Unique engagement ring

Blueviolet over at A Nut in a Nut Shell dropped an entry on the 24th of this month discussing her daughter's engagement ring and had asked her readers what their engagement rings looked like (or will look like). Try as I might, I really couldn't adequately describe mine. It's not the one I really wanted because as darling as my hubby is, he's a bit of a procrastinator, and by the time he was ready to purchase the one I wanted.... well it was no longer available. The only way I could hope to get one at this point is to have it custom made and that's rather expensive.

pt4

I know it feels like I'm going on forever about this trip, but there were lots and lots of little things noticed. Even with the ones upload for this entry, there are still 140 on the flash-drive to be adjust, uploaded and shared! Top things all off, I clicked about 100 more since then that I still need to deal with it. I'm going to be going through the pictures on my computer and as I get them uploaded to my Flickr, I just may do a quick post and share a couple here and there.

I just love looking at the layers in the stone on the mountains. Every time through there is a change in certain sections closer to his hometown because they're working at widening the road up due to an increase of traffic in the area. It's good that more people are travelin through, but I am really hoping not too much is done to change the quaintness of the area.


When we go to visit, we always try to make sure to stay through the weekend. Why? Because Saturday and Sundays the Flea Market is open. You never know what you're going to find there. This time around I bought 2 pairs of new sunglasses. I had to replace my white ones because of a scratch in one of the lenses and since I could get another pair for just a few bucks more, I bought these great black ones with rhinestones on the temples. I had to promise to weed the ones I have so now I'm down to 5 pairs at home (but no two look alike). Hubby ended up buying a new full sized katana and a 3 set of smaller ones (iggy? a reminder in my email to post a picture of these sometime next week please? and a reminder on any other pix I've promised and not posted yet...thanks!).Before any smartass here asks if I bought any fleas... no, I did not. Although I think I certainly could have if I wanted to with all the animal cages we saw the day we went. Only a couple actually contained any animals though. This guy was selling the cutest little puppies. No, we did not buy a new fur-kid. I would never buy a fur baby that way because you never know what you're going to get that way. I'm a firm believer in getting the new fur-kids from the animal shelters. Save a life and all that jazz ya know?

I used to see pretty little buttercups like this everywhere in Texas, however I don't really recall seeing them here in our neighborhood. Then again, I haven't been out much since we got back thanks to this friggin arm that likes to flare up when I go out in the sun. I got talking to mom last night and through her, daddy sent a website to check out. The clothing is very expensive, but from what I hear it's worth it because the fabric is specially made to block out the UV rays. Ok, if you say so, I'd think anything long-sleeved would pretty much do that....? Not that I really want to resort to long sleeves in the summertime just so I can go outside and enjoy the sun.
Well, anyhow.... I did some wandering on the home property in a couple of areas that I normally don't go because I just don't have any real purpose to be there. However, since I was learning the "Pay attention to the small stuff" lesson, I decided to take a walk behind their shed to see if there were other flowers worth snapping. When that was a relatively fruitless trip (there was only one back there that I hadn't already clicked from elsewhere in the yard), I decided to take a walk along the back fenceline. You see, there's a barbed wire fence between the back end of the family property and the pasture of a farmer the next lot over. I found lots and lots of daisies growing there so I just HAD to grab a few shots. That one that is presently in the banner (at the time of this posting it's a daisy with a bug on it...just in case it gets changed *again* before you read this), was shot with this grouping. There was just something about the sunny little daisies contrasting with the harshness of the rusty barbed wire that I found so appealing.

A bit later that afternoon, The Neph came running into the house where I was seated, doing some needlework, and said that I had to come outside. His uncle (hubby) sent him to get me because I "had to see this". Well knowing the Neph, it was hubby's idea to get me but there may not really be anything to see. I grabbed my camera anyhow. By the time I got to the back porch, the Neph was already down the stairs and across the yard (the kid's fast). I watched for several minutes....ok maybe it was a half hour or so....as they played. Actually, the Neph played while grampa (dad) and uncle (hubby) looked on. Hubby made several trips up and down the little hill back there helping The Neph get his ride-on toys up where he needed them to be. It must have been nice for him because grampa (dad) just can't seem to keep up as well as he used to anymore.

As you can see, hubby was thoroughly enjoying himself. Yeah, that's a ciggie in his hand, I wish he'd quit. He's at least thoughtful about it and tries really hard to make sure he's the one downwind so the smoke doesn't bother anyone else. Anyway, this has got to be one of my favorite pictures this trip (with the exception of that damned cig). Why? Well, you'd need to know that getting a picture with him smiling is like pulling teeth. I have to threaten to tickle him (and sometimes actually do it) in order to get a smile on his face. With this one, I didn't have to do a blessed thing. Not that threatening him would have done any good with me all the way up on the back porch and him a good 30-40 meters away. He was just so relaxed and having so much fun with the Neph, that the smile came rather naturally. He's gonna make a great daddy someday.....

On this trip, not only was Hardees the bane of my existance (every.damned.morning.), but McDonald's got to be that way with supper. Why? Because that's where the Neph wanted to go and since he was staying at gramma and grampa's with us because we don't get to see him that often *sigh*. Thank goodness for salads. Since we're not in often, the Neph likes to "act out" or show off while we're there....just to see what he can get away with doing because we're guests. As you can see, he was really full of it this evening. I'm not sure who was having the better time; him, hubby or the older gentleman in the background.....the look on HIS face was priceless.


We got about another couple entries coming on this. I have pictures of the walk through town that hubby and I made and a few wrap up photos. I've got other pix to share that I clicked after we got back...just little odds and ends. If you simply cannot wait to see the rest of the trip pix...they're in the Flickr account. The link is to the right.

