Pelican Done!

It has taken a while to get back into the "painting groove"!  I finally was able to finish my pelican painting and I am pretty satisfied with the results....check it out.....

 I will be putting this up on my web site.....as soon as I figure out the whole "shopping cart" system.  That was a major goal for this year....making my paintings available for purchase directly through my website.  I'll be working on this tonight and I have a great tutorial to follow so I'm hoping it all goes smoothly.  If you would like to see more photos of the pelican painting, you can pop on over to my art blog.

The Apple and Willie The Worm

Lookie what I found outside my door yesterday.  Pretty little thing don't ya think.

As Apple folk we were glued to the news yesterday and this morning awaiting all the info on the latest Apple developments.  I have to say I'm pretty excited about this whole "ICloud" thing and a little apprehensive as well.  Something a bit unnerving about my "stuff" hanging out there in cyberspace, but I think it is where we are all headed to eventually.  So, I'm gonna buckle up my cyber seat belt...jam the torpedoes, and full speed ahead......traveling to where no person has gone before.....to the next frontier!

I'm also pretty excited about the next operating system to be released in July.  It has some great features and all for about $30! Can't wait!

Cell Phone Decisions

I'm sure hoping things start to settle down around here.  It seems of late I have had no time just to "be" at home.  Everyday there is an errand or two to run or a problem to solve.  Ah well, I guess it is good to be needed!  

One of the errands I ran yesterday was to ATT.  My family just all got new phones and a new plan to go with it.  My son, myself, and my mother all went with the 3Gs Iphone.  Billy went with a "free" ATT phone made by Pantech.  I had thought about going with a less expensive and more simple phone, but in the end I just couldn't  talk myself into it.  I had an original Iphone...then moved up to the 3G and I just like the ease of use and access to the internet.  The Iphone is not perfect....they have their issues....the screen freezing is my main complaint.  It seems all "smart phones" have their good and bad points, but overall I love my Iphone.

As to the plan, we went with the family plan with the lowest minutes (700).  We added the unlimited cell to cell (any cell on any network) and unlimited text message for $30.  We all love to text....even my Mom has gotten into the action with her new Iphone.  Of course, we all (with the exception of Billy) have data plans too.  So, everyone is happily talking, surfing, and texting....to their hearts content these days.  

My trip to ATT was to pay my portion of the new family plan bill plus pay the final bill for our old cell plan.  Note to self...pay attention to ending and starting plan dates.  Not only did I have to pay a full bill cycle for the old plan, but I also had to pay for a full bill cycle plus those darn activation charges for the new plan.  All I can say is....I am doing my part to keep our economy going!!  LOL!  So, we stuck with ATT ..... but we do have a Verizon air card for the internet.  We have been very happy with the air card and that will be our next upgrade......to the new G4....not so much for the G4 because we know that is very limited in its service area, but for the better rate and data plans now available.  I'll let ya know how that all turns out in the future.

My First Guest Post

A few days ago, I was invited to do a guest blog for a site called RVparking.com.  The site is basically a place where fellow rver's can post reviews and photos of the different campgrounds and rv parks around the county.  In addition to the reviews, they also have a blog.  Topics for blogs are varied, but generally are educational and about the rv lifestyle.  Of course, I chose to inject a bit of humor with my contribution....you can check it out here, Holiday Plans?
I do find these types of site useful......I like to hear what other rvers have to say about campgrounds and rv parks that they have visited.  I do like the fact that RVParking allows you to upload photos as well.  Many times I have visited an rv park or campground web site and found "select" photos which somehow never seem to truly represent the site we find ourselves in that evening.  So, check it out if you have the time.
Lastly, I want to say a big Thank you for all the comments and support on the adoption of Mesha.  She truly is a joy and such a sweet girl.  Mesha is doing well....eating lots of food now and feeling comfortable enough to show us her "stubborn" side....LOL!  She also seems to think she is a "lap dog" and as soon as I sit down she is right there determined to fit as much of herself as she can on Grandmama's lap.....I love it!

So it is Mesha not Meeska

OOPS!  I have been corrected......my son's husky is called, "Mesha".  Somehow, I saw a "k" where there was none.  As you recall, we were planning on bringing Mesha home Saturday.  Well, she did so well at the vet's on Friday (being spayed) that they called to let my son know he could pick her up by 2pm.  Sam and I quickly made a trip to the pet store to buy a few doggie supplies.  Then he borrowed our x-pen and set it up in the house.  We have no idea if Mesha is housebroke and no idea if she still has that puppy tendency to chew!  Plus we thought a more confined space might make her feel a little more comfortable until she adapts to her new surroundings.  Unfortunately, my son had to go into work at 4pm.  So...it was Grandmama Debbie to the rescue.  Mesha was pretty out of it, but did seem to enjoy the security of the x-pen.  We never actually "shut the door", but she seemed quite content to lay on the pad we made for her there.  We never had that first accident....so I think she had been house broke by the previous owners.  She did have trouble keeping anything down, but I was not surprised by that.....she has been through so much these last few days.  My son was home by 10pm and took over her care.  They both had a good night and in the morning she was defiantly looking and feeling better.

