How does one get

yarn from sheep to needle? What the heck is she talking about you say? Jump on over to my sweet nieces blog here You'll be asked to enter your twitter password, no need just hit cancel and read on.

I suggest you follow along for the week of her wonderful adventure. Uncle Doodles thinks this is a hoot by the way.

Hope your adventure is all you want it to be sweet niece!!!

and yes definitely

Another Birthday

Did I ever show you this?

Bet not...........click on the photo and you can read about Buddy and the vet that saved him. Dr. Baker always had a special spot in his heart for Buddy. The whole time we lived in Key Largo he never charged us for any visits that he had to make.

In the caption under the photo (yep that's Buddy) it mentions that he was rescued........turns out he was found in the mouth of said large dog after the dog killed the momma cat as well as his brothers and sister kitties. So Buddy was an orphan and Dr. George thought of himself as his guardian angel.

A few days after they found Buddy the Baker's were invited to our house for a dinner party, Mrs B called to ask if she could bring a kitten they just rescued. Of course bring the baby kitten............when Mr Doodles held that kitten it was all over he was now our baby.

Dr George and Mrs B found Buddy on the 4th of July so that's when we celebrate his special day.


Sure wish Dr. George and Mrs B were around to help you celebrate your 15th year.

Happy Birthday Buddy!!!

The hills were alive

While driving to our favorite hiking spot I noticed a very unusual color scattered on the hillside sort of a gray lavender shade. One of the first wildflowers to pop out is the Indian Paint Brush that's what the red color is I was seeing

And every once in awhile I would see some red splashed about.

Turning a corner I yelled "STOP".............that's what I do to get my driver, Mr Doodles, to pull over.


The lupine were everywhere, the colors in the photos do not do them justice. It was such an unusual color, at a distance it was a bit gray and as we got closer the bright lavender color just glistened even in the mostly cloudy skies. Mr also exclaimed a "WOW!

Strange as it may seem, some Lupines are poisonous, while others are edible! Unless you know our Lupines, it's recommended you do not serve them at the dinner table. The lupine we came upon had a sweet aroma to it much like honey smells.





















More wildflowers are on the horizon.......literally with my favorite the colorful Columbine.

My Buddy..........the cat

First Buddy the cat sends get well wishes to his cousin Buddy the dog who is not feeling too well these days.

Get Well Cousin I'll see you in September

Buddy has very limited taste when it comes to food. There are only two foods he has eaten in all of his fourteen years both of them dry. We have tried canned food on a few occasions with no success.

When Buddy went on thyroid meds the vet suggested we change his food to wet canned food so he would get his medicine that way...........Mr Doodles and I both laughed and said "that just ain't gonna happen Dr. so we will have to struggle to get his medicine in him". And struggle we do everyday but he is healthy now and happy so I have no intention of forcing him to eat canned food. At the time he had lost a lot of weight so forcing him to eat something he didn't want just didn't make sense to me.




Now open a bag of potato chips and it's a whole different story. Buddy can hear a bag of chips opened from way in the other room even if he was sound asleep curled up on the bed wrapped up in a blanket.

The other day Mr had put some chips in a bowl, I had gone over to use the computer. Buddy brought me a present, he had gotten into the bowl of chips, licked every last bit of salt off of the stolen chip and brought it to me. Sitting at my feet looking like he was saying here I brought ya a present or was he saying the salts all gone could I have another.

Cats are unusual creatures this one is especially unusual but we love him anyway, by the way Buddy knows when we are eating steak cause he smells the grille...............steak is another favorite.

Another Birthday

Today we honor the birth of my dear, sweet husband Mr Doodles!!!

I love birthdays I think celebrating the week, not the day, of your birth is very special. Any reason to have cake is fine by me.

Mr Doodles is not one to like a fuss over his birthday, well with the exception of his 40th birthday party he enjoyed that a lot. And maybe someday I'll blog about that event, what an event it was.

Anyway back to this birthday for Mr Doodles, he's not into a party but he is definitely into food so his celebration will be a big ole fish fry and a key lime pie.

Happy Birthday my dear!!!

We interrupt this hike

with a torrential downpour. We are both soaking wet but the camera didn't get wet at all. I protect the camera over me any day.

The day started with great potential, got up had a quick coffee (he) tea (me) a bagel and I made a smoothie for the half hour drive. When we woke it was some cloudy however a bit of blue sky was on the horizon so off we go camera in hand camera bag packed along with a lunch.

See that leeeetle bit of blue sky that looks promising to you too I bet. Well we were going to hike along that pretty bubbling stream when out of no where the black clouds arrived and the water fell outta the sky. Wish I would have had an umbrella because I missed to interesting shots.

Oh well we are about to try this same journey again in a few minutes

A vague memory

but very special none the less. It was the nite my sister was born.

This is my remembrance, not sisters and it's short so listen up!!!

