Coming Our Way SOON!

hehehe

Good Morning to All!

Here I sit, calmly awaiting the arrival of "Snowstorm Felicity"

(NOT)!

(Who the heck is in charge of 'christening' these storms anyway)???

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fe·lic·i·ty (f-ls-t) KEY

NOUN:
pl. fe·lic·i·ties

1. 1. Great happiness; bliss.
   2. An instance of great happiness.
2. A cause or source of happiness.
3. 1. An appropriate and pleasing manner or style: felicity of expression.
   2. An instance of appropriate and pleasing manner or style.
4. Archaic Good fortune.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English felicite, from Old French felicite, from Latin flcits, from flx , flc-, fortunate; see dh(i)- in Indo-European roots

Thesaurus: synonyms for felicity

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They have changed the forecast since yesterday, adding upwards of 2+" more to the 6" they forecasted previously...

(How do you spell SPRING)?

Devils Claws and Wooden Drums...

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BEFORE....

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And then of course, the dreaded "AFTER" too...

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Uh~OH...

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Life goes on. (Just not for my tulips and daffodils or hyacinths... Not this year anyway)!

My Little Miss Punk is still very very stiff... And has been ordered to be taking it easy for the next week or so. (OK, so no more trips to the woods for a while. With all this snow, I would be hardpressed to venture there anyway).

I must keep this short this morning... Much to do to prepare for Miss Felicity! hehehe

"Felicity" my butt.

Have a good one!

XOXO
Anne

Oh, and one more link for you re: Pet Food Recalls. Updated daily too. CLICK HERE

The More Things Change... (edited/updated).

Good Morning!
Gee, if Yahoo moves any slower today I will never be able to post a blog! But here goes anyway!

Bad news: Here is what my weather report says for us for tonight and tomorrow... " THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREEN BAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TOWARD WEDNESDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING. UP TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL."

Worse news... Once again I had a few travel plans for tomorrow... We shall see...

Really bad/worse news... Punkie has been hurt. And by Miss Milly too.

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A very nice peaceful walk to the woods, by the old campsite, and down to the river and back for some reason turned kinda ugly for Milly... (And even worse for my Punkster)...

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PunkieDog by a log??? (Greg surely has been busy)!

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down by the lazy river...

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NOTE: If you do not know how badly Punkie was injured almost a year ago, then please CLICK HERE for her story... This story is also how she came to be named "Punkin"... (I just couldn't call her 'squash')... Please go read it... I will wait for you to come back... (Really, I will)...

So, knowing that story now, yesterdays 'accident' has turned nasty. We had gone down to the river... (Where Punkie had accidentally, on~purpose, fallen in)! Milly had been standing at the rivers edge, on a rock, and barked at Punk when she had gone in the water~ then a growl... (Milly is absolutely terrified of water- And yes, she came to me that way). After Punk had come back out, they wrestled and 'played' for a while down by the water...

...Punk, noticing I had started to go back up tried to come to me. Milly growled again. (Punk came up anyway)...

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...and she even came up the hard way...

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After we had all gotten topside once again, Miss Milly (with the bad attitude), had disappeared into the woods; Punk remained by me as we started to head back home...

It was at that point that Milly chose to come charging out of the woods. She rammed Punk, (much like a dolphin would attack a shark), rolling the Punkster over then jumping onto her backside. Punk cried out, and I hollered for Milly to knock it off... She did. Punk cried 2 more times, (that whimper, & that scared, sad cry)... Then got up and shook herself off... We were really on our way home at that point, (with me thinking 'OK when we go back again, I will take one dog at a time')... Milly was happy with her squeak ball, and Punk carried her frisbee home too.

As soon as we got back, I cabled Miss Milly to her doghouse, and brought Punkie inside. I cleaned off the dirt, and she laid down right away. When she tried to get up a few minutes later, she could barely move... (And another one of those plaintive cries as she wanted to go back outside). She was not amused by what was happening out there either...

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Not amused by the snowflakes that were falling; (nor did she care for the pain in her backside).

You can tell even in this picture that she is hurting...

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Casey had stopped in later, and still in pain herself, cozied up on the couch with Punk...

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Punkie sitting oddly... I should say even more~so than usual...

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A little smooch for the kid, and she tried to sleep...

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I lifted Miss Punk onto the bed last night- Her hindquarters anyway... She lay still all night with just a few cries... So now it is time for me to call Dr. Spires and see if he will take a look~see at my little Miss Punk. (If any of you have a prayer or two leftover for my pup, would you please offer it for her; and maybe one for my little Miss KC~Face too)?

