We've been having alot of mice in the garage and a few in the house lately....I suppose its because its been so warm (over 100 most days) and Don is storing some dog food in the garage which attracts them.... Bandit are a good mouser. (Smoky is more a fly and bug hunter) and we find dead mice occasionally as little gifts........we've set out traps and caught quite a few.. we don't let the cats into the garage. Good thing I'm not squeamish about mice.
We want to get some metal storage containers to store the pet food in...the little terrorists chewed through the plastic types but metal containers are hard to find.......at least at a reasonable price.

Our house is very close to open country, behind our back wall actually...the day before yesterday, a large road runner hopped on the wall and peered over......first time I've seen one here..sorry I didn't get a photo. Handsome bird.


Nancy M. won the contest this week, so I will be contacting her. Be sure to check back this next Friday for the next one....I will try to make it a little more challenging!

A New Game

See if you can guess who this childhood photo is of?......she is a famous movie actress, she was one of the highest paid actresses of the 1990s, her first movie was shown in drive ins and was a sci-fi 3 D classic......she also worked in the soap opera, General Hospital..she's been married 3 times...she went on to make 46 movies.......

My friend sent me a page of childhood photos of famous people and I think it would be fun once a week to post one and see if you can guess.....

The person who wins will get this cute little set of dog magnets....if no one guesses, this prize will be added to the following weeks and will end in September.....so every Friday for the next few weeks, please join in the fun


sorry, this is just for USA readers.....postage is just too high for me to mail overseas.

Wednesday Dog of the Week, Ginger +

This is Ginger, a terrier/yorkshire mix....she is a sweet little girl, young and friendly...but a little shy...she needs the right family who will gain her trust and love.....these little dogs can be very loyal and good companions..as with all the dogs, when she is adopted, she will get free pet health insurance for 30 days.
Don invited us out for supper (KFC) the other night so we headed over to the rescue and had a nice meal with him. One of the dogs always tries to get our attention and picks up whatever toy is available in his mouth, wagging his tail, wanting us to play with him....so cute...I think he is charming Alan a little as he mentioned what a nice dog he was.....
we did a short walk around the property after supper, and behind the rescue is a nice large piece of land, almost an acre......Don mentioned the owner would like to purchase it and expand the rescue which would be wonderful, something to keep in prayer...you can find out more about the rescue, Ginger and her friends at Sun City K-9 Rescue

Glen Beck is doing a wonderful informative series this week on his TV show.......something every |American should be watching, regardless of political party....he goes into great detail and asks some questions that we should all be asking
Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
Here are just a few.....
- We are in so much debt, why spend more borrowed money on cap-and-trade and healthcare programs before we stop the flow of red-ink?

- The stimulus package funneled billions of dollars to ACORN. How does giving billions of dollars to ACORN stimulate the economy?

- If it was so important for congress to pass the stimulus bill before they even had time to read it why has only a fraction of the stimulus money been spent 6 months later?

- Bush said he had to abandon free market principles in order to save them, how exactly does that work?

- Why won’t members of Congress read the bills before they vote on them?

- Why are citizens mocked and laughed at when they ask their congressman to read the bills before they vote on them?

- Was the cash-for-clunkers program meant to save the earth or the economy? Did it accomplish either?

Each day he adds more questions and has given this questions to the White House..so far no answers have come back and he's been attacked personally....tough questions? yes, and how come no other media is asking them?
I tried to paste in a video but it won't work for some reason but if you go here...
you can read more on his website

This little guy is the culprit.....if you click on the photo, you will see he is munching on one of our cherry tomatoes..sweet life for him....he and his mate have take up residence in the retaining wall and cheerfully raid our garden, not only eating the tomatoes, but also snagging bird seed from the feeder and getting water from the bird bath.......I don't really mind as we have plenty but Alan considers their residence a challenge especially when, today, we spotted him climbing up our small young apple tree and trying to get the one apple hanging on the branch....that's going a little too far.......the little guy hasn't discovered the fig tree yet but its only a matter of time....Alan sits out on the patio, patiently waiting with loaded BB gun but so far, its squirrel 1, Alan 0.....
I can just imagine the squirrels sitting in their cool underground nest, peering out and seeing the human in the heat, chuckling to themselves.

