eggs on the way, and what we've learned in the last month will hopefully gain us more HEALTHY chicks. I hope so, cuz I miss my lil' pooper. Random Tuesday: The day I select a photo from my stash and share.  Today it will be..... That stupid hula lady has figured into many pictures over the last 5 years.  I gave it to my Husband as a stocking stuffer for Christmas.  I have pictures of her in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and of course, Wisconsin.  Each time I took a photo out of the front window of the van, the Hula Lady would be in it.  I would think, 'Oh I'll crop that out when I get home.' I've got an entire series of photos with her showcasing either the horrific distance down...