I have one nerve left and he just got on it!

This is our resident gopher snake that lives here at the ranch. He likes to come up on the porch and pop his head up and look in the house through our sliding glass door.

The first few times he did this it scared me until I realized he wasn't a rattlesnake. Gopher snakes are good to have around. They help keep the mice population under control, although when you live on 30 acres, the mice have the advantage.

Tonight after Paul went to bed I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. It was the gopher snake at the slider. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me because it looked like his body was inside the house. IT WAS! He was on my shag rug in front of the slider looking OUT instead of IN.

Instead of screaming like a girl and jumping on the couch I went over and opened the door for him so he would leave. Now I have to figure out how he got in. I have to wonder how long he's been inside. No sleep for me tonight.

A boy and his dog

Ride home after a long day at the beach. Luke and Sparkle take a nap.

It's been a sad, sad week here...

As the 2nd anniversary of losing Jade approached, I had no idea I would be losing my Chyna girl too. It's too painful to post the whole story, but last Sunday she just wasn't herself. I took her to the ER vet and had every test run (blood, urine, x-rays) and all the tests came back normal except for possible hip dysplasia.

By the next day she was still lethargic and Paul took her x-rays to her regular vet and he thought possibly a disc problem causing pain. We made an appointment with a neurologist in Los Angeles for the next day.

Tuesday Paul woke me up at 6:30am and Chyna was in obvious distress so we rushed her back to the ER vet and they stablilized her until my vet arrived at his hospital. He consulted with the neuro down the hill and we rushed her there. She went into cardiac arrest before they could sedate her for an MRI and other tests.

Wednesday morning I had to make the difficult decision to let her go. She wasn't coming out of it and I couldn't let her suffer.

RIP Chyna Jade 4/8/2007-6/24/2009
I miss you so much.

Grandyon Canyon

Adie called it the "Grandyon Canyon"! The kids were a little scared when they first approached the rim on our tour. On the first stop, it started pouring rain and the wind was blowing hard. We all ran back to the bus soaked to the skin. Even with the rain, it was a beautiful day and the canyon was breathtaking. Pictures don't do it justice.

It was alot to cover in one day. The train ride was about 2 hours each way. There are parts of the track that don't allow speeds of more than 10-15 mph. The scenery was beautiful. I would have liked to have had more time at the park before boarding the train to return to the hotel.

But the kids had fun and that was the whole point of the trip!

Grand Canyon Railway

I'm taking the kids and grandkids to the Grand Canyon over Memorial Day weekend for the Grand Canyon Railway trip. We're all excited! I've always wanted to take that train and I love the GC. The kids have never been there so they are really in for a treat!

There's an App for that!

Yes, I'm listening to Alabama on my new iPhone! Unfortunately I don't get cell service here at home, but I didn't with Verizon either, so no biggie. I can get wi-fi through my wireless router so I can download apps and send/receive email but no texting or calls at home.

It will really free me up workwise to be able to get email if I need to run to town, etc. YeeHaw!

Kentucky Derby Saturday May 2nd

I always watch the Kentucky Derby on television and wish that someday I could actually go in person.  In fact, I'd love to see all three Triple Crown races in person someday.  

So this year I decided that the next best thing was to see it at Hollywood Park.  I'm going to take Heather with me and we're going to have lunch at the Gold Cup Room in the Turf Club at Hollywood Park.  We'll be able to wager on the Kentucky Derby and the live races that day.  I haven't been to horse races for years--I used to love to go to Santa Anita and picnic in the infield. 

I love Del Mar too.  It's cool and relaxing by the ocean and I'm going to try and get down there soon too.  Maybe make a week-end of it and stay at the beach.  It'll be much cooler there in July than here in the desert.  

So, share your Kentucky Derby winning picks with me!  I'm leaning towards "I Want Revenge", the 3-1 favorite.

The 3-year-old son of Stephen Got Even could give IEAH Stables its second consecutive victory in America’s greatest race, following a dominant performance in last year’s Derby by the then-unbeaten Big Brown.  A victory by I Want Revenge would provide California-based trainer Jeff Mullins with his first Kentucky Derby victory in five tries, and give 19-year-old jockey Joe Talamo a victory in the famed “Run for the Roses” in his first attempt.  The Louisiana native would be the youngest jockey to win the Derby since Kentucky-born racing legend Steve Cauthen, then 18, won the 1978 Derby and swept the Triple Crown with Affirmed in 1978.

This should be fun!  Especially if Heather wins a bit of $$.  I would love that!

Blogging with my feet up!

Yesterday,  I had been sitting on the couch in the afternoon when something caught my eye at the bottom of my sliding glass door.  Upon second glance I got chills up my spine when I realized what was peeking in my door was a snake.  I got up and approached the door and it was a pretty good sized gopher snake.  Marking and coloring resemble rattlesnakes but the shape of the head and the round  eyes/pupils were non-poisonous.  

I've been watching for snakes for a couple of weeks but this was the first one I've seen.  Living in the desert you have to make a conscious effort to watch for them.  That means when you open the door to go outside until you come back inside, you have to keep watch.  

I didn't want my cat Sonny to kill it (gopher snakes are good to have around) but he was out and about.  Meanwhile the snake was moving towards the steps, going around a small statue on the porch and a few minutes later Sonny arrived.  I opened the slider and he was approaching the snake cautiously.  The snake started to hiss at him and Sonny backed away and let it be.   Smart cat.  I called Paul to warn him so he wouldn't get surprised when he came back to the house.

But---I'm not even safe in the house---because last night Sonny caught a mouse and brought it in the living room.  I tried to get him to take it outside and went towards the door to open it and he dropped it.   You know, I can still move pretty darn fast for an old woman!  I made it to the couch and pulled my feet up under me.  Sonny found it again behind the television and, well, I won't go into the rest.  

It's all part of living in Hooterville surrounded by desert and critters.  Especially in the Spring. 

Earth Hour March 28th 8:30pm Local Time

Be part of this historic event March 28, 2009, 8:30pm local time.

Earth Hour

World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

Please join me tomorrow night at 8:30pm.