Saint Francis of Assisi

Hooray for Friday! I have an exam this weekend, but I am so happy this week is over.

I am going to finalize my not for profit proposal today (proposal due this weekend). What a hard project this has been for me! So many ways I want to change the world, so little money. :) I had to get hard on myself to make a decision and quit spending so many hours researching ideas I couldn't possibly financially justify.

I have gone with a quilting focused not for profit that will be to teach young people basic sewing and quilting. I am envisioning it a bit like a quilting club in that they can quilt for charity, but also more structured in that they can come in with no sewing knowledge.

Yesterday Nim got a little gift in the mail. Regardless of your religious beliefs, it is pretty hard not to love Saint Francis of Assisi...or maybe more specifically, our modern idea of who he is: "Patron Saint of Animals."

I ordered this Saint Francis ID tag for Nim from Pet Blessings. I actually had one for Odin for quite awhile although his was made from a softer metal and eventually the upper ring broke (unfortunately I think it might have been a lead based).

This one is a zinc alloy and is a very lightweight tag but still feels more sturdy than the one I had in the past. It has gone hiking "Nim style" and so far is holding strong. :) The back is engraved with his name and phone number. The turn around was really quick when I ordered it and they sent a very nice card with it.

I made Nim model it outside before beginning my nightly hour of stress weeding. My new issue right now is the plum tree. The apples aren't fruiting again this year (darn it), but the plum is off to a good start and well, Nim has discovered where they drop.

I am now aggressively weeding down that area so I can daily go out and rake plums. Thanks to Rusty this is not my first "dog scavenging plums" rodeo. If only I had the time to channel this talent for truffle-hunting. Nim could actually make me money!

Wild Daisy

I just don't know that I was even awake enough this morning to feel this happy, but Nim has enough joy apparently for everyone. :)

Another day of homework for us...at least the summer quarter is short. Have a good day!

Sometimes It Takes a Couple of Tries to Really Start the Week

I would say this day has far more positive potential than Monday and Tuesday because I got a morning walk in...more importantly Nim got a morning walk in.

I had such a better photo taken for the blog but unfortunately it is so blurry I can't post it! Let's hope that isn't a sign of things to come.

Yesterday got pretty darn warm and I did some homework and a lot of sweating. I am trying to do a better job cooling the house this morning which pretty much guarantees it won't get a hot today.

Today has a to be a homework marathon day, I just don't have a choice, too much due this week. I hope your day is more fun than mine. :)

Warning: This Post Has a Photo of a Snake :)

Welcome to Monday...I am about as happy about it as everyone else is I think.

First, down to business. There is two photos in this post. The first is a flower, the second (last photo) is a snake. Since I have a total spider fear I respect all the snake fears out there...and so many of my friends are strongly repulsed by snakes.

Now, about Nasturtiums...

I am growing them and they are finally starting to flower. I am surprised just how pretty the flowers are and more importantly, I can eat them. So yesterday some flowers and leaves went into my stir fry. I am so desperate to be able to eat anything I grew myself. They did not disappoint. The only other thing I can eat so far is the occasional pea. I think I grow like one a day.

Now, about my snake. I can't help it. I have a resident snake and I think she had a family this year because I caught her sunning with a much smaller snake. However, the below photo is just her.

If you scroll down...you will see the snake. Have a great day, and I promise snake photos will not a be a permanent fixture.

Nim's Saturday

Today Nim has been following me around, staring at me and getting in my way. Finally it was time to abandon all my plans and just let him lay in the yard and chew.

How much does a clean house matter anyway right?

Dogs are in my thoughts right now and they remind you in more ways than one that there are very few things in life that absolutely have to be done when you could just lay in the sun and chew a stick.

Doberman Holly just came home from the ER today. When I read her post last night I could hardly get on the computer fast enough in the AM for an update. Another dog I know in person is right now traveling across state lines to get into ER for heart problems.

Keep them in your thoughts and have a great Saturday.

Middle Eastern Zucchini Flowers and Happy 4th of July!

Not much to say on this 4th of July holiday, but I did wake up find that my Middle Eastern Zucchini bloomed two beautiful flowers over night. This is actually a plant that Nim really roughed up, so it is nice to see it thriving.

Earlier today I took Nim on a little trip so he could run with his Grammy Tyra. She is looking really good and is very patient with Nim's youthful ways.

Tyra is actually one of 5 dobermans in the household and there are also two goats. The goats were really putting on quite the show on Nim's behalf. Nim could hardly handle it when they would start playing and would often take off and run a loop to pull it back together.

Needless to say, he is pooped which will probably help him sleep through some of the noise tonight. I think on the drive home he was contemplating his life as an only dog. :)

Have a great holiday! 

Hello July!

The rotation of frozen towels has been in effect since yesterday. Still can't sell the cats on it, but Nim is game.

We are roughly 90 out here, and for those of you not from this area, AC in houses and even in cars for that matter is not considered a necessity like it is in other parts of the world. This means were are pretty ill equipped when we do get heat waves.

Pascal, the animal who should probably be the most fragile in this weather is totally holding strong. He actually makes a spitting noise (not a happy one) when I put the cooling stone in his cage (in this photo it is the granite sheet he is sitting on). I think it is cold on his feet. But he eventually usually uses it. As I type this, only his head is resting on it.

The temperatures we are experiences are definitely nothing like the southwest state right now, and for that I am grateful.