I woke up this morning to THUNDER!!!. Poor Chelsea was just frantic and ended up down in the basement as far from it as she could get. Dick turned the stair light on for her but I don't think she would have carded one way or another. I literally heard the crystal in the china cabinet ringing as the glasses plinked against each other. It was all over by noon thank heavens and the thunder was pretty much over by 8AM. Chelsea and I had a very short but productive walk at about 6AM between the storms.

I spent the day mainly at home, thought Dick and I did go to Office Max to pick up some photo paper and ink cartridges. Boy did I get some good deals. For a while they were offering a ream of paper for every empty ink cartridge. Now they are giving $3 credit for each one, up to five. I used five and have four left for another trip. I also ended up with some of my photo paper free because of the purchase of double packs of the cartridges. I LOVE bargains.

We racked the five gallon jug of Riesling today too. Next week we should be able to filter and then bottle it. We are trying to figure out a way that Dick will not have to be lifting those heavy jugs up onto the bench. We are going to use the electric filter as a racking rod and see how that works. Then we can leave things ON the bench and not have to rely on siphoning.

Do you know that we have been here for nine months. In that time no one from the association has come to see us, except when we first moved in and the treasurer came to deliver regulations and tell us when the dues were expected. I feel cheated. Who would ever know that Roxie and Oscar were here? No one. But I am too worn out to argue with someone about that.

Chelsea has been coughing that funny cough lately. Sunday and Monday mornings were really bad. We were all set to call the vet to see if there is something he could give her and then this morning she did not cough at all. So we decided to wait. This evening she had a little episode. Since from now to Tuesday is REALLY packed, we will observe her and if it continues will make an appointment for next week.

I will be meeting Randy and Kenny out at 57 & J to go turkey hunting at 5AM tomorrow morning. We want to be out at our sites by 6AM as shooting is permitted a short time after 6. I can stay until about noon, then have to come home to be able to take Dick to the clinic to have Dr. Sharon look at his feet and to get a blood test. That right leg really had me worried. It just doesn't seem to heal.

Dick is unable to print from his computer. I tried to check the trouble shooting section of the control panel but only came up with another puzzle that says it is not spooling. I emailed Dick and Brenda. They had solved that problem once before. They said they will call tonight. We are also having trouble with Dick being unable to get into My Quicken. But they will be here this weekend and we can figure that out then. Being unable to print is a bigger problem.

God's Wings

A little something to put things in perspective. An article in National Geographic several years ago provided an interesting picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.

One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesque on the ground at the base of a tree.

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4)

Hope I get a turkey this time.

Mary