as you can see, our ground squirrels are rather a rough bunch, more like junk yard squirrels, not near as handsome as the Midwest red tree squirrels, their cousins....with their pretty coloring and big fluffy tails....
Most of the garden is gone, but we do have our tomatoes left.....I will be sad when they are gone, we are getting so spoiled......we did plant two new tomato plants, two Big Beefy tomatoes...we didn't really have enough to can, I did make some terrific sauce the other day which we enjoyed.
Next year, its going to be more tomatoes, maybe about 25 plants or so as they grew the best.

Remember, I was telling you how high sugar was going to get? one of our local markets is selling 10 lb. bags for almost $6.00.....I am going to check around and see if I can find some cheaper...and that was the store brand......

Lastly, my dear aunt sent me a link to the most beautiful site.........and I wanted to pass it on to you...so sit back, and be sure to turn your sound on Colors

I ran into this darling darling little puppy online and wanted to share him with you....isn't he a sweetie? I don't usually like private dog breeding as there are so many strays and rescued dogs that need our love, but this little guy is something special.......




Our weather has gotten cooler and we even got some sprinkles today.....a little humid......Alan is doing locksmithing and I am going through paperwork......not especially fun but really needed....we are working on getting more organized.....our second year of being in business....thankfully, our business keeps picking up and we are getting more calls from homeowners...he has 3 such jobs today plus one foreclosure for an agent......
Our dream is to have our own little shop, we can work behind the counter and our sons can do the actual mobile locksmithing....but that remains to be seen...early days.....we can dream though......a mom and pop business....old fashioned, I know....

Wednesday Dog of the Week

Here is Emma, a Boston Terrier mix, she's just a puppy, only about 3 months old..a little sweetie, playful and friendly.....a nice companion dog for the right person...she also comes with 30 days prepaid pet insurance and a free registration with 24 hour pet watch.....you can find her at the Sun City K9 Rescue

I've been fighting a sore throat for the last day or so..came home from work with it and went to bed early...still under the weather........hard to sleep as I started coughing until I got some water....I didn't go with Alan to a job he had today in Escondido, Ca......its not a long drive, only about 45 minutes but thought I'd better rest......I don't want this to turn into anything worse....

We got the flower bed finished and put a few plants in ...zinnas, and the ones in the down the row are French iris.....a friend sent them to me from Ill. Once they get established, they will be lovely, or at least we hope so...the friend didn't know what color they will be.....


We are thinking about getting some tulip and other bulbs this winter to plant here...and think it will be fun and easier to maintain than the lawn ...the grass never did well along the wall. Alan and the boys went to the local garden center and brought home a truck load of soil amendment which we worked into the ground.....our lawn is suffering with the heat, in fact, everything is...the only plant that is doing well and actually growing is our fig tree..it seems to thrive on the heat and has grown another foot or more this year already......is about 15 ft. tall now and loaded with figs.....we've been eating them, sliced in half with low fat cream cheese...Wow, are they good!
I am also drying some on our patio, covered with cheese cloth and allowing to naturally dry...

if you have read my blog for anytime, you know I am a fan of Glen Beck and a member of the 9/12 Project......well, because a Czar in the White House, Van Jones who is the co-founder of a group called Color of Change is pressuring Glen's sponsors and some of them have caved to the pressure..they are trying to get him taken off the air.........when I think of how our previous administration was treated....the vile things that were said about President Bush.....and we didn't always agree with what President Bush did either
If the Bush administration had gone after a TV show host...well, you know what would have happened.....
Glen's comments are very mild and humorous...what is happening to our rights to free speech? if the White House can pressure private business...what will be next? This President is very sensitive to any criticism and retaliates with a heavy hand...typical Chicago style thuggery...they ignore our rights and try to silence or dismiss.....
anyway, if this enrages you as it did me....there is something you can do about it......
please visit DefendGlen.com....which was started by a couple, and email the sponsors who have quit...plus they have a list of the sponsors who are staying the course, who need our encouragement.....there is also an petition you can sign at Break the Boycott
even if you don't agree with Glen or do not watch him.....can you imagine a President doing after private citizens like this?

