A Late, Late Mother's Day Report

Yes, Angelina, I will be keeping the hat. We've had adventures together and now I can't bear to part with it. I knew you would especially appreciate a picture of me wearing it in a boat... drinking wine and eating chocolate... and, yes, even fishing... poorly.

Last Saturday, my wonderful family took me out to Camp Tilikum for a belated Mother's Day outing. Since *The* Mother's Day was spent honoring *our* moms, I was more than happy to wait for my day.

James did an excellent job of planning the whole thing and keeping it a secret from me. I *never* get to be surprised... being the mom and generally pretty observant, it's nearly impossible to keep me from figuring out what's going on, even when I don't want to know.

I had an idea of what he had in store for me, but nothing definite and certainly didn't know any details... and I loved it!

He packed a bag full of loveliness including wine, cheeses, bread, soda, water, ham and, of course, chocolate which we ate in a canoe while fishing in the lake! Well, Anna actually fished. I did my very best impression of a person who has been fishing maybe once in her life and slashed at the air with my pole while the fished mocked me openly.

Anna caught five fish.

All I had to show for my efforts was a lopsided sunburn on my right arm.

She was in her glory!

It was an amazing outing that was immediately followed by a trip to the Cameo to see Prince Caspian and dinner. A better day I cannot imagine. Very well worth the wait.

Thank you so much, my Darlings. I am so very Blessed.

Cows fly

Two weeks ago I put an ad in the local paper and didn't get a single call so I really didn't have too great a hope of generating any interest in Bossy and Daisy on Craig's List, but I thought, "What the hell. It's free, right?"

I got the first hit at 9:45 this morning.

By 10:30 they were sold.

Wow!

The really cool thing about the buyer... He wants them for dairy stock!

That makes me very happy.

So long, Bossy and Daisy. I'll miss you terribly, but I'm oh, so glad you're going to what sounds like a very green pasture.

Pssssst... wanna buy a cow?

Or, more accurately, a cow and her darling calf.



Yes, folks. It causes me great pain to say this, but Bossy and Daisy must go.

We have maxed out our grazing capacity and need to move a couple of my girls on to other pastures. I originally wanted to keep Daisy and let Sparky go, but in a demonstration of my TRUE LOVE for this little beauty, I am choosing what is best for her over my own selfish desires. *sniff* *sniff*

It will be much less traumatic for them... well... and me too, really, I suppose... if we sell the pair together so...

Who wants to start their own herd?!

Common folks! I know there's a frustrated dairy farmer out there among you!

Seriously! The calf is ready to ween. You could have your very own fresh milk twice a day... from your own backyard!

Here's the sitch:

Bossy is 3 years old, Herford, Holstein and Angus. She's a great mom.

Daisy is 3 months old, all of the above breeds plus black Semental.

We'll let the pair go for $985.

Any takers?

Common, Angelina! Now's your chance to commune with your favorite bovine on a daily basis! Just think of the endless supply of prime fertilizer!

Okay. Sales pitch over.

Operators are standing by...

Friday afternoon amusement

Been wondering what to do with all your old vinyl LPs?

I guess if you can't play the disk, your last resort is to play with the cover.










You can check out more of 'em at sleeveface.com.

Happy Friday, Y'all!

A study in green

Welcome! Welcome! O tender, sweet and crunchy Spring!

O, the succulent, green shoots and pale, infant blossoms so laden with the promise of luscious Summer fruit!

Even my heart is salivating.

Sick and Wrong

I thought the Vosges Bacon chocolate bar was "pushing the envelope" but still within the quirky confines of "acceptable."

This, um, well... I think the envelope just exploded.

For those of you for whom bacon is it's very own food group... and you know who you are... you can find this, er... bold confection at Marini's in Santa Cruz...

Or save yourself the airfare and just fry up your favorite nitrite-laden porcine product and dip it in a molten slurry of salvaged, half-eaten Easter candy.

Now if you'll excuse me, having merely looked at that picture, I must go squeegee my arteries.

Peas-out, Y'all.

The Magnificents

For those of you interested in tales of our amazing, big, fat adventure with God, you can check it out at our new blog!

Sadly, since one can't rearrange posts, you'll need to scroll all the way down to start at the beginning, or click the link at the top of the side bar.

It's okay of you come by just to gawk... we know we're Freaks... but that doesn't change how cool it all is.

Peace, Y'all!

Rich women in hats

No, that doesn't exactly describe (in dollars, anyway) the two of us that you see here, but we sure were surrounded by 'em.

My dear friend, Julie whom also happens to be my rep at Portland Monthly Magazine honored me with an invitation to "Hats Off To The Hill:" a benefit for OHSU Women's Health Center. Held at the Portland Art Museum, this event raises money for free tests and services for women without health care benefits. The proceeds usually end up serving between two and three hundred women and save many lives in the course of a year.

Anyhoo, I'm not a name-dropper or anything so I won't tell you who sat on the other side of me, or who was at the table next to ours, or who opened the donating "auction." Let's just say, even I knew who they were and, being the complete hick that I am, I don't know anybody!

Ok, ok. I was this far away from Arlene Schnitzer's cute little self, but that's all I'm sayin'.

It was really fun and a great cause to get to support, even if it was just with my presence. They opened the donating at $25 Grand... um, kinda steep for my checkbook at the moment.

Also, a big "Thanks, Girlfriend!" goes out to Angelina for providing my stylish chapeau! I may never take it off.

Thanks for the fun afternoon in the Big City, Jules!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Which also means, Happy Anniversary Kelly and Laura! And thanks for making it so danged easy to remember. Smart thinkin'!

Lots more to post once I finally catch up from all the things I need to blog about!

In the mean time, enjoy the cheesy goodness of the above snippet of a under-appreciated classic.

Nachos anyone?!

Adios, Y'all!