Friday, August 29, 2008

Just when we were all getting along so well. :)

I personally was going to vote Obama, until he chose Biden, who I don't like, but even then I was thinking about voting Obama, until McCain chose Palin. I'm not much into McCain, but I think Palin is great, so that changed things as far as I was concerned, because I know Palin won't settle for politics as usual.

But then, I was watching CNN, which I don't normally do (not good for the blood pressure), but thought it might be fun to watch some of the coverage of today's events, and it was so vicious (I hope I spelled that right). There were all these analysts trying to state what the people were thinking, and how everyone felt about the event, and what everyone's thoughts and feelings were, and not once did they say anything that I felt about the events, or the information being shared. Then they went on to say "this party is so out of touch, how can they, blah blah blah" and "that other party is just as out of touch, they say blah blah blah" and I just thought I'm a member of one of those parties and that's not how I feel at all. None of those views represents me or how I feel about any of this. And I'm sure I'm not the only person that is true for, but as I watch the news, and read stories, I think that's the image we're supposed to get, we're supposed to think everyone else thinks that way. "They're a blah blah, so they must think that blah blah", or even "so and so says they think blah blah, so that must be true".

I think the worst part of this supposedly historic election (aside from the usual Republican/Democrat battle royal) is that it is forcing a lot of people to choose things that they weren't prepared to choose. It's all well and good to say that its time for a black man to be president, but there are still people that it alienates (beyond the usual political hatred across lines); just as its all well and good to say a woman should be Pres or VP, but there are still people who don't want that. But this election, now with Palin chosen as the VP nom seals the 2 things in American politics that a lot of people aren't ready to vote on, but now have no choice. I think across party lines there are a lot of people who have been hoping this day would come, but now that its here, it's different. Personally I don't care - man/woman, color/no color - it doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter, but I think it does to some people, maybe a lot of people.

I think it takes an ugly event (choosing a president shouldn't be ugly, but it is, especially with the blood hungry media looking for scandal everywhere), anyway, it takes a tough event, and makes it that much harder because it squeezes people, and forces them to choose 2 things they never wanted to choose, no matter what they said. I think that is what has discouraged me more than anything about this years politics - this should be exciting and fun, but its so ugly, and hypocritical, and loud. I wish our nation wasn't so tied up in political names and categories - it alienates people. I wish we could just say that we were all going to vote for the person that best represented the direction we wanted our country to go, but I don't think we do. I think we end up out of necessity choosing the person we think will cause the least harm, and that's no way to run a country. We wouldn't buy a house that way, or a car. "Hmm, I think I'll get this model, it won't be the worst car I could drive". Or maybe we do do things that way, I don't know.

I guess I just don't want people, especially families and friends to feel offended, or picked on, or not heard, or feel like their party or position is somehow unacceptable or "wrong". So, I guess what I'm really saying is - I love to talk about politics, and issues, and positions, but I don't do it to be mean, or make people mad, or to try and convince or bully people, or to get in someone's face and make them defensive, or to somehow say "I believe only what I believe, and nothing else so LALALALA". I just find it fascinating, but if it comes across badly, I don't mean it that way, that's not my point at all, I just like discussion. So - can't we all just get along? :) I Love you all!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Our first egg


Here's our first tiny egg. We haven't seen any more yet, but I think maybe they're laying them out in the weeds, since they're not "locked in" to a set yard. Usually we keep them locked into a smaller yard in the morning so that they can lay their eggs, then we turn them out to have a run of the whole place. But we've been kind of off this year, and there's been so much to do that we just haven't gotten to it yet. So much to do all the time......

We did get good news though, we finally know how many hours I'll have through the end of June next year (when we have to start waiting again). I had 27 hours this year, but now starting September 3rd, I'll be having 36.5 hours, which is great! Its so nice to know how much money and work I can expect for this year, and I think mom's excited too for having that much time of care.

