Shrinking Jeans!

Sunday - The beginning, May 1

Goals:  Start losing weight, 4 week program to kick off for the summer

Plans:  Drink water, cut back on cokes, and get moving (cardio)

On Golden Pond

A day on the Pond...

Yesterday I saw  a hooded Merganser.  There was a male and female.  I got real excited because I thought they were Wood Ducks.  After a little investigated, thanks Brother In Law, I found out they were not Wood Ducks.  But, this little guy is cool looking too.  I just want some wild ducks to nest so I can watch little ducklings.

Today I saw a nasty little otter swimming around.  I saw one a few years ago when the pond was pretty new.  So, that was really cool, this little seal-like creature swimming in our pond.  Well, after you spend money on stocking the pond with fish, and raise 5 white ducks, and then find out the evil little otter is still hanging around.  The cute little otter became vicious.  This one killed 3 of my pretty white ducks and ate, no telling how many, catfish, bass, and brim.  It was my Brother In Law who caught him red-handed!  Now, unfortunately, I have another one.

A New Hobby

Photographing Birds!  

How nerdy is that?  I've actually been doing this a while and didn't call it a hobby or anything other than "taking a pic of a bird".  It wasn't until I was looking at the pictures on my computer and realized I have many, many pictures of birds from places I visit like Cabo, Cancun,  Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana birds - I’ll have to post some of my favorites.  Actually I could extend this to pictures of wildlife, animals, or even flowers - deer, bugs, frogs, ducks, my dogs, and cats.  My stepson has a fascination with taking pics of food, good food - steak, jambalaya, anything he’s eating or drinking.  Of course, I have pics of my children but not nearly enough from when they were little.  Guess I was too young to realize I would want more of pictures of them.  I don’t have many at all.  But, yesterday morning I really got a good picture of a male and female Hooded Merganser.  I thought they were Wood Ducks.  I want to see some nest so I can watch the babies.  And, yes, take pictures of them too.

Boudreaux

Boudreaux is my big black Lab puppy.   He has just celebrated his 1st birthday.  He likes to chew stuff, play fetch, and swim in the pond with the ducks.  The thing that gets me about him is his messiness when he drinks water.  I don't think he knows how to lick his lips.  The other dogs don't have a problem with this.  He drinks water and raises his head and the water trail follows.  I need to keep a towel under the water bowl just for his mess.  DJ and Grace are 10 years old and have never needed a towel under the water bowl.  Is it because they are female dogs?  They are cleaner?  Is it the breed of the dog?  Or, could he have a lip deficiency? hum... just thoughts to ponder over.

A Torturous Nightmare

My absolute two worst places combined -  Imagine you are sitting in a dentist office with the drills at your head, the sounds and smells.  Then, throw in your naked body, styling the stiff paper gown from the cold Gynecologist's office with your feet in stirrups and your behind hanging off the table.  And in walks, hum... your worst nightmare.

Introduction from the Thriving Pine

Where’d that title come from, you ask?   This is the copy cat blog.  I just want to thank you, Thirsty Magnolia, for the idea.  I have no Magnolia trees around my house, by the way.  I do, however, live amongst woods, which is on the edge of The Kisatchie National Forest, lots and lots of pines are found here.

A little about the pine:  they have pine needles, they’re evergreen, slow growing, and resistant to drought.  I have also read that the pine tree can survive in poor, sandy soil.  

A little about me:  I have lots of pine needles - good and bad qualities; I’m evergreen - true to myself and others; slow growing, well it seems like growth is speeding up nowadays; and resistant to drought, that's negativity.  Pine trees supply firewood to keep the family and friends warm and entertained.  And then, there is the Christmas tree, just a small part of a wonderful season.  I plan on surviving any type of "soil" life throws at me, whether it be poor and sandy or rich and hearty.  And know that, I am loving the rich and hearty days and surviving the poor, sandy ones.  

FACTS:
1.  I'm 40+
2.  Happily Married with a mixed Brady-Bunch-like family:
He had  +  I had = 3 daughters, 3 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 4 grandsons, and 1 granddaughter
3.  Only Red @ home, she's a senior
4.  Knocking on the empty nest phase of my life
5.  Dogs - DJ, Grace, & Boudreaux; Cats - too, too many; Ducks - Huey, Duey, Louey, & Stubby toe

Stay tuned----

More about me, my family, and other odds n ends will come soon