The woodstove has been going almost constantly for two weeks now. R's got the knack of stoking the fire so that there are still embers in the morning and gets a slow fire going that lasts until the boy gets home. Nice thing is that we always have hot water for tea now ;-)

We've put up storm windows in most of the windows downstairs and hung curtains over doors and blocking off areas of the house. It reminds me of one of those sci-fi Dr. Who shows when you're pushing through layers upon layers of plastic. But it keeps the warm where we can use it. I've also gone and blocked the foundation vents, so one more thing to keep the warm in!

Our power bill is $100 lower than it was last year this time, so we're doing something right. We've also moved into the smaller bedrooms. I think that helps too.

On the animal front, the Sheep are back. They were staying with a neighbor, but broke out and showed up on our front driveway. We lost another chicken. She just died. No idea why. So we are down to 4 hens and the rooster, but on the plus side, they are laying again. R spend the day insulating the chicken coop. That should cut the power bill too. Just need to find the stupid thermocube. It's an awesome concept, it's like a timer, but it goes by temperature, below freezing and it turns on. It is perfect for the stock tank heater and the chicken coop heater.

Horses are enjoying their blankets. It hasn't been above freezing up here for a couple of days. We have a temporary boarder. He's a 17+ hand thoroughbred. Wow, now that's a tall horse.

Kittens are cuter than evah. Gwen (the white demon) is currently laying sprawled out like only a kitten can be. Ripley (mamma) and Fay are curled up together somewhere. Fiona has been going out into the yard with me and sticks close. It's been over 4 months and only one escape scare. Turns out she was under the bed. I miss Isabella and Graf, but not the angst.

Work has been difficult, but I am hopefully getting it under control. It's frustrating to work so hard and yet not feel like it makes a difference. On the otherhand, it has inspired me to get back to other writing and my latest script is actually making progress. On another plus side though, R's job has been extended until June and the China trip delayed until March. AND *** drumroll ** some money that was owed us is actually being returned!!! Small windfall will pay for the replacement pressure Tank for the well. Who knows, it may mean we can use the upstairs bathroom for the first time in 2 years.

The kid is AMAZING. Playing his guitar all the time. He is really showing progress. I'm thrilled. He's working on Blackbird for me. He's doing great in school and working on getting money for his trip to China.

Hexmas is upcoming too. I have my sekrit friend and I'm trolling his/her livejournal for ideas. I love sekrit santa hexmas. It is the most silly fun evah.

Kitten update. Is it normal for a kitten to sleep on her back with legs splayed? She looks totally silly!

1. Do you have an amazon.com wishlist or an etsy wishlist?
Yes, to both.
Amazon: Crystal Smithwick: I'm getting back into screenwriting, so a lot of my books are on writing.
Esty: Crystallin : I have just discovered etsy...oh the bootiful things. Currently being suckered by scarfletts/neck warmers and needle felted critters.

2. Do you have any allergies to food or such?
Nope. Pretty much an omnivore. I do not like beef liver or beets.

3. Any strong dislikes?
Chocolate with mint is just wrong.

4. How do you feel about smelly/scented things?
For the most part, I like smelly things.


5. Whats the best present you ever got?
I get rather teary-eyed whenever I get something handmade. I think the best present I ever got was when my son played a song on the guitar just for me.

If You Go Away : English Lyrics
Song info: Lyrics by: Rod McKuen Music by: Jacques Brel Arranger: Don Costa Originally made famous by: Damita Jo

I think that is the version that I remember from my childhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPteAlYF5nQ
And cuz Frankie always puts a good spin on a song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjGWyGHdRqI

( English Lyrics: )

Jacques Brel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wmKcBm4Ik&feature=fvw
Nina Simon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI8F6DbB2cE&feature=related

The FRENCH lyrics:
( French Lyrics )

Does anyone in the hive mind have a Esty shop or bought anything from an Etsy shop? I am thinking of starting one for a friend and wanted to see if anyone had any experience with them.

If you haven't, esty.com is a cool place to buy and sell homemade and vintage things. I love to look, but haven't bought yet.