Blogger is acting up again...I've tried to click on some of my favorite links and it won't let me...sigh...so sorry fellow bloggers....

I have a confession to make....as I get older, I am getting hooked on games! Especially the ones on Facebook......chiefly, Farm Town, Farm Ville, Yoville and Farkle......too much time spent there and I've had to do some self control.......glad these weren't around when I was younger! I don't really use my Facebook for anything else.....but it has been wonderful to link up with some dear old friends whom I haven't talked with in over 25 years...odd thing is, its like we never were apart....plus I have some family member there too, several nieces and two nephews, two SIL...who we don't see very often as we are 2,000 miles apart....there is some good in such social sites when family and friends can connect......love and good will have no boundaries..
Yesterday after all the gardening, Alan and I sat on the porch swing and watched the honey bees come to the bird bath to drink and carry water back to the hive...it was very interesting watching them and we took a few photos



We watched them for quite awhile......quite fascinating actually.....we both feel so close to God in the garden....the wonders of tiny things......

All nature’s works His praise declare, to whom they all belong;
There is a voice in every star, in every breeze a song.
Sweet music fills the world abroad with strains of love and power;
The stormy sea sings praise to God, the thunder and the shower.

To God the tribes of ocean cry, and birds upon the wing;
To God the powers that dwell on high their tuneful tribute bring.
Like them, let us the throne surround, with them loud chorus raise,
While instruments of loftier sound assist our feeble praise.

Great God, to Thee we consecrate our voices and our skill;
We bid the pealing organ wait to speak alone Thy will.
Lord, while the music round us floats may earth born passions die;
O grant its rich and swelling notes may lift our souls on high!

there is a great site with many Christian hymns, history and actual music...you will find it here..its called the Cyber Hymnal.....enjoy!

Love Song and Gardening

Last night we watched the newly remastered Calvary Chapel 1973 DVD....what can I say? WOW!
If you only get one DVD this year, please consider this one.......
our son gave us a new Sony HDTV yesterday (what a nice boy) and the picture just popped..really great and the music....a wonderful experience...I paid full price through the Chapel website and I see they have it on sale now....


We didn't have any work this weekend and spent most of it doing needed gardening.....the vegetable garden need some tending.....we pulled out all the spent veggies, weeded and cultivated...Alan called me out there to show me the large rock he found...we couldn't figure out why we didn't notice this sooner...as he roto tilled the whole area....guess he didn't go that deep...


He figured it weighs over 60 lbs.... granite......we are also putting in a 50 ft. long flower bed along the retaining wall........making it for the hummingbirds and butterflies.....edging it with old railroad ties we had....no expensive as we already have enough plants to fill it.....


Lots of work and we are both thankful the weather has been getting cooler.....the ground there seems better (than the garden area) down to about two ft. where it hits granite again.....we're going to transplant zinnas, and lantana.....put the birdbath in there too....

Saturday

I was checking my email this morning and got one from Jack and Friends...they are having a terrific sale on antique labels...these are sticky backed for use in the kitchen and also in crafting....limited supply and free shipping.....I wanted to pass this along to my friends who like to decorate and craft as these are terrific and a great deal...I'd buy quite a few if my PayPal account was larger!


