Kat: It's hard to be without a loved one. They say the 'firsts' of each holiday, special day/times is the hardest. It's been almost 11 yrs for Dad and 3 yrs for Mom, and I still find myself looking at Mother/Father day cards. I'm glad to know that you had such a great relationship with your father. Shirley

I'm pooped right now and happy to be crusing the web. Took a 60 mile round trip to get some flooring for the bathroom this morning. About noon took dd out to ground work with her horse. She's been working him in the small pen and doing well. TODAY THO, he seemed to be doing well again, so we put on the saddle, lunged him in a few circles. DH said he would ride him first. OMG, the horse jumped up and down, all four feet off the ground about ten different times, his back curled up like a 'C'. Thank goodness dh isn't afraid(LIKE I WAS WHILE WATCHING)and had the horse walking around shortly after. I've been in extreme adrenaline mode ever since. Worked very well while I cleaned the entire garden/horse shed. Cleaned some of the house and did some laundry, including the big stuff from the labradors big bed. Youngest dd helped me a good deal today, I'm thankful. While the oldest called and said she ran the mile at her track meet in 6 mins and 35 seconds. Thats super good for her, she's more of a cross country runner at heart. Waiting now for her to come home and finish her homework so she can go to an "Amazing Race" meet at our local college Sunday. I wish it wasn't so windy, Dh cleaned the grill, put on a new propane tank. Steaks sound good. (That horse better watch out from now on....hehehhe) Time to take a shower, I think I have sand all over my head from when the horse was bucking, tossing sand every where.

Breakfast for: -self -cat(s) and -female canine that I'm "dogsitting" for a friend. Rather troubled about the two remaining (of four) last-year's litter. I ran over one last year and found another (the runt) lying dead a couple of months ago, down in tthe yard by the barn. It took a long time to get close to one of the two remaining, which then decided that it loves/loved to be petted - but only around the place where I feed them. At other times, I can get within a few feet of him, but not touch him. The other one won't get close to me, except that sometimes I can pet it a bit while it's eating. Both haven't been around for several days, I think that they disappeared at the same time, and I fear that they've met up with misfortune. Just one older cat left - the mother of the young ones disappeared a few months ago. Pulled weeds in the garden, began assembling materials to stake tomatoes. Came here to bug you folks. And check stocks - big drop in the markets today, both sides of the border ... so I'm "worth-less" today than yesterday ... or last week. Whatever that means. On return, after it cools down some, will be doing some more in the garden and getting supper for the canine and me. Need to defrost freezer ... but doubt that I'll do it tonight: need to assemble some boxes to hold the stuff temporarily, first. o j

I took advantage of the 60degree temp today to go down to Mom's and empty her outdoor planters of annuals, placed some of the inexpensive plastic ones out by the street for the "mystery woman" who drives around collecting old pots and even the plants, swept the leaves off the back deck and away from the front entrance of the house, emptied the canister set in the kitchen and washed those inside and out, and before I left I chose a piece of ruby glass from the curio cabinet for my nephew's wife as a remembrance of Mom, and a Willow Angel for my niece. I found an electric pencil sharpener! I acquired that for myself as my prized Panasonic battery operated KP-4A finally wore out. :( I must have a sharp point when doing crosswords. Also remembered Mom's glasses on her kitchen table and her hearing aide at home, and decided to drive into the city to donate the glasses to the Eye Center and the hearing aide to the Ear/Nose/Eye Clinic where she bought it. Both places were very happy to receive them. Came home, had a cup of tea, did a crossword and relaxed. I must have gotten chilled though outside today, probably because I worked up a sweat, because I'm sitting here this evening with a sweatshirt on, the thermostat up, and a throw over my lap. Tomorrow it's suppose to be sunny again.