This is one of the kittens, now at almost 7 weeks old. We call her after Gwen from torchwood). It seemed only fair. Her mother is named after Ripley from Aliens, and Fiona is named after the Arms dealer/mercenary in Burn Notice. Kid's going to have to hold her own.

So many things...

Birthday - Dinner with the boyfriend at Sip. STEAK!! nom nom Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes.
Emprise - awesome...everything looked wonderful. Gets better every year.
Baronial A&S - much fun judging, new friends, great nom noms
work - crazy, countdown to deadline
kittens - too cute! I'm being attacked by a manic marmalade munchkin as we type
Fiona - 2 months and not a single runaway!
Homestead - winterizing, putting up wood, first real wood fire of the season
Horses - enjoying being ignored in the pasture
Stuart - guitar lessons, scouts, possible school trip to China, and High School!
Scouts - Prepping for Court of honor,

This is the first weekend that isn't jampacked. Running errands on Saturday, Scouts Court of Honor in the evening. Sunday is suspiciously free.

Isn't it pretty! Designed and painted by Annisa, with a little help from me.

So, come to the Emprise of the Black Lion on Sept 26th and see who is going to win this pretty plate!

http://madrone.equestrianguild.org/emprise
(Barony of Madrone/Shire of Wyewood, An Tir)

Went down to Fall City Arena for an impromptu practice. Hauled Mr. Thessil and our two down. Aeshine and Willow joined us. Gigi and I practiced many things, even though we aren't competing in the Emprise because I am the EMIC. But Sunday's tourney is still open to me!

So, we practiced canter departs and even cantered almost all the way around the arena with a sword in hand. No canter depart+buck combo!

We practiced reeds, pigs, and javelins. After her spook at Sept Crown, I wanted to give her more practice with the javelin and target.

Raph and I did some mounted crest combat. Gigi wasn't wild about taking on Bourdain, he's been a butthead to her lately, but with some encouragement, she got the message that we weren't going to back down!

Otherwise, the weekend was blissfully uneventful. Slept a good chunk of Saturday. Thwarted a cold or something. I am going to be doubly sore though due to the trail work I did on Friday for the Microsoft Day of Caring. We built a turnpike on the Little Mt. Si That was a hard day's work.

I've downloaded photos of Sept Crown. I'll journal bout them in a bit. It was a good event. I did 5 hours of volunteer work. 2 hours for the Equestrian List, 2 hours for the Crown List, and an hour for the youth combat list. I even got to ride in the Inspiration tournament and came in 3rd!

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Marchpane Crack...oh yeah.

Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew?
Nope

Where was your profile picture taken?
Sept Crown, North Bend WA

Can you play guitar hero?
Yes. I play Bass.

Name someone that made you laugh today?
Robert

How late did you stay up last night and why?
11 p.m. Watching TV I htink

If you could move somewhere else, would you?
ooh...Ireland.

Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Yep.

Which of your friends lives closest to you?
Kathleen

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
I think so.

When was the last time you cried really hard?
When Isabella was killed. I still mourn that stupid dog.

Where are you right now?
Avoiding entering the rest of the equestrian authorizations.

What bed did you sleep in last night?
Mine.

What was the last thing someone bought for you?
Co-worker bought me coffee.

Who took your profile picture?
I did.

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Stuart

Was yesterday better than today?
Yep.

Are you mad about anything?
Yep.

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
oh yah

Are you a bad influence?
oh yeah...heh heh heh

Night out or night in?
Night out...I really really want to go out, but too much to do.

What items could you not go without during the day?
My computer

What does the last text message in your inbox say?
Bank notice that I had a deposit!

How do you feel about your life right now?
mixed.

Do you hate anyone?
maybe...

If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
invitation to something or another

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
Yep.

Has anyone ever called you perfect before.
um. yah, wierd huh.

What song is stuck in your head?
"Do you want to Date my Avatar" Felicia Day

Someone knocks on your window at 2am, who do you want it to be?
Pest, stupid cat's been gone almost a week.

Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50?
Nope. Want my kid to have fun, but not that much fun!

Spouse and Spawn are at Washington State BoyScout Jamboree. That's a lot of testosterone! Drove them down and helped setup. Spouse brought our new French Bell tent. It certainly stand out in modern tent land.

Rushed home to meet the guild for worknight. G and A brought the speedquintain and we got it repainted. Very spiffy. Also made plans for other worknights.

Today, after work helping an friend move back to Seattle from Eugene.
Tomorrow, help another friend who's a bit busted up with mundane chores to help her get through another week of literally being unable to twiddle her thumbs.
Sunday, take yet another friend and her horse to horse show. Cheer and take pictures, and THEN go and pick up da men and drive back with 4 unwashed males..ewww.

Yikes. I got me a lot of friends.

( )Gone on a blind date
(x) Donated Blood
(x) Had surgery
(x) Broken a bone
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
( ) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
( ) Hugged a homeless person
(x) Swam in the ocean
( ) Swam with Stingrays
( ) Been sailing
(X) Performed in public on a musical instrument
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
( ) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Ran a marathon/or triathalon
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch,
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
( ) Been Parasailing
(x) Been on TV
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
( ) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Fed an elephant
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Fired a gun
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Been to the Opera
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Serenaded someone
( ) Seen a U.S.President in person
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
( ) Driven a race car
(x) Been to a National Museum
(x) Been to a Wax Museum
(x) Eaten caviar
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
(x) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States (North to south)
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(x) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Seen the Grand Canyon
(x) Seen the Statue of Liberty
(x) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(x) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
(x) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(x) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(x) Been in a rain forest
(x) Seen whales in the ocean
(x) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Ridden on a camel
(x) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
(x) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(x) Been water-skiing
(x) Been snow-skiing
(x) Been to Westminster Abbey
(x) Been to the Louvre
(x) Been to the Taj Mahal
(x) Been to Rome, Italy
(x) Swam in the Mediterranean
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Swam with sharks
(x) Been White Water Rafting
(x) Written a book or screen play
(x) Been in love
( ) Put a foot in the Oval office
( ) Hitchhiked
( ) Joined the Mile High Club
(x) Snorkeled
( ) Seen a person on fire
( ) Ridden a Segway

Introducing the newest members of our homestead. Just 3 days old. 2 girls and a boy (we think). Progeny of our barn cat, Ripley nee Chairman Meow. There were 7 in the litter, but these are the 3 that survived.

Moving them out to the barn when they are weaned, to start their training as mousers. At least 2 of them will need homes, but we'll probably keep them longer than the 8 week minimum / weaning, so they can learn their mousing skills.

Personalities beginning to surface. White is active and climbs over everything. Orange just picks a direction and goes, and he's loud! Calico seems to be mommy's favorite.

No names for them yet.

Click the video to see Raph make a salad. More photos and videos on flickr.

Stormgods was a lot of fun! We went as saddlejocks. Just showed up on Saturday (after 2 hour delay due to a blown tire on the trailer, no drama, just a time drain.). Too hot to do anything once we got there. Thank goodness the equestrian camping area was in the shade.

Camped in the new Bell Wedge tent. Verra nice. need some curtains for privacy, but the temporary ones worked well and looked like a huge open mouth from across the field (red cloth).

Guillaume, Annisa, and Dakota were there for Saturday. Dakota was a bit off on one foot, but we did a nice trailride.

Next day Drifa started us early. We did the Baroness' Champion. Gigi still won't canter when I'm carrying a weapon. I don't think i'm stting up straight enuf for her. But she did great with Raph. They came in third. Then we went and did the Trail Challenge. Obstacle course for ponies. We had a few refusals. Gigi didn't see any sense in doing the stairs at all, but finally did the bridge. Wierdly, we crossed both creeks, no problem.

With what little coolness was left in the day, Raph and Gigi did archery, the live steel demo, and then some speed quintain. Raph forgot to switch off, but he was having so much fun. Bourdain did great at the trail stuff (Raph came in 3rd after Allison and Miranda), but Raph wanted to have fun, so we shared Gigi.

