My 10 Honest Things (part 2 of 2)

This is me blogging in the car while up in farrr N.Idaho. Patrick snapped the photo.

1- I could easily live without a television, but never without a radio, cd or tape deck. I enjoy listening to my tunes too much.

2- I need to loose some poundage. I was 98# until I got into my 40’s, then my metabolism got messed up (thyroid cancer --- I didn’t know) and I gained lots of weight. Since I never dieted before, I can’t seem to do it now. I say I’m okay with the extra weight, but secretly (until now) am not happy about it.

3- I fancy myself to be something of a comedienne…I laugh a lot at my own jokes and sarcastic thoughts. Not everyone “gets” me.

4- I love to be alone. (I also love to spend time with Patrick. Okay, so I am a dichotomy!)

5- I’m beginning to think I might be addicted to blogs. Since returning to Phoenix I’m on my laptop every day.

6- I’ve been married to Patrick for over 20 years now, but was married more than once before. Nothing I’m proud of, but it’s the past and seems like a lifetime ago.

7- Though I put on a façade of being confident, I really am very shy & sometimes even depressed. I force myself to be outgoing.

8- Patrick just told me I should let you all know that I don’t suffer brats gladly. By that he means that I have little patience for naughty children (dogs yes, kids no). I also, like Suz, think I could be the Super Nanny.

9- I really do not like being in Phoenix. I miss our home in farrr N.Idaho and am counting down the days until I can return. [I have to keep reading my sign that says, “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” That helps pull me out of the dumps.]

AND last but not least:

10- Though I just said (#9) that I don’t like “being in” Phx, I wasn’t completely honest. Because, I do like Phx. for the following reasons: I met Patrick in Phoenix. I gave birth to my daughter in Phoenix. I was born again in Phoenix and came to have a personal relationship with Jesus in Phoenix. So, my life was saved in Phoenix. Forget #9. I always, always, always have something to be thankful for!

Honest Scrap Award (part 1 of 2)

Suz from Day By Day...My Life As A Busy Bee picked the last seven people leaving comments to bestow this Honest Scrap award to. (I was one of the lucky seven.) I like that idea, so I will copy her, but will pick the 1st seven people who left comments(that haven't had the award yet). Yup, I find all the blogs I read are brilliant in either content or design.

The rules for this award are:

First, choose a minimum of seven blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.

Secondly, show the seven winners' names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Scrap".

Lastly, list at least ten honest things about yourself.

This should be fun, as I don't know if Airedales are noted for their honesty! (At least I know BabyRD is a sneak!) Here goes:

1- Noah's Bark is a journal of the adventures of 4 lovable Airedales from Down Under. Denise & Bryan, the Dale's folks run a B & B so there are also yummy food pictures & you know how I love that!

2- Molly & Taffy of Terrier Fun are from the UK and our pups are like twins to them...an Airedale and a Welshie. Taffy even has a kissing booth at the top of their blog where you can leave a big lip print on his face!

3- Michele of New Beginnings lives in one of my favorite states in the U.S.A. - Montana. She is noted for her honest blog and it's hard not to fall in love with her adorable Lizzie. The rest of her clan are pretty cool too;<).

4- Shelley has 3 sites, but my favorite is Building A Log Cabin in Michigan. I've never been to MI, but really would like to go there now that she has introduced me to it. Her pictures are lovely and her cabin is too.She has so many visitors to her blog that I often forget to leave a comment after reading all the others!

5- More pooches: Scruffy, Stanley's & Lacie's Place introduces us to holyterriers 3: a Wire Haired Terrier, an Airedale Terrier and a Lakeland Terrier. They all hail from Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh to be exact. Their escapades delight me. My Hootie loves Lacie the Lakeland but she thinks he might be a bit young. he he.

6- Daisy of Dancing With Daisy breaks the old stereotype of Marian the Librarian! She is one cool chick from Ohio, who not only sends us songs through blogville but reads her (own!!) poetry as well. Check her out.

7- And last, but not least, Maggie & Mitch of Maggie and Mitch the Airedales. These Dales from Connecticut are so much fun to follow. They have amassed a ton of awards for their blog and rightly so. These pups even give out prizes! Yippee!