Mom and I had a really nice day today. Since I was about 4 we've been going out to lunch every year the first week of school, a tradition we've carried on even after I was done with school. So we went into town today to go to a fabric sale at a local quilt store, but mom surprised me by saying let's go to lunch. So we went to a nice lunch out on the spit at Land's End, overlooking the ocean, and mountains and watching the boats and birds go by. It was so nice and peaceful. Then we went to the quilt shop, and bought some really nice fabric for some fun projects. It was a really nice day.

Other than that, not much is going on. Nothing new anyway, lots going on, just nothing we haven't really talked about before. We've watched some Olympics, but usually after the swimming, diving, and gymnastics are over, I'm pretty much done. I'm not into BMX or beach volleyball. Track and Field is okay, but not a huge draw for me.

Well, I guess that's about all I had to say for tonight. I had something I was going to write about, but I can't remember it, so oh well! :)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Our new toy


There was an auction this weekend for a construction company that was going out of business, so dad and I ran up to check it out while Justin worked on the sewer. We were looking for something we could work on the yard with and plow snow with. But the piece of machinery that would have been most helpful went for more money than anything else. BUT they had a couple of trucks that looked good, one with a snow plow on it. So we bought the plow truck! Dad was kind of looking at another truck to use as his welding truck which would have been really cool, but since we had already boughten the plow truck that didn't work out. But here's a picture of our new toy. We bought truck and all for 3-5K less than just the plow would have been. So now we can plow our driveway, and if someone needs money this winter, we can do a snowplowing business. I'm pretty excited, I've always wanted a plow truck. . .

Potato Farmers






Justin's mom was telling me about growing potatoes in boxes, garbage cans, plastic sacks, etc. So since our big garden didn't get used this year since it was just too cold, I thought I would give this a try. Plus then I can take them inside, or grow them any time of the year, and always have fresh new potatoes, my favorite potatoes. So far its been fun. We took two old planters and put a little dirt, some seed potatoes, and just let them do their thing. Now I need to get some more dirt and keep hilling them up so that I get as many potatoes as possible. I also read about this on this cool website, backwoodshome magazine is what its called I think. The columnist is Jackie Clay. Good fun stuff for someone like me to try, all kinds of do it yourself kinds of things. Anyway, so we had our boxes out on the deck getting ready to plant, and we turn around and here's the cat in the box. First he took a bath, then he took a nap. Funny guy. I guess that's his contribution to farming, sleeping on the equipment to make sure its sound. . . .
Laura and Jed tagged us this morning, and I like these things, so here goes....

How did we meet?
We met online. I had been on ldssingles for a while, but had only met some really rude people, so one day I decided that I had had enough, and I was going to delete my profile because I was tired of the meanness, so I canceled my subscription, and I went to "delete profile" (you can have a profile and not a subscription), but something said don't delete your profile. And I thought, no way, I'm DONE, I want off of here, but again something said do not delete your profile. So I said fine, I'll leave it there, but I'm not checking it! A couple of months later I got a little flirt, so I sent a flirt back. Then I got another one, then I got a message. So I decided I would up my subscription for just a month so that I could see what it said. And of course it was from Justin, and we started emailing, then IM'ing, then we said I love you and decided to get married, THEN we talked on the phone, then we met in person.

Where did you go on your first date? We went out to dinner at Olive Garden in Clackamas in Portland Oregon. Justin drove all the way over there from Blackfoot Idaho when we went down for the scrapbooking convention, and for Great Grandma and Grandpa's party, and to see Joanna and Aunt Earlene. Then we spent the whole weekend together, until he finally had to leave to drive home. He drove all night to get back in time to go to work. He got home, changed clothes, and had to leave for work.

How long have you been together?
July 29 was our 1 year anniversary. We'll have known each other 2 years on December 9th.

Who eats more? Justin eats a little more than I do

Who said I love you first? Justin

Who is taller? Justin

Who sings better? I think Justin sings better, but I'm pretty good too sometimes :)

Who is smarter? I think we're pretty evenly matched which is something I love about our relationship.