Packed up in about an hour and half and headed home with no further incident. Thanks to Drifa and Miranda for spending so much time with us in the equestrian area despite all of their other responsbilities.

As we speak, he is on the first leg of his trip. Back to Hongkong then an early AM flight. He'll be here Friday AM around 9 a.m. So wave as the plane flies overhead!

Stuart is so excited his Dad is coming home, he actually cleaned the house! LOL.. silly boy.

K and I rode this evening. A little hacking up and down the roads. Bourdain and Gigi were getting all jiggy, so Kathleen had us do this exercise where you ride toward the house, stop turn around, go half way back to about half way, then turn around go another distance back to the house, turn around and repeat. On the way home, to speed things up, we cantered away and walked back. So I must have done about two dozen canter departs (no bucks!). I either found Gigi's Go button or she figured out that this was the only way we'd ever get home for dinner. Fed K a late dinner and some hoarded biscotti and Starbucks Via. Those little microground thingies, actually make a pretty nice cuppa.

Oh, about Fiona. I'll have more pictures soon. Stuart had the camera at camp when we got her. She'll get a post of her own. Graf is doing fine at his new Foster home. The fosterer seems to be able to keep him in the yard, since we couldn't. Missing Isabella a lot, despite Fiona. But in silly Dizzy Izzy's honor, we're doing right by Fiona. You'll be seeing Fiona a lot. She's not as fun as Isabella, but considering Isabella's personality is part of what led to the accident, it's probably for the best.

Got a new laying hen last night. A black Orpington. Freecycle rocks. Angelina has decided that she's done being broody. 3 weeks and nothing. Poor girl. Hope she tries again later. She's all smelly though. Kid's going to clean out the coop this afternoon. Fresh straw in the laying boxes and chips in the yard. Need to get the chicken wire over the top redone before winter snows.

Oh, and I still hate the sheep, but they seem to be getting friendlier. They've been coming up to the back door and "knocking." Freaked out my mom, but makes Stuart laugh.

Dad makes an awesome house keeper. The house, mudroom, front entry and carport look amazing and the office is on it's way. Need to do something really grand for him. It's going to make such a difference when R comes home. Yah honey, you'll have time to spend with MEMEMEMEMEME rather than working on the house. Sure there's still things to do (fences!), but the ickiest are either done or well on their way. Still a pile of mystery boxes in the mudroom.

In celebration of Robert's return from China. We're having an open house party on Saturday July 25th from Noon to 7 p.m. Come and meet the sheep, the chickens, and reaquaint yourself with Robert. Everybody's welcome

View Map

175 cupcakes made it to the table. Half vanilla cake with White buttercream frosting and 3 types of sugar sprinkles. Half chocolate with buttercream/chocolate purple frosting with hand made sugar initials. The cutting cake is orange chiffon with whipped cream filling and marshmellow fondant.

The wedding was amazing and beautiful and so full of love.

sir_rapheal  is updating his journal with this adventures in working himself out of a job. He is also posting his photos on Flickr. The more feedback he gets the more likely he'll keep it up!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18588753@N00/

Oh, twice in one week.

GREEN GROWS THE GARDEN - not as FAIL as I thought earlier in the week.  Can't tell salad greens from weeds yet, but at least the slugs missed something.  Replanted beans and added others.

HENS - attempt to purchase juvi hens and the $12.00 hens cost almost $100 after they included shipping.  FAIL...but may have found two replacements from FreeCycle. For the WIN!

SHEEP - Rob made a portable fence chunk and successfuly contained sheep in the runway between the garden pen and the yard.  A few more like this and we may be able to get the really desperate sections done.

FOLKLIFE - lovely handing out with Ornerie, Her wunderbar Auntie, hdloa, Kathleen (kidnapped her heh heh he), Naomi, and even met up with my bro/wife/neph and parents.
Stuart didn't feel well and was generally gumpy.  We ended up leaving almost as soon as the grandparents showed up. Made me sad, but Stuart was sooo miserable.