Now, as far as 10 honest things about myself: I am exhausted right now so will save that for later on today. See you all soon I hope. Blessings to all who visit here. love, Cassie

Dog Day Afternoon

Sunday, Jan.25th, Patrick,Baby Rocket Dog, Hootie and I went to our first family meetup with Dales and Friends at Tempe Town Lake. There was a PetSmart Charities extravaganza going on for homeless dogs with 2 races: a 5K and a 1 mile. Lots of various dog rescue organizations were there and also many boothes with cool give-aways. Our pooches ate too many treats while there. Little Hootie got an upset stomach when we got home. Anyway, back to the meetup. Baby (& Hootie) got to meet Airedales Lucy & Charlie and Dudley & Lotta. Dudley was an Oorang Dale and was very large. Lotta was originally from Russia! Both were adopted from Airedale rescues. They were all very well behaved. Baby was kind of shy when we got to the Lake because there were a zillion different types of dogs there. I think it overwhelmed her. Hootie was Mr. Sociable, not at all rattled by the vast numbers of dogs. He just wanted to play with everyone. (And jump up, but we're working on that.) Hootie even got to meet another Welsh Terrier...He thought she was pretty! We also met a couple with two Lakeland Terriers and these were the first we had ever seen in person. They were so cute. Much smaller than Hootie who tips the scales at 22#. Patrick is the one holding both our dogs while I took the photos.

A - Z on Mondays ~ The Letter C

Here is a 2 for 1 A-Z Monday. My "C" words for today are candles and ceramic. The candles just happened to be there in the picture. That blue crock filled with white candles is one of my attempts at decorating. Yes, I know, I am pretty simple. The ceramic angel was a Christmas gift made for me by my son, Ted, in 1989. He graduated from South Mountain High School for the Arts and he was an award winning ceramist. Some of his works were displayed at the Sky Harbor Intl. Airport, Sheamer Museum, Phoenix Art Museum and a national traveling art display. This angel, however, was not in his usual style, which was quite abstract. He had asked me what I would like for Christmas and I said,"I'd love to have an angel for over the fireplace." Since I knew his usual ceramic works were "ooo-men" I thought he probably wouldn't make me something as conventional as an angel. (Also, he kind of pooh poohed my suggestion.) As you can imagine, I was so surprised and pleased with this ceramic angel. It's definitely a one of a kind!

Here are a couple more of Ted's ceramic works:

San Gabriel Mexican Cafe' ~ A Very Pleasant Surprise

Last night Patrick & I decided to go out to dinner before heading to Bible study. We didn’t dress up, as it is very casual on Friday night since so many folks go from work straight to Pastor Manny’s Bible study. We herded the two dogs into the car & Pat asked where I wanted to go. Well, since I was away from Phoenix for 8 months I had several places that I had missed. I love farrrr North Idaho, but I have to admit that Phoenix has a much better selection of eateries. Anyhow, I chose Bombay Spice, a yummy little place only about a half mile from our condo,. When we got there, we could see folks inside eating (the whole front of the restaurant is glass) but there was a sign on the front that said Bombay Spice had moved to Shea Blvd. and this new gourmet Mexican restaurant would be open on Monday, Jan. 26. Oh no!! My taste buds were set for Indian food, and where would we go? Well, the maitre d‘, who was standing at the door to greet “invitation only” guests was so gracious. Seeing our disappointment he asked us to wait a moment and he would check with the chef to see if he could get us in! Long story short(ish), we were invited in to eat the most scrumptious Mexican cuisine. I even had a glass of pinot grigio;<). Patrick & I each had a different appetizer. I had the tortilla soup and he had chicken taquitos, both very good to the taste & to the eye. For our entrée Patrick and I each had the molcajete. He had the beef & I had the chicken. The presentation was gorgeous! It was served in these thick, volcanic type bowls that were very hot…in fact, the cheese in the bowls was still sizzling & cooking when brought to our table. To finish off the meal, the waiter brought chocolate tamales for desert. Pat said it was good (I don’t do chocolate) & ate it quickly, since he has diabetes & made it go away fast so I wouldn’t scold him. The whole dining experience was a very pleasant surprise and now for the capper: It was all on the house!! Such lovely luck. We will definitely return to San Gabriel Mexican Café again. Also, now we have to go find where they moved Bombay Spice. I wonder when their invitation only night is??

San Gabriel Mexican Cafe' is located at 7000 N. 16th Street in Phoenix. The NW corner of Glendale Ave & 16th Street. The Squaw Peak Hilton is located just a little north of the cafe'.

Here is my cover boy, model husband! The wall is pretty cool with the wine bottles behind glass.

Our waiter was very professional, yet affable. He took this photo of us. (I should have removed my reading glasses.)