Here you can see how thin she is....look at those ribs....but still a beautiful dog!

And it didn't take her long to make herself at home here on the couch....LOL!  Look at that sweet face....so loving and such a good girl.  I hope she knows that she is finally home!  Sam made her some scramble egg for breakfast.....it took her awhile, but she finally did eat.  I think she is going to be an amazing dog and give my son years of enjoyment and love!  Of course.....you know that sweet face will find it's way to my easel.....LOL!

Meeting Meeska

My son has decided he wants to adopt a dog.  He shares my love of animals and has been around dogs pretty much his entire life.  So, I was not surprised that he wanted one of his own.  Even though he is 28, we had the "responsibility" talk.  Yes there are many joys to owning a pet, but also many responsibilities.  My husband says it is like living with "toddlers", they always need something.  Once I was convinced he understood and was ready for all that comes with doggie ownership.....I gave my blessing and suggested we check the local shelter. 
Once at the shelter, we were allowed to go back to where the adoptable dogs were kept.  This is very hard for me.....because I want to take each and everyone of them home.  It was also little overwhelming.....lots of barking...the noise was deafening.  We went through one room and then down a hall to another and it was there we found "Meeska".  Meeska is a Siberian Husky.......she has beautiful blue eyes.  She was quiet and quickly came to stick her nose through the cage and lick our hands....tail waging.  I kinda knew we had found "the" dog.  We went back out to the desk to ask about her and much to our surprise....no one seemed to have much information.  Apparently we had wondered into an area we were not to be in and they were not even sure if Meeska was available for adoption at this point.  She had just come in a few days ago.....found wondering the streets.  I knew she was a stray.....she was very thin.....you could easily see her ribs.  They told us to call back later in the day and they would be able to tell us if and when she would be available....so we waited.  Later that day, the phone call was made.  Meeska was available....she had passed her temperament test and was up to date on all but her rabies vaccine.  I told Sam the next step was to go spend sometime with Meeska and make sure she was the one.  The next day we found ourselves back at the shelter.....where we were formally introduced to Meeska.  We found her to be very sweet and loving and oh so excited to see us again.  I looked her over.....she is thin, very dirty, and in heat.  I took her through some basic commands and was pleasantly surprised that she knows....sit and lay down.  She also stayed right by my side as I walked her around the room.  Her only bad habit was jumping up, but she is a smart dog and she will respond well to more training.  I told Sam this was a good choice....and he felt the same.  Back at the front desk, Sam completed the adoption papers and arrangements were made for her to be spayed.  We also asked that they give her a bath before she goes for the surgery.....otherwise she won't be able to be bathed til after the stitches are removed.  She really needs a bath and a good brushing.  If all goes according to plan, Sam will pick Meeska up from the vet Saturday.  Then the fun really begins!  I will be writing all about it and I will have some photos to share as well.  One last note....I know times are tough for a lot folks, but if you can give anything at all.....your money.....your time.....a bag of food....I'm sure your local shelter would really appreciate it.  Even the smallest kindness can make a difference in an animal's life.  Think about it!

Early Morning Alarm

Early this am I was awakened to a very high pitched alarm.  I sat up in bed, trying to determine where the sound was coming from.  Of course, both my furballs were up and panting....knowing something was not right.  We made our way into the living room and I found it was the propane detector.  So, here I am, down on my hands and knees with a flashlight in one hand and two crazy furballs...one on each side...panting away and trying to be as close to me as they can possibly get.  Where is Billy, you might ask?  Billy is sleeping peacefully in the bedroom.  Yeah....he doesn't hear a thing...it is just me and the dogs.  I finally found the reset button and got the thing to shut off.  Now, I'm trying to figure out....why.  Back in the bedroom I go...with my entourage of furballs.  I wake Billy and inform him of the situation...his response...."Is the furnace on?".... Me, "Is the furnace on?  We have been running the ac for the past 3 days.  No dear, the furnace is not on".  Billy, "the batteries probably need to be changed".  Me, "No dear, the detector is hard wired".  Billy, "OK".  End of conversation....alright, I'll just wait and see if it goes off again....it did.  Me and the dogs are down on the floor once again.  This time I have a screwdriver in hand.....I removed the face plate and pulled out the wires.  At this point, Billy appears...I think he must have opened his eyes long enough to see me with a screwdriver...scary stuff! We decide to cut the wires.  I then made Billy get out the little hand held propane detector that he uses when he refills and replaces our tanks.  We check out the fiver and it did not detect any propane anywhere.  So, we are both guessing that the hard wired detector is now defective.....another item for our repair list.  All is well and back to bed we go......of course, my furballs are not convinced.  Cosmo, who sleeps with us, continued to stand watch over me.....panting away, hot doggie breath on my face.......while Billy peacefully drifts back off to dreamland!  Life is good....right?