Brrrrrrrrrrrr, Baby!

Baby, it’s cold outside.

On Wednesday, we left MAF in my boss’ jet for a multiple destination trip.  First, Calgary.  Weather prohibited that stop.  So, off we went to Williston, N.D. for my first trip there!  I was excited, and dressed for cold weather.

Now mind you, in Midland, Texas, it was 80 degrees.

Holy moly.

Cold, much less cold to this girl, was an understatement.  So glad I dressed warmly.

We finished our business there, ate lunch, and headed to Minot, N.D..

People, let me tell you, the weather in Minot made Williston look like a summer at the beach.

That wind is BITING cold.

When we left Minot, the snow was blowing so hard we couldn’t see the runway.  I was so glad when we lifted off and got 30 minutes away from there!

We were landing in Midland in less than 3 hours.  A busy day, for sure, but I got to see some beautiful country.

I woke up yesterday to freezing rain.  Which worsened to sleet and ice.  In our semi-small town, we had 92 wrecks yesterday in between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.  That’s craziness.  We just are not used to icy conditions.

Last night, around 8 p.m.  - 24 ° in Midland, Texas.

Today, it’s worse.  We are all staying in, working from home.  ThatManILove has gone to the store, because our cupboards were bare - we were to be in Dallas this weekend.  And hopefully, he’ll bring home extra hot Starbucks.

Y’all be safe out there, wherever you are.

You’re SO worth it.

Silent Sunday - Spring Arrives

Crepe Myrtle

Snow Ice Cream vs….Bahama Bucks?

Snow?

In January?

In West Texas?  Where, last week, it was probably 60 or 70 degrees?  And then, it snowed? Ah, well, one thing is certain about this part of the country:  you never know what the weather’s going to be like.

We definitely need the moisture.

Not that we had enough snow in Midland to build a snowman...much less, make snow ice cream.

But that’s why we have Bahama Bucks, baby!  Year-round snow cones!  And gooooooood ones.

I might as well spread them on my derriere, because that’s exactly where they end up...eventually, anyway.

But you’d be proud of me...I’ve not had one this year. Not yet, anyway.

Bahama Bucks may go bankrupt without my every other day business.

My favorite order there?

Birthday Cake.  With Cream.  Snowcone.

It’s the B.O.M.B., I’m telling you.  Tastes just like snow ice cream, with sprinkles. 

I’ve tried the same version in skinny....it just doesn’t do it for me.

It's Nicole's fault I ever tried Bahama Bucks.  Though, it's not her fault I now have become a top patron.

Anyway, I’m going to try to stay away from that establishment...cut down my visits to every once in a while instead of every once in a day.

A.d.d.i.c.t.e.d.

So, how's your New Year going?

Beautiful, Furry Things - Part 6 of the "North, To Alaska!" Series

I have lots to tell you, but I’m exhausted.  Please bear with me as I catch my breath.

Instead, I’ll just leave you with a couple more Alaska pictures.  Eye candy from Alaska.

I’ll catch up tomorrow.  I promise.  And our host Ron took the moose pix.  I cannot tell a lie.

Mommy and Baby in the Front Yard of Eagle Head Cabins

Aren't They Beautiful?

I was waiting on this bad boy.  He's scratching his head.

He's a yearling brown bear (really kind of blonde), about 6' tall.

A little blurry.  I might have been shaking when I took this.

The Buzz....in the Wall....in my House....

If you’ve been following my blog, you already know I didn’t sleep last night.

I heard a noise in one of my interior walls in my house, and told ThatManILove about it.  He had me call the electrician this morning, and they came out about 9:45 a.m.  I was in a meeting, so had my friend Martha come open the door and show them the wall.

Could they hear a freakin’ thing?

No.

They called me, and told me so.   It turns out that one of the electricians has recently married one of my good friends, and he recognized my name.  I immediately felt better. I had a brain wave, and asked him to do something for me.  Two things, exactly.

ThatManILove has installed security lights in the trees, and around the perimeter of our house.    He has these lights on a timer.  Unfortunately, one of our trees is so tall, and the electricians put a light waaaayyyyyy up in the top.  And that light...was out.

So, here were my requests.

 Will you please go up in the attic and check things out, just to make sure nothing’s wrong?

And will you check all the lights around the house, and in that tree, and make sure that they are all working?  Change out the burned-out lights?

The electrician went up in the attic, and nothing was buzzing or humming. 

So, they went to work on the security lighting.  And turned them on to test them.

And guess what?

They heard the noise. 

In the wall.

THEY HEARD THE NOISE!

They started tracing the problem, and found it was tied to the security lights.  Whenever the original electricians had installed the lighting, they had run the wires into the house, and had attached them to one of the studs at the front of the house.  

Over time, the attachment thingy had worked its way loose from the stud, and in some sort of “the thigh bone is connected to the leg bone” way, 30’ down the wall, was causing another stud to vibrate.

And thusly, the mystery of the vibrating buzzing “Oh my God I hope it’s not a short!” wall was served.

And I can breathe again.

Thanks, Clint, for pushing through and finding the solution.

And thanks, Lord, for putting the right electrician at my house today.  I am thankful.

It's Wednesday night (though this will post Thursday morning).  My dogs are snoring.  And I'm tired. So, now, I'm gonna try to go to sleep.  And while I sleep, maybe another miracle will happen, and I'll wake up looking like that picture of that beautiful girl I posted yesterday.

Blessings to each of you, and thanks for your comments.

Sleep.  Sleep.  I need sleep.

Got Gas?

It’s cold in my little corner of the desert.  Way cold.

ThatManILove has been freezing his butt off out in the field, but at least he has accommodations on location. 

Zanna the WonderDog has been working with her trainer.  Hopefully, she’ll return home tomorrow.  

Zack the WonderDog slit his leg open last week hunting, so he’s been recuperating at the house.  He gets his stitches out tomorrow.

So...with Zanna and ThatManILove out of town, Zack has been taking full advantage of sleeping in my bed.  And to be honest, he’s been a welcome source of heat as wind chill takes us 5 degrees below zero the last couple of days.   Us West Texans just don’t know how to operate when it’s that cold, ya know?

So, yeah, when I’m home, I’m glad Zack’s all cuddled up beside me.  Well, most of the time.

When he has gas?

Oh. My.

It. Is. Horrible.

I want to wake him up, and banish him to his kennel immediately;  however, the damage is already done.

And it’s cold.

But I told you that already.