And in checking out my linked blog above I am finding it less than funny that NOTHING has changed in the past year- for either the Punk or the CaseyKid...

Yup, I have completely lost my sense of humor; (not to mention that last little marble I had)... Please let me know if you find it...

My blog yesterday, only to show what didn't happen here for Easter. As some of you already know, Casey has been placed on a "no food" diet. (She is subsisting on Ensure and/or Boost, and an occasional broth and jello thrown in just for fun)... So Easter Sunday I did not bake nor cook. Casey and Derek had come out after mass... No Sunday brunch for anyone then... And since Berta is/was still so sick, she also stayed away, not caring to share her 'bug' with Casey... (nice enough that Gabriel had shared it with his mama in the 1st place)...

Time for me to fly! hehehe I hope you are all having a grand day!

XOXO
Anna~Anna

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Updated and added at 4pm today...

I brought Punkie in to Dr. Spires.

He proceeded to check her entire hindquarters, beginning with each toe and meticulously working his way upwards... While she cringed a few times, he did not make her cry out either. And only showed pain when she tried to stand up.

He did give a prescription for anti~inflammatory and pain. He said to bring her back in if she does not improve, and he will have to xray her. He also said that the old injury would probably show up as a healed area too. That they would always keep that in mind.

**** Yes, the pup I had written about was Punkie! I could not call her "Squash" so I opted for "Punkin". I have NO idea why I wrote 'he' either. Probably a generic term as such, (and remember I hadn't slept for a long time either). When they were 1st born, we thought there were 5 males and 5 females- as it turned out there were 3 and 7...

After the run~in with the cement block, and I did return 'her' to the litter, I had marked her with blue magic marker. Once the marker had worn off, I thought I wouldn't know which one she was. But she was the one that still crawled funny, and then I marked her ear. As each week went by, it was easier to tell her apart from the rest. And quite easy to steer people away from her too. (Hard to part with a little pup like that)... Would be even harder now...

At any rate, the next step is possibly the xrays. I hope she gets better though because they have to knock a dog out for an xray...

And about the pet food recall... Again please remain vigilant; and know that they are not done recalling things yet.

I found Dick Van Pattens dog food very interesting, and have chosen to feed this to my own dogs. *No wheat whatsoever. I can live with that.

The vet today also said that MOST dogs do not ever need the high protein food... DVP's dog food has 16.5% protein AND a calorie list on the bag. (Try to find another brand that actually has that listed)... Most dogs are NOT 'working' dogs even though their breed might fall under that classification. The food is meant for a dog that actually works, not for any specific breed of dog. So do not feed your furkid any food with high protein. Please check the bag.

And check what the ingredients are too.

Not sure? Check it against this...

What's really in that can of pet food on your shelf?

Here's a guide to some ingredients listed on the label and what they really are, according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials:

Chicken, beef or fish: Clean flesh from those animals.

Meat byproducts: Blood, bone and organs such as lungs, spleen, kidney, brains, liver, stomachs and intestines from slaughterhouses.

Poultry byproducts: Necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, lungs, intestines. Not feathers.

Meat or poultry byproduct meal: Blood, bone and organs that are rendered, dried and ground up. Can include tissue from animals that died outside slaughterhouses.

Steamed bone meal: Bones separated through cooking and ground up. It provides minerals, mainly calcium and phosphorus.

Taurine: An amino acid needed by cats.

Grains: Labeled either as whole grains, such as corn or barley, or as ground milled products, which are what's left after flour and cereal are processed.

Vegetables: Dried yams, beet pulp, carrots.

Additives: Vitamins and minerals, such as flavorings and preservatives.

SOURCE: Gannett News Service

Heres where to GRADE YOUR DOG FOOD. (Click on those words). Some brands are already graded for you.

Also, an updated list re: Pet Food Recall can be found at CLICK HERE .

For a complete list of anything ever recalled... CLICK HERE . (I looked for a few people I know, and couldn't find them)... hehehe

I'd better close for now. Punk is on a limited movement regimen, so I will leash her to take her out and walk her around a bit...

XOXO
Anne

Easter Monday

Good Morning One and All;

I am guessing that this morning will find more than a few of you nursing your own little ~"sugar~hangovers"~ hehehe

But hey, I've got my own little sugar too!

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There's Master Gabriel!

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With his Mama too! hehehe

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.......

My Little Man Isaiah!

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My Own Little Miss Valerie!

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And of course last, but not least, My Mr. Lawrence Ramon! ... (and with his Papa too)!

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It wouldn't be complete without Derek and Casey...

