The neighbor has a ranch and raises angus cattle. He had a Mom die this spring and that resulted in a practically newborn, orphan calf. Well mother Renee had to adopt the poor thing. Here Annie and a friend are in on one of the twice a day feedings............
..............a city girl looks pretty funny feeding a calf,but who else would kiss a cow?................
..........or hug a cow?...........
.....or nuzzle a cow?.............
By Uncle Hans
THE TERM “WEEK-END”, IF YOU WORK IN THE CASINO INDUSRTY REFERS TO YOUR TWO DAYS OFF, NOT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. FOR US IT’S USUALLY SUNDAY AND MONDAY. ON OUR WEEK-END THIS WEEK WE DIDN’T DO A HELL OF A LOT. SUNDAY WE NEVER LEFT THE RV PARK. WE WALKED UP AND DID OUR LAUNDRY IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AND SAT ON THE PORCH.
WE SURVIVED ON THE PORCH WITH AN AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 105 DEGREES. I MOSTLY SAT IN FRONT OF THE WATER FAN, A BOX FAN THAT INCLUDES A PUMP AND WATER, THAT IS SPRAYED ON A PAD IN THE BACK. AS IT PULLS THE AIR THRU, THE EVAPORATION COOLS THE AIR. IT HELPS, AND I CAN SURVIVE 105 IN THE SHADE. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME, IT TOOK ME THREE SUMMERS TO BUILD UP TO THIS LEVEL.
MONDAY AFTERNOON THE PORCH TEMPERATURE REACHED 110 DEGREES AND SUSIE AND I RETREATED TO THE BEDROOM FOR AN AIR CONDITIONED NAP.
THE MENU WASN’T EVEN VERY EXCITING THIS WEEK-END, WITH LEFTOVER CHICKEN LEGS ONE DAY AND LEFTOVER MEATBALLS THE NEXT.
THE HEAT JUST SHUTS US DOWN. EVEN MARY HAS SKIPPED HER MORNING WALKS AND WORKS AT HER PUZZLE TABLE INSTEAD.
GONNA BE A LONG, LONG SUMMER.
I GOT A LITTLE HEAT IN MY E-MAIL BOX FOR HAVING POOR LITTLE SUSIE CUDDLED UP TO AN ICE PACK WHILE WE SPENT THREE DAYS IN THE SWIMMING POOL, AND IF IT MAKES YOU FELL ANY BETTER, WE DID DRIVE HOME ON THE SECOND DAY TO GIVE SUSIE A FRESHLY FROZEN REPLACEMENT ICE PACK.
WE JUST HAVEN’T HAD ANY LUCK LOCATING A USED LOWER KITCHEN COUNTER AND CABINETS FOR THE PORCH. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, THE USED FURNITURE STORE IS THE PLACE TO CHECK, AS PEOPLE ARE DUMPING THEM LIKE CRAZY AS THESE DAYS THEY ARE HANGING THOSE FLAT SCREEN TV’S RIGHT ON THE WALL.
SO WE STOPPED AT LOWES AND HAD A TALK WITH A VERY KNOWLEDGABLE KITCHEN DESIGNER. HE SAID WE WERE IN FOR SOME PROBLEMS INSTALLING A COUNTER AND CABINETS OUTSIDE. HE LIKED OUR IDEA OF ADDING A MARINE VARNISH TO PROTECT THE WOOD FROM THE RAIN, BUT TOLD US THE EXTREME DESERT HEAT WOULD EAT OFF THE VARNISH AND THE WOOD WARPING WOULD BE NEXT. THE MARINE VARNISH WILL NEED TO BE APPLIED ANNUALLY.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESSBOARD, CHEAP CABINETS ARE MADE OUT OF TODAY, WILL SOAK UP WATER OFF THE FLOOR AND CRUMBLE. HE SUGGESTED WE SET THE CABINETS ON A 2 X 4 PLATFORM TO KEEP THEM OFF THE FLOOR AND OUT OF WATER.
EVERYTHING WAS IN STOCK, BUT MARY COULDN’T DECIDE BETWEEN OAK AND HICKORY, AND WE DIDN’T HAVE THE TRUCK TO HAUL THE LOAD HOME. THE KITCHEN DESIGNER SAID THAT’S A GOOD THING. GO HOME AND THINK ABOUT IT, AND IF WE COULD WAIT, COME BACK THE 4TH OF JULY WHEN HE THOUGHT THE CABINETS WOULD BE 20% OFF INSTEAD OF 10% OFF.
AS LONG AS WE’RE AT LOWES MARY DECIDED WE NEEDED A FLOWER POT TO ADD TO THE PORCH.
“SUNNY & 111”
THIS IS WHERE I’VE BEEN FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS, HOUSE/DOG SITTING. TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPS AND I’M AS COOL AS A CUCUMBER !!!
AND A LITTLE SUN BURNED….
“SUNNY & 108”
By Uncle Hans
Uncle Hans rarely writes a serious blog, but here it is.
Rex's daughter, Amy, sent us all a copy of a recent "Dr. Oz” episode. He is a cardiac surgeon that got started as a health and longevity expert on Oprah. Now he has his own show. The episode was on Alzheimer's.
We all have been following Grandma's flight into old age with a nervous eye, thinking "could that happen to me?". I think Amy's sending those DVD's is kind of that question for all of us. First of all. Dementia is a cognitive disorder of the brain that seems to affect memory the most. If it happens in the 50's or 60's it is abnormally early and called pre-senile dementia or Alzheimer's. If it comes, like Grandma, in the 80's when it is expected, it is called senile dementia. The episode was very interesting in that it highlighted some new research into this problem. The work is incomplete but very important. It points to some causes for dementia without proving anything yet. The problem is chemical and may be related to some foods we eat and their containing nitrates and nitrites. These are used as preservatives in some foods. The work is early, but interesting.
I don't think dementia of this kind is particularly hereditary. I think diet is a factor and these researchers will eventually unlock those secrets. But I think dementia is related to external stimuli. I think older people who stay connected to their friends and families, and stimulate themselves with reading, current events, and mind games or puzzles, are much less likely to develop the problem.
"Use it or lose it".
I see it in the older patients I have, I always make it a point to ask a few questions of the really sharp ones and they are all very busy with life. They are aware of what is happening around them and have a wide collection of friends and family. Grandma did watch the news and read quite a bit. But she did not have the key factor.......close connection to friends and family.
Isolation kills.
Maybe it was our fault, but I think she could have reached out to many other people. Through church, clubs, hobbies, crafts, etc. My own bias is reading history as each book or article forces you to reach into your memory and connect the things you know and remember with the new stuff you are just reading. Also you must connect today's current events with the history you are reading. It is fun and it stimulates your memory automatically, without thinking about it. Reading fiction or non-historical stuff is fun, but it ties only to that book and does not make any connections to other stuff inside your brain.
So Amy, not to worry about Grandma's dementia. At 83 it is expected and won't bother you if you follow the research, make the changes, and stay engaged in life. It's easy at 35, but harder as your friends start dying at 75.
Begin to make a strategy for this today...............
By Uncle Hans
SUSIE, THE CAT, HATES THE HEAT WORSE THAN REX. SHE SIMPLY SHUTS DOWN, AND BECOMES VERY LETHARGIC. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A CAT CUDDLE UP TO AN ICE PACK?
BUT LIKE US, SHE RETREATS TO THE PORCH AND MAKES THE BEST OF IT.
AT LEAST THE FLASH FROM THE CAMERA BROUGHT HER HEAD UP.
HER SHEDDING CAT HAIR MAKES THE PUZZLE PIECES EASIER TO FIND?
THIS WEEK THE WEATHER HAS SETTLED IN AT TRIPLE DIGITS, AND WILL HANG IN THE 100’S THRU AUGUST. MAKES FOR A LONG SUMMER. SUSIE IMMEDIATELY RECOGNISES THE SOUND OF EITHER A/C FIRING UP AND ASSUMES THE BEST POSITION TO LAY IN FRONT OF THE COOL AIR.
LUCKILY WE’LL ALL FEEL BETTER IN ABOUT 90 DAYS..THE COUNTDOWN HAS STARTED.
“SUNNY & 100+”
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, NEVADA PASSED THEIR NO-SMOKING LAWS, THANKS, IN PART, TO THE MANY CALIFORNIA TRANSPLANTS WHO LOVE TO LEGISLATE EVERYTHING. SMOKING AND GAMBLING GO TOGETHER LIKE FISH AND CHIPS, PEAS AND CARROTS, POLITICIANS AND SEX …….
