The House

Think I did pretty good here, with the photos of the house, front and back. Bright green of fresh spring grass and a bright blue sky with wisps of clouds.

Think we have pretty much decided to lease the house for a year.

People seem to only want to pay half of what we paid for the place 5+ years ago and that is not going to happen. Specially when we bought this place at a more than fair price because we were the only ones that put an offer on the table and could jump through the State of Oregon's Lawyers requirements (hoops).

Put a lot of work and love into this place and not about the ruin our good credit because people now think it is cool to rip good honest folks off.

And we can't compete with the many, many short sales and foreclosures in this area.

Lack of jobs in Oregon doesn't help either.

We are looking into a place that we can lease until our place sells, should know in the next couple of weeks wither it will fly or not. Place we are looking at was pulled off the market because its owner is having the same problems we are. We are right side up but no wants to buy at a fair price. And we can't buy until this place sells. Soooo... keep your fingers crossed.

If we get the go ahead with the place we are looking at... will have the property manager handle the Farm, while DS, the cats, horses and I travel to our new home.

On the family news...

DH really likes his new job and is enjoying it.

DS , got all 4 of his wisdom teeth out. He is doing fine now. His latest read is the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Universe.

Me.. all kinds of dental work done and need to get a bone graft the first week in Oct. Know it needs to get done badly but not looking forward to it. ah well...

Other than that...

DS and I have been keeping up with the Farm chores, enjoying the cooler weather. Much easier to get work done when it is cool.

I have been working on getting my 2011 Calendars made.. lots of work and time there.

Also decided to try my hand at making some Glass earrings with my paintings on them in miniature. Gathering all I need now and sometime in the next couple of weeks will put something about it up on my Art Blog.

Hugs and Kisses to the family...

Now they want to take our Modest Retirement pay away

...Along with our very modest medical and dental.

Please contact them, via the link below, tell Congress and the civilian oversight, they need to keep their promise to the hard working men and women who served their country faithfully.

Here is the letter I sent via email to the Congressmen.

Did your time for little pay, long hours, travel when and where the Gov tells you to, with little notice, signed away your rights as an American citizen but with a promise after 20 years of service to your country, you get a tiny monthly retirement pay and pay into a not so good Medical and Dental but it is better than having nothing.

Now you are thinking of doing an over haul and taking this away from Us? And funny how you don't see this on the news.

If you do this,,, it would effectively kill us. Is the only thing that has kept us barely afloat for so long. Only way we can have any kind of Medical or Dental.

My Husband is a hard worker and after spending 20 years in the Military, he has been trying to find a full time perm job but because he spent those 20 years in, that is a hard thing to do. No one offers us medical or dental that we can afford, when they offer it that is. Would come down to either a roof over our heads or living on the street with medical or dental.

Only thing DH has been offered is short term contract jobs, all because he spent his early years serving his country.

No good tax paying citizen that served their country, should have to go through that.

My DH did his time and I am sure many others did to The Government needs to keep their side of the bargain.

Doing what you propose, is going to hurt a lot of Military Retiree's that did their time because of the above promise.

I am the wife of a 20 year veteran, My Husband did his time with honor, I followed him when and where you told him to go because I loved him and was proud of what he was doing for his country.

What you do to my husband effects both of us.

Let them know hurting their Veteran is not Kosher on so many levels!

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,218378,00.html?ESRC=mr.nl

Roses, Roadkill Toys and the low down ~

Sorry I haven't been updating the family Blog like I normally do. A lot of things have been going on.

Staying very busy keeping up with this place, getting all the chores done and things packed. Have been spending a lot of time at the Dentist.

DS gets to have all of his wisdom teeth out next Friday. Things are a lot easier now a days and he doesn't even have to be awake to get the teeth removed. Nice.

DH is enjoying his new job and keeps him really busy. :O)

Some of the beautiful Roses from my Garden.

The weather has been nice this summer, cooler, some clouds, some sun and no where near as hot as last summer Thank goodness.

Kind'a of hard to see in this photo, but the Element in its natural state... dirty...