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And can't forget My Pompous Punkster either!

hehehe

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And after Miss Milly got through chasing all the darned bunnies...

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Now how's that for showin' off some of my own little "sweets" !?!

Ok, I don't have a sugar hangover; (am thinking 'withdrawal' would be a more accurate word).

Sad, that... right?

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I hope you all had a "fantabulous" Easter Day. Stay blessed!

XOXO
Anne

Hallelujah, and Happy Easter (added pic)

Good Morning!

The picture above from last years pups...

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Miss Milly, Miss Punkin, (and I), would like to wish you ALL a very Happy Easter!

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He is Risen! (for us).

Hallelujah! (for ALL)...

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About yesterdays snow... I found out that if one takes a walk to the woods with the dogs, in the morning, that by the time the afternoon walk rolls around there is not anough snow left to justfiy shoveling it! hehehe

I do not know if my tulips will bloom this year, given that they looked like this still at noontime...

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kinda sad and shriveled up... But perhaps they might be hardy enough...

(hey, I know people like that)!

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Many of you have asked about the weirdo in the bunny suit.... (I too, have wondered)!

In 2001, my niece had the opportunity to go to France for a few weeks with her French Class. As luck would have it, she had returned to Green Bay the afternoon before Easter. I had worn the suit to work, and then met Mary and her welcoming crew at the airport.

This was a few months before 9~11, so even though all of the hairpins in my hair set their alarms off, they let me through anyway to await her homecoming with the others... (of course it might have had something to do with the fact that I offered to completely disrobe for the guards; ... and they were quite obviously frightened at the mere thought, and so, let me pass)... hehehe

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Mary and I at Austin Straubel Airport...

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Afterward, we all went out to eat. Pictured below is Ritas bestest girlfriend in the whole world, along with myself and Rita of course!

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Janet, (with the Easter Bunny), and Rita, (safely back from France)!

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...But back to yesterday... CaseyAnne came out after work. She had spoken to her doctor once again. And he had advised her no food. Given the fact that she has pain whether she eats or not, she opted to put herself on a clear liquid diet instead. And like he said, she is damned if she does, and damned if she doesn't. The previous day to have not eaten anything, save for her Ensure, and by 4pm had a raging migraine...

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How's THIS for a clear liquid diet, Folks?

hehehe

It is not Hornsbys draft cider either. Not even any kind of dark bier (beer?). Rather an interesting (tasty), glassful of beef stock (broth).

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My Casey~Face and my Punk on the couch... Punk was snoring... (Rough day for them both)....

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Jenny Mella had joined Casey here for a few movies and a bit of laughter too. She will be heading down to Madison with her mom and dad to visit family today, and so these two girls had to get together for a little while anyway... Such a great friend she is to Casey!

I went to bed early (and woke up almost 9 hours later). Must have been all the outdoors walking and playing... We took Punkie's new frisbee to the woods; and with all that running for her I think our 2 trips must have quadrupled the distance she went. Fetching and retrieving. Fun though.

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even back in the woods Miss Punk had to take a break ...under the fallen limbs...

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And then to head back home. The frisbee must have proved to weigh too much for one dog to carry, so they both carried it home together...

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(Happy that the pic does not include the noises they were making over that darned toy).

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Milly, happy to be home... (because then she can play with her own darned toy)...

And yes, my backyard is still torn up from Olsens oil truck! I am sure they will fix that shortly...

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But trust me, Miss Millys smile faded very quickly when her beloved daughter absconded with BOTH toys....

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Such a funny (sassy) little girl we have!

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OK, It is time for me to get busy. There will be no Easter dinner celebrations or the like with Casey being unable to eat, and having so much pain. I must be waking her shortly so her and Derek can go to mass.

I hope you all have a beautiful Easter, and that you are all able to be with the ones you love!

XOXO
Anne

PS Roberta would also be here to post, but she is dog sick with some kind of bug. Says to say hello and to wish you all a very Happy Easter from herself and Master Gabriel as well...

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Our LEAD Troublemaker!

A bit more nostalgia...

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Good Morning All;

Mother Natures Aprils Fools joke on us, (around these parts anyway), coming just a wee bit late this year...

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I am not even too sure if Punkie sees the humor in it!

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Is there a Ghost of Easters Past?

Because if there is, here we go...

We did not heat our basement; the only heat down there provided by the old wood/coal furnace we had... (and it gave off plenty as it chugged to life)...

