67 degrees and winds

The winds are howling above us and I am petrified. Tornado watches have been issued and a Tornado Warning is 25 miles away.

This morning I hiked down into the creek bottom to take a quick look at the change from the day before.

It was 50 degrees and foggy in the low lying areas. The driveway had melted into mush and the valley still had ice on all of the trails.

And just above the creek... it was eerily quiet without hardly a whisper of noise.

Just below the creek fence....

The fog eventually lifted and the winds shifted to the south clearing most of the fog as the day warmed up.

The mules moved to the south fence line where the neighbor's hillside and forest kept them protected.

And they seemed to sense that this was where they should be.

As dark fell and the winds picked up, I felt very uncomfortable. The temperature was all wrong, the winds were soft but wrong...the mules felt it also. 

When I fed them, they snorted and trotted back and forth as if I was offering them poisonous snakes instead of hay. The horse bucked and spun in circles as if she were telling me something.

I waited until everyone was calmed down and then talked with each of them. Yes, I do that. I talk to my mules. There was a sense of discomfort in the air yet a sense of them wishing to be close to me. 

I don't know how to explain it, they hugged me with their presence. Sunshine and Sundance stood on each side of me with a mouthful of hay yet not chewing. Just standing with their heads ... one on my right shoulder and one on my left.

And now at 9:12, I am seeing lightening ...

and the sky is howling and flashing.... 

and the tree tops are beginning to scream...

Fun and Silly

 Mushroom Hunting

Training the pony

Silly Hats

Silly Dinosaur

Brass Ashtray with Hen and Chicks in a mini garden made out of an old pie tin.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Hunting

And I leave it at that.

Double Exposures

Double Trouble.

That is me. 

The photo method that I described before intrigued me. And of course I went off on a tangent from there.

Lo and Behold I decided to try some more double exposures 'in' camera. Now, mostly I am not a fan, but I think it is a fun diversion. Just like the Pep Ventosa Technique which will be a project I work on the next few days as the heat indices are to be around 100+ degrees F.

In camera double exposure of Charlie and random ox eye daisies. Double exposures really need better planning than this.

I like this one I did of my son's dog in his backyard but it feels too ghostly.

Subject one should be isolated more to include a second exposure. So I tried this one. There is the color version and black and white version to see the image within the image better.

So what if I took a photo of a vase of hosta flowers and made the hosta plant the backround? I used a white board that I should toss out as it has seen much better days. 

Original:

Edit:

That was fun.

So I then thought I'd try about 7 exposures 'in the round' of my little meditating dragon.

Here is the edited color version attempt...

It is sort of interesting as it appears that the dragon is thinking inside of himself?

I thought the colors were too distracting. I decided to try a black and white version.

Hmmm. I kind of, sorta, think...sorta, that I like it?

Then I took shots with the Infrared camera of the neighbor's playground and simply stacked them all at 40%.

I added a bit of contrast and that was it.

Certainly the dragon is sort of growing on me.

The playground resembles the Pep Ventosa method a bit better and I think it would work for abstract artsy stuff.

I may have to try it again. 

While doing a bit of research I found a lot of sites that offered classes in this and other 'painterly' effects. I didn't sign up for classes, I like experimenting on my own.

By the way, the weather this morning was incredible. More about that non Artsy Stuff tomorrow. A Heat Advisory has been issued. 

So I am doing other crafty things like dying Queen Anne's Lace and drying it in hopes I can use it as Christmas or Fall *Decorates*.

Oddness

I may be in one of those moods. What kind of mood? 

Gosh I really don't know. I walked out yesterday morning and watched the sun rise over what used to be the Merry Meadow. It belongs to the neighbor and we no longer brush hog it or fence it for pasture. At one time it was nice to walk through that well groomed pasture. I think there were about 10 acres of it. Now it is a nightmare to walk through unless the snow has pressed down the weeds and grasses.
Still, the morning sunrise is still beautiful to watch.

The Teddy and his lonely tea party. 
I spray painted the cups and sauces.
They were purple.

My husband's Aunt sent us this huge decoration for our house. I don't have the heart to tell her that it is way too large for my tiny house. I chuckled at the word 'Family' on it. 

Let's just say that I don't get the Warm Fuzzies with the word Family.

I get what it is supposed to mean though.
I was sorting through my mini boney dinosaurs to figure out which ones I'd keep and which ones I'd send to my youngest grandson. I set the ones I wanted to keep for photos on the mini bench in front of the place I stashed the Family sign for the time being.

