Aged

I needed to relax in the worse way and stay away from politics right now. It's driving me nuts!

So best way to relax when it is over 100 degrees outside is to scrap. I'm moving pretty slow for the most part. This was for ACOT's 52 Challenges...Week 7. We had to take a picture of what we considered to be art in our world. What is considered normal and maybe you might just walk by. I thought to myself what in the world on a ranch can be considered art. I don't have an old barn any more, it was falling down and not worth fixing. Then it dawned on me....the fences, the right picture taken and it becomes art. It's also something I check every week to make sure there are no holes. That is two hours of work.
This was also the LO for 52 Sketches...52 Weeks #31.


Then a LO I started six weeks ago and finished two weeks ago because I had mental block on the title. It's hard sometimes to think this is a 7x7 LO. I had so much fun with the LO using my revolution to do all the work except for the background paper. I took so many pictures of my Tahition Sunset that I just couldn't title it with the name of the rose. It was just such a fun LO to do! This layout was for 52 Sketches...52 Weeks Week #25 entry.

When you have a chance visit both sites!

So I'm back of to do some more scrapping....

Lloyd Doggett Doesn't Get It - US Rep from Texas District 25

Lloyd Doggett is the Representative from District 25 in Texas. What a shame I didn't know he was going to host a town hall meeting in Austin last Saturday. Larry and I so would have been there since we were in Austin that day. No he doesn't represent us, we are represented by Chet Edwards (Dem) and Ron Paul (Rep). Why two representatives, we have homes. Larry is registered in Brazoria County and I'm registered in Limestone County.

I have found in being around town, Groesbeck, for meals the subject of conversations is the Health Care Bill as well as the Cap and Trade Bill. As the weeks have gone by the anger in the voices at these conversations just keeps getting worse. Am I angry, I've been angry at Congress since the early 90's. These dimwits both Republican and Democrats are selling us out. They truly have surrounded themselves with Special Interest Groups. They have forgotten that it is me and you they work for.

So last night I saw this on both the local Waco news and National ABC News. I went to You Tube this morning and found this video, the very same one they took a clip from for the news services.




I almost died when I saw the response by Rep. Doggett. Did he forget Senator Cornyn got a huge boo on the steps of our great state's capital in Austin at the July 4th Tea Party. Rep. Doggett this is not a Republican thing going on, it is some very angry independent voters, Republicans, and Democrats like me who do not want socialism or an increase in our growing 9 trillion dollar debt. Why can you not understand to stop spending money we do not have. I have not received one email from an organizer and neither have my friends. Your response was so out of line that it was Republicans organizing this! WAKE UP SIR!

If you don't think Doggett didn't get it watch these videos. The video above the photographer says he did not represent the Republican Party so as you watch these realize that Rep. Doggett is flat out lying.





Yes, the Republican Party put out the second video, unfortunate to add their spin as they are as guilty as Democrats with their own spin. But listen to his response to MSNBC, he really doesn't get it.



Here is a couple of other things these dimwits who represent us from Texas. We are an oil and gas rich state. We have an Oil and Gas Transportation Co. Quote from what we are hearing as rigs both offshore and land are being stacked. "We won't do anything until we get rid of Obama and the current Congress,' is what we are hearing from our customers. This is both the large and small companies we service in the Oil and Gas fields. Our income is severely down. It is now down 80%. If these corporations won't do anything then neither will other corporations. So are we out of the recession, NOPE! Better think very carefully how you vote mid term and again in 2012. . Ok, that's enough of my soap box.

I'm chuckling his job is on the line. Is it such a novel concept to start with an entire clean slate in Washington? I would love that to happen!

Just my two cents!

Austin Farmers Markets

Larry and I headed of for Austin on Friday night. We were excited if for no other reason then to have our 1959 Airstream Camper behind us. It's almost done being refurbished! It just needs a buff, Larry wants a shine and I want a buff shine.

Our mission to attend the Farmers Markets in Austin. We started at Sunset Valley Farmers Market which is ranked in the Top Ten in America. Wonderful time and I was struck that it was pet friendly. Then of to Austin Farmers Market in downtown. Another great Farmers Market. What did we purchase. Some Free Trade Katz coffee, two half pints of Texas Blueberries and a loaf of Sour Dough Bread. But that isn't why we went. We want to control the price of our beef, it was to see how vendors selling meat set up to sell their beef, lamb, pork and poultry. From my reading on the web there is a vaccum for grain fed beef at the markets. We have only seen grass fed beef. Consumers at the market are concerned with how their beef is grown. We have always fed our calves out on pasture and grain at the same time. They finish beautifully that way. In 2010 we will have our first large calf crop and need a way to sell our steers and heifers not able to go into purebred operations as breeding animals. We don't want to accept the prices feedlots are willing to pay. So lets skip the middle man and go straight to the consumer. Consumers at the markets are concerned about Gentically Modified (GM) Grains in their diets, so we will find a source for GM Free Grains.