Impressive on how dirty it can be and I can still see the blue paint. LOL

Roadkill Toys.... the Cat's love them! Can see the little brown one has been licked to death. LOL

Roadkill toy on a string, in action. Its funny because Mia will talk with the Roadkill in her mouth.. most likely telling us how much she likes them, all the while leading DS around with the string. Makes me wonder who's playing with who? ;O)

DS took this photo of the Grosbeaks and a Hummer earlier this summer. They tolerated each other,,,barely but it was sure fun to watch the different birds interact.

We still have the farm for sale, no luck so far selling it. People are all for wanting things for free but price a place at a fair price...We just can't compete with all the Short Sales and Foreclosure's on the market. We need to be able to pay off the loan, pay the Real Estate agent and so on.

Also put a lot of work into this place and see no reason to destroy our good credit, just so someone can take advantage of us. We have to be able to pay our bills, just like everyone else.

So we sit and wait for the right buyer, that will appreciate this beautiful farm and not try to cheat us. Pretty sad the way people are now a days. Sigh ~~

Just a little frustrated as you can tell.

Have started another painting, well sort of. A Navy Phantom but realized after I penciled most of it in... I did not have a photo that would help me draw in the far side of the wings and missiles. So for now, I guess I need to work on something else. Do not know the fighter well enough to fudge it.

Edda Photos and Video

These photos above the videos were taken today, 6 July 2010. Edda has slicked out to her summer coat and looking very nice!

I need to take a measurement of her again soon. But when the photos and videos below were taken.....

Edda is now 12 months old, 12.1 1/2 hands tall on level ground. Have had a hard time getting any photos her her because of all this rain.
Did get a break in the rain showers today to take a few videos and what I could of still photos. She is still shedding out her cotton ball looking winter coat and growing like a weed.

Can start to see her lower Charcoal colored legs, as she sheds out. She also has a lot of, light silver in her mane and tail but doesn't show up in the photos.

This is my usual type of photos of my horses, they have to see close up, what I am doing.LOL

Look at those long silver colored eye lashes!

The Best way to watch Hummingbirds !

Nari being the bathing beauty, enjoying the day, watching the Hummingbirds come and go.

See if you can spot the Hummingbirds!

Yup, it is a good day to be a Cat!

New Car, Mia on the Rug and what's up

A pretty photo DH took of the Rhodie starting to bloom.

The Rental I was hoping to get, isn't going to work. At First the owner said," they would rent it to us", I asked for photos and was ignored. In fact all questions were ignored, then I was told a few days later he decided not to rent the place. Like Ok...

About a week later I get an email back from the agent and she said he decided to go ahead and Rent the place.

Then said we couldn't use the Largest shed and Attic for storage because the owner wanted to use those areas to store his stuff. That we had to pay for a storage place. At the price of that rent, I told them that it would not work because we would be at our limit with the cost of that Rent.

Told them we would pass. Specially since the owner couldn't make up his mind.

Then I get an email back saying we can use that large red shed. That helps with the Barn/garage stuff but not the household items, that we would need to store. Both DH and I do not feel comfortable having the owners household items on the place, even if they put a clause in the lease, we are not responsible.

The very simple Questions I asked a number of times, for the most of it went unanswered. Lots of red flags to me.

If they were up front, did not change his mind about renting, then telling us we would not have storage in a house that has no garage or basement and not answering my very simple questions in a timely manner, that the owner wanted to keep his stuff there, among the other things. We might of went for this place but because of the unprofessional way they handled things, we will not.

We need the storage and I don't want the owner to change his mind again when the horses and household are half way across the country.

So still searching for a good rental place, or wait until we sell this place and just move then.

DH will be going to work either way. We did find him a very nice studio apartment in a nice area for a good price. The owner answered his questions quickly and she knows what she is doing. Makes a big difference.

Another photo DH took of Mia laying on the rug.. looks rather surreal. Sadie, our orange cat is going to really miss her person!

