Farewell

Without too much fanfare, we released the last 2 surviving rabbits into the wild. The milk supplement was not as enticing as free grass. They happily chomp on the damp greens and slowly disappeared into the brush.
Lesson learned: rabbits are fragile, and milk supplement is expensive.

Day 4

Today is day 4 since these furballs moved in.

We are 1 less this morning, the runt did not make it through the night.

They are dropper fed twice daily, may I reiterate DROPPER.

What we heard this mornig

The door swings open, the resident Elf Lord appears holding her right shoe. "I have to clean off poop from my shoe!"
Elf Lord's Mom said, "Clean it off on the grass."
Elf Lord, "That was how I got dog poop on my shoe! The poop was hiding in the tall grass!"

The solution to this problem, clean the shoe on the grass.
This time use the grass in front of the house, where there is no dog poop, yet.

More babies in the house

Before the grandparents get too excited, these are not technically babies to keep. We heard squeak, squeak, looked over and the neighbour's dog is chasing after something. Lo and behold, that looks like a bunny. 2 grown men started foraging under the bushes and we ended up the night doing this ..... All FOUR of them. Can someone say glutton for punishment?

STS 133 - Mission Complete

After 27 years, the last time from the Legend, "Wheels Stopped".
Space Shuttle Discovery touched down on runway 1-5 at 11:58:14 AM on March 9th 2011. A beautiful text book landing under vivid clear blue skies.

A successful landing filled with plenty of sadness as the another chapter of the space program ends.
The next generation will not want to be astronauts because there are no more missions for them. No one will think of flying to space because there is no direction. I hope that NASA continues to quest for more and further into the unknown. More will look up from their cell phones and into textbooks finding out how to reach higher.

2 missions remaining for the shuttle program. Hopefully more will be added because we can and should. Imagine sending another teacher into space. Imagine bringing a classroom lesson into space. Why do some plants grow faster in weightlessness, let's watch. We need something for the whole world to cheer for. The enormous International Space Station is a major feat of mankind, building a survival pod in space. But this scientific victory is overshadowed by simplicity of Sheen rants.
*tissue time.

Watching for the last time....

Glued to the computer as I watch the last landing of Space Shuttle Discovery .

Only a nerd will really appreciate the monstrosity and the sadness of this mission.

This is the last mission of Discovery, a permanent marker will be place on the runway depicting the final stop of the shuttle. A total of 39 missions into space, this vessel has brought a lot of experimental technology into daily necessity. This is not the first landing I have kept up with, but each landing is filled with so much engineering excitement and adrenaline, the rolls to dissipate heat and decelerate, burning of plasma, the smooth glide to mission complete. Oh yeah, my kind of fun.

My dogs are looking at me, wondering why I am rocking with so much anticipation.

Streaming live video by Ustream

10 months till Christmas

Hopefully 10 months is enough time to figure out who gets this one .....

What time is it?

This is a sign in Washington D.C. Better hope you have the correct time in your car.
You can bet that those who are from out of town, are heading in the wrong direction.

Attack of the Squirrels.... Part 2

Ohio squirrel attacks frozen pumpkins in the snow.

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Cute grey squirrels in Washington D.C. are so people friendly, they let you get close for a picture.

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Washington D.C. squirrels attack trash cans instead of pumpkins.

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They are still cute.

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But cute city squirrels can also do this .......

ATTACK OF THE SQUIRRELS

BE AFRAID

BE VERY AFRAID .... watch out Grandma D.

Attack of the Squirrels ... Part 1

See pumpkin from Halloween.....

See squirrel attack pumpkin .....

Hungry squirrel ......

2011

Lessons to learn or experiment in the new year.

*Planting corn further away from the fence (daggone deer, quit eating my corn)
*Fattening up the smallest dog to the same size as the rest of the pack, so she does not feel so left out. She may calm down too, or she is too fat to fight back.
*Hide extra gloves, hat and scarfs in the trunk.
*Tie a string to the remote control - we won't lose it and makes it easier to fish from under the couch.
*Brush my teeth, brush the dog's teeth, with different brushes of course. But they have beef flavoured paste, tastes doggone good.
*When baking, use non-stick spray followed by a dusting of SUGAR for a crunchy non-stick crust.
*Find a substitude for SOUR CREAM, since Big Bad Papa "do not eat sour cream". (although I have gotten away with it before)

I am sure we have more to add to this list.