This is my tortilla soup. I had actually taken a few slurps, so ruined the presentation. I was hungry!

Patrick's main course: Beef Molcajete. Watch out that bowl is steaming hot!

This is Pat's chocolate tamale. All the food looked better than my pictures show. It was really pretty.

The United Blood Services Campaign Begins!

Just got Patrick's first poster via email this morning. My husband is a male model!! Isn't he cute? Just had to share this. I hope I have my camera with me when he comes by on the side of a Phoenix bus.

Hootie Gets A Bath

First of all, this is not a paid advertisement. It might sound like one because I might rave as I tell you all about the coolest animal bathing system. I purchased the HydroSurge RapidBath last summer at a silent auction but never hooked it up to our shower in Idaho. Patrick took it to Phoenix & tonight he hooked it up in the guest bathroom. It is an extremely convenient method of giving a dog a bath. I used it for the first time tonight for bathing Hootie. The liquid soap packet snaps into an ergonomic handle that is attached to an 8ft. Hose. (The shape of the handle was very easy on my arthritic hands.) It literally only took three (3!!) minutes to suds him up and rinse him off. The handle has 3 settings: wash, rinse, light rinse. It was SO easy. It took me longer to sanitize the bathtub and clean up the bathroom than it did for the bath. I used the hypo allergenic shampoo this time (I purchased a variety pack of soap) because since he has been going to the dog park he has been itching. I think he may be allergic to the rye grass. I know I am. Anyway, Mr. Hootie is so fluffy and smells so good…at least for a little while. I am really impressed with this item and highly recommend it. If anyone wants more info on this here is the website: http://www.jardenstore.com/index.aspx?bid=44 . BTW I used the rinse setting while washing my own hair tonight and it was better than our old shower attachment! Extra bonus!

Here is clean Hootie snoozing after a hard day of play. He has somehow snuck his way onto our bed. Oh well, he is nice and clean. He had a nice brushing after his hair dried. He likes to get groomed.

Had to throw a picture of Baby Rocket Dog in here too, even though she is still a dirty girl. When I took the pic of Hootie she covered her eyes. Awwwwww.

When It's All Been Said And Done

This month it has been 7 years since I had my cancer surgery. I praise the Lord that I am free of cancer...I have a check up scheduled with my endocrinologist in March and they'll do a few tests,but the biggies were done the first couple years after my surgery and they were so clean and good that it looks like I'm home free. At the time of my thyroidectomy I was really ready to meet the Lord. I told everyone that if I didn't make it, that I would be with my Jesus, so to be happy for me. Well, here I am still here, still waiting to be in His arms eventually. I'm glad to be here, and I sure hope that when it's all been said & done that I'll hear the words,"Well done my good and faithful servant." There are days I can't imagine that God is too pleased with me and I am such an ungrateful child sometimes. I'm glad He's given me some more time to clean up my act! I'll start by trying to be a better wife to Patrick. Maybe I'll make him a nice meal tomorrow night. Baby steps. The following video/song is one of my all time favorites (sung by Robin Mark). I hope you all like it too.

When it's all been said and done, There is just one thing that matters. Did I do my best to live for truth? Did I live my life for You? When it's all been said and done, All my treasures will mean nothing. Only what I've done for love's Reward, Will stand the test of time.

Lord Your mercy is so great, That You look beyond our weakness. And find purest gold in miry clay, Making sinners into saints.

I will always sing Your praise, Here on earth and ever after. For You've shown me Heaven's my True home, When it's all been said and done. You're my life when life is gone. Lord I'll live my life for You.

© 1999 Integrity's Hosanna! Music Music & Lyrics by Jim Cowan

Barocha. The Lord bless you and keep you.The Lord make His face shine upon you. And give you peace.The Lord be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face towards you. And give you peace forever. love, Cassie

Happy Birthday Son

I miss seeing my son, Ted. He was the best kid growing up. Really no problems from him as a teenager. He always wanted to go into law enforcement (though he was a fabulous artist)and at 21 yrs. he joined the sheriff's dept. Today is his 38th birthday. Happy Birthday Teddy. You will always be my boy! love, Mom