I also wanna apologize for not getting around to all of the blogs yesterday. There were over 100 pictures left from the trip and I got sidetracked getting them loaded, labeled and sorted. Today I gotta get the time codes adjusted on them. It's a rather big job so I may not make it in today either, I'm not sure. It all depends on how fast we get the errands and stuff done today. The blogs I did manage to peek in on made me very happy though. I seemed to have hit the trifecta yesterday...as I was mentioned in at least 3 blogs because of submissions I'd made. Thank you iggy, RedPen and MsHLP for making my day!

just another day

Today's smartass exchange:

Email from hubby:

"What food substance, of varying temperature, size, shape, and nutritional value will be served on possible various dinnerware this evening?"

My response?

"assuming the slow cooker did it's magic and the meat gets cooked all the way thru.... red."

Today's ride:
Calories burned: 373.7
trip miles: 10.67
ave mph: 21.34

silly hubby strikes again!

Yup, you read that right. He struck again. He's one that learns fast. Today's email inquiring about the night's meal read:

"What type of edible, hot or cold, on a plate or in a bowl, with
variable nutrition value, are we having tonight? "

Yeah...that's the type of man I married. Then again, I'm just the type of woman that will try as hard as she can, stretch her brain to find another smartass comment to make him try and close THAT loophole. Like iggy told me earlier, by the time all is said and done...hubby'll need to write a short novel in order to ask me what's for dinner. *laffz*

Still no snow here, plenty of cold. Not the cold that Chicago, Alaska and all points north have been having....but pretty chilly compared to what we've been having. I actually WANT my winter coat with the hood now.

Today's ride:
Calories burned: 368.4
trip miles: 10.52
ave mph: 21.04

silly husbands pt 2

So...Thursday night, our conversation goes like this:

H: (asked because I must have a full meal in my belly before my shot) Where do you want to go to breakfast tomorrow morning?

M: I dunno, havent thought that far ahead, ask me tomorrow morning.

At this point, I see the lightbulb go on over his head and smell the smoke and just KNOW what he's thinking because it's the same damn thing I'd do.

M: And I dont mean the minute you hear an obnoxious bodily function NOR when you hear the pills rattling because Im taking them NOR when I blow my nose. I mean after all that AND my feet (with or without slippers) have actually touched the floor.

Sad I felt the need to qualify that to him.

So...Friday morning, I sit up and go through the morning ritual. He hears me and comes into the bedroom....squats down, passes a hand UNDER MY FEET (I got short legs so when I sit on the edge of the bed, my feet dangle) and says:

H: Nope, feet havent touched the ground yet.

Then he starts to walk out of the room. *laffz* I told him then and there he better expect that his silly self was going to make it in my blog *again*.


Friday's shot went ...well it went. Because of the reaction last week (more than a quarter sized swelling with itching lasting around 18 hrs), we had to take another step back. Im getting sick of this, I should be done with the build up shots by now but my body's fighting it every step of the way. I brought up the weight issue again but Im guessing Im just not wording it correctly because I keep getting the "it shouldnt be because we have all sizes patients getting these shots" comments. *sigh* *Leaves it in HIS Hands*

Anyhow, while I was there, I got on the scale again. If you recall, last week I was bummed because the weight was up about 4 pounds from the last official weighing. This week the difference has been cut in half. Considering I eat before my shot AND I still had the sneakers on AND well that other stuff I mentioned last time ...this is pretty good. I should be just about down to where I was in a week or two. I have another dietitian appointment at the end of the month. I know I wont have nearly the weight loss, but with the trip away from home, Im hoping for a little leniency in this matter (especially since I at least ATTEMPTED to make smart choices while there). I doubt I'll get it though because I was supposed to be adding more veggies and fiber and I really havent done more than I had been doing other than tracking the best I can the amount of fiber I've been taking in. Im ~supposed~ to be taking in about 25-35 grams a day but most days I can account for only 20 or so. I know how much is going in my tea, how much is in the bread, how much is in my tv dinners and cereal, but when it gets to how much is in the apple and banana I eat...that's another matter. I was allowed the occasional 100 cal snack but I only allowed myself 1 splurge all month. Pretty good considering Im a sweets fiend and normally have a goodie daily (not to mention ALWAYS buying dessert when we go out to supper). I even had told her that I wasnt giving up my nightly cocoa as I found a low cal one to substituted for the full sugar one I HAD been drinking. Do you think I've gotten into that cocoa yet? Nope.

Calories burned: 316.4
Trip miles: 9.04
ave mph: 18.08

A bit slow but I'm not 100% for a couple of reasons, one being that I spent part of the night clearing my throat. I half expect that Im coming down with whatever hubby's been fighting off (he's had it at least twice now). Although Im not feeling 100%, I still managed to get on the bike AND put it up to the next tension level.

Silly husbands

So...here I am busy at the computer, listening to tunes and cleaning up the projects floatin around the laptop when my darling hubby emails me from work. His usual emails are "What ya doin? How are the kids?", basically an "I Love You and miss you lots" communications (kids referring to the furbabies). Another question that's usually sent is an inquiry about supper to which I generally send a one word response (I hear Karla already...) FOOD. Then if specifics are desired the response is : hot or cold, in a bowl or on a plate (Karla, stop laughing). Well today, hubby decided to forestall the answer he KNEW he'd get by emailling this:

"What type of edible food substance, hot or cold, that is served on a plate or
bowl, will we have this evening?"

Gotta love him.