I've always liked this line in one of James Taylor's songs: "I forget what to ask for...there isn't anything I haven't been given..."

I'm still Thanks Giving.

Getting ready for Round Two of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day I went to my Dad's Farm for our large family gathering. The old farmhouse is jammed with people. The sound of visiting is wonderfully loud. Every room, including what used to be bedrooms, is a "sitting area." The front porch is lined with rockers and chairs.

Studel, our cutie-pa-tootie dog, went with us this year. I spent more time outside than I usually do because dogs aren't allowed in the house.

I headed to the back pasture.

Peace reigned by the old barn and corn crib. It was still and quiet.

Ah, enough of that.

Let me head back up for the wonderful noise of visiting.

We ate and then it was time for the hayride.

This year the hayride was especially fun. The truck was packed tight with an older crowd. In fact, there was barely enough room for the young-uns because of all of us old-uns. We listened to Christmas carols blarring on the radio as we rode through the pasture. My uncle came with us and shared stories of his childhood on the Farm with us.

The funny thing was all of us trying to get up and out of the hay after the ride was over. The young-uns popped right up out of there. It took the old-uns awhile longer...

Sunday, my Hubby's family will come here for our Thanksgiving with them.

Lots of cleaning and cooking to be done.

Life is good.

Turkey Gobbles

Okay, I give up! That video simply won't upload.

I don't know what the deal is, but I definitely give up!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Meatless Monday

From my kitchen:

Boy oh boy, have I got a great recipe for your Meatless Monday. This one is for breakfast. I love it. The flavors blend deliciously for this nutritious start to your day. It's filling, it's healthy, it's yummy. How great is that?

Rebekah's Mediterranean Breakfast
1 cup oats (steel cut oats are great, but so are regular)
1 cup organic vanilla yogurt (low fat is a-ok)
1 cup milk (anywhere from skim to whole is delish)
1/4 cup oat bran
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
3 Tbsp chopped dried figs (I use figlets..lighter flavor and cute name)
3 Tbsp chopped dates
3 Tbsp other dried fruit of your choice
(golden raisins, cranberries, apricots, fruit bits combo)

Combine the ingredients together in a bowl and mix well.

Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. (Or at least a couple of hours.)
By the way: fresh berries make a lovely topping.

Enjoy!!

R.I.P. Tripp

This is a hard post to write.

Tripp has died. That's a hard reality to face.

We fought and she fought and the doc fought.

We all lost.

You mean I don't have to (get to) pop up out of bed at 5:30 to let her out anymore?
You mean I don't have to (get to) rush home to check on her anymore? I can be gone as long as I want to?
You mean I don't have to (get to) cook chicken and rice every other day for her anymore?
You mean I don't have to (get to) have rugs all over the floors anymore (she wouldn't walk on the hardwoods)?
You mean I don't have to (get to) massage her legs to help with her arthritis anymore?
You mean I won't have to (get to) step around her and her pillow in front of the fireplace to put on another log anymore?
You mean her fur won't be all over my house, forming dust bunnies under every piece of furniture?

Well, damn.

Giving Thanks

We've got a great conversation going on over at my blog at maryjanesfarm. We're talking about how to save Thanksgiving this year....Hop over and join in!

More Tripp

Tripp is spending her days at the vets and her nights at home. During the day, they are giving her an IV with fluids and medicines.

She has drainage tubes on her head and that part of this process is going well. I think they'll be able to put stitches there soon.

She is hanging in. Her eyes looked like hers this morning, warm and hopeful. First time in a couple of weeks.

I'm taking a day at a time.

Wow, I know I am stressed out because my blue jeans have gotten so tight. Stress does that to me. I have a friend who never eats when she is stressed; that's so not the situation with me....

Keep the positive vibes coming! I'll keep ya posted!
Thanks for caring...

Aja/Tripp Update

Had a rough night. They switched pain med's on Tripp yesterday and I guess they didn't agree with her. Headed to the vet right now for fluids and check. She's so weak; it's hard to see her this way.
Any thoughts and prayers you can send our way are greatly appreciated.

A/K/A

Our 13 year old dog, known for 10 years as Aja and 3 years as Tripp, has been in the hospital all week.
She has an infection that she just can't shake. Say a little prayer for Aja a/k/a Tripp.
We are going nuts and are ready for her to come back home.


So is her playmate, Strudel.


Aja was named "Aja" after the Steely Dan song. There is an accent mark over the j (instead of a dot), but I don't know how to make that happen with my computer.

We called her by her given name, Aja, for about 10 years.

Then my daughter changed her name to Tripp.

The doctor's office has been confused ever since.