Jessica - it's a beef breed from the Highlands of Scotland but I gather that it's to be found all over the world now. The fringe is excellent insulation in driving rain or snow. Some of our longwool sheep breeds from upland areas also have rather extravagant fringes for the same reason. So much air is caught in their fleeces it helps them stay alive for days if they are caught in snowdrifts.

We* have Welsh Black cattle in the front and side fields at the moment. Another lovely beef breed. A couple of calves were born just over the wall about 10 days ago which seemed a bit late to me. They'll be going inside for the winter when the grass stops growing (about 40F).

* strictly speaking, the farm next door. We don't have a farm.

I wonder how long the stylist took blowing dry that cow's hair? They do that at livestock shows and fairs apparently, just like at dog shows. Nice bangs!

Dagmar :dizzy:

I am my energy
 

I guess next year, 2011, will be a much better year for me.

This year I've had 5 doggies die (just got the news about #5 - Maddy - yesterday), my aunt die (who I knew literally all my life), my cousin and his wife separate (my only "real" family), and my income has been cut in half with no relief in sight.

I'm hoping the medical procedure with my cat (Nov. 22) goes well and starts a new cycle of prosperity and growth for me. I am going into this with a positive outcome in my mind and will work with the vets to insure one.

I need to start living with positive energy again. This negative spiral (that DH and I are both projecting) is dragging us both down. I think Cesar Millan (Monday night) will give me a big boost as he is someone I truly admire and his techniques focus on using our energy to move forward in life.

I've had enough negative energy in 2010 to last me for the rest of this decade thank you!

Dagmar :flame:

Great attitude Dagmar. Sometimes you do have to try to find the positive amongst all of the negatives. Some years do seem particularly tough. I wish you much prosperity in 2011 (and even the rest of 2010!).

Hi everyone,

Once again the week has gotten away from me. Next week is going to be very busy for work as I'll definitely be working more than 8 hours each day, and making it to the gym may be challenging to impossible. However, food will be on planned and carried with me! I've had 3 out of 4 OP days so far, except Wednesday I wanted popcorn for dinner... but anyway, not too bad. I've got a Halloween party tonight and I know I will drink some beer and have one cupcake. I'm just going to get right back on track tomorrow morning with a gym visit. BF got home Wed PM after being away for over a month, a bit longer than me, and we're getting back in our routine and getting our houses, work, boats etc. caught up on. It's finally gotten chilly here - 55 last night - and I'm loving the fall weather! Tomorrow we're going to his house in the woods and building a big fire.

Sending more :hug:s to you, Dagmar, you are having a tough year. Stay strong and you will make it through to better times! Shannon is right, look forward to seeing Cesar Milan as a special treat for yourself and let it distract you from your worries for a while.

Pat, how annoying. I think after the first time I would be hesitant to let that person come at me with a needle again.

Have a great weekend all! Stay away from the candy! :witch:

Megan~tonight DH and I are planning on popcorn for dinner! The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest starts today and we're going to go see it and have popcorn and a beer. I invited DS to go and he asked if he could have beer--of course I said no, he can have Sprite, but then added "do you even like beer?" to which he gave me the evil eye! My kids are funny. They're totally against doing anything remotely illegal--meaning DS has never tasted beer!

Ringo has a new habit. Every night at about 8:30 he climbs into my lap as we're watching TV and falls asleep. It's just the thing I've always wanted in a cat! He's just so sweet.

Tomorrow we're in for possible rain and cooler temperatures so I'm making 13 bean soup (Bob's Red Mill bean mixture). I couldn't find a ham hock, so I got a ham shank. Frankly I don't know the difference! I'm assuming there is more meat on a shank.

I was certain my weight would be up this morning as DS requested pasta and I took too much. I wasn't even that hungry. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that I was down half a pound. I haven't lost anything else this week, so I'm going to be extra careful this weekend and perhaps I'll be rewarded again.

positive attitude/support
 

So I stopped whining (for now :p) and took action and now I'm pretty sure I will have a full complement of dogs again come January.

Am going to an interview this morning (for 2 dogs) and have a new puppy :love: (95% sure - old client) coming in January.

There's so much support out there. All we have to do is ask.

That's why 3FC is so great - all of you folks in all of the forums. Any time one of us needs a :hug: (or a :kickbutt:)
we've got it.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Dagmar (briefly :crazy: at times)

:brr: It's COLD here. Actually it was 10F/-12C at 8 am this morning. I'm officially calling it winter. :)

Busy day running errands, picking up random things we needed - esp cat litter! Now I'm settled in making soup (Thai Jungle Curry) and working on Christmas presents (quilted ones). I'm also packing up a Flat Stanley to send on to his next stop. This is probably the 4th or 5th one I've done for my great-nieces/nephews and kids of friends, or kids of friends of friends, etc. Alaska is pretty exotic for most kids to contemplate. Hmmm, wonder where the Alaskan kids send theirs???

Dagmar - happy to hear that you have some new doggy friends to look forward to. :)

Allison - how was the movie?

Okay, off to sew and watch something on the DVR.

Pat~the movie was great. As good as the book and a good end to the trilogy. We all loved it. And Flat Stanley! I belong to a Labrador chat board similar to this one that has a Flat Stanley project. It's so cute seeing all the photos where Stanley travels! Bytheway, I do NOT envy your temperatures. I thought it was cold here when we woke to 58. Um, very, very different!

I made my 13 bean soup today, not reading the directions first....meaning it said to measure 2 cups of the bean mixture and I used the whole package which was more than double that. So I have a HUGE batch of soup! We'll have it for dinner tonight. I put some aside to send home with the in-laws tomorrow. And we'll have it for a couple lunches and at least one more dinner after that. It is yummy, though. And a ham shank does have a lot more meat than a ham hock, although I had to take a lot of fat off the meat after it was done simmering with the beans.

Flat Stanley? Explanation please!

Thanks
Dagmar :?:

Hi all,

How does one's house get dirty while one is on vacation? I did have someone watering the plants, but I'm sure it wasn't from her. Anyway I spent today trying to make my house more liveable as I've got a very busy 10 days of probably 12+ hour work days ahead of me. I went on a long jog/powerwalk...ok mostly powerwalk... this morning and it was such a difference from a month ago. It was such cool and pleasant weather. No swelling from the heat at all. I love fall!

I had one reasonable plate of food at the party Friday, a few beers, and three (:^:) cupcakes. I got right back on track Saturday morning with a healthy piece of whole grain toast and a trip to the gym.

Dagmar, Flat Stanley is a project for school kids where kids make and color in a paper "Stanleys" and then send them to friends and family who are willing to take Stanley on their daily adventures, take pictures and maybe write up some notes and send him back (or on to another adventure? and eventually back to the kid). It's a way for students to learn about different ways of life. www.flatstanley.com One of my co-workers received one once and we let Stanley drive the boat, took pictures of him measuring some fish and oysters.

Allison, soup freezes well too!

Pat, brrrr. Sounds like you've got nice indoor activities planned out of the cold. Is it really time to start thinking about Christmas presents?

How was everyone's weekend?