SO THE BIG AND POWERFUL CASINOS MANAGED TO GET THE LAW PASSED THAT THERE IS NO – SMOKING ANYWHERE THERE IS CHILDREN OR FOOD. THIS LEFT THE BIG CASINO FLOORS SMOKING. SURE THERE IS NO-SMOKING IN THE REST OF THE PUBLIC AREAS AND RESTAURANTS.
THIS LEFT THE $7 BURGER JOINTS AND TAVERNS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND SLOT MACHINES. A TUFF CHOICE TO BE SURE, WHEN THEIR BUSINESS MODELS ARE BUILT ON THE PROFITS OF THE 15 BAR TOP, SLOT MACHINES, AND THE FOOD COMING OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE NO-SMOKING LAWS WAS LEFT UP TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND IT WAS THE SMOKER WHO WAS ARRESTED AND FINED, NOT THE ESTABLISHMENT.
OF COURSE AN INDIAN RESERVATION IS A SOVERIGN NATION AND IGNORED THE NO-SMOKING RULES. ISN’T THAT AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE?
I WAS AT PT’S, A 24-HOUR, $7 BURGER JOINT WITH SLOTS, IN VEGAS, WHERE THEY HAVE ABOUT 30 LOCATIONS. AFTER BREAKFAST I ORDERED A BEER AND ASKED FOR AN ASHTRAY? THE BARTENDER SAID SORRY WE CAN’T PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ASHTRAY, BUT IMMEDIATELY SET UP A HALF A GLASS OF WATER FOR ME TO DROP MY CIGARETTE BUTTS IN.
IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE, MARY AND I HAD DROPPED THE HONDA OFF FOR SERVICE AT THE HONDA DEALER ON SAHARA AVE AND WALKED DOWN A FEW BLOCKS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD TAVERN. AS WE WERE SMOKING AND DRINKING THE BARTENDER CAME UP AND OFFERED US LUNCH. WE BOTH HAD BLUE PLATE SPECIALS AND WERE ASKED TO DONATE A FEW DOLLARS. SO, I GUESS THEY REALLY WEREN’T SELLING FOOD?
THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS A CAN OF WORMS. LOT’S PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS AS RESTARUANTS AND BARS CLOSED, SLOT ROUTES WENT BROKE. THE SMOKING POLICE (HEALTH DEPT.) COULDN’T ENFORCE, AND THERE WAS A STIPULATION IN THE ORIGINAL NO-SMOKING LAW THAT IT COULDN’T BE CHANGED FOR FIVE YEARS.
TODAY, AFTER FIVE YEARS, THERE IS A SMOKING LAW PASSED BY THE LEGISLATORS LAYING ON THE GOVERNORS DESK TO ALLOW SMOKING IN ADULT TAVERNS WITH FOOD.
IT’S A SMOKING LAW !!! GOD I LOVE NEVADA !!!
On my recent trip to Wisconsin, I was looking forward to having morel mushrooms. May is prime mushroom time in Iowa and Wisconsin. At a gas station just over the Iowa state line I found a T-shirt with this picture on it:
Due to the rotten spring weather in Iowa and Wisconsin these were the ONLY mushrooms I saw….
what a disappointment!!
WE ARE SPENDING ANOTHER WEEK-END WORKING ON THE NEW PORCH. SCHOOL DOESN’T GET OUT IN CALIFORNIA UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF JUNE, SO BUSINESS AT THE CASINO IS STILL SLOW. LAUGHLIN AND THE COLORADO RIVER ARE A VACATION DESTINATION WITH THE RIVER, LAKE, AND HOTEL POOLS.
IT’S KINDA LIKE WHEN WE USED TO CAMP AT DEVIL’S LAKE WITH THE SAME FAMILIES, THE SAME WEEKS IN AUGUST OR JULY. THE FAMILES AND GROUPS RETURN YEAR AFTER YEAR, KIDS GROW UP, DRINK SOME BEER, WATCH THE SUBMARINE RACES, AND EVENTUALLY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO GAMBLE.
MANY OWN SUMMER HOMES ON THE RIVER, AND MOST DRAG THEIR BOATS TO THE RIVER TO PLAY, BUT UNTIL JUNE 15TH, IT’S SLOW AT WORK, AND SO WE HAD SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY, OFF THIS WEEK. I’M HAPPY WHEN I GET A THREE DAY WEEK-END, AND I’M HAPPY WHEN I GET FIVE DAYS OF WORK. SO, AS USUAL, WE’RE “HAPPY CAMPERS”.