But the basement was our cellar- kind of a cool place to store everything... Including our veggies, canned goods, and eggs. The older refrigerators we quite small on the inside, and so many things were simply kept out. Sounds horrendous in this day and age, but everything we had was fresh. Salmonella was quite unheard of, poultry laid fresh eggs, and as long as those eggs were gathered every morning they were fresh as could be! Being one of the few farms back then that produced "Grade A" Milk, we could have no chickens. (Separate barns would have been required for any other farm animal, save the cows). We received all of our eggs from neighbors and family close~by.

One year... I had to be 6 or 7 maybe, Mom had gotten all the preparations ready to color eggs. Of course we had to boil those eggs first... Mama had sent me down to the basement to get the eggs.

There were probably about 6 dozen then that we would use... I got them down off the shelf, and began to come back upstairs, when I tripped on the basement steps.

AND ON THE WAY UP !!!

There were eggs all over!

My life was OVER!

I was not only bruised, but cut a bit, AND terrified of even calling out FOR 'HELP'...

...So I did what any normal kid would do.

I began to cry.

Loudly, AND PROBABLY QUITE OBNOXIOUSLY TOO.

And of course Mom had to come see what the devil had made me cry.

(And ever so LOUDLY too)...

I remember the horrified look on her face as she rounded that corner... The sharp intake of breath just before she simply told me to "get up".

I heard her sigh. (And I remember the swat on my backside as I walked by her after she told me to get cleaned up).

By the time I was cleaned up, she had salvaged a LOT of those eggs.

And that 'trip' wasn't nearly as bad as what I had originally thought it to be...

We had probably about 4 dozen (give or take), left to color. But I think I probably ruined that day for everyone too.

I don't remember the Easter... Just that trip and fall...

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Fast forward a few years...

...to me~n~my girls...

Times were lean, and I usually got "hand~me~overs" from relatives and such for clothes for the girls. My aunts were wonderful about this, and mom would always pick up a few things when she would go to Goodwill or St. Vinnies too.

But one year, I wanted something more special...

I didn't have the money to go to the fabric store, but I sure had leftover fabric. And got busy making the girls their "new" easter outfits. Oh they weren't too "easter~ish", (unless red is now an easter color). But they sure had something new to wear. I used one of their shirts, and a pair of their pants for the pattern... And this is how they turned out!

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My little Jennifer Hope and Zoe Catherine in their "new" clothes...

Silly maybe, but 'cute' too!

(Of course, I was kind of biased)!

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Now to fast forward once more...

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And yes, this was our chief cook and bottle washer...

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But what you might NOT know is that she was also our lead troublemaker!

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Casey was about 6 years old; and for the Grace of God still believed in that same flop~earred rabbit that would come and hide eggs every Easter morning.

We were living on Jaworski Road... The phone rang that Holy Saturday afternoon. I answered it, and could barely make out my own mothers voice over her laughter... But she had asked was Casey home? Um yeah... So I put Casey on...

...I am right there, as I hear Casey say "Hi Grandma!" (in that excited and happy tone that beloved grandbabies always use)... ~I hear Casey say "What?!?!?!" ~And I watch her face turn a bit sour. ~A few seconds later she is almost crying... They talk a few more minutes and when I hear Casey say, "I love you too Grandma!" I know the conversation is over. She hands the phone back to me...

"Hello?" ... "HELLO?" ... "Mom?" ...Nothing. ...She had hung up.

And there was Casey standing by me as I hung up my phone too.

I asked her what was wrong? She said, "Grandma says the Easter Bunny is dead!"

A bit shocked, I giggle. (Bad choice of reactions)...

And so I ask...

She says, "Grandma went to go get her mail, and there he was, DEAD, in the middle of the road!"

I tried to quash that little voice in my head that had promptly begun singing the 'dead skunk' song)... ~crossin' the highway late last night, he shoulda looked left, and he shoulda looked right...

Then she said "Grandma is getting her shovel right now, and is gonna "BURY IT!"

...(hiccup~hiccup~hiccup)...

God help me, Mom...

I explained to Casey that Grandma was mistaken... (She sure left me holding the bag on this one when she'd hung up)...

I told Casey that it was only one of his helpers because the Easter Bunny is magic and would never just die in the middle of the road...

Troublemaker? Mama? ...(I rest my case).

Casey~Face was very hesitant to believe me... (Grandmas words are always more believable)...

That night then... to have Casey put flour down on the floor so she could see his footprints if he did come...

Smart kid~ ...(too smart)...

Waking the next morning to see his footprints there on the kitchen floor was more than enough validation for this precocious child of mine...

...And she happily went in search of the eggs he had hidden.

I didn't count those eggs that year...

hehehe

Have a splendid Saturday! I must go shovel snow...

XOXO
Anne