GIGI/CRYSTAL GET FIT - After such a great start, work got nuts and we're back to square one. OK, Kathleen say's we're more like back to square two.  So, second verse, same as the first.  Last Sunday, Nancy gave us a lesson. I did canter departs in the mini-menage and kept spiraling into the center.  Didn't manage to ride ALL week. ugh.  But rode this morning. Another 30 minutes, and a bit more cantering.  But we are managing canter departs! No bucking! yeah!

My WILDCHILD - turns 14 today.  Got him a Capt. Hammer T-shirt, Dr. Horrible Soundtrack, a tree pruning knife (you'd understood if you saw it.), and some more itunes music.   His friends are all on trips this weekend, so he's having a sleep over next weekend with video and snack food all night long.

SPOUSE - 20 days and counting to China.  Franttically trying to get the homestead ready for his absence.  Told him not to worry. We'd manage.

i have a bunch of unfinished posts for later, but a quick update.

NEW  - bathtub enclosure.  Couple months ago, leaned on the wall and lost a bunch of tiles. Then a hole.  Called around, Bathfitters had the best pricing.  Nice guy came and installed it yesterday.   Looks Awesome!  Inspiring me to do new paint and other touchups.

AWESOME - Raph and Stuart cleaned out and fired up the hot tub...ooh, feels soo nice.  Only loses about 15 degrees per night.  A hot fire for about an hour brings it back up to comfy.

BBQ-Heaven - BBQ'd twice this week. Sat out on the lawn and ate salmon burgers.  I'm thinking lamb next...that's show the #@!F'in sheep.

FAIL - The Sheep experiment has been determined a fail.  They do the job eating the grass, but the collateral damage is horrible. They break fences, strip bark off trees, terrorize the dog, tramble the garden, and are generally disagreeable.   If we do sheep again, it will be the mini ancient sheep like Donneta has and they will be hand raised.  Still need to get them sheared.

EXPANDED - Raph expanded the paddock fencing to include the mini-menage.  Give the horses more space while we kill weeds and reseed the pasture.  Gets more sun too and Gigi loves to lay out and sun herself....what a dog?

CLEANED OUT! - We did a massive barn cleaning on Sunday, including taking down the overhead storage thing.  Barn looks marvelous.  2 tons of hay make a nice accessory.
 

PITIFUL - Between the sheep and the slugs, the garden is FAIL.  Oh well, trying again this weekend. Replanting, more slug traps/bait.

RIP - Something got into the coop. (Raph's bad, didn't close the door securely.)  Lost Marilyn and one of the Rhodies, we're claiming it was Lindsay.  Think Nicole also got attacked, but she survived and is being broody. Guess near death experiences do that!?!

WTF - Saga of the stupid Ford Taurus "Free" car continues.  The stupid alarm got triggered, control thing lost and can't start car.  Raph just replaced the radiator.  I HATE THAT CAR!!!!

Due to scouts, gigi had a planned day off yesterday.

Today...Ok...so I did ride.  For about 15 minutes. Then the rain came, I kept riding, but finally realized that we were soooo miserable and it was getting darker and darker.  I actually put a clock up in the mini-menege and so I can't fool myself into thinking I am riding longer than I am.

She did more of the "I don't wanna be mounted," but I just kept bringing her around and she finally stood still.  We're going to have to keep working on that.  Tried a couple of suggestions from others, but in the end, repetition is the only thing that worked.

So, only 15 minutes, but for those 15 minutes we mostly trotted and worked on STB. She definitely is working at it and getting it about 1/2 of the time at a walk and about 1/3 time at a trot.  Cantering is on the schedule for next week. 

So no more days off this week.

Planning continues for the CMO (Competitve Mounted Orienteering) next weekend.  All Girl Camping trip!  From the dozens of e-mails we've been shooting back and forth,we should be the best planned and fed group there.  She'll deserve her Monday off next week.

BTW, for those wondering. Yes, I still have a job.  The layoffs did touch my group though, just no one on the team. September is my 10 year anniversary with Microsoft.  wow.