MY PLAN FOR THE PORCH WAS TO START WITH THE KITCHEN AREA. I WANTED A KITCHEN COUNTER, COMPLETE WITH LOWER CUPBOARDS, DRAWERS, AND LOTS COUNTER SPACE. I CAME HOME WITH THIS FOR $40.
YOU KNOW, PUT A COUNTER TOP ACROSS THE TOP, AND PRESTO IT’S A KITCHEN ON THE PORCH. WELL, YOU’LL NOTICE THAT THIS PICTURE IS TAKEN OUTSIDE OF THE PORCH. THEY SPENT EXACTLY ONE NIGHT IN THE PORCH AND MARY DECLARED THAT’S NOT GOING TO CUT IT!
THE KITCHEN IS STILL A SIX FOOT WHITE TABLE, BUT LOOK, WE’VE ADDED A WHITE MICROWAVE THAT MATCHES, AND ONLY $15 AT ONE OF THE MANY THRIFT STORES ON OUR WEEKLY TOUR.
YA, THAT’S GRANDMA JACK’S DRINK, IN FRONT OF THE NEW MICROWAVE. THE PUZZLE TABLE IS JUST OUT OF VIEW TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PHOTO.
ON THE THRIFT STORE RUN, WE SCORED THIS TABLE AND CHAIRS FOR $50. IT’S ROUND, GLASS TOP, WICKER CHAIRS WITH ARM RESTS, AND JUST FITS.
WHAT’S THAT RED, BLUE, GREEN, AND YELLOW ON THE FLOOR? THEY ARE FOAM PADS THAT INTERLOCK TO USE ON THE FLOOR FOR EXERCISING. WE BOUGHT THEM FOR FLOOR COVERING INSTEAD OF INDOOR/OUTDOOR CARPET. THEY ARE MUCH NICER TO WALK ON AND ARE NICE BRIGHT PRIMARY COLORS.
THE STEPS STILL NEED SOME WORK, SANDING AND STAINING.
IT’S A NEW BLACK & DECKER ELECTRIC SANDER AND SANDPAPER. HMMMMM…..
THIS COULD TAKE SOME TALENT AND KNOW-HOW.
I BETTER FIND MARY……
MARY? MARY?
OH YA, THE PUZZLE TABLE…..
………
…….
“SUNNY & 103”
By Uncle Hans
About 10 miles from our destination of Green Bay, we hit an adult wild Tom turkey. Right in front of the driver's face. Fortunately, the safety glase held, but just barely. You could see small fractures in the plastic. It was about 40 lbs and nearly 75lbs and quite a test for the windshield. Had it failed, it may have been very serious.
Of course, it was a holiday weekend and no one would fix the problem so we had to borrow Kathy's car to go home and exchange cars in Abbotsford on Tuesday night after the glass was fixed. What an adventure!!
.......... the little grey smudge in the last picture is a feather, a that we have left of the turkey.
By Uncle Hans
By Uncle Hans
So, on our trip to Green Bay, we visited Neil and Kathy. By our great luck, Michelle Del Pozo, Juanito's niece from Ecuador, arrived literally at the same moment. It was fun to catch up on their family. Her brother Roberto, was just graduated from Harvard in Boston and the whole family was there and in New York for the event. she flew out to visit her American "parents"........ Neil and Kathy
.....of course, she brought her little girls along, and we had great fun......
......the girls helped Grandma Kathy to make this. It almost qualifies as a Whatizit!...........
.....I don't know what it is called, but you start with this unusual angel-food-cake-pan-shaped-glass-standing-bowl. then you cut an angel food cake into pieces, ad cool whip and vanilla pudding, and all sorts of fresh fruit and viola!......there it is! whatever it is called.........
......Neil served it up. I imagine you could put most anything in there except maybe spaghetti sauce............
..............mmmmmmmmmmmmm.......
By Uncle Hans
By Uncle Hans
Renee and I recently stopped in on Grandma for a visit............
.....we took her this bookcase, which was in her condo. This was from the one-room schoolhouse she attended as a child. Rex will remember the school. It was on the crossroad corner about a mile from the farm. He and I once attended there with Jim for a day or two........
....we also took her some different "summer" clothes. You will be happy to know that she is gradually moving out of her suitcase and into the assisted living place...........
Neil and Kathy have been busy moving things a little at a time to make the place more homey. This is the "Last Supper" picture she once crocheted. It took two years.........
............she commissioned a local artist in Stockton to paint these pictures. They depict the 23rd Psalm.......
