Extreme Sheepherding

You just have to watch this, it's amazing!

My Sister is 60 today!

I was born 6 years after my Sister and it sometimes felt like 20 years difference. As I was growing up we had to share a room together, which really didn't bother me but as you can imagine it was really hard on her. Having to put up with a insolent young whippersnapper like me was really akin to torture for her. I had a tendency for not keeping my side of the room tidy, and because of that we had many a squabble, I can remember one time after wearing a particular sweater and staining it she made me a "believer" that I shouldn't do that again!

One thing I was really proud of was her membership in a drum corp in high school. She carried the Lassie Drum Corp Flag, and did all those really cool high steps and kicks. I'm sure it must have not been as glamorous as I remember, lots of early mornings practices in inclement weather and you can't even imagine how heavy that flag was. But I was always so proud seeing her participating in one of their exhibitions They got to wear those fancy kilts, and spats and all. Each one turning and marching in perfect time. It was really neat to be able to say My Sister was a Lassie!

She has been there for me more times than I could count, when our Mother died she was the one to tell me the sad news. She was the one who stepped in and handled our Dad's estate when he died and also our Grandmother's primary caretaker when we had to move her to a nursing home. She is the rock of the family and I'm not sure how we would have made it without her.

She was there for me during some really hard times in my life when I really didn't care about myself or anyone around me, strangely enough she cared about me.

She worked her way through college and graduated, found a job with the local telephone company and worked there for 30 years before she retired. She is active in her church and finds time to explore some of her favorite hobbies as well. She likes to do pottery, grow flowers, also works with her husband in a catering business and helps out with his deer processing plant. Frankly I don't know where she finds the time to breathe let alone take time to help me out when ever I need it.

A few years back I was living in Kansas City and following a health scare I had, she suggested I move back home. As a matter of fact almost insisted! Well I took her up on it and she was the one to go out and actually find me an apartment, get it all set up for me to be able to move and then she and her husband drove a van, packed all my belonging in it and brought me home. Now that I'm back, I have to admit it was the best move I ever made and I have her to thank for it.

I have done my best in the past few years to try and pay her back in the only way I can. By reminding her how much I appreciate and love her and her husband for all they do for me. I try not to be a burden anymore and so far I think I'm doing better at that. At least I think so...
Thank you my Sister, I love you very much. I hope you have a wonderful birthday today!

These are flowers from her garden.

My Sister, My Friend
Leann Stiegman
To me you are an angel in disguise.

Full of intuition, intelligent, and wise.

Always giving and helping through good times and bad.

You are the best friend I've ever had.

If I had one wish it would surely be to give you as much as you've given to me.

Though I've put our relationship through some cloudy days, you've been my sunshine in so many ways.

Through trials and tests, right by me you stood, and gave me your hand whenever you could.

Thank you so much my Sister, my friend.My gratitude for you has no end.

Skywatch Friday #14 Gray Days

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page anytime after 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Thursdays to see sky photos from around the world. You'll be glad you did

a gray day
by Steve Patterson
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Rated "G" by the Author.
a gray day today
a gray day
done come my way
a little bit foggy
dew
and rain
a little bit soggy
but i ain't blue
whatcha' gonna' do
i ain't goin' insane
ain't gonna' be mundane
ain't feelin' no heart pain
and though this day is gray
i remember yesterday
it was sunny
skys were blue
ain't it funny
whatcha' gonna' do
somedays are just that way
and somedays are gray
gotta' take the rain
with the sun
gotta' take the pain
with the fun
no need to go insane
no need to run
ya' can't appreciate the darkness
'till it's too late
can't know it's starkness
until there's no light
until the day is night
until the day is gray
until the Sun's passed

away a gray day today
a gray day done
come my way but that's OK there's always another day

All of these shots were taken on different days, as you can guess we had a whole bunch of gray days this week!

Skywatch Friday #13 Come visit the Ozarks Sky

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page anytime after 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Thursdays to see sky photos from around the world. You'll be glad you did

I liked this one because the sun was trying to hide

I just love these dramatic shots!

This one is not quite so dark


A little different view of the sunset


I'm a little slow this week getting this up, I hope you all have enjoyed our Ozark's Sky and will return to see more!

Ozarks Sky with a bonus!

02-25-09
Originally uploaded by Rottlady

I'm trying out something new. Loading my photo from Flickr directly to my blog. This was yesterday's sunset and after up loading it I noticed not only did I capture a great sunset, I also captured some birds! They are too far away to tell what they are, but my guess is that they are geese.

If you click on the picture you'll get to see a larger image with the birds outlined in a box.

Dog Logic

This was sent to me by my Sister and I thought it good enough to share:

The reason
a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his
tongue.

-Anonymous


There
is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.


-Ben Williams


A dog is the only thing
on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.

-Josh
Billings



The average
dog is a nicer person than the average person.

-Andy
Rooney




Anybody who
doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.

- Franklin
Jones



If
your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise


-Unknown



My dog is worried about the
economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog
money.

-Joe Weinstein



If you pick
up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is
the principal difference between a dog and a man.

- Mark
Twain



Dogs are
not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

-Roger
Caras



If you think dogs can't count,
try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.

-Phil
Pastoret

Skywatch Friday #12 Joint Family Contribution

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page anytime after 7:30 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Thursdays to see sky photos from around the world. You'll be glad you did


This week my Sister had my camera for most of the week, since I'm so addicted to posting a Skywatch edition weekly I asked her to take a sunset picture if we had one good enough to shoot. I also asked my Brother if he could to get his own shot of any good sunsets on his side of town. So without further ado, I offer a family post!


She captured the above shot, she said she had kept her eye on the sky the entire week and finally she had an opportunity to get one and almost missed it! As you can see she has a better horizon than I, no close trees or houses in the way. I think she got an interesting and mysterious sky!

My Brother's view of the sky is much more cluttered than even mine, but he was able to capture this colorful shot from his back deck. He did really nice considering his view is almost totally blocked by other houses and trees.



The night Sis returned the camera, I was offered up this wonderful view. If you look closely you can even see a glimpse of a sundog over on the right. That's the first time I've ever seen one, let alone capture it! The funny thing about the whole loaning out the camera situation is that now, Sis and Brother both call me and ask if I got to see the latest sunset! I think I got them hooked! Maybe one day I can get them to create a blog and start sharing....