Since that rental place isn't going to work for us. I needed a car and we have ended up with a 2008 Honda Element. Its perfect for the wet clime and what I will use it for, and is easy to clean.

Theia did go to her new home with a very nice young couple. Still need to find a good home for Ella the donkey.

Been taking a lot of stuff to Good Will, boxing things up and just over all staying busy.

Weather has been more like winter, than spring/summer. Lots of rain, some sleet and hail, makes it hard to get anything outside done.

I have my first Cell phone, just a cheap little "pay as you go" phone but that will do.

OK I just had to have some fun playing with the Element photo.

It's Official !

DH has the paper work signed and has a job in Dahlgren Virginia. Yes!!

Right now I am looking at a rental place that will take both the horses and cats and should have photos of the place on Sat. Money will be very tight until the Farm in Oregon sells.

This seems to be the only chance we have for going over the same time DH does. So keep your fingers crossed this place is what we need and we can rent it!

If this all works out, it will be wonderful to be on the same coast as my DH.

Pretty sure we found Theia a wonderful home with a young couple. Still looking for the perfect home for Ella the donkey.

The three cats would come with us and will ship the three Icelandic's and Maggie over.

Keeping my fingers crossed the quotes from the movers will not be too high.

So basically., trying to get ready for the move.

Mother's Day ride

After a yummy fresh strawberry Pancakes and scramble egg breakfast with homemade syrup that DH made.

DH and I went out for a walk this morning... ok well, he walked and Stjarna was my legs for me.

And husband brought the little camera with us, as you can see.

Goodness did she ever enjoy going out.

Stjarna is doing much better, but the two hooves she has, that are nearly half the size of normal, will take another year to grow out properly the farrier said.

She has little proper training and that will also take time. Hopefully within a year I will have her supple, have her brakes and steering working well and learn/understand

traditional dressage commands with my seat.

She makes me realize just how well I have Dyfra trained.

Enjoying lunch. This fly sheet was bought for Dyfra a couple of years ago and did not fit. So I packed it away. Remembered it today and dug it out, and it fits Stjarna! Whoot!

Dyfra has such wide shoulders and backside, only Weatherbetta sheets work for her.

We are still waiting with bated breath to wither DH has a job in VA or not. Is hard waiting. Hopefully by Monday evening we will know one way or another.

Hopefully the frost is over with finally and I can get my two tomato and one pepper plant in the ground finally.

Other than that, no a whole lot going on.

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Dyfra, Stjarna, Pineapple Upside down cake and the Orchard

Dyfra enjoying the grass around the house the first week of April. The ultimate, all terrain lawn mower. ;O)

Stjarna is doing very well. Got her teeth done, is a wonder she could eat at all, the ramps at the back made it impossible for her teeth to come together so she could chew properly. So now that is taken care of, she should need a lot less feed to keep her weight up. She seems happy now that she can chew her food correctly.

DH 's Yummy Pineapple upside down cake!

The small young Orchard, with flowering Japanese cherry tree in the background and you can see some of the beautiful Bulbs.

Things are going ok. Still in the holding pattern that has been this last year and change.

DH will be flying to VA for an interview in about a week and a half. Keeping my fingers cross they will hire him for this job. It is about time we get a break and DH is offered a real long time work!

Moving would be a bit of a logistics nightmare but well worth it for a good job!!!

DS would have more opportunities on the other side of the country, for college and work.

Oregon is dead in that regard. There is nothing here, the state is stagnate.

DS has been weeding the kitchen garden for me and I have been slowly planting Veggies.

DS has been keeping busy with Farm chores. Not much else to do around here.

I have Ella the Donkey and Theia for sale, wither we move or not, I do need to down size a bit. Have had a number of people interested in Ella but sadly, all have just been Time Wasters, a number of them not showing up when they make an appointment to see her. Very frustrating to say the least. No queries on Theia yet.

Can you believe Theia will be 8 years old this June! She was the last mini foal born at our old farm, how time flies.