Have you heard there is going to be a huge sugar shortage? be sure to stock up for the holidays...I intend on buying at least two 10 lb. bags, sugar doesn't spoil and can be frozen..we don't use much sugar ...but I know you that have big families may be baking alot of cookies and such.....20 lbs will probably last us well into next year....
There will be probably be other shortages in the coming months as our California farms are literally drying up because of a tiny fish (not even a native) that have shut down the irrigation.
I've read of acres of dead and dying fruit trees, dry fields, etc....a few farm towns are becoming ghost towns....all because of a tiny smelt.....as California has in the past been the bread basket to the rest of the states, be prepared...
I've been cooking up alot of our tomatoes and making sauce.....freezing it mostly...we plan on growing more tomatoes next year as they have done really well ....we have about 7 plants, next year going for about 20 so I will be canning. There are just a few quarts this year plus all we can eat and give away......
There are many sites for storing, preserving, etc.....I will give you just a few links.....
Simple Canning for a Simple Life
The Art of Stockpiling
Pantry Talk
Grocery StockPile List
and
a series of videos on dehydrating foods on youtube
we have a dehydrator, canning supplies, jars, etc. so are well prepared plus a small deep freeze...
believe me when I say a deep freeze is a good investment and they are fairly cheap...our small one was less than $100 new.... as our family is small, its big enough and uses little energy....

I feel like the Lord is telling us to be prepared for the future.....its going to be rough!

I thought it was time for some comedy...after all, "A merry heart is like medicine"........

Wednesday Dog of the Week

Say hello to Pepper Ann...she is a senior Rat Terrier...I met her personally and can say she is a very friendly sweet dog......her favorite thing to do is ride in the car...she just loves it...and would make a great traveling companion.....she's completely house trained, walks on a leash well, loves other dogs and children....what's not to like? what a sweetheart! Rat terriers are sometimes mistaken as Jack Russells but have a different temperament....like Jack Russels, they are active terriers but have a off switch and love to lounge..they are calmer and more sensitive than Jacks.
They are easier to train than Jacks also....and are sensitive to their owners moods...make a great family pet.....
Life is always busy at the dog rescue....Don works from morning until night, sometimes into the night...if not tending to the dogs care, to the website and watching over the owner, Elizabeth as she is slowing down with age..she is 91.......I am sure having the rescue has extended her life and given her much joy in her older years and she is a treasure herself having been born in 1918.
You can read more about the remarkable rescue here and the woman who started it.


You may have wondered how the lock out went that I mentioned yesterday....it went fine..no worries.....the sheriff's got there late and went up to the home with mace cans ready but no dogs were there...thankfully....they motioned for Alan to come and pick the lock so they could go through the home..Alan couldn't pick the lock, but got his handy, Popper tool and unlocked it quickly...no one was home and he got the job done easily...

later, we went to south LA to re key a house.....I went with him this time...it was in a,shall we say, less prosperous area?...there were security bars on all the windows....we got in easily and I helped by taking off all the locks, he re keyed them and I put them back in...there were 10 locks including the gate and garage...lots of people around...we overheard some interesting conversations and saw some suspicious goings on....but kept to ourselves, did the job and left.
Neither of us felt any hostility.....
Its a neighborhood I wouldn't want to be at in the evening....the neighborhood was all vintage homes...the house we re keyed was a cottage with two bedrooms...still had the nice woodwork, although it had been painted a garish red.
I wondered if some of the stimulus money could be used to help these neighborhoods and give the people there more hope.....there were two little boys playing in their backyard and I wondered what it would be like to live in such a place....and what their future would be....I prayed that God would bless and protect them...

Odds and Ends

Alan had a lock out this morning...actually the email we got said.."Emergency lock out" whatever that is.....the house is on a large piece of land..he had gone out about two months ago to re key it, not knowing the people were still there and was almost attacked by 3 dogs, one of them a pitbull....the pitbull chased him across the street and wouldn't let him get back to his van!....he took refuge at a neighbors house and called the sheriff.. by the time, the sheriff got there, the dogs had gone back into the house....
He was ordered a second time to re key it, and I went with him...but the people were still there...at least it looked like it and we were leery of intruding....after what happened the first time....
Al didn't want me to go with him today, not knowing what would happen...but there is always a sheriff there at lock outs so I think he will be ok.

Our youngest has his first job! He is working for a landscaping company on a golf course....70 hour weeks! He leaves at 5:00 in the morning and comes home around 8:00 at night..long days..He has worked alot before, mowing lawns for quite a few of our neighbors. He came home last night, happy and said the work was easy....18 year olds have alot of energy....
Seems strange not having any kids at home...I am feeling a little like our home is a empty nest but I know the Lord will fill it again. Kinda excited to find out what He has next for us....




