My 1 year Anniversary and why do we blog?

I had no idea what blogging was, last year at this time. I wasn't sure how to access blogs..and once I found out how to do so, I had to figure out how to find people with like interests. My world opened up! So here I am, 222 posts later, who would of guessed!

Initially it started because my daughters blogged. I really didn't think I had anything to say that anyone else may care to read about, but the challenge was there.

I guess I may be a closet " kinda, sorta, wanna be writer" (of what I don't know!) Maybe you are too!

The ironic part is I write for a living..sorta crazy I guess.
I write all day long, and then come home and (time permitting)
either write or read some more.

I have found new friends, and read about your lives and families (both two legged and four legged). Many of you I can so relate too, either because you are in a place I was in when I was younger, or you are in a place in this time of your life I am in now!

I have talked about my faith, my politics, my family, my critters, my roadtrips and the weather with our wet & gray Pacific NW.

I have rambled about miscellaneous nothing, and about personal loss. I have been encouraged and comforted by you, people who I don't know, but who have taken the time to hit the "comment" button to say something to me.

Blogging is huge, it is a means to communicate and have contact with others. Did you know we were created to need others? No wonder this blogging stuff is so huge.

People who feel lonely, or low, who feel something is missing in their lives...blog.

People who are outgoing and have so much to say, who are naturally like a magnet to other people, they blog as an extension of their outgoing nature.

People who have strong feelings about their faith, their politics, and their hobbies and interests...they blog.

People who are shy, can blog as if they are not.

If you have a lot or a little, no worries...we are all on the same playing field in the Blog-sphere.

I don't have to know what your house looks like, if it is big or small, new or old. I don't need to know how it is furnished, if it is clean, or a mess. I don't have to know if you shop at the mall, or at the second hand store...it doesn't matter... ( I will say it can make for a fun blog though to hear about your bargain finds!).

So, as my 1 year Anniversary is technically coming upon me, I want to say ...

Thank You, to all of you.

Thanks for coming by, and for letting me come visit you.
Thanks for having the faith to add yourself as a follower on my Blog, and for leaving comments to encourage me and make me smile.

I have had a fun year, and more then anything have enjoyed your Blogs during this time..
Thank You!
Jan

Giving Thanks..with an Attitude of Gratitude.

To all of you in the Blogger-sphere...I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Dinner time...winter, spring, summer, or fall...

Some things do not change...

Even as I sit here and share Betsy's dinner time look, I know that when I get up in a few minutes and go down to the barn, this is who will be waiting for me.

Hello mom, where is our dinner????

When I was horseless after years of having horses and my kids were small, I would wake up feeling panic...

I forgot to feed the horse!

Oh wait, I don't have a horse...

That was not just once or twice, but many many times.
I suspect that the day will come when I may again not have horses, as they really are pretty expensive pasture ornaments.

There was a time when I was young, I could never imagine being without horses. As I get older..I understand how life brings change, and this may also be a change in my life someday, to again be horseless.

When that time happens, I suspect it will be like losing a part of who I am.
You know, we have "O Heavens To Betsy" who is 14 and have had her since she was 6 months old.

We also have Zoe (Nugget A Gold) who is 18, and we have had her since she was 2. Some of you folks don't have kids that old!

So, no matter what, I will always be a horse woman...with or without a horse.
It is who I am.

Heathcare Reform..gotta love this Van.. wish there were more like it....

I received an email recently, and could not pass up the opportunity to share this one.
I have asked this same question...shouldn't it make you skeptical of this government plan?

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.

--John Adams

Give the people the same health care as their elected officials!!!

Fight organized crime: Re-elect no one...

Veterns Day.. Thanks to all you Vet's!

What a great day to remember those who are serving our Country and those who have already served our Country. Especially those who have given their lives for us to live in this amazing free Country.

God Bless them, and their families, and I mean that in the most sincere sense. My prayers are with you.

When I got married in my early 20's my husband Mike was drafted into the Army shortly after we got married. I had two brothers who signed up for the Navy at the time, and my (current) husband Ken, was part of our High School group who also signed up for the Navy.

While we lived off base, my first husband was fortunate to be assigned duty at Ft Lewis here in Washington, for 1 of the 2 years he served.

The second year of his duty he went to Nam. He came home safe and sound, as my brothers did, and Ken did, and many of our friends did. We had very close friends who did not come home safe and alive.

I was in 4-H as a teenager, and we had a club member named Johnny Wolf. Johnny had a little palomino mare, named Cindy. We all loved Johnny Wolf, he was funny, and cute, and the life of the party... well our 4-H party!

He was the only son in a family with 5 sisters. Johnny was also drafted and went to Viet Nam.

He was not there long, before he came back home.

His name is one of those names on the Viet Nam wall. I will never forget Johnny Wolf, and in my mind and heart I see a 18 year old tall thin teenage boy with blond hair, riding his little palomino mare, Cindy.

My father is buried at the National Cemetery in Auburn Washington. He had been a member of the Army Air Corps during WWII. He told us of losing his closest friends in that war, and I know he never forgot them to the day he died.