Also offering Dyfra for sale but counting what I paid for her originally and the shear number of hours, months, years I have been training her and putting real ride miles on her, she will only sell for a fair price. She also needs to go to a buyer that already has one Icelandic and is a very, very good rider. She can get high strung and fizzy at times but has never been a problem for me.

We did go look at cars for me, just in case this job comes through. I have narrowed it down to the Honda Element and the Toyota Scion xB.

Think the Honda would suit us better because the inside can be hosed out and built with people like my husband in mind. LOL

But Toyota's have always been reliable for us. So it would come down too.. which of the two would be the best deal/price. Am looking at the 2008 certified used models.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

The Gallery showing for my three pieces of Art starts May 5th and lasts until May 30th.

It is a sad day today ~ The Bourke's have a new home

Its a sad day at the house today, just feel like crying, so does DS for that matter. But there is no way we can take them with us if we move. So I found a good home for them.

They will be missed a lot.

Blueberry was an Angel, a very sweet and loving Bourke. Just an all around wonderful pet to have.

Gallery showing starts May 5th

And they even put one of my pieces on the flyer! How cool is that. VBG

I do plan on going to the reception on the 7th, but since they will have a live band, I won't be able to stay long. Do plan on taking some photos of me next to my pieces, so I can share that with everyone. :O)

Spring, flowers, Hummingbirds and Nari

Humming birds are back, this little male was taking a break from trying to chase all the other ones off this feeder. This year we have two feeders, one at the back of the house the other at the front. They chase each other around and around the house....

Is so much fun watching them.

Nari, watching the Hummers while sunning herself on the old tractor. Can see the mane around her neck and her many, many toes. Pretty impressive.

Nari being cute rolling around on the hood of the tractor trying to get me to come over and itch her, needless to say, what you do not see,,is her rolling over and falling off.

Spring flowers are finally arriving and here is a Beautiful Carmelia bloom. Bright enough I can see at a distance without my Glasses. LOL

The Daffodils have arrived.

So have the Star Magnolia's.

Can see Dyfra and Stjarna framed by the very old Sakura flowering Cherry tree. It is always the first flowering tree on our place to bloom.

Another view and angle of the old Sakura tree.

We had some beautiful weather for about a week, mostly sunshine but we are back to the regular scheduled programing which calls for rain, rain, high winds, more rain.......

Oh and the mud, I hate mud and we can't afford the 1/4- gravel and shredded cedar mulch I used to use to make sure there wasn't any mud.

There was a very short day break in the weather last Sat and an good friend came over and we went for a short ride on the Farm. I should of been smart and had DS take some pictures but I forgot. Will have to next time.

DH finished his work at the neighbors, still actively looking for a job. Things are pretty much the same.

Apple pie, Icelandic horses, missing ducks and cat

Well, the nice news first. Here is another one of DH's yummy pies, made totally by scratch.

Mia wanting a hug while I was working on getting her finished painting ready to put up on my online shops. Does she look happy and smug or what?? LOL

Best friends, Nari enjoying a warm noon time on Dyfra's back.

DS helping groom out the Icelandic's before the farrier arrives, that way I could go get all the other horses and jenny.

You can see Nari helping out by sleeping on Dyfra. :O)

Not so good news, the 3 ducks went missing for about 24 hours and only one came back in the wee early hours the next morning. We have not been able to find the other two and ducks are not known for being quiet. They were going under the gates in the horse's pastures so we put what we call "sweeps" on the bottom of the gates, so they would not go under them any more. But we did not get one put under the gate going to the road. Pretty sure that is how they got out?? So we are down to one lonely duck but she seems happy to stay close to the hen house now.

Then yesterday, Nari was happily helping us with chores and about 2pm I had to go in and give my back a break. I don't remember seeing her helping us feed the horses, was tired yesterday, so my mind was fuzzy. Well, DS couldn't find her that evening to put her in her giant Kennel for the night. She stays in there so the night predators don't get her. She has been gone all night and have not seen hide nor hair of her since. DS is upset and all of us are getting worried.

About when Nari disappeared, was about the same time the ducks did too. Not sure what is going on, once.. ok but twice is strange.