I had made this frame some time ago and had a black/white photo in it......changed it to this..I think it made all the difference....the little line at the bottom is a refection. I used a pretty card I bought on Etsy..what do you think? This is in our blue and white bedroom....

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16

There is a growing ever bigger movement....there will be a march on Washington very soon....people are coming from all over the nation..driving, flying, walking if they have to....this Saturday there will be a march down Pennsylvania Ave.

Past Week Thoughts

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)

This is the scripture verse today.....God loves you..and you are very special to Him...even your fingerprints are copyrighted.....He hasn't forgotten you...


I just wanted to mention the past week with all the townhall meetings.....you've heard from the left, saying that the demonstrators are all paid hacks, its not a grassroots movement, astroturf, that the RNC is behind it, that insurance companies are behind it.. not true.....these are ordinary people
that have never been politically active in their lives....who usually spend the evenings, sitting on the sofa watching Jeopardy and CSI....and its a growing movement.....over 1 million strong and growing.....
someone, in order to document the movement, went to the Denver townhall meeting and took tons of photos as proof of who the politically organized group was...I have the link here
note the handmade signs...and see who has the professionally printed ...and see who causes the trouble......

why do I bring this up? About 100 years ago, the progressive movement started, and we are where we are today because of it....I didn't know what the progressive movement was until I started doing a little reading this year..but basically, the individual isn't as important, as the general good....therefore with this health bill...if you are old and sick...if you are a newborn and sick...if you are handicapped, ...your worth will be judged and if you deemed not worthy, you will have trouble... this bill will hurt the young and old....I do hope I am wrong but I don't think so....
the progressive movement wasn't all bad....child labor laws came into effect which was a good thing but it tied into Darwinism and
Progressives traveled to Europe in the 1920s and morphed into Eugenics...millions died....so if your representatives says he or she is a progressive...be suspicious....


there is a blogger who has done extensive research on the bill..actually read the monster (which is more than the people in government have) and goes through it, page by page, explaining, please read it yourself... here is the link to his site...at Common Sense for Common Man

I do think we need health care reform...but lets take our time and come up with a plan that makes sense...what is the hurry? and I don't think our representatives should sign anything they haven't read......would you sign a contract without reading it? and wouldn't you be very suspicious if the sales person pushed it on you saying, sign it, sign it right now....don't read it?

Autumn is coming

Its been very warm for weeks so last night we were pleasantly surprised to see and feel a temperature change......it cooled off dramatically last night, down into the 60s and its cool this morning too....still in the 60s....a preview of the fall......I am not quite ready to decorate for the season..I think there are still warm days ahead as this is only August...it stays rather warm usually through October. I took advantage of the coolness and made some banana muffins this morning....Alan loves them..

I am going to show you a few things from abandoned houses we found..

A old Coca-cola wooden crate with bottles....

I found the teapot (covered with dust) at the spooky house and then yesterday at the thrift shop, found the matching sugar/creamer + two mugs....I'll keep going back, maybe two more mugs will turn up..nice for the fall.....
something else we found at the spooky house was this nice little table.......

One day Alan brought back this little wrought iron plant stand....we put it in the dining room. The beaded candle was found also and the Texas pewter trivet on the bottom shelf....


a nice little birdhouse...this is purely for decoration..this is in our bedroom.....


and lastly, a old cast iron large pot with a wire handle...it was all rusty and I've been cleaning it...its about ready to use...

I have a few more new "followers" and just wanted to put in a reminder about the One Year Bible Online...its the best way I know of getting into the good habit of reading the Bible every day.....if you sign up (free of course), you will be sent a selection every day and at the end of the year.....you will have read the Bible through.....just click on the link for more information.