A - Z On Monday ~ The Letter B

B is for Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch, Abominable Snowman or Yeti) with Pat & me on Capital Hill in Seattle,WA. in Dec. 2007. In 1957 my Aunt Dot and Uncle Jim took me to the movie theatre to see a movie called The Abominable Snowman. They lived right across the street from us, so they came over to our apartment (we lived over our hardware store) to pick me up, and we walked the block and a half to the theatre. I remember it was winter and there was snow on the sidewalk and also I remember them swinging me between them by the arms. They always made me feel so special. Anyway, I was around 7 years old and going to see this movie was a great treat. As we left the theatre I remember stopping & staring at the movie poster behind the glass case on the outside of the building. Aunt Dot and Unc continued walking on as I stared at the poster. I then put my face really close to the glass to stare into the eyes of the Bigfoot and it scared the bejeepers out of me. They had turned the corner at the Ben Franklin store & were out of sight & I ran as fast as I could to catch up with them! It's weird how I can totally remember the experience and the how scared I was and how happy to be holding their hands once again. Here's a youtube preview of the movie I saw as a kid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utm3X0QGf0I

Pretty scary huh?? Gotta love the 50's!

I've Been Tagged

Michele from New Beginnings has tagged me for a new game. The rules are: open a document or file folder, click on the fifth folder and then the fifth photo. Post the photo and describe it, then tag 5 more bloggers to keep it going. Soooo, here is my photo: Well this sure is a boring picture. Now I know for sure I should delete more photos in my stash! I will now give you my "color commentary". It is a picture from our cabin up in Idaho of my 4 lilac bushes, 3 tomato plants, geraniums and some wild flowers in the Spring of 2008. I think I took the picture because there were lilac flowers on the lilac bushes on both sides. I had strung the little fence up to keep moose, deer & rabbits from munching on my feeble efforts at a garden. Not to mention my over zealous Airedale Terrier, Baby, that has a taste for flowers. (She LOVES roses;<) I actually did get several tomatoes last summer and there always was some sort of color in the area. Very surprising & exciting to me since I tried for years in Phoenix to have a veggie garden and nothing ever grew. Anyway, this is my little patch of terra firma that I tend to each summer. When we eventually have the outside landscaped it may have to be moved to another area, but so far it seems the perfect spot.

I'm choosing the following folks to continue this tag game:

1. Danielle of An Eagles View (should be some cute picture of one of her kiddlings)

2. Joated of Compass Points (maybe some pics of their log cabin being built??)

3. John Gray of Going Gently (can't guess---he has such diverse posts).

4. Noah the Airedale of Noah's Bark (surely some Aussie wonderland pictures).

5.Molly & Taffy of Terrier fun with Molly & Taffy (an Airedale & a Welshie -- sound familiar?)

Okay, I've tagged these folks and pooches, so please now click on their (underlined) names and visit their blogs. I sure enjoy visiting them all. Blessings to my fellow bloggers. love, Cassie

Alaska Air & A Beautiful Voice

Sara Groves has been one of my favorite artists since I first heard her on my car radio while I was driving to work. I was on the graveyard shift at Alaska Airlines and Calvary Satellite Network came in beautifully in the late night hours. I'd go out in my car on my "lunch break" (at 2am??!!) and listen to the radio and read from the living translation of the Bible. It was an oddly serene time. My time with Alaska was mostly constant work. I took the job to pay for our daughter's college and to afford her the ability to fly home from Seattle when she felt like it. It worked out great because Jessica took full advantage of the flight privileges for the full time I worked there. I jumped at every hour of overtime that they offered so I could get her college paid off as quickly as possible, which I actually did before she graduated. I met my dear, dear friend, Cathi while there and had one of my most devestating life experiences while there...the fatal crash of Flt.261 on Jan 31st,2000. Many emotions are connected to my time with Alaska. The Lord got us through it all. The pay wasn't that good, but with all the hours I put in, it accomplished the end result of paying off Trinity & of course,the standby flight privileges. Also enough to pay for her wedding. In that same time frame Patrick's work gave him a lot of overtime,so we just plugged away and did what we had to do & knew that the grueling hours would eventually come to an end.And they did! Mission accomplished. Pat would already be at work by the time I got home,then after unwinding I'd sleep during the day. I'd get up before he got off his 10 hr shift and we'd have dinner together & have a little time to chat. Then he'd get ready for bed & I'd take off for a 10 hr (or longer) shift. Usually my days off would fall in the middle of the week, so that was kind of crumby and also we had to rebid on our shifts every 3 months and that was also a real headache until you earned some seniority. Because of our flight privileges Patrick got to fly up to Jess' college several times to get her situated and build her loft bed each year and we visited her off and on throughout the school years too. We never would have been able to do all the gallivanting around we did if we were purchasing tickets to fly. It was really the perfect job for our needs. When I had my cancer surgery in Jan. 2002 Jessica flew home every weekend for 6 weeks to help us out and check on me. What a blessing that was.Anyway friends,enough background. Today I'm giving you some links so you too can enjoy the beautiful voice of Sara Groves. I hope you enjoy it. (I can't figure out how to actually get the youtube photo to be showing,so I'll just let you click on the http's.) May God richly bless all who are visiting my blog today.Tell someone you love just how much they mean to you. love, Cassie