[I have no idea where I would actually put it. Really...I don't! 

I'm thinking though it would 

make a nice frame without the letters to use for a 

flat layout and still life photography... hmmm....]

Other meandering thoughts. My flower garden is going great guns and it will be time to start collecting seeds for next year's gardens. The barrel I had in the middle of the plantings is now surrounded and one has to peek through the towering plants to see what is on the spool top I set on the barrel.

The Tree Ent looks

pleased.

Think so?

The tiny brass car with the hen and chick in it looks like it is doing well. I have to remember to reach in and water that and the ones in the tea cups....

Maybe I'm feeling the ... well, I don't want to call it stress... but perhaps it is stress...

The stress of worrying about something I can't really do much about. The worry about the coming winter. The worry about world events. 

Perhaps what causes my feelings of unrest come from something deeper. The cost of Isolation and being careful. 
The feeling of waiting for that Other Shoe to Drop.

Sometimes I go to do something and I just stop. I look around and feel as if I've lost my way a little bit. I stand and wait. Then I think of something I should be doing. And of course then I do something else.

Distracted and disjointed.

I sure hope this oddness passes.

I think I'll take Charlie for a stroll now. Unless I should be doing something else.

[Oh...and if my kids read this they'll get the reference to Family. It isn't about them, they will fully understand why I chuckle at the word.]

 

The Garden Dog

The whole idea was to extend my garden a bit and make it easier to mow.

Or..
just plant more flowers so I'd have more to look at!

Ignore the broken down garage...it is

a project to be taken care of..

one day....

So I started putting the mulch down on the 'walkway' and re-arranging other parts of the garden.

I gathered up my collection of odd rocks and put them all in one spot, so I can admire them.

Really, aren't they odd and strange rocks? I want to say they are concretions, but I have never had any one tell me exactly what they are.

Odd and strange fossils are abundant in our area.

Apparently Charlie believes I put the dirt out just for him to sunbathe in. Won't he be surprised when I put seeds in there?

It seems as if the Unicorns have started to move in.....
I hope they like the big barn I built for them out of a coffee can.

Oh and the Rat Skeleton! Well, I was building this 'garden' on the idea that it would be fun for kids or adults to walk through the flowers and find odd and interesting things.
I intend on continuously changing it of course.

The Squirrels? Well, the Rabbits will come soon and hide out between flowers and stumps I imagine.

Okay...this was a Christmas Card holder...but...
I'm putting it in the garden...
the head bobbles...
It was one of the strangest gifts I've ever had. I've had a mind to toss it, but oddly enough I can't just toss it. I find myself putting it away for a while, then bringing it out again.
People can't help themselves by touching the head and watching it nod wisely.

Maybe this reindeer thing is wiser than the rest of us.


But maybe I just got a Garden Dog instead...

~~ that look...
Charlie has the right idea. Just lay out in the sun light and don't worry about a thing.
I wish I were Charlie!

Interesting questions while selling on FB marketplace

This is a 'dog box' used by raccoon hunters, coyote hunters, bear, and pig hunters to haul their dogs to hunts.
We used to hunt raccoons together years ago. It was probably my favorite thing to do with my husband. Hunt at night, follow a dog into the dark woods and see if the raccoon outwitted the hound.
Hide and Seek.

I posted our box to Facebook Marketplace
Here are the questions I've been fielding like crazy...and the answers I wish I could just tell those asking...

Questions: Will it fit in my truck?
Gee, I don't know what kind of truck you have!
I then posted measurements.

Can you put 4 dogs in it?
Gee, if you have Chihuahuas you can put as many as you like in it!

I'm far away, can I ask my girlfriend to pay for it?
Gee, hmmm. Um. That doesn't even sound like idea!

Can you save it for me for a couple of weeks? I'm on vacation.
No, I posted it to get IT out of my yard.

I'm far away can you bring it to me?
No, I said For Sale: You pick up. 

Can you fit big dogs in it?
Never tried a St. Bernard.

Can I pick it up and try it?
What? Do you think I am stupid?

I want it. Can you take a lot less?
Um, gee, I already priced it to sell.


And really, the questions just keep coming.
I do hope that the person who actually made an appointment and didn't ask me to run out and measure everything twice, and take photos inside the box along with some other weird stuff...takes it tomorrow.

