HoundBlog

Here we are again — another Friday!! Yeah!! And, it’s RAINING!!! Double YEAH!!

Ken is on his way to Wilmington. It’s raining, so I hope he has a safe trip. He’s supposed to call me when he gets there to let me know he made it OK.

I had the priviledge of attending a premiere showing of fall fashions by the estimable Phillips Whippet Modeling company yesterday! What a delightful presentation it was! From Fall and Winter wear, to costumes, it was a comprehensive collection all designed by Ms. Phillips and modelled by those lovely, svelte models of hers, Whinney, Star and Tara. There was a record-breaking crowd of 40 in attendance. The show followed a luncheon that was comprised of such delicacies as corned beef and cabbage, vegetable casserole, red velvet cake, homemade brownies and homemade apple pie.  Photos will be posted soon.

Nothing much else going on today. Normal stuff on track for tomorrow. Ho-hum.

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning! Today is supposed to have a 60% chance of rain. Boy! We sure do need it!

I’m going to Janet’s church today to watch a fashion show. Tara and Star will be the models and they are going to model their various costumes for the ladies Sunday School class. I’m the official photographer 🙂 It’s sure to be a hoot and I can’t wait! I will be sure to post the photos into one of my albums so you all can see the fun.

Ken leaves Friday for Wilmington. He’s taking Tigger to a dog show. I know he needs the rest, though and hope 2 days is enough. He looks so tired these days.

Was called in the middle of the night last night over a problem with the system. Jeez! I thought I was pretty much through with that — guess not. Anyway, I troubleshot the problem for over two hours and it just resolved itself. Something is hogging memory on my server like mad whenever this happens and I can’t figure out what’s going on with it. When it does that, the web ap times out and my call center can’t create calls. That’s having a negative impact on our service to our customers.

Gotta figure out what’s the deal — I don’t like missing out on sleep! 😡

So, now you know what my day is going to be like! Hope yours is smooth sailing!

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning everyone! I certainly hope your day is going better than mine which started out with a phone call from the call center reporting a time-out error on the web interface — NOT a good way to begin my day at all!

It has gone about the same since I walked in the door — more challenges than normal for a Wednesday — might as well be Monday all over again.  Well, the good thing is the morning has gone by pretty quickly. 😛

The building is looking very empty these days as they are in the process of moving files and other non-essential items to the new building. Our official move date is the 25th and that’s when people and computers will be going over. I have yet to tour the site, but am supposed to this week sometime. No biggie to me if I don’t get a preview. All I really need is a desk, bookcase and computer anyway and I already have all those at home, so would be perfectly happy with no space allocated to me 😆

They cut the phone lines to our building yesterday — the construction crew next door did, so we were without phones most of the afternoon yesterday. We still had internet and email, so were not totally cut off from the world. All of that seems to be back up and running properly now.

Charlotte leaves this morning for 2 weeks in Florida with her new boyfriend. I know she will have a good time, but that leaves me with no breakfast partner for the next two weekends.

I’m going to Knoxville 11/3 & 4 for a show. I will swing by Ma’s on Saturday after I show and get checked into my hotel. I’m hoping I get those last 2 points on Butterfly. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Well, guess I should get back to work.

Love to all,

Margaret

Ken and I have been trying out Atkins (sort of) diet again. He’s losing a few pounds, but not like when we tried it last time. I’ve lost a few pounds, too. Best of all, his sugar is down to normal for the first time in nearly 2 years and he’s a much nicer person for it! It’s a challenge keeping the carbs away. We both love pasta and bread too much. And it’s challenging to find palatable things to eat out that don’t include pasta or bread.

I’ve been feeding the birds homemade foods which include a lot of organic vegetables and fruits. Thankfully I can use some of the veggies on our own menues, so it makes it not quite so expensive a prospect to feed the birds in a healthy manner. They sure look great on this diet — feathers are shiny and brightly colored and they are very active and talkative. They still get seeds and nuts — they wouldn’t be healthy without those, too, but the oatmeal, broccoli, kale, endive, carrots, cauliflower and yams help give them a balanced diet.

I had a new visitor to the birdfeeder Sunday. I thought at first that it was a catbird, but he doesn’t have the head markings of a catbird so think he’s just a mockingbird. Possibly just a young one as he didn’t seem as large as the one that came to the suet feeder last winter.

And then this morning came this guy and I have no idea what he is despite looking on the internet for similar pictures. With his dark cap and short bill I want to say he’s some sort of sparrow or finch.

The Cardinals finally have completed their molt and are looking more like Cardinals 🙂 For awhile there, they looked VERY scruffy. Heat and dryness probably contributed to thier less-than-spiffy looks.

Guess I need to get back to work.

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning! I have a couple of pictures for you that I’ve promised you.

First — Butterfly’s win photo from a couple of weeks ago where she was Best Bred by Exhibitor in Show..isn’t she gorgeous! I’m just sorry that I don’t look nicer for her!

And then, the lovely picture that the owner of my company gave me that looks so wonderful in my livingroom and the photo does not do it justice!

I had a very productive weekend. The camper is all ready for Ken to take it to NC next weekend –he and Tigger are going to a show — I got the dog room closet cleaned out and a mountain of laundry done — along with the normal vacuuming, mopping and kennel cleaning that is an everyday chore. Now I need a few days to rest, but no rest for the weary.

Got to run! I”m late for work

Love to all,

Margaret

I HATE laundry! 😡

This HAS to be the most boring job there is and it’s the one I look forward to the least of any I have to do. I feel like I’m chained to those dratted machines!