....we took her an old photo albums from the 40's and she took us on a "tour". Very interesting........
.....the highlight, however, was placing the candle holder "Whatizit" in her display case. She did not know who owned it, but added to the mystery by remembering that "there were two of them, a matched set" Where and when will the other one surface?
Only "the Shadow" knows..........
By Uncle Hans
WE HAVE BEEN MOVING THE WHITE TABLES AROUND IN THE PORCH TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
THE FIRST PROJECT HAS BEEN ELECTRIC. AT THIS POINT IT’S ALL EXTENTION CORDS. LUCKILY WE HAVE THREE PLUGS ON THE CAMP SITE PEDISTAL, 50 AMP, 30 AMP, AND 20 AMP. THE CAMPER IS PLUGGED INTO 50 AMP, WE RAN AN EXTENTION CORD FROM THE 20 AMP TO THE SECOND A/C IN THE BEDROOM, AND THE 30 AMP PLUG CORD IS PROVIDING POWER TO THE FRONT PART OF THE PORCH.
WE HAVE DECIDED THE KITCHEN AREA IS GOING TO BE ON THE NORTH END OR THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER, EVEN THOUGH THE GRILL ENDED UP NEXT TO THE SHED OUT THE BACK DOOR ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE PORCH. THERE IS A KITCHEN WINDOW IN THE TRAILER THAT WILL MAKE A NICE PASS THROUGH FROM THE THE KITCHEN IN THE CAMPER, AND THE DIRTY DISHES WILL BE CLOSER TO THE SINK INSIDE.
THE FIRST SUMMER WE SPENT ON THE LOWER DESERT WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT THE FRIDGE IN THE CAMPER DOESN’T CUT IT IN THE HIGH HEAT. THIS YEAR WILL BE A LITTLE BETTER AS THE BACK PANEL IS IN THE SHADE OF THE PORCH, BUT NOT COLD ENOUGH FOR MILK AND FRESH MEAT. AFTER WE LEARNED OF THIS PROBLEM TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR A SMALL USED FRIDGE. WE BOUGHT ONE FOR $100 AND HAVE USED IT IN THE SHED FOR BEER. I MOVED IT INTO THE KITCHEN AREA OF THE PORCH AND SET IT UP ON BLOCKS AS I WAS TIRED OF BENDING OVER TO GET BEERS.
SO NOW WE ARE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR AN OLD KITCHEN COUNTER OUT OF SOMEONES HOUSE DOING A KITCHEN REMODEL. AS LONG AS IT’S SOLID WE CAN DEAL WITH PAINT, DOOR PULLS, OR HINGES, AND IF THE TOP OF THE COUNTER IS A LITTLE RUFF, WELL, WE CAN TRY TO LAY TILES OVER THE TOP.
THE BACK OF THE PORCH IS TURNING INTO THE LIVING ROOM, COMPLETE WITH DIRECT TV. AFTER THE FIRST RAIN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE TV NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED, SO WE WERE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A USED ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. ON A USED FURNITURE TRAILER ALONG THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF THE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN CASINO WE FOUND A USED SOLID OAK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER FOR $70.
WE HAULED IT HOME AND MARY HAS APPLIED MARINE URETHANE TO IT LIKE YOU WOULD USE ON THE OUTSIDE OF A WOODEN FRONT DOOR TO PROTECT IT FROM THE UPCOMING MONSOON RAINS IN JULY AND AUGUST. WE STILL NEED TO RAISE THE SOLID PART OF THIS BACK WALL TO KEEP THE RAIN OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TV. IT ALSO HAS STORAGE FOR DVD, CD’S, THE WII, AND A DVD PLAYER.
WE ARE ALSO ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A TABLE AND CHAIRS. WE ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE PATIO SEASON TO SEE IF WE CAN SCORE A DEAL AT ONE OF THE BIG BOX STORES, AND WE HAVE BECOME REGULARS AT THE THRIFT SHOPS IN THE VALLEY.
MARY HAS BEEN PICKING UP SLIVERS FROM THE NEW WOODEN STEPS THAT LEAD INTO THE CAMPER, SO SANDING, STAINING AND VARNISHING MAYBE THE SOLUTION THERE. JUST ANOTHER PROJECT FOR MARY. SEE MARY, HGTV IS GOOD FOR SOMETHING?
MARY? MARY? OH YA THE PUZZLE TABLE IS UP….
“SUNNY & 103”