One of my greatest fears is that our young people may forget what hero's were born and lived in the previous generations, as well as this generation.

My fathers generation is sometimes called the Greatest Generation... I don't doubt that at all, when hearing those amazing stories of WWII.

I fly the American flag in honor of all of them, and feel tingles when I hear the Star Spangled Banner. I really do love America.

Is it only me, or do others feel we are loosing what our Country was founded on.

Like a lobster in a pot turned on to boil... it seems like many are oblivious that our rights are being taken from us a little at a time (maybe not so little at this point).

So, back to the theme of this post. If you have a Veteran in your house, or a member of the Armed Forces... tell them Thank You from Jan. And give them a hug!

Hello..I am back! Just general rambling,while medicated!

Jumping and skipping, yep that is me !

I am hopping and skipping.. well not really... but compared to 5 days ago, much better. It was the "flu" yes.. my Doc said since the only flu going around is the "Swine Flu", we assume that was it.

I worked yesterday and part of today.. decided not to push it and left early today.
Doc said, as long as temp was gone for 24 hours, not contagious, just do smart stuff like cover your mouth when you cough (DAH!)

So on to the post. We got a new printer recently, and while I was down and out I spent 2 hours on the phone with HP getting the scanner to work with my Mac..that HP guy was a patient jewel, and he got me up and running. I had him on speaker phone, and he would tell me to get myself some water, or medicine or whatever...what a guy!
I give HP a A+ on Customer Service!

So, once that was done while on "down" time, I have found that if I am sitting, I can be scanning old pictures...

My oh my.. I should show you some, don't you think????

You are so going to get so tired of my old pictures ...go ahead, roll your eyes!

I understand (remember they say I am OCD!)...
OK, here we go...


My mom, young and very good looking all dressed up for... I have no idea what!

Below, a picture of me, Tamis (of A Day in the Life) , and my sister Chrys. I think Tamis was about 3.

We had several ponies, and I think this particular one was "Pony Face"

As I recall, he was a bugger, Tamis gets to hold him for the picture and Brea is just enjoying the ride :)
I actually used a feature on the new copier that let me scan this from an old negative. That is why the color isn't there, the negative is so old (sorry Tamis and Brea, I guess that dates you as well !)


And, I love this picture...this was our last pony..and the most wonderful pony ever. Her name was Misty . This was the perfect pony, and I wish I had one just like her now...

She was getting a bath, Brea is scrubbing, you can see Tamis's shoes..she must be holding the pony...again!



This picture below is my ex husbands grandmother, her name was Severina, and she would come to our house and spend hours with Tamis.
Tamis was 5 years older then her sister, so Gramma was her best friend for those 5 years. I believe this is why Tamis is so patient with old folks (like me).

Notice our little parakeet Peppy, he was wonderful, and Gramma did not seem to mind him hanging out with her.

OK.. had to include one of the old guy, er, my other half. This was at our family cabin some years back, on a friends jet sky...

Thanks for hanging in to the end here!!!

So...I sure hope everyone has a healthy fun weekend, I know mine will be better then last weekend!

PS... for all of you party girls from VGNO from over at Ann Again and Again.....I raise my toast of Cough Medicine with you all. Happy VGNO!

The dreaded H1N1.. , do I have a really bad cold... or the Flu?

It came on over the weekend.. and at first I thought, dang.. I caught a cold.

So I canceled all weekend fun, did pretty much zero. I did make that trip to the feed store Saturday. I was feeling worse as the day progressed, and that was pretty much it.

By Saturday night... bad sore throat, cough coming on that made me hurt, and a headache. Still thinking, bad cold. I have not had a cold or flu for a long time, so thought that it was my turn I guess.

Today, worse cough, chills and so tired. So after talking to "Nurse" daughter...I was told this sounds more like the dreaded flu. Oh double crap, not fun.

I took my temperature, 100.6, dang this sucks.

So thank goodness for the Internet, time to do some research. You know, most people who get this flu, have it like any other flu, in other words survive it!

I have read that you may not have all the symptoms, such as vomiting (I have dodged that bullet so far)...

So per the Mayo Clinic:

"Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Swine flu symptoms in humans are similar to those of infection with other flu strains:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Swine flu symptoms develop three to five days after you're exposed to the virus and continue for about eight days, starting one day before you get sick and continuing until you've recovered.

When to see a doctor
It's not necessary to call a doctor if you're generally healthy and you develop swine flu symptoms, such as fever, cough and body aches. Do call your doctor, however, if you have flu symptoms and you're pregnant or you have a chronic disease, such as emphysema or a heart condition"

I have called my boss, who I think is happy I am not bringing my little bug to work.. though, I am not happy about using sick days. Oh well. I am sick...and cant wait to be "normal".

So for the rest of you, keep doing this:


And use this ....

Scary Halloween'ers!

Really, they are very sweet children.. they really do not look like this normally.

Thank goodness it is just one time a year...
Maybe Elise will want to be a princess next year, or an Angel, yes, I vote Angel!