Peace of mind

Life is sweet, tender and complete
When you find the bluebird of happiness.
You will find perfect peace of mind
When you find the bluebird of happiness.

Our wildlife refuge houses a number of bluebirds -- or a few, very active bluebirds! I can't tell them apart so don't know if it the same birds all the time or many different ones. Whichever, they are pretty! When the sun glints off their backs, they sizzle! Bluebirds are songbirds and soon, I hope, I will know their song without seeing the bird.

ITS HOT!!!!!!!!!!

We went to Shag. II on July 15. It is a Friday and hotter than __ll. We did mow and because of the lack of rain, the grass hadn't grown much so we completed the job in record time. Of course the drive belt on my rider keeps coming off, and strangely enough it is always when I am going up the steepest part of a bank. So when the belt comes off, i go rolling down the hill backwards, as without the drive belt, the brakes alone won't stop the mower. So, full speed down the hill backwards, 95 degrees, and hoping to get the mower to stop under a shade tree. Well, that never happens either, so wherever the damm mower stops is where I get to put the drive belt back on, and its never in the shade. Anyway, I purchased new drive belts and installed them, so hopefully that will cure the problem.
Saturday: DEFIANCE. It happened in the first degree. I was shocked and MAD!!!!!All I wanted to do was get to SHAG III early while it was cool, but no. Someone had to prove how independent she was, so we lost about 3 hours.
Anyway, when we go to III, it was hot and humid. I mowed and by the time I was done, I was covered with dust and dirt. Nance watered the trees, but was taking breaks everytime I looked. The temperature inside the cabin was 97 degrees and climbed higher after we opened the windows. With no breeze to draw out the hot air, it was decided that we would go back to II and spend the nite. We could have stayed at III but when its to hot and dangerous to work its best to move on.
As there has been rain since we have been to either place there will be alot of mowing to do, and we have to go to K.C. for grandchildren's birthdays for awhile, so the pressure will be on.

Dog days: a period of stagnation or inactivity

This is a good way to spend a period of inactivity.

The brightest of the stars in Canis Major (the big dog) is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. In fact, it is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth received heat from it.

according to http://wilstar.com/dogdays.htm

And now we have one theory on why the hot, humid summer days are called the dog days of summer.

Free falls and dog days

I peek in here, checking to see if Himself has posted; I haven't had time but I thought maybe he would have extra time at work. He hasn't been inspired, evidently, and since I am tired of seeing that tick in here when I bop in, I'll add a short note just to move the tick down the page.

We didn't get to Shag III this past weekend as we needed a weekend at home and because Iowa has been in the midst of a heat wave. 90 plus degree temperatures and terrific dew points result in + 100 heat indexes. (YOU look up the plural to index -- I don't know it and don't want to take the time to look it up!) Anyway, it was too bloomin' hot to be without electricity, he said. I did remind him that we come from pioneer stock but that, nor the call of the wild, would lure him away from the air conditioner.

As it was, it was good that we planned on being home as Dana took a free fall from a 20' ladder and now is laid up with an injured foot. He had to wait all weekend to see an orthopedic specialist today. He will have to ride to Des Moines tomorrow for a scan of the foot and then go back on Wednesday to consult with the specialist again. Meanwhile, he's surviving on ice packs and pain pills. Poor boy. Poor lucky boy, when you think what it might have been!

To help a little, we had the small Frey over, some. They are always good and offer plenty of free entertainment! We enjoyed every minute of their visits.

okay, the plural of index "can be spelled either indexes or indices" . . .
"Investopedia" says

A True Story. The End.

Female deer tick with dime for size comparison. (borrowed from http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegallery/ticks/iscapfwd.html)

Excerpt from Nance's letter, 7/05/05:

I did come home with a tick, tho. That part wasn’t good. Lanny tried to remove it for me but we didn’t have a very good pair of tweezers and he was hanging on for dear life (the tick, that is). So, today, I went to the doctor and had her remove the tick's head. The doc also gave me a one-day antiobiotic, just in case. Anyway, it’s all “behind” me now.

And after all that, I think that Himself is going to sue me for "pain and suffering". Says he has been traumatised!

Maddie Mae, secret agent

Her daddy calls her Agent 99 when she wears this outfit and I think she is adorable in it.

Madeline isn't into fishing yet but I'm sure she will be as much as Morghan and Jack love it. Another year, and we'll have Maddie's picture in here with her first fish and probably Gabrielle and Joey's too!

And PaPa. Someday, PaPa might catch his first fish and get his picture taken!

1st Visit, revisited

This photo was taken on our first visit to Shag III and believe it or not, the photo was taken on New Years Eve day 2004. Obviously, it was a mild, winter's day. Traci and Craig and the KC bairns met us there and we just hung out for a few hours. I have to admit that I enjoy it more in summer @ 90 degrees than in December but I am looking forward to fall and I would like to try to learn to snowshoe or cross country ski so I will like it in winter, too. And in winter, I won't have to worry about the ticks!

Mule

The "Mule" is another form of recreation at Shag III. Here is Craig, Gabrielle and Joey riding the Mule. Joe looks like he might be asleep in the photo; I don't think he is but more than one child has taken a nap while riding! All five of the bairns love the Mule now and fight over who's turn it is and beg and plead for rides. If the Mule isn't running, it is not unusual to find one or more babes just up and sitting on the thing. We don't dare leave the key in the ignition anymore as certain little children are very observant and know all about which things to push and which to turn and we don't want anyone under the age of 7 years driving yet.

The biggest fish to date

Tony caught this beauty (?) not too long after he dropped his line in. As far as I know, it was the biggest catch of the weekend.

Our pond

Our pond is muddy, not pretty at all. It's source is runoff down the red Missouri clay hills. Some day we may be able to clear and grass the natural waterway and clear the pond up some but for now, the brown pond does not keep the fisherman out.

Tony and Dana both caught some nice cats out of the pond (and they throw them back in to be caught again) and below are pictures of Morghan and Jack with their catches.

I have come to believe that no one is happier, more joyful, than an avid fisherman with a fish on the line. When I see that elation, that pure joy, I wish I were a fisherman.

And more fish! 

Jack Gibson Frey with his chub or his blue gill. 7/2005

There are fish in the pond! 

Morghan Grace with her nice blue gill (???) 7/2005