It is an adventure to look forward to. I love Farmers Markets! Find one near you and get to know your local Farmers!

ACOT - Scrap It Forward

I've been a member of A Cherry on Top Community for about three months. I decided to participate in Scrap It Forward Challenge. This is my entry for the challenge.

I promised to edit the photo, but I've been so busy that I've not had time.

I took this photo last summer after picking up around the house for "Dolly." Hurricane Dolly went in at south Texas. This was the pasture our Arabian Gelding called home. The Upper Gulf Coast of Texas has the most gorgeous live oak trees. I just found the setting sun and the amount of humidity just hanging in the air just gorgeous! The road was not wet but it sure looks like it in the picture, just the shimmer of the amount of water hangin' in the air.

Little did we know Hurricane Ike would make us a visit later in Sept. It is hard to see the barn in the picture, it's behind the tree to the left. Ike damaged the barn so badly it has been torn down. I moved our gelding to the ranch 11 days before Ike arrived. Whew as it also took the fence down.

Kim

ACOT - Scrap It Forward

EEE Causes Death of Two Horses in East Texas

I just thought I would share the this particular email I received from Carla Everett. Carla does mass emails to agriculture animal producers throughout the state of Texas from Texas Animal Health Commission. If you own horses in Louisiana, Florida, Missouri or Mississippi then please read. Thank you Carla, your work is so appreciated by those of us who are animal producers in our great state.

Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us

Two Horses in East Texas Die from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE);
Vaccinate Your Horses and Protect Against Mosquito Exposure!

Two horses, one in Jasper County and the other in Newton County, in East Texas have died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Humans also are susceptible to EEE, which causes inflammation of the brain. The disease is spread by mosquitoes, and measures should be taken to prevent human and animal exposure to the biting pests.

“As part of their routine health care, horses in all parts of the state should be vaccinated to protect against dangerous mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile Virus, and Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis (EEE and WEE),” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.

“It takes a week to 10 days after vaccination for the animal to develop protective antibodies, and booster shots must be administered as directed by the vaccine manufacturer to maintain the highest level of protection,” he said. “As effective as vaccines are, however, they are not foolproof, and rare instances of disease can occur. Therefore, it is essential that you protect yourself and your horses against mosquito exposure with a repellent containing DEET.”

Dr. Hillman also said other preventive measures should include draining stagnant water, where mosquitoes can breed, and using approved products that kill mosquito larvae in desired water sources, such as troughs, ponds and fountains. Avoid being outside at night or at dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, wear long sleeves when possible, and consider sheltering horses at night.

“Contact your veterinarian immediately, if your horse acts erratically, is confused, staggers or collapses. These are clinical signs of an encephalitic, or brain inflammation, condition, and a blood test is needed to confirm the diagnosis. With appropriate supportive care, about half of infected horses may survive. An infected horse will not spread the West Nile Virus, EEE or WEE to humans,” said Dr. Hillman. Although they are not regulatory diseases, these mosquito-spread infections are reportable to the TAHC, due to their potential to cause human illness. In 2009, a horse in Washington County, also in East Texas, has been confirmed to have West Nile Virus.

EEE also has been reported in July in horses in Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and Virginia.

Billboards

Thank you to Troy and Stacy, Advocates for Agriculture, for another great find to read. The OpEd written by Megan Daum is a must read if you live in a urban area or are just removed from agriculture. Megan writes as a columnist for the LA Times and her column for today, Animal rights, writ to large? Well written but ultimately I agree with Troy she falls short on understanding the big picture. My response is to add she fell just short of doing her research on Animal Rights Lobby Groups like HSUS & PETA. Like any politician, Wayne Pacelle is good at just leaving out information when asked by the press. She even drew the wrong conclusion of HSUS being a 'The Humane Society is a mainstream anti-cruelty and animal-shelter organization.' Wrong they are a lobbying group only. I don't have to add any more as she got an ear full in the comments to her blog. The comment left by dogmom is the best:

'Your statement that HSUS is a "mainstream" and "animal shelter organization is totally incorrect but it is what Wayne Pacelle wants everyone to believe. HSUS does not own or operate a single shelter on its own and does not regularly give money to local animal shelters. In contrast, the ASPCA in New York operates a state of the art shelter and low cost animal hospital and helps local shelters all over the US. I know, because I am on the board of an East Coast shelter that is getting $ and expertise from ASPCA. HSUS charged us $6,000 for a "consultation" that produced a nothing but boilerplate report. Worthless, just like HSUS!'

Submitted by: dogmom

6:25 AM PDT, July 16, 2009

'Nuff said'

Kim