2010

Some Lessons Learnt in 2010

*The smallest dog in the pack may be the most vicious dog.
*Planting corn close to the fence only means you are feeding the deer next door.
*When travelling in Winter, make sure to pack 3 pairs of gloves, hats and scarfs; especially since we forgot at 2 pairs of gloves, hats and scarfs.
*Not matter how big the car looks, we always need more room when we travel.
*Getting new fish with big bellies only means more fish in a few days.
*Half a steer and half a hog will not fit into our freezer.
*Beef tajine, Morrocan beef stew, is really easy and satisfying.
*If you introduce "Papa was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations to a 7 year old, you will hear it for the next 2 weeks.
*New Kids on the Block have grown into Old Boys from the Block, but they still rock.
*If you introduce New Kids on the Block to a 7 year old, you will see her sing and dance for 3 minutes. Quite entertaining though.
*If you put Michael Jackson on the tele, a 7 year old can mimic his dance moves and leave you alone until the special ends in 3 hours, after which she will ask to watch it again. Just say yes.
*If a dumpling is steaming, there is a good chance the mouth and tongue will be burnt if you do not wait.
*Should ask why there is a job vacancy - did the hostile monster eat the previous occupant.
*If someone brags about their guns, they are likely carrying a gun illegally.
*Always measure the walls before buying furniture.
*Always measure the door openings before buying a refrigerator.
*If the dog is chewing on a brown "popsicle" in the snow, brush dog's teeth before getting kisses.
*Soup is a pretty good crowd pleaser, but figure that you will lose half of it on the way to potluck.
*That 84 year old guy can out run you or me, he is out dancing every Friday.
*How to get the attention the police officer for a non-emergency? Chase after a cruiser, I did.

Another problem with snow

Jellii has to bring in her new toys.

Ahhh shucks....

The coaches shook hands.....

Not the dramatic ending I was hoping for.

But at least Brady broke Favre's record.... now I need to see his Ugg's commercial.

"If you lose say little, if you win say less." Brady qoutes Belichick. Classy.

The difficult choice.....

Going back a few decades, (I am old enough to count by decades)home was an apartment in Downtown Crossing in Boston Massachusetts. The streets of Manhatten was the playground for summer and whenever I can share gas money.

Boston and New York are my other hometowns that I claim.

On this night, I am not sure who to cheer for (actually I do), JETS or PATS?

The Jets are getting their wings clipped and beaks duct-taped by Papa Belichek and his posse. Nothing too violent, just good plays and execution by Snoop Belichick. Experience reigns as the Pats pound the Jets into the slush, with 2 minutes left, the heartbreaking score 45-3. Ahh a few more drinking in the Big Apple tonight. Sanchez and Ryan, licking their wounds coughing up fur balls all the way home.

The best part to watch, will the coaches brawl in the middle of the field.
*watching ......

more spuds

dig

While the temperature was warmer.

Kale

That was kale from our garden.

Scenes I missed

Sweet potato

Spuudssss

More digging

Cake ..... mmmm

Butter with chocolate frosting.

Christmas Hint

Hint, hint, hint..... or little round eyes batting lashes pleading.

ooops

Caught in bed!

Yeah

Another lazy day.

Welcome to the JUNGLE

How cold?

There Goes the Beer

*this video is late because it had to be converted from one format to another.

I wonder why we were cheering, the beer wagon was leaving, with the beer while we were left holding the cameras as witness(?)

What's In Your Wallet?

Big Angry Viking's wallet was stolen, his Capital One Card was indeed in his wallet.

Beer convoy

This is how we move beer around here.

Actually the Budweiser Clydesdale are in town, beer wagon and puppy included.

Knight

A. Knight in Ohio.

All Cracked up

Contaminated Eggs

* Checking the date on the carton.

Are you cracking up yet

Just in case the virtual salmonella hasn't hit you yet,

Here is one to get you cracking:

Shhh .. I am hiding my secret identity .... The Melon Bandit!

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Is my disguise working?

Melon Bandit?

So the garden swells with the over growth of sweet potato vines, more leaves than fruit tomato plants, half eaten (by the neighbourhood deer) corn, and a few surprise cantaloupe.

Yeap, these city folks got some melons in 'em vegetable patch.

Then in a blink ( a few unguarded seconds) a war erupted between Elmer Fudd (wanna be) and the Melon Bandit.

At the rate the fortress is expanding, we should have a few boys from the National Guard stand next to the multi-layered defence erected around a few melons.

Here is the evidence, notice little teeth marks from chewing and carrying to Mommy.

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Oh yeah, the Melon Bandit is sooooo sorry.

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Yeah right .... I am so cute, I get away with everything ... so far.

(Cucumbers, melon, Victoria's favorite left shoe, every stuffed animal, phone book, piss on daddy's side of the bed.)

Before and After

Before ... Blue Walls

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After ..... Brighter Blue Walls

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Really bright blue walls

Learn a new line

New Line:

"It is fun to hang a pirate."

- "Gunner", Hans "Dolph" Lundgren, The Expendables