Rotary Dinner.

It was out on the patio, catered, and 73 people showed up. It was fun. But I'm pooped.
I'm off to the US of A tomorrow to visit family and friends for 12 days. I also have a grocery list and a movie list. Any 5 star suggestions?
Mas Tarde

65 people for dinner tonight. No I'm not kidding. I've gotta go.

Pony, Bella, Sonora

My little yearling is between her mother and her sister. Mama Pony is about 7 years old and barely reaches 15 hands. Bella is a month away from 2 years now. Sonora is 9 months and starting to shed her baby coat. Sonora and Bella had different Dads but Pony is their Mama. Sonora is weaned, but will stick her head under either Pony or Bella if given a chance. They both let her, too. All three girls really enjoy human company and stand quietly for brushing and kisses.

One more thing, Sonora has a complete white marking around her upper neck like a string of pearls. She's appropriately attired to take tea with the Queen.

Five Things I Miss
The things we miss because we aren't in our native country or maybe just not in our area of our native country can seem insignificant to those with the ability to get to them easily, but if they don't exist here and now they become larger than life. Dixie Peach passed-on this meme and I thought I'd add my 2 cents. I've described my little corner of Mexico as being like a small town in Montana. Ranches, cowboys, open spaces for miles and miles, and far and few conveniences. I have way too many choices of tacos, hot dogs, hamburgers, fish, and no choices for other foods. Luckily I can get up to the Safeways and Costcos pretty easily and re-stock what I can't live without by making a "run for the border."
These are the foods I usually restock and I miss:
Wine
Cheese
Bread (SOUR DOUGH)
Coffee
Pickles
Cereals
Crackers
Grits
and I usually grab a deli sandwich before returning.

I miss shopping at Trader Joe's

I miss smooth highways with shoulders

I miss huge salad bars

I miss variety

Kung Hei Fat Choy

The year of the pig, or Boar, is about to start and I think that means a lucky year is ahead for those lucky souls born in the year of the pig. I hope I didn't bore you with this trivia.

Happy New Year!

Trolling for Dinner

A neighbor had a dream that after he retired he could come down here and fish his little heart out, and maybe try some kayaking. So he bought the perfect little boat that is a kayak with holes for fishing poles.

Yesterday he was out in the bay, on his maiden voyage just gently paddling along with his two lines out and damn if he didn't catch an edible fish.

I'm ready for Barbie to get back down here and go out with me. We'll take turns on who paddles and who fishes.

ANDREAS HELGSTRAND - WEG2006 Freestyle Final

As promised, I caught the moon rising as the sun was setting last evening. The syzygy. It was a great low tide that is visable below my patio. I put the camera right on the railing so I wouldn't end up with jewelry again.

Then the other day we had such pretty lighting at sunset due to a little storm coming through.

I had the flash on and got this odd picture. There might have been a rainbow somewhere out there.

Enjoy It, Live It

You just never know, do you? It smacks you upside the head occasionally. Just when you get bored or complacent or frustrated over little everyday details someone important to you is gone and you have to look at your tinsy little problems in a different light.
Molly Ivins died today. And she was only a little older than me and was still so full of piss and vinegar. I could count on one hand and take away the thumb how much older than me she was. Damn.
I'm going to miss her sassy tongue. Ann Richards, Molly Ivins... Who will we look to for the truth now? I'm going searching, so to hell with the dirty dishes and unmade bed.

Barbaro was euthanized this morning. It was the right thing to do. He was gorgeous, brave, willing, and too young to die. But I also think he was too young to race. I look at my little Bella getting ready to turn two and I feel so badly for the racing thoroughbreds that get started in their second year. So much bone growth and development is yet to happen and too much stress on these tender bones is dangerous.

Rest in Peace Barbaro.

Happy House

Our friends and their friends came for a visit. Our friends brought their dogs, two darling and lively Cocker Spaniels. Our cats are sticking pretty close to the safety of their upstairs. Floyd has to do the occasional wall-walk, tail flip, in-your-face stretch which puts the whole animal tantrum in full swing. Can't we all just get along?

Dinner last night was so much fun with Carne Asada until our tortillas runneth over. Tonight will be multiple choices of shrimp dishes. We will go buy our jumbo shrimp later this morning when the shrimpers are in port. Meanwhile, we've replenished our cupboards with all the good stuff these guys were sweet enough to bring down to us. The wine was amazing but this morning it looks like the red is too popular and we'll be suffering with beer tonight. Beer and shrimp. Yes, that works.

The State of...
I would really like to say something important and smart after watching the State of the Union speech tonight but I'm too hoarse from yelling at the TeeVee.

I need to remove myself from all this ******** and stick my head in the sand and pretend it doesn't matter at all.

There's one more cowgirl in heaven today. Dale Evans and Annie Oakley had better welcome her with open arms because she's a wonderful addition.

Bella is showing lots of attitude and has started to come to my whistle since I give her a nice crunchy bucket of yummies then. I have also insisted that she not crowd me in the stall door when said bucket is delivered, and she is following that rule perfectly. This halter is an Average Horse size and was so big on her a few short months ago. Now she is growing into it.

La Luna

Guess who moved the camera right at the moment of click. I think it looks like jewelry, though, but that wasn't what I was looking for. Now I will wait another month to try to catch the syzygy.

Happy New Year's Day

A busy day full of friends goes in between those pictures. You knew I had to post a sunrise on day 1 of 2007.

I hope yours was relaxing and reflective.

I just want to give a big thumbs up, high five, and peace sign to Betty Ford. She has more than stood the test of time and come out ahead. She is the best.

Mercury in Retrograde?

Whatever. My DSL modem bit the dust, TV quit receiving signal, and I fell and scraped my palm.

It could be so much worse. Funny how it happens in clusters though.

I took Bella's mama for a ride out in the desert yesterday and enjoyed watching Bella move. When we got to a piddling puddle of a lake where the cattle still get a drink, Bella rolled down in it over and over. Then got out and rolled in the dirt until she looked like a muddy little boy. I chose not to rinse her off once we got home even though she smells like cow dung. That mud-bath must be good for her hide and she seemed quite proud of herself.

I got a new modem today and "initialized" it myself after reading the booklet in Spanish. It's getting easier.

Oh dear. A Hello Kitty toaster. Kitchen bling, I guess. Target was practically giving them away yesterday but I still couldn't buy one. Don't need it, don't want it, don't want to put it in my kitchen.

I did watch Wordplay last night and loved it. I hear Will Shorts, the puzzle master, on NPR almost every Sunday morning with Leanne Hanson.

Christmas Visits

I'm almost done with all my traveling, visiting, cooking, eating, buying. I just need to get back home now and get a good night's sleep.

I'm not very good without a fast computer connection and short sleeved shirts. Funny how quickly I became accustomed to high speed and am appalled that dial-up is still around. I also don't care for this frost warning business or worrying about snow in the higher elevations.

I'm really missing my little Bella, too. I bought a small 25 lb. bag of flax seed and will start incorporating a little into her diet. Has anyone else ever fed their horse flax seed? I think I need to grind it in the coffee grinder or soak it in a little warm water.