http://www.last.fm/music/Sara+Groves/_/What+Do+I+Know?autostart

http://www.last.fm/music/Sara+Groves/_/He%27s+Always+Been+Faithful/+lyrics

http://www.last.fm/music/Sara+Groves/+videos/+1-vSXciv06218

See, young Cassie tells young Patrick how much he means to her while skiing at Sunrise!

Hootie's Getting Schooled & Tuesday's Devotion

In less than an hour we take Hootie for his first obedience class. Boy does he need it. I'll let you know how that goes. He has gone potty on the floor here at the condo 4 times since we got here (8 days ago). I take some blame,but I had him at the dog park for over an hour today and as soon as we got home and I had my back turned---whamo---a huge puddle on the floor. He really doesn't seem to care, though he did run for the kennel when I raised my voice.Oh Hootie.

Okay enough of that. I was a day behind on my "Our Daily Bread" reading, so played catch up today. Wouldn't we be in bad shape if God forgot about us for a day & then "played catch up"?? Yikes. It's our great honor that He is with us all the time and not only that, but wants us to come to Him with everything.That is not only to thank Him and praise Him,but bring Him things that bug us. This is from Tuesday devotion by Philip Yancey: "God wants us to come to him with our complaints.If we march through life pretending to smile while inside we bleed,we dishonor the relationship." Wow. Here is the poem that went with the devotion:

Give Him each perplexing problem,

All your needs to Him make known;

Bring to Him your daily burdens -

Never carry them alone! - Adams

Just wanted to share that with anyone reading this that has a burden that they've been carrying alone. More after class! love, Cassie

Naughty, Naughty Hootie

I thought I would get a short video of Hootie & Baby playing next to the bed this morning.

Guess what this is:

If you guessed that it was Hootie starting to pee on the floor you were right. Here is the little brat out on the patio after I realized what he was doing. Anyone want a Welsh Terrier for cheap?? Baby Rocket Dog says,"Give him away,Mom!"

A-Z On Mondays ~ Letter A

Baby Rocket Dog posed for these pictures today after returning from the dog park. She was a bit tired, but was glad to oblige me.

A is for Airedale. Absolutely adorable, ambrosial, appealing and attractive!

Smiling Moose Point

Some of the moose hanging on our Christmas tree:

Bought this fellow at the Log Cabin Inn Gift Shop. It is the coolest little shop and the Inn is really nice too. This is the first year Pat & I didn't get a chance to spend a night there. Maybe I'll get 2 nights when we return!

Moose in plaid pants & fishing. Could it get much better than this?

Since our place in farrrr N. Idaho is named Smiling Moose Point I decided to share some moosey photos and news with you. It seems there was a young male moose running around the neighborhood in N. Spokane, Washington last Thursday. This moose somehow fell through the window well of a home and had to be tranquilized to get it out of the basement. Can you imagine hearing a crash and then discovering a moose in your basement?! Click the following to access the KXLY News/CNN link: Moose on the loose* There might be a short commercial before the actual news story, so sit tight.

Here are a few more photos I took of one of the mama moose (& her twins) on our property. I wish I were a better photographer, because they were really pretty amazing to see up so close.

This pic was taken through the screen on our mudroom window.

This one I took from our south deck. Unfortunately they are in the shadows.

Here she is leaving the area...the twins are always several feet behind her.

And finally no picture show is complete without a few pictures of Baby Rocket Dog & Hootie. These were both snapped by Patrick's gamecam in our woods. Funny how it only got their fuzzy butts retreating. What were they up to? For more cute fuzzy butt pics visit my new friends Maggie & Mitch at http://www.northfordmaggie.blogspot.com/ !

Tomorrow is the start of A - Z Mondays implemented by our friend Jen at http://www.unglazed.blogspot.com/ so be ready for my first photo of "A". Wonder who or what that will be? Blessings on all who pass this way. love, Cassie