Thursday, July 28, 2011

Blogging From Home

My husband cleaned out the computer, using his air compressor (a thing I had seen many times, but never connected to computer cleaning). I'm sorry to say that Samson was right and the computer was very, very dusty inside. No wonder it would shut down and get over-heated. Well, it still shuts down, so something else is wrong, but I am writing this from home, so we'll see how long it will stay on.

Today, I'm going to the diabetes support group meeting in town and then to the library. I read all those books I got from there last time so fast and I'm looking forward to getting some more. I got some really good books for my birthday and once these computer problems are over with, I will start my Wednesday's Book again. I am saving one of the books, the one by Peter Hessler whose books from China I really love. It will be a treat for later on. In this heat, the easy and fast to read library books work better for me. I guess it's what they call beach reads, though there is no beach within sight here it is still summer and easy living.

How I miss blogging! I miss taking pictures and posting, and most of all I miss all of you guys. With this written at home, I will be able to read some blogs at the library. I won't have time to read all of them -- you get 60 minutes on their computers and I have to do week five of a health survey put out by the University of California benefits department. Once you complete six weeks, you get a $100.00 gift certificate. In prior years, I always chose a gift certificate for Home Depot for practical things, but this year I think I will splurge on something fun instead, like books and movies, perhaps.

My computer still feels cool and it has now been on for well over half an hour. It must be feeling pretty good. This is huge, but I will leave it like this for now and not try to download any photos today. I have to get ready to go to town.

Thanks for all your comments and for hanging in there with me while I was having computer issues. I'm so looking forward to visiting at least some blogs later today.

Samson says hello to Gracie and says he doesn't mind her being older. He says he's got his Angel here and she's going on 13 after all. And he says he's crazy about her too, but in a brotherly way. He sends Gracie all his love and, yes, he's learned to cop an attitude from reading her diary whenever her mommy posts it.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Another Update From the Library

Welcome Carol, fishducky, and Brian, new followers of Desert Canyon Living. 

I'm at the library again. I don't get to town often or you would see more updates. We are all doing well and having fun in the canyon; this is what's happening:

Today, I stopped by the computer repair shop in town and it may not be too expensive to get my computer fixed. I believe it is a mechanical problem, not something wrong with the hard drive or the software. The woman in the shop said something may have worn out too. I will try to bring it in next week sometime and we'll see. Hopefully, I can manage to get it fixed and get back to blogging and reading blogs soon. I miss you all so much by now. It has been far too long. It feels really strange to blog without pictures. Samson, of course had his opinion on the computer problem, blaming me. So what else is new? He may not be totally wrong though.

Samson Says:

I'll let you in on a little secrect: Mommy has completely IGNORED her computer for the longest time! She hasn't taken any time to try to figure out what's wrong. Im peeved -- it has been weeks since I last laid eyes on Gracie (that's his blogger girlfriend)  and what's Mommy doing? Running around with Daddy everywhere, driving that old raggedy pickup truck, wearing her cowboy boots and hat, acting like she thinks she's somebody! Since she paid no attention to her little computer problem, I had to step up and take charge.

She's got a bunch of stuff in front of the electric cords and computer cables because she thinks I'm gonna chew on them. Hello! Who was just two years old? Me! I don't chew on her stuff any more.

So I snuck back there and what I saw, would shock you! I'm sure you all keep all your cords and stuff in the back dusted and neat. What I saw behind our computer was enough to make anyone want to shut down. Dust, dust, and even some of my fur was gathered back there.

So she has to come in from outside, stop playing with Daddy, and clean up around here. I mean, she's not the only one who blogs in this family. No consideration......

Since the computer goes on for a while and then shuts down, I think it has a fan problem. I think it gets too hot, just like me in the summertime. If Mommy wasn't so lazy about it, she could at least have checked it out by now.

Well, she let me blog and I got this far -- maybe the computer is feeling better now. I hope we can read some blogs soon too so I can find out what you all and my Gracie have been up to. I miss you lots. Have a nice day everyone!

Posted by Samson, the Samoyed Pup

Mommy Says: Thanks a lot Samson, you are such a clever dog! And I will take it in to the shop soon. And get one of those air compressor thingys. And I have now taken your advice and vacuumed! (I got Samson's post written at home, but couldn't post it.)