One more thing out of the yard and $ in my pocket.
What an enlightening experience.

Freedom is...

Riding with an excellent mule.

Sunshine and I went for a long ride yesterday. We rode through the neighbor's forest and along some old logging trails.

After watching the elections the night before and going to bed before there was a 'winner'.... I woke up at 2AM and found out who the president elect was.

Now I am not going to go all political on this blog. I was concerned and interested at the same time. I wondered how the rest of the world and our citizens would react.
Some would rejoice, others would be sure that the world was about to come crashing upon our heads.

I read how fraught some people were and how happy others were.
I read that our country would go to "hell" in a handbasket.

And because I am not good with words regarding politics, I just designed something.

And later on I went riding with Sunshine.
We rode for a very long time.

We explored.

And in my personal world things got set right.

I know I live in a country that allows me more freedoms than others. I know that our government has checks and balances.
I know that sometimes change is frightening and sometimes it can be good.

I don't know what will happen in the future, but I do know I am okay with it today.

The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease -- or the Air Conditioner Saga

My mother in law purchased an air-conditioner from a local appliance store in town.  It stopped working and was covered by warranty.

A service person came and tried to fix it but said it had a bad part and the warranty from the store stated they'd give her a loaner meanwhile or replace it.

Two weeks have gone by and Mom in Law has had nothing but the run around, so I decided to check into it myself.

Here is how it happened:

Me. Walk into the store.

Manager Jason:  Can I help you?

Me:  Oh yes, I'm going to remodel my house and I want new appliances so I thought I'd do some local shopping.  You know, new stove, new fridge, new washer and dryer...oh and an airconditioner.

Jason [gets his large self puffed up]:  Well, we can help you with that!

Me [pull out a pad of paper]:  Good, I have some questions.  Do these come with warranties?

Jason:  Yes they do.  You can buy a 5 yr warranty too that covers these items head to toe.  [Big proud man thinks he's getting a huge sale.]

Me:  Really?  That is so great!  5 yrs!  I live out in the country and if something happens how long before a service person gets to my place?

Jason:  1 to 2 days and we get it taken care of.

Me:  Oh wow, that is fast!  Let me ask you another question.

Jason [Big smile]:  Yes, go ahead!

Me:  My mother in law purchased an air conditioner here, has your 5 yr warranty, it took 5 days for your service person to get there and it is now almost 2 weeks and she still doesn't have A/C!

Employees in the backround sneak to peek around the big appliances.  Hanging back but peeking anyway.

Jason [steps back looks around, sees this little whisp of a woman staring up at him ]:  Um, well, is this about the ---- place in Readstown?

Me:  As a matter of fact it is.  She is in her mid 80's and it is going to be hot this weekend, she has medical issues and frankly you folks have given her nothing but the run around.

I stand quietly while Jason mutters and sputters and then says:  Well, we had to call the manufacturer and get an okay...we are kinda busy and um,...

I put my hand up:  I'm not here for excuses on your end, is the warranty good?  She is getting a replacement today right?

Employees are now ducking in and out of my peripheral vision.  Jason is doing some funky little foot to foot dance in place.

Jason:  Well we just got her replacement this morning and my guys are going to take it to her.

Me:  Great, do you need me to follow you to Readstown to make sure you do it?

Employees are now stock still.  As is the customer he'd just been talking to that was leaving.

Jason:  Um, no.  Um, guys get that air conditioner loaded onto the truck...

I smile sweetly:  Let me see it.  I will follow it to the truck and call her after I'm done with errands to make sure everything is okay, right?

Jason [waves his arms at employees]:  Ah.  Well.

Me:  I am remodeling my house, but I don't think I'll be shopping here.  The GreyHaired Grapvine says your house calls are pitiful.  You should respect your elders.

Jason:  Well, we are kind of busy.

Me:  So you don't sell good products?

This floors him and he waves frantically at his employees to grab the A/C and get it into the truck so I will leave.

I turn to follow the employees:  By the way Jason, do you have a business card?

Jason is totally unerved by now.  And just shakes his head.

Me [Leaving the store]:  You all have a nice day. 

Mom in law is comfy with her new replacement.

Me?

I have the inner meanie is satisfied for the moment.

I was very happy being nice to a 6' 4" man who stand clearly over a foot taller than me and reducing him to squiggly melting jelly.

Crap, I had so much fun I should be an advocate for the GreyHaired Clan.