Woo Hoo!!!

It's now on to San Antonio

for the Final Four!!!

I find it hard to believe

that three of my four picks are still in.

Trust me I'm not the only one that didn't pick Davidson.

OK now they can do this...

it's on to Phoenix

and the Sweet 16..........

Would you do this?????

I can tell you I have and would continue..............I'm talking about haggling.

An article in the New York Times hit the wires and all of the media is picking it up and running sound bites on every TV and radio station across the country. Well understandable given the economy.

Some folks carry it a bit too far as is normal when people tend to go overboard. But I believe that bargaining for a better price on larger ticket items such as electronics and appliances is going to be around for a good while. Now going in a bargaining for a pair of pants to knock 10$ off to me is not prudent. Save your haggling skills for bigger items.

So if you are in the market for a new TV cause the FCC has deemed all has to be transmitted in digital format........go practice up on your haggling skills cause the big boy stores are now expecting you to at least try.

Wonder if I can do that when I go to the Flying J and get my diesel fuel for the BIG A** truck............NOT!!!

St Patrick's Day

My father-in-law was born in Ireland..ya can't get more Irish than that now can ya!!!

Grandpa Doodles, I'll call him, came to Canada when he was a wee-un, lost his sweet Irish brogue, but never lost his Irish spirit. Grandma Doodles was born and raised in the very same town Mr Doodles grew up in and was of English descent. A very fine sweet lady. Grandpa Doodles had a twinkle in his eye always. When I first met Grandpa Doodles I mentioned that he reminded me of a leprechaun, a character for sure. Liked his Irish whiskey.......if I was pouring he would always remind me "make it neat dear".

And he always started a meal with an Irish blessing...........one I remember he repeated often.

Grant me a sense of humor, Lord,
the saving grace to see a joke,
To win some happiness from life,
And pass it on to other folks.

Grandpa Doodles also like to tell a joke or two...this is one I remember well cause he also like his martinis, those I never poured as I could never make them dry enough.

McQuillan walked into a bar and ordered martini after martini, each time removing the olives and placing them in a jar. When the jar was filled with olives and all the drinks consumed, he started to leave.

"S'cuse me," said a customer, who was puzzled over what McQuillan had done. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing," he replied, "my wife just sent me out for a jar of olives."

Happy St Patrick's Day to all the Irish out there......and Grandpa Doodles here's to you.

At my age

I have come to realize I don't need a lot a schtuff.

I recently celebrated a birthday. So Mr Doodles, being the kind soul that he is asks me every year what would you like for your birthday? Well my answer this year was nothing really. We live in an RV and travel so needs are small. Oh I could have said a day at the spa...nah, I like to do that with sister and niece.

Well the birthday went like this, a hike in the morning, back for a shower, off to do some errands, then a lovely lunch at a favorite restaurant in town, Mexican I might add.

During lunch I mentioned to Mr D that sister and I saw a bench similar to something that he is going to build for sister. He wanted to go and see it, which we did and he sorta nixed that and said what I could make would be better..HA!!! He's right I think.

Being near Target I thought we'd pop in and take a look around and I mentioned I would like to look at the vacuums. Ours is just not good enough for our needs. Don't ever take Mr Doodles shopping OK, he has to look at every unit, read all the information and then make his decision. While he did that I was able to go thru the whole store and pick up items I wanted and came back to where I left the dear man. When he put the vacuum of his choice in the basket I said BINGO!!!

We get to the checkout and as the young cashier rings up our purchases he turns to me with a smile on his face and says "happy birthday"......sweet cashier says "my husband better never buy me a vacuum for my birthday". Darlin I say it's not a big deal after 39 years of wedded bliss and 65 happy birthdays. When we left she was hysterical with laughter.

The day ended with the dinning on a wonderful hot fudge sundae at one of the very bestest ice cream I have had the pleasure of eating. They have wonder candy too, but if you are ever in Bakersfield check out Dewars

Oddly enough they don't have a web site that includes their ice cream but this one is for the candy products

So all and all Mr Doodles done good, gotta love a man that takes ya out for a hot fudge sundae.

It has come to this???

Desperate homeowners.........

Yes I know they committed a crime and what these people have done is wrong really wrong. But what in the world is going on to drive the folks to do something of this nature. I know what is going on I just don't know why it has escalated this far.

Sounds like the 'Feds' are gonna cut interest rates again, thereby driving down the $ as well as driving UP the cost of a barrel of the all so precious oil.

This definitely needs your attention

I don't know how these families get thru the day.

If you watch this please turn on your sound.

Watch this tribute to military wives

Keep these families in your good thoughts and prayers.

Need I say more......

You say Chickens

and they say Silkies.......Oh my word when sister was visiting this past weekend we started our day at the poultry show at the fairgrounds. Don't ask why I have NO idea but it was interesting to say the least. Come to find out these creatures are treated likeany other show animal. Some of them are blowed dried and fluffed.

Here are a few of the furry creatures we viewed. I know kimmy this would not besomething that you would enjoy HA!!!!!!!!


After the Poultry Show we found our way to a few of our favorite antiquing haunts. And low and behold we discovered that there was a glass collectors show that same weekend. How lucky could we be.

I was lucky enough to receive, from sister, a beautiful piece of Heisey glass...as a birthday gift...Woo Hoo thanks again sister. We both collect Depression glass to we ooooh and ahhhh'd all day. Sister also got a couple a bargains at the collector show.

Sister also gave me the nickel tour of Bakersfield and where to go and more important where not to go. That to me is worth a LOT!!! Thanks sister it was fun.

Parade Magazine

In the Sunday paper most of you get a supplement called Parade Magazine. Often it has mostly not necessarily meaty topics. However this morning I came upon the column of Marilyn Vos Savant where she invites readers to send her questions. I am not promoting her column whatsoever. I found this quite an interesting response and a cause to make me wonder. In your opinion, what is the best barometer of a country’s morality? The esteem in which society holds its elderly.

Do we revere our elderly... I wonder... and hold seniors in this country to our highest esteem? I know other countries and cultures do but I am quite hesitant to say the US does. As a side note there is a quite elderly gentleman running for President in this years election

If the answer to that question is true I think our barometer needs a bit of adjusting or tweaking

I heard someone the other day say that the elderly are a drain of the medical system. Are you kidding me!!!

Maybe the elderly in this country should demand more respect. What happened to Gray Power?!?!?!?!!! Just remember senior citizens VOTE!!! And no I am not referring to Mr Doodles and me. So stay tuna'd there be more on that subject

Thank you Seester!!!

for telling us about the Blossom Trail Any of you that live in California, if you haven't been to that area now, right now is the time to go and visit. If you are planning a trip to California make this a stop on your travel agenda.

This is just one of many peach blossoms just bursting with color

Time to see this most awesome area would be now to some time the end of May. So get in your car and get there cause you will not believe the site you will see. Go click on that site the Blossom Trail as there is something for everyone.

In bloom were, peaches, plums, all the assorted nuts like almonds and pistachios. And grape vineyards for miles, literally miles. Must be why Sunmaid Raisins only plant is in the area.

I will be posting photos over on my photo blog

In the meantime here are just a few to wet your whistle.

The OH so beautiful snow capped mountains that borders this agricultural valley.