Soldier's Story:

Soldier is getting old. It happens so fast with some dogs. He is eleven now and has arthritis, is going deaf, and seems a bit disoriented at times. But he eats, guards, and is very happy to go on his walks. He also chases and kills any critter that comes in the dog enclosure. Well, almost any critter, sometimes he meets his match. The other day, I saw him out there spitting and coughing and looking like he was in trouble. So I rushed out and found he had tried to kill a little toad. I found out that toads release a poison that is unpleasant to predators and looking at poor Soldier, it was a very, very unpleasant experience, indeed. I put the little toad outside the fence and it seemed relatively unhurt, so its poison came in handy.

Then yesterday, we had the strangest experience. We were being stalked by a coyote! Soldier and I walked up to the barn and a pack of about four coyotes were next to it. Three of them ran up the hillside, stopped and looked a few times, but continued on. That's typical coyote behavior when we run into them. We see them often and we have never been challenged by one.

But one of them may have sensed Soldier's vulnerability since he has a limp now or maybe it was just an agressive animal. Hungry too maybe. I'm guessing here, but it stopped, turned toward us and made that coyote sound, yapping, yipping, that I hear at night when they gather their packs. I assumed they made that sound after they caught their prey, but this one continued with the sound the entire time it was following us. And follow us it did. I stopped when it stopped and we stared at each other. Soldier stared too, but was neither worried nor wanting to attack. His hackles were raised though and he was on the alert, had he been younger..... The donkeys next door were braying like crazy and the atmosphere was strange. I was glad it was only a coyote, not a bear or a mountain lion, because it felt weird. I turned around and Soldier and I slowly walked back to the house. I thought the coyote would just leave, but to my surprise it didn't. It followed us or ran at our side a bit off the road, but not far at all. Hidden by the junipers for most of the trip, but its yapping continued and was so loud that my husband got worried and was about to come out and check on us. After we reached the house, the coyote stopped behind the junipers and continued yapping for a few minutes before it finally took off.

This was the first time I have been stalked by a wild animal and while it was interesting and not all that scary, it still was a very strange feeling. 

I guess I should mention that while she has had no adventures to speak of, Angel is doing fine. She is older than Soldier, but is now beginning to seem younger. And how I wish I had some pictures to share with you. I guess I could download some from Picasa, but I am running out of time and email awaits me.

This was a longer post than I planned, but I just had to tell you about our adventures.

Thanks for your comments and I hope to have my computer problems resolved soon.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Update from a Kern County, California, Library

First, thank you so much for all your well wishes. After I posted last time, my computer sputtered and finally refused to come on at all. I decided to take a break from it all, but will look into it sometime soon. Of course I have missed you all and I am wondering what is going on with everyone. It is amazing how close I feel to you all.

Right before my computer conked out, I really, really went through and read all my follower's blogs. And all those I follow too. I wanted to find out who was who and what was going on. Then I had wanted to organzie a few things, but that has to wait now.

All is well in the canyon. My husband and I have worked pretty hard in the past week. Well, he has worked the hardest, of course. He dug a trench and put in pipes so our washing machine could be hooked up. And it has been, so no more laundromat for me! So great!

We have also moved everything that could be considered a fire hazard and cleaned up around the house and shed. Then we took everything out of the shed and organized it, this so we could reach the washing machine, which was buried, pretty much. And, finally, grading around the house for fire safety. A lot of work has been done and we are both happy about it. I have looked forward to having my hubby home here and working with him on all these things for years now. As those of you who have followed me for a while know.

On the fourth of July, while he was busy cooking outside, the sky opened up, marble sized hail fell, and I had to run to the cars to close windows. It was amazing, fun, but the hail really hurt as it fell on my head. And for the past several days, the weather has been humid and it has rained every day. Strange for our desert canyon, but nice also.

For my back, I have decided to try Fosomax after getting a second opinion. We'll see how that will work out.

I think I have some new followers, I haven't looked at my blog yet. Welcome and I will do a better welcome once I get my computer together at home. It says I have 19 minutes left here, so I have to go and check my email too.

I will stay in touch, take care and thanks for all your comments and good wishes.

Oh, today is Samson's birthday! He is two! And he got to ride with his Daddy to the gas station this morning. And go for a walk. He was a very happy doggie!

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