Who does the laundry? Me ( I know I've mentioned this, but I HATE laundry)

Who does the dishes? I do usually, but Justin's been doing them more.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Justin

Who pays the bills? I do, except the truck payment, Justin does that

Who mows the lawn? Anyone that's willing

Who cooks dinner? Me.

Who drives when you are together? Usually Justin but I do sometimes, maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of the time

Who is more stubborn? That's tough, I guess I'd say we're pretty equal, depending on what the topic is we're being stubborn about. He'd say I was more stubborn, but I think we both are.

Who kissed who first? I kissed him on the cheek when we first met in Portland, but Justin kissed me first for a proper actual kiss.

Who proposed? Well it just sort of happened. We were talking (online) about how comfortable we felt together and then we decided that even though it didn't seem possible to love someone we'd never met that we were in love. Then Justin said "now what do we do?" and I said I guess we talk about the "M" word. And he said ok, and then he asked me to marry him, and I said yes. Then we looked at rings online, then when we met in Portland he gave me my ring.

Who is more sensitive? Probably me

Who has more siblings? Justin has 4, and I have one

Who wear the pants? Justin, but sometimes I wear them :)

I tag anyone that wants to participate, I'd like to know this stuff about everyone!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Busy Weekend!!






Well, for a while now our septic system has been slowly dying. It was built in 1994, and done in an, um "alternative" way. So we've been wanting to replace it for a while now, but didn't have the resources. But now with Justin here, and dad's big job that he's had this summer, they were able to take care of it. So that's what we did this weekend. But most of that is for another post. This post is about me running the excavator (track ho). After the big work was done, Justin called me back to the pond, and gave me the run of the track ho. So I got to dig and dig for I don't really know how long, probably at least an hour. It was so fun! I loved it. I think a bigger one would have been AWESOME! But this little one was fun to learn on and try. I dug a pretty good hole, but haven't taken a pic of that yet. So for now, here's the really good pics dad took of me running the ho. So fun!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Apricots

Poor mom - all worn out.








I think we mentioned (or maybe it was on mom's blog) that mom and I bought a bunch of apricots from a traveling fruit guy. We bought two cases so that we could make jam, and preserves. They turned out so good! The preserves are more like slowly stewed in sugar water so they made really soft yummy pieces, and some nectar. I think I want to use it like on pound cake - just pour a little nectar over it? I think it will be good. But I was cleaning off the camera last night so that Justin could take it with him on his trip (see the next post), and I found these pictures and thought I should share them. Nice sunny colors and all that.

Ever feel this way?

So this is how I feel lately - run run run!! And this cat just cracks me up. Its Buck E. Katt (aka Bucky) from "Get Fuzzy". Justin left today for his weeklong fishing vacation with the guys from work. His boss traded some dirt work from a charter for most of the guys. They went to Whittier, just outside of Anchorage, and they'll be staying on a boat and fishing away. I guess they took the jet skis with them too, so they'll probably be doing some of that too I imagine. I'm here to take care of the goats and chickens, and the usual stuff. I have been able to quilt some lately, which I love, it always makes me feel more "centered". Hopefully I'll be able to get it done while Justin's gone. Or at least get to work on it. I was going to try and get a quilt done to show in the state fair, but I don't think that's going to happen. I have one about half quilted (well one half is quilted) and I was going to finish it the other day but I am about 7 inches short of material for the border - foiled by 7 inches! Oh well, at least I can use that as the excuse for why I didn't get one done - again. "you see I would have entered a quilt but I was missing part of the border...."

So far from the greenhouse we've gotten quite a bit of corn, I think we harvested 8 mini ears yesterday, and we've had quite a few cucumbers. I have a tomato almost ripe. Justin has lots of jalapenos growing, and I have some other tomatoes that are busy growing.

Other than that, not much new I guess. We're just busy trying to get everything done we need to before snow flies. I hope winter is more restful than summer has been - seems like there's always a ton of things to do. But its been fun too.