OK scientists and inventors — it’s time to put your thinking caps on and address these two time wasters. Just look how much energy, water and time you would save by inventing a closet (no, we don’t want another machine –then I would STILL be trekking the clothes from one place to another -it’s much more efficient to store them in the same place they can be cleaned in) that you can hang your dirty clothes up in and it cleans them electrostatically (or something). Or invent a fabric that never has to be cleaned. I know you’ve invented fabric that is treated to not harbor germs. Well, create one that stays perpetually fresh, neatly pressed and fits whatever body shape is in it (well, while I’m challenging the scientific world, I might as well ask for the moon, right??)

Once my laundry is done, I can go out and play. Right now, though, it’s ball-and-chained to the washer and dryer 😥

Damn!!! There goes the buzzer again! Back to work…..

Love to all,

Margaret

TGIF! Looking forward to a lovely weekend at least weather-wise. I have no firm plans for the days, so we’ll just take them as they come. There is certainly plenty to do around the homestead.

I probably should run up to Inman to check on Kathy. She was supposed to be having more tests on her brain for blood clots. She’s had 3 strokes now and is also now having epileptic siezures. Since she’s unable to work, her phone has been cut off as has her internet, so I’m unable to phone or email her.

We have 2 weeks until our move to the new building. We are supposed to go over there this afternoon to see it. It will be nice seeing it before I actually have to claim my space. No one I’ve talked to yet has been able to tell me where I’ll be located, though. I’m sure I’ll have a spot, though.

My boss gave me a picture. It’s one that’s been hanging on the 4th floor as long as I’ve worked here and I loved it from the get-go. It’s a picture of a snowy egret and it’s titled “White Heron”. Upon closer examination, it’s a numbered Audubon print (#42). I don’t know if it’s worth anything, but I don’t care as it’s value for me lies totally in it’s beauty. Little did I know when I asked for it, that it would fit so perfectly in my home. The colors of the picture and matting blend perfectly with my colorscheme and the picture is quite large and commanding and looks fantastic on my living room wall. I’ll have to photograph it for you so you can see for yourselves.

Well, it’s time I got to work.

Take care and have a wonderful weekend!

Love to all,

Margaret

What a glorious morning I woke up to! Crisp fall air, a beautiful, clear sky with the big dipper in blazing glory overhead. An awakening chorus of birdsong echoing my delight with the morning’s promise. If our weather prognosticator is to be believed, the high today will be in the low 70’s — how refreshing! And this weather pattern is supposed to hold over through the weekend. That is so lovely! The only thing missing are the colorful leaves that we usually have by now. I’m afraid the drought and hot weather is going to circumvent that event this year and I will miss it so.

I have nothing much planned for this weekend. Ken is working (as far as I know), so I will have plenty of time to get some things done without him being underfoot or distracting me from my chosen task.

I have all my stuff packed and removed from my cube in preparation of our move to the new building. That will take place on the 25th/26th.  I just have my radio and some books left to pack and those along with my computer will have to wait until the day of the move as I use them daily.

Guess I should get on with my latest report.

Have a wonderful day!

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning!

We woke up this morning to fog. While somewhat challenging to drive into work in, I welcome the fog for several reasons. It signals a change in our weather. It means the ground is warmer than the air temperature which means it’s cooler! It means there is moisture in the air which means it’s not so dry.  After weeks of miserably high temperatures and very little in the way of moisture, these are very welcome changes! I worked on a poem this morning about the fog as I drove in, but its’ didn’t gel well yet, so no poetry for you today.

I talked to Eddie Monday and he’s doing fine after his knee surgery. He’s supposed to be doing some kind of CSF flow testing this week which is related to his other problem and then he will talk to a neurosurgeon about options.

I hear that Colin and Becky are coming down this way (well, kinda) soon. I hope they have a safe trip!

That’s all my news!

Love to all,

Margaret

Happy Columbus Day!!  Hope you’re all having an adventurous day!

Saturday was a fortuitous day for the Hounds of Kemar. We went to Augusta with hopes for a good day and it did not disappoint. Payne (Crested girl) was Winners Bitch for a single point giving her a total of 4 (it takes 15, so she’s on her way), then waited around for what seemed like forever for time for Whippets to go in. Tigger was Reserve Winners to yet a third puppy — very discouraging for Ken, but since Tigger looks little more than a puppy himself, it’s hard to do any better — his day will come…. Butterfly was again Winners for one point giving her 13.  I’m just so proud of them both as it was a long day for them since we had to be there early for Cresteds and Whippets weren’t until 1:30 and didn’t actually go in the ring until nearly 2:30 as there were so many before them in that time slot. They held up well and showed well, though.

Ken was off yesterday and spent the day watching t.v. once we got home from eating breakfast and going to Sam’s Club and Walmart.

I did a little housework (vac, laundry) and groomed some dogs that needed it. Played a little on the computer as I was tagged for this weeks’ provider of tutorial site, script and graphics for one of the stationery groups I’m in. I’m thinking seriously of dumping the one as there is so little participation in it and the group owner is so boring with her choices of themes, etc. One I keep getting asked to join is too busy and I don’t have time for it. This one that I just did the tag for seems to be just right — oh dear! That sounds so much like goldilocks!!

Are any of you doing scrapbooking? I’m not, but have stumbled across some blogs that are devoted to it. Some of those people are major talented!

Have not heard from Eddie about his knee surgery, so I’m assuming all went well with it. I will try to call them later just to make sure.

Our diet is going pretty well. Ken and I have both lost some weight — don’t know how much he’s lost total, but I’m down about 6 pounds. Not too bad for a weeks’ worth of dieting!

Well, I guess I should get back to work.

Take care!

Love to all,

Margaret