Other than that, DH is helping the neighbor out with putting up sheet rock.

I have planted some pea seeds and starts, some potatoes, Yukon gold and blues, Walla walla onion starts, so far. Have a few Brussels sprout starts to put out still and DH has a tiny rhubarb start that we need to find a place to plant it.

DS has been helping with the Farm chores.

Oh and DH passed the NARTE test! I just hope it helps him to get a job. He is still sending in lots of keyed resumes, has had a couple of interviews but no luck so far. We are trying to stay hopeful.

ADDED: Found Nari. I took Dyfra out for a ride to both see if the Trilliums were starting to bloom and if I could find Nari. Dyfra misses nothing. The flowers are just starting to bloom but I did not find Nari. Came back in and while sitting on Dyfra by the house.. I heard a "meow".... Mewwwwwwww... echoing faintly off the hills on the forest land next to us. Dyfra refused to stop looking in that direction. Then I yelled,, NARI !!! and I got some answering faint Meows back.

I got off Dyfra and told DS about the direction the meows were coming from via the direction of Dyfra's ears (as I said,she misses nothing) and I had a sneaky feeling she was up a tree. Sure enough.. DS found her in the forest land up an Alder tree. He said it was quite and adventure to climb up the tree to get her , climb back down with a squirming Nari, who used his face as a jump off point once near the ground, pick her up again and then crawl back through the blackberries and barbed wire fence with his cat in his arms. But she is now safe and sound and home.

She slept nearly 24 hours in her Kennel/House and seems to be happy to stay home now.

Its a dangerous world out there.

Edda will be 10 months old at the end of the month

Edda is growing up. I was trying to get Dyfra and Edda to stand right next to each other. Dyfra only tolerates her at times you see, but knows to mind once I am in the pasture. Edda hasn't had the time put on her to learn that.

So.. almost side by side, neither happy about it, best I can do for now.

Dyfra is a solid 12.3 tall.

Edda will be 10 months old at the end of the month, how time flies!

The other angle, you can just see Edda's back on the far side of Dyfra.
Yes, Dyfra wears a rain sheet, and can tell by her neck where it ends. LOL

DS, DH, Nari and what's up

My 20 year old son, wearing his father's Navy Jacket from around 1980 time frame. Patches you can't see are the Shell Back and a CVN-65.

Nari's favorite perch. DS's shoulders,,, lol.. no parrots needed here.

Second is riding on Dfyra's back or helping DS bring hay in on the little wagon while Nari sits on top of the hay.

Though about noon time, DH says Nari's on the shed roof poking her head out of the tarp we have up there. I went over to look and she popped back down,, then.. she popped her head right through again. Just like a gopher in a hole. Sigh... I guess we have a new hole to deal with.

Nari was nice enough, in a Cat's fashion. to let us know that there was an issue that needed tending too.

DH took the NARTE test last Monday, thinks he passed but we won't know for sure until the 10 days are up. We are hoping this will help DH with his job search.

Still looking for a job of course, just had another interview. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed.

Because DH sold the Motorcycle, I can keep us going 3 months longer than I originally quantified out. So it gives us a little more breathing room, if nothing major happens.

DH has been keeping busy with Farm chores and making yummy Pies and Cakes from scratch.. totally from scratch. Tastes much better than anything you can get out of a box.

And of course looking for a job.

DH went over last night to help our only close neighbor's with a plumbing issue and again today to get some the rest of it dealt with. He will go back on Sat to help our good neighbor with the rest of it. Even though we did not expect or want anything, for DH's help. Our neighbor has made a point to pay DH. For this we are very Thank full. Every little bit helps. I need to figure out how to say, Thank you, in South Korean, as I think it is the polite thing to do.

DS has been keeping busy with the Farm chores, making his yummy brownies or cookies and his Art.

Me, I have been keeping busy with the horses, chores, online stores and Art. I need to make time to finish the Tabby Cat painting soon! Also helping friends when and where I can.

So we have all been staying very busy.