I heard someone, probably my grandmother, say " your momma is going to the hospital to bring home a new baby." And as I remember I wasn't terribly bowled over by the fact...........................but someone asked me "what do you wanna name her?" I said a name and guess what.......................... that's what they named her....hahahahaha!!!!



I was told all of this years later however I do remember my momma going to the hospital, and that confused me. I was an only child for six years, nine months and seven days give or take.

But look at it this way I was so very blessed that I got a little sister outta the deal. Those of you that have a younger sister know what I'm talking about.

Happy Birthday sweet Sister

Great memories

Come to find out my sweet Sister is a terrific writer. She has been writing on her blog French Benefits about memories of our childhood and in particular on post about our trip West from Indiana.
If you get some time go read about those good olde days. You'll find the titles on the right under the heading of Growing Up. Hoping she'll be writing more soooo

FYI

Please don't think I have abandoned y'all. We are acclimating to work, social stuff and something good a possible new connection that would allow me to visit with ya more often.



For now just a photo out my window.

How convenient

that just twelve miles east of where we are staying this summer there happens to be a lovely coffee/internet cafe just a few doors down from the market I frequent.

I'm sure you have heard me bemoan the fact that while staying in this area which is the Western slope of the Rocky Mountains, beautiful mountains. They are stunning to wake up and have those really pretty peaks outside your window. But those pretty peaks play havoc with anyone's internet connection. No ones fault just the way it goes.

The RV park we are parked has what we believe to be a great service for WiFi. Oh heck no my aircard does not work in this area. Suffice to say that those that erect phone towers care about our vista so I guess I should thank them for not ruining my view.

Anyway think of wifi as a party line, you know like the olden days when you had a phone and a rather chatty neighbor hogged the phone. Well that can also happen to a small wifi service, some folks just don't get it and think that the wifi is just for them well it's not. The administrator of the wifi here is working quite hard to make it better.

In the meantime as I mentioned just a short distance to town is an internet cafe.

Mochas is a great spot for a specialty coffee, your favorite hot tea and maybe a bagel. And they have a wifi connection. I don't use if while at Mochas I use my aircard cause it's secure and I can do banking. But this funky little place is run by the college students, has an onsite bakery, and ice cream, but do me a favor don't tell Mr Doodles they have ice cream.

paging sister

and all cloud lovers

click on this one and tell me the shape you see


and now for a few flowers

There is just something about the range of mountains that surround this small but beautiful Blue Mesa Lake. I wrote a lot about this area last year because it was quite new to us. When you look at the mountains at this time of the year they appear to resemble a water color painting. This was yesterday a.m. after my walk. Click on any photo to enlarge.

New commercial

as my favorite insurance company (State Farm) likes to say.............I'll be there..........try to be there for someone. And if you see the commercial grab a kleenex.

The more you give
the more good things
come to you.

Native American Proverb

I am sorry but I have a bitch

let's say there's a group of eight of people sitting together at a table in a restaurant, a couple of them a having a verbal conversation, the remainder of the group have their cell phone's in their hands texting. A couple of them a being somewhat discreet by hiding the phone in their lap and texting that way. The others are blatantly holding their beloved cell phones in their hand texting or maybe even playing games who the heck knows.

Folks this is rude! You made the decision to have a meal and spend time with the people at your table. It is obvious to me that these people do not mean anything to you that texting during the time you are EATING is more important. If in fact communicating during a meal is that important, excuse yourself and step outside. This is called common sense, etiquette, having good manners.............call it what ever ya want..............but STOP doing this.

Now we are all aware of the horrific train accident in Los Angeles last year all because the driver of the train was allegedly texting while driving. And then just lately several you tube videos have shown up of passengers catching the drivers of buses using their cell phones. These drivers have a responsibility to the passengers that they are driving on their bus................... you tell me where the hell is their common sense? Many of you know we are on the road a lot, most of the time we can tell when some is on their phone while driving cause they are weaving on the road.

Do you honestly think that laws should be made to tell you, a responsible human being, to stop texting and talking on your cell phone when not appropriate. I understand now that many cell users have hands free usage and have a way of communicating while driving. In my humble opinion that is just as distracting as texting while driving..........sorry cause I do believe some relatives and friends do this. Well don't but if that important pull over in your car and talk.

I will leave you with something that happened to me a few weeks back. I stopped in to get an iced coffee from my favorite place. At the time it was quite warm where we were and iced coffee just sounded like something I needed. When I walked in surprised to notice no one else in the place, the sweet little barista took my order turned around to make my iced coffee, no shake, no stir, no additions please. During this short time the young lady pulled out her cell phone and I think what appeared to be returning a short text, put the phone back in her pocket and proceeded to screw up my iced coffee order. When sweet barista placed my grande on the counter I sarcastically asked her to remake my coffee because I saw her add something and then shake it. Fill the glass with ice, pour in the coffee, leave room for my adding cream, put the lid on and hand it to me. Oh and don't text on your phone while doing that OK!!! Did she apologize once NO she didn't, she was embarrassed but not even one I'm sorry. I leaned over and said "if you worked for me I would fire you on the spot, be lucky you have a job".

