Healing

A few of my readers contacted me in concern after seeing Mama Dog's nose in a recent entry. To set your minds at ease, here is a picture I took at the end of last week. As you can see, her nose is healing nicely. Sure, she'll be left with a good scar, but she's a pretty tough old girl.

iPod Roulette for August

This month's iPod Roulette was especially fun using my new Bose docking station. It really does enhance the listening experience!

Given there are more than 3500 songs on my iPod, I don't know why I think I'm going to get a true sampling in just 15 picks. For what it's worth, here's what I came up with this month. Do any of these appeal to you?


1. Stoned Love (The Supremes) - My husband loves Motown, especially groups like this one.

2. Angelsea (Cat Stevens) - From my favorite Cat Stevens album, Catch Bull at Four.

3. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears) - Another great album, Songs from the Big Chair.

4. My Burdens Have Rolled Away (Melody Boys Quartet) - This group was a lot of fun to see in person. Good old "Southern Gospel".

5. Bach: French Suite #4 in E Flat, BWV 815 1. Allemande (Glenn Gould) - Piano at its best.

6. Here I Am to Worship (Michael W. Smith) - I love his "praise & worship" music, especially this song.

7. Eyesight to the Blind (The Who) - From the rock opera, Tommy.

8. Nature Boy (George Benson) - Finally some jazz!

9. Duchess (Genesis) - This album (Duke) is best listened to from start to finish.

10. Ain't No Sunshine (Kris Allen) - Season 8 American Idol winner.

11. In the Still of the Night (The Five Satins) - I would have sworn this was by someone else! Perhaps this is the cover?

12. Not Meant to Be (Theory of a Deadman) - My younger daughter introduced me to this song.

13. Sweet Sixteen (B.B. King) - King of the blues.

14. Jackie Blue (Ozark Mountain Daredevils) - Was this a one-hit-wonder? Offhand I can't think of anything else they did.

15. We Bow in its Aura (Veil of Maya) - Death Metal. It's what my son listens to these days.

Are you curious?

After reading yesterday's entry, those of you who follow my blog closely might be asking this question:

"If you and your husband just celebrated your 25th wedding anniversary, then how is it you have a 30 year old daughter?"

Good question and one easily answered. When we married, it was a package deal with his daughter as an added bonus. My husband had custody, so she spent the majority of her "growing up" in our home. I helped raise her, dealt with her teenage years, put up with the bad as well as the good. I love her and she loves me. So, by golly, I'm gonna claim her as my own! Only when technicalities are necessary do I refer to her as my "step".

There. Does that clear things up?

Silver

When my husband and I eloped 25 years ago, I didn't give much thought to the distant future. Or at least that's what a "silver wedding anniversary" seemed like at the time.

Most years we don't do much celebrating (neither of us are particularly romantic) and only a handful of the gifts we've exchanged were memorable. I've blogged before about the shotgun I received for our first anniversary... probably the best gift! On our fifth I received a diamond ring since I'd only had a gold band up to that point. We gave each other desk chairs on our 10th.

There were several ideas tossed around over the past few months for gift possibilities this year. It was a "big one" and we wanted to do it up right. However, we woke on the day of our anniversary and nothing had been decided. Or so I thought. My dear, sweet husband totally surprised me with the necklace pictured here! Isn't it beautiful?!


After a fairly routine morning (with the exception of my surprise gift!) and a light lunch we set out. First stop was Simmons Sporting Goods in Bastrop, LA. He'd had his eye on a particular shotgun for several months and wanted to see one in real life. It passed his inspection and ended up being my anniversary gift to him. From there we headed south to Monroe, LA to the Sams Club warehouse store. We picked up a few items we needed along with a Bose docking station for my iPod. How about that.... I ended up with TWO great gifts!! We finished the evening with dinner in West Monroe before heading back to Arkansas.

In some ways it seems like just the other day that we got married. In other ways...it seems like an eternity! Sure, we've had our ups and downs (it wouldn't be normal if we hadn't), but looking back the good far outweighs the bad. God has truly blessed us!

Delicious and Suspicious by Riley Adams

I've mentioned before how much I enjoy "cozy mysteries". If you're not sure what a "cozy" is, take a look at these guest posts at Dorte's blog by cozy authors Jackie Fullerton and Elizabeth Spann Craig.

Over the weekend I finished the first in a new cozy series by Elizabeth Spann Craig written under the pen name Riley Adams. Delicious and Suspicious totally fits the bill as far as cozies go. I loved it! Set in Memphis, TN, it's filled with assorted references to Elvis, ducks at the Peabody, plenty of quirky characters, lots of humor, and enough suspects to keep you guessing. If you can make it through the book without a strong hankering for BBQ, you're a stronger person than I am. Fortunately the back of the book includes a section of recipes. You can be sure I'm going to try the one for Pulled Pork Barbeque and Sauce! I'll let you know how it turns out. In the meantime, if you'd like another opinion of the book you can read Dorte's review here.

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Salad

We had this earlier in the week and it was very good. I didn't have any watercress so I served it on a bed of spinach and red butter lettuce. The recipe came from the July 2010 issue of Southern Living and can be found here.

My life (so far) in books this year

Dorte had a fun entry on her blog yesterday and encouraged others to join in so I thought I'd give it a try. She mostly reads crime fiction, but I had to stick with a broader selection. If you decide to play, please come back and leave a link to your post in the comments! Here's what I came up with to answer the questions:



In high school I was: The Girl Who Played With Fire (Stieg Larsson)

People might be surprised I'm: Infected (Scott Sigler)

I will never be: Contagious (Scott Sigler)

My fantasy job is: Queen Victoria Demon Hunter (A.E. Moorat)

At the end of a long day I need: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (Alexander McCall Smith)

I hate it when: Your Heart Belongs To Me (Dean Koontz)

Wish I had: Revelation (C.J. Sansom)

My family reunions are: Relentless (Dean Koontz)

At a party you'd find me with: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Stieg Larsson)

I've never been to: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)

A happy day includes: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)

Motto I live by: Listen (Rene Gutteridge)

On my bucket list: Beat the Reaper (Josh Bazell)

In my next life, I want to be: Delicious and Suspicious (Riley Adams)*


*I'm still reading this one, but used it anyway.

update: Marion and Pam have left their lists in the comments. Click here to see Tracy's post and here for Cathy's.

Ouch!

Our outside dogs have an entirely different lifestyle than our inside girls. They might not have the luxury of a controlled climate, but they have the freedom to go and do as they please. On these hot summer days they spend the bulk of the daylight hours close to home, saving their roaming for early morning or during the night.

They like to spread out on the cool concrete under the carport.
Jed sat up to pose for me.


Blue has a burrow in the cool earth under the hydrangea bush. She peeked out at me with her one blue eye.


Mama Dog had a run-in with something the other night, probably a raccoon or possum. Don't worry... the vet put her on antibiotics and it hasn't slowed her down in the least. Blue has a few marks on her face, too, but nothing like poor Mama Dog!

The Watchers

It was a busy summer and this remained only half worked for months. A few focused "puzzling sessions" completed it.

The Watchers

by Jack Williams

Refreshing

The heat and humidity have been oppresive recently. This verse (Isaiah 58:11) appeared in one of my devotional readings over the weekend. I found it nourishing on more than just a spiritual level.

"The LORD will guide you always;
He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail."