Early Birthday Present

Lucky me! I got my birthday present (and Christmas too!) a week early. John got me a new SONY DSC-H5 digital camera and extra lenses. I have a lot to learn about the lenses. The UV lens, I already knew about because I had one on my old Nikon. I have to learn when to use which ones and how to use some. He got me a telephoto lens and a wide angle lens. The camera is extremely light until you attach the telephoto lens or the wide angle lens. Once I learn to use it, I will be able to get great shots of the wildlife down back of my house. The camera has 12x optical and then adding the 2x telephoto lens will give me 24x zoom! He also got me a 2GB card for the camera. My old laptop is only 4GB!!! I've experimented with a few little movies with it. With the 2GB card, I can actually film for several minutes. I will upload a few of the pics that I've taken so far (I've taken about 130 pics in the last two days).

1. My grandchildren, Matthew and Jaden, dressed in their Halloween costumes. The camera's "no red-eye" seemed to work appropriately--Jaden's eyes didn't turn red in the pic, but notice Dracula's eyes!
2. Jaden posed and asked me to take this picture of her. Too bad she stood in front of the garbage can...
3. My friend's long-haired mottled fur kitten. The kitten is adorable--as long as she/he stays at my friend's house.
4. The same friend's granddaughter, Kelly, showed me "peek-a-boo". Hasn't she got the bluest eyes?! Actually I have another picture of her where her eyes are much bluer looking. Will go back and find that one to show you all next time.

The pictures were very easy to download to the computer. And you can even zoom in and "trim" the pics as copies (doesn't change original photo) and size them to VGA (web) or bigger if you want right on the camera! I love it.

Women On Wheels(R)

If you're looking for a great organization for women motorcycling enthusiasts, check out: Women On Wheels(R)

Freedom...for the Chipmunk

Good morning! Oh, I just remem-bered...I have a cold cup of coffee somewhere in my kitchen. I had just finished preparing it and had not even tasted it yet when my two cats walked into the kitchen from being outside. When they came in, the chipmunk in my pantry chirped. Ahah! He/she was still alive and in residence! I decided to investigate more closely. I made sure my Hav-a-Heart(R) trap was set and ready at the doorway. I positioned other items in the doorway on either side of the trap doorway and then started moving a couple of plastic bags that were on the floor that had "garden stones" in them. Lo and behold, the chipmunk sprang forth and entered the trap! I grabbed the cage and my camera and took them outside on my deck to get pictures before taking him out to the pine trees to let him go. I wanted a picture of him coming out of the cage, but he wouldn't cooperate. When he finally fled the cage, it was at the end away from my hand and he was gone like a flash. I couldn't even tell which direction it went. Anyway, I am happy he is alive and free. Hope the winter isn't too rough on him.

Christmas comes earlier and earlier!

I just have to share with everyone my "Christmas cactus". It's more like a pre-Halloween cactus! But I don't care. It's beautiful to look at. Christmas does seem to come earlier and earlier though. Someone sent me a cartoon that was a combination of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I post it here for your enjoyment, but please note I am not the author.

Update on the Chipmunk in My House

Last night I discovered the chipmunk is still in my house and apparently live and well, if not frightened! He/she is/was in my pantry. My cat, Mrs. Whiggins, was in there nosing around and I heard the familiar chirp, though I did not see it. At least Mrs. Whiggins did not have it in her mouth! I baited my small Hav-A-Heart(R) trap with cheese crackers and left it at the open doorway of the pantry. The chipmunk is still loose somewhere, but hope to come home in a couple of days and find it alive inside the trap. I am assuming it would want to be outside free, though it is sure to be behind in nut-gathering for the winter. I'm off to Auburn in a few minutes for the weekend. John is playing again with the Sons of the Bunkhouse band at the Red Rooster Pub in Skaneateles Falls, NY, at 4:00, so I'd better scoot to the shower so I will be ready to travel.

I Need a New Loving Home for My Cats

Today was a pleasant surprise. I had expected a drizzly wet day, but it has been partially sunny though somewhat windy and cool. When the sun shines, it makes my day!

A couple days ago I was cold and had no heat in my house, but after investigating what was up with my furnace I was able to get the heat back on. For some reason the pilot light was out. After a few tries, I was able to get it lit and now have heat. I cleaned the filter as best I could (I should probably get a new replacement filter) and cleaned the dust and dirt from the furnace door. Now it looks good AND works good.

I have kind of decided to move in with my boyfriend and try to rent out my house. I have found my land and school taxes for the year are too much for me.

In order to rent my house and move I will have to find a good home for my two cats (together or separately). They are both somewhere around twelve years old and are pretty spoiled. They are both very loving. They would make a wonderful companion for senior citizens. Onslo is a neutered male with no front claws. Mrs. Whiggins is a spayed female and is a small build (close to maybe two-thirds the size of a normal cat). She has all her claws and likes to hunt. She has brought lots of mice for me to see and a few birds and chipmunks. Actually, this past Tuesday morning I awoke to a chipmunk sitting on my open palm in my bed. I felt something on my hand and opened my eyes to see a chipmunk scamper off. I was not frightened or startled because I knew the chipmunk was somewhere in the house as I had heard his/her chirps for the past couple of weeks. I have not heard it since then so I am hoping he found his way out of the house. (I haven't found any dead body yet.) Both cats are accustomed to going in and out on their own through a small-animal door, but have also used a litter box at times. They need a home in the country with someone who will love them as much as I do.

It's Cold in My House!!

Guess I'd better make a phone call and have my furnace serviced. I turned it off when I no longer needed the heat and only used the air conditioning a week or two this summer. I had the temperature set to about 62 degrees F. but discovered this morning that the furnace wasn't heating. I can live with it now, but soon will have to worry about freezing pipes. Can't afford that fiasco, so will get someone here to check it out for me. I will take a look at it in the meantime in case it's just a case of the pilot light being out.



This past weekend, John played again (as part of the "Sons of the Bunk-house") at the Red Rooster Pub in Skan-eateles Falls. They sounded great--not that I'm at all prejudiced! It's kind of a small space for them though, but the really good thing about it is that it is early and they get out by seven. There was a good turnout of people that came to hear them, so the bar's owner asked them to play an extra half-hour. They will be playing there every Saturday in October and every other Saturday in November.