Hot Work

I am taking a "day off" today from locksmithing....yesterday we had to secure and board up a house up in the big city of San Bearnadino, that the local kids had been using as a hang out drug place....it had been boarded up but they managed to pry open a back door so Alan made sure with extra 2x4's bolted in the back of the plywood..it would be very difficult to break in now...plus we rekeyed it.....the neighbors came over and thanked us. It was very hot dirty work and we were both exhausted when we got home......between that and the previous spooky house, I was ready for a break! I even slept in a little this morning and didn't get up until the late hour of 7:30 (LOL).

Alan went by himself today to two jobs and its nice to be in with a quiet house and air conditioning....Alan went out early and pulled alot of the garden up as it was spent......we have corn stalks on the patio now...and our compost bin is full.....we're going to look into one of those compost bins that are easy to turn...we are just using a large black trash can right now. The compost looks good ..getting dark and soon be ready to till into the ground for next year.
We still have tomatoes, peppers, watermelon and pumpkins growing. He pulled out all the carrots...they didn't get very big as our ground is just too poor but we have a bowl of baby carrots to cook for supper tonight.and they are sweet...what could be better?
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phillipians 4:11

Giveaway!

Nancy is having a great giveaway to celebrate her store blog......a handmade sheep pincushion!
no special rules, just sign up and be sure to check out her store blog...the link is on her regular blog site at Inside Nanas Head...
baah!

Guess who this is?

We drove up to Riverside today to rekey a foreclosed house....very weird...when we first drove up, we weren't sure if there someone living there or not...it looked occupied..but when we called the realtor, he assured us it was empty....it was also open..both the slider in the back and the front door....when I opened the slider for the first time..I heard rustling and something skittering away....never did find out what it was...
there were cat litter pans everywhere..plus empty cans of cat food on the floor, and the smell was intense..we saw no cats though.
The kitchen looked like someone had just stepped out...very odd..there were groceries in the pantry...I checked the dates on the homemade strawberry jam that was in there....June 1988....
There was alot of furniture, mostly Danish..and a very nice oak upright piano in the living room
(wish I could take that home)..clothes in the closets too..very dirty and dusty though..lots of cobwebs...
we went to work and re keyed 8 locks, secured the windows (the old crank kind) and had trouble as things kept going missing......we couldn't find several locks after we had taken them out.
Once I put a lock down to remove another one..when I went to get it, a huge water bug was sitting on it..yuck..good thing I am not squisism about such things.
The home appraiser came by and introduced herself..she said the owner had died and had over 10 cats....which had been removed several weeks prior.. she had been there two weeks ago but couldn't get in...which surprised me as the house was open when we arrived.

The outside looked as bad as the inside but it was in a nice neighborhood of older houses..probably built in the 1950s....all the other homes were in good repair..

I imagined the kids in the neighborhood probably thought of the house as the "spook house"..I almost imagined the same....Alan and I didn't know if it could be saved as it was in terrible repair..lots of wood rot and termite damage..it was surrounded by falling down fences too...like I always say..each job is different. It took us over 2 hours to re key which is very unusual even with 8 locks..we finally found the locks that disappeared, in places we know we didn't put them...spoooky!

Did you guess? Me of course, back in good old 1951....

Just a note..its late Saturday night......we had a very successful garage sale and made some needed funds for both the rescue and ourselves......then we got 2 calls to go to far away Aliso Veijo and San Gabriel, Ca..which was a 170 mile round trip...we got home about 9:00 in the evening......both nice houses...the second house had been built in 1934 but unfortunately been heavily remodeled,looked nothing like it had originally....the character and charm were gone..replaced with granite countertops and mexican tile ..we only found one door with original hardware. In the garage, sitting forlorn was the original pedestal sink, covered with cobwebs and dust....out with the old, in with the new, I guess....

San Gabriel is one of our older California Mission cities..founded in 1777. There is a very pretty mission there,

All the school children here in 5th grade do a mission project. They pick a favorite mission and then build a model of it as well as a report...plus have to visit at least one mission...fortunately, at the time we lived closed to Mission San Luis Rey, the queen of the missions so were able to take both the boys there, walk through the ruins and visit the mission itself...there are garrison ruins there..many of the Missions have active members and hold services.
If you ever get to Southern California..please visit at least one of our missions.....you will be walking right into history.....