I know I'm a bitch but come on folks this is all common sense............stop it NOW!!!

So there Manny Ramirez

The Dodgers are having the best start of their season in 23 years.......................keep it up Dodgers

Chimayo, New Mexico

El Santuario de Chimayo is the holy shrine in northern New Mexico that is the destination of tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists annually, particularly during the Holy Week culminating in Easter. It is a place of tranquility, faith and hope. The custody and care of El Santuario is delegated to the Sons of the Holy Family who also tend to the parish of Chimayo. Both El Santuario and the parish are for the benefit of both the citizens of Chimayo and all those who wish to visit in peace.

When we were there about 500 teenagers arrived for a pilgrimage as 1000 women just ended their pilgrimage. I was happy that we arrived in time to see the outdoor mass that was being held..

One of New Mexico's oldest restaurants is located in Chimayo, Rancho de Chimayo Well known for serving traditional New Mexican cuisine. How do I know that...........well sister and I had a wonderful meal at this hacienda many years ago. I was quite sad to see Rancho de Chimayo is closed for construction and will re-open in July 2009. Guess that's just a great excuse to come back to this historic Inn.

The annual pilgrimages to the Santurio de Chimayó continue every Easter weekend. Most pilgrims start walking in Santa Fe, twenty-seven miles to the south, but others come the eighty miles from Albuquerque, walking part of the way barefoot or crawling the last few yards on their knees (a common tradition in Spain and Latin America). Over 300,000 people visit this sacred site every year.

Outdoor Mass area

Today Chimayó is famous for the weaving's of the Ortega and Trujillo families. Many shops contain their work as well as fine art and crafts from the region. Way to rich for my liking love to look though.

Just spectacular

the weather that awaited us in Gunnison. The days are sun shiny bright with very cool nites. Peaks of the surrounding mountains still have some of that white stuff on them which as you can see makes for some pretty pictures.
Trees are just beginning to bud, flowers will soon be popping their little heads out in the warm sunshine. I did notice that the lilac bushes on the property are also just beginning to bud. Such a pretty time of the year but I think this will be our third 2009 spring................no wonder my allergies are giving me fits. But it surely is worth it cause spring is just the best time of the year when all comes alive. There will be a very big wildflower festival in the next month or so, another favorite time of the year.

Your attention please............

We have landed in our summer spot in Gunnison, CO..............remember we were here last year. But what you may not remember is our connection to the internet is not all that terrific unless I take my computer to town - which I did a lot last summer.

Please be patient cause there are some wonderful photos to be seen...........think this might have been my first post from here last year. Still lots to see and explore as well as some repeat visits.

It's been two years

I just cannot believe two years ago we left Florida in our rear view window.

I just went back and read May 2007 of tombstone tumbleweed to refresh my quite feeble memory of our time on the road. Scroll down to May 17th post to refresh your memory.

We have seen some of the most beautiful sites of the fantastic country as well as a few sites in Canada. Talk about meeting people and making friends.....................my heavens we have met some wonderful folks and made many new friends.

Buddy, Mr Doodles and I had a chat.............I'm thinking we're gonna keep on going.

Got my boots out.........

We are in the town of Pueblo, Colorado home of the PBR. This week they are having a big party check it out here

Y'all know how much Mr and I love bull riding so this is just a big bonus for us.

Out the door sooooooooo

Taos Pueblo

It is just amazing to me that a structure like this is over a thousand years old.

I'm gonna post a few photos of the Taos Pueblo where only about twenty families still reside. Remember there is not electricity, not even a generator. The reason for that is the vibration from the generator is not good for the walls of the Pueblo. There is no running water, only a small beautiful stream where they get their water. A few families have propane tanks for heating water and cooking. And everyone has a kiva for heating and/or cooking Also interesting is that the area around the Pueblo is a no fly zone for ANY airplane also because of the vibration.



Now for some photos but if you have any questions please ask, also click on any photo and it will enlarge some for better viewing.

Many of the residents have a shop outside of their home selling fantastic pottery, jewelry, paintings all and terrific prices.


In this photo is the San Geronimo Catholic Church, most of the resident of the Pueblo are Catholic. It's a beautiful little, very little chapel and no photos are allowed.

It was a wonderful day plus we met some of the residents and had some great discussions. When my sister and I were here at the Pueblo fourteen years ago there was a very old woman that we saw. While I was there the other day I asked about the old woman and as it happened the lady I was speaking to was her great granddaughter and yes she is still alive and living here at the ripe old age of 97. I told the young lady that I remember that she was making frybread in her outdoor kiva. And don't ya know 97 year old grandmother is still doing that and going strong. I wish I could have gotten a photo of her but photos of the residents are not allowed.

Next up Chimayo, New Mexico