OK, so I just couldn't resist the "undelete this blog" button. Now, it's back. I'm not broadcasting it (well I guess I did mention it to Theresa) and it will be interesting to see if anyone takes note of it. It's my "blob" and I can do whatever I want, I guess.

Today I offer link to a neat article I read in last month's Vanity Fair about a "grafter" who sold potato peelers on the streets of Manhattan. He passed away earlier this year. http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2009/04/postscript200904

I went to their website as they mentioned an earlier article about him as well. It's a fascinating story and can teach us all to "never underestimate a small amount of money."

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2006/05/grafter200605

Hope the links work for you and you can find time to check them out.

Yesterday my B/P was 179/93 at my dr appt after a stressful morning (I even rushed around shopping before the dr appt). Today after a walk on the mt with Coco (we saw two deer) B/P was 117/78 - Coco is my chosen blood pressure medication.

I need to know if anyone is reading this these days. I know I have not posted much due to lots of reasons (excuses) but some tell me they are having problems getting into the blog etc etc. So if you read this please leave a comment or email me at jandw2@frontiernet.net
I'd like to know if we have a problem or not.

It really feels like spring in the Adirondacks. Coco and I are getting out every morning, especially since I have lots of birthday cake and pie to work off. I'm getting back into our walking routine and it feels good. Things are not as slippery so less chance of falling which is a great thing.

These shots I took on the mountain behind the house. We saw two deer the other day on our trail. The pictures on the left are our "rest areas." I have a tree stump I relax on while we listen to the birds and watch for deer. That is the top of our property near a little "roundabout." The bottom left photo is our rest area on what David named Ridgewood - he made a nice log bench for us to relax on. Behind the bench is a stand of cedar where the deer often hang out. We usually leave some coins for the grandkids to find on the bench - they enjoy that. The photo on the right is one of my favorite spots on our trail. In the summer it is very shaded and cool - well this time of year too I guess, that's the only place you see ice now. But the cliffs there are really nice and lots of moss and little animal caves and I always imagine there are trolls living there too. Haven't seen one yet but they know enough to hide from me and Coco.

We are blessed to have our own hiking trail. David has done a great job blazing the trails and we are happy to share them with the deer and other critters. We've talked of putting a lean-to up there. We'll see if we get to that.

As I mentioned last week - not much time for blogging. Having two volunteer pursuits is a real challenge - then there's everything else. But so far so good. I finished the press release for the IWMF Educational Forum in Memphis at 12:30 am last night and sent it on for editing. I don't remember (brain damage ya know) if I mentioned on this blog that I have signed up as a volunteer with IWMF so if you want to check them out - here's a link. http://www.iwmf.com/
A very dear friend is being treated for this rare disease and I want to help find a cure.

Other news... SNOW!!! Just when I was getting ready to garden we awoke to 10 inches of snow this morning in our part of the Adirondacks. It seems a bit much for sugar snow but hey, Coco loved it!














APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!

Not much time for blogging these day - volunteer work is keeping me busy and that is a better use of my time.

My friend Joanne sent me a note with a link to her daughter Kristen's very cool shop and a column she writes. I thought you might enjoy checking it out. I love her "If I had fourteen children" story...
http://www.juvieshop.com/blog/2009/03/if-i-had-fourteen-children/

Enjoy!

It's Friday!

Jokes were pretty lame today. I just wasn't inspired and didn't have much time to search so you get what you get - have better??? Send them to me for future use please.

Here's this week's message:
Happy Spring! Enjoy the weekend, hope you have a safe and restful weekend. Some random jokes this week... Enjoy every minute!

Q: What's the definition of diplomacy?
A: The ability to tell a person to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

A French poodle and a collie were walking down the street. The poodle turned to the collie and complained, “My life is such a mess. My owner is mean, my girlfriend is having an affair with a German shepherd and I’m as nervous as a cat.”“Why don’t you go see a psychiatrist?” asked the collie. “I can’t,” replied the poodle. “I’m not allowed on the couch.”

Random Thought: Do you ever notice that when you’re driving, anyone going slower than you is an idiot and everyone driving faster than you is a maniac?

Yesterday I took my first walk of the year up the trail on the tiny mountain we live on. Coco and I walk it every day - she pulls me up most of the way. I got Coco to provide me with exercise and control my blood pressure without drugs. It has worked for me so far even though I was a slacker over the winter. Our walk yesterday was nice - the snow is gone but on the way down I fell - slipped on leaves with mud underneath. I did not get hurt thankfully but jarred my backbone and bruised my hip and leg a bit. Coco finally saw me lying on the trail and came running over just like Lassie. I got up finally and hobbled on home.

This morning I looked at the trail and knew we had to go again. No falls this time. I worked hard with Coco not to pull as we were coming down and held onto trees on the steep parts. My balance is not great so when I start to fall, I generally go down. But I will simply up my awareness of the trail and not give up. I need that trail. The exercise and the solitude of it is good for me.

Which brings me to this patch above. My dad worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps when he was a teenager at the Cross Clearing Camp near Tupper Lake. He was telling me on of the jobs they did was building a ranger cabin on Mt. Morris. They had a horse to bring the lumber up but it turned out the poor horse was too old and tired to carry the lumber so the workers carried it up the mountain on their shoulders. I had been thinking of taking him up our trail with me and Coco but I worry about him falling. But I would bet he would have an easier time of walking up the trail than I do.