ode to the country...and target man.

so yes, i did get most of my grading done, and i got labels for education glued onto their respective submission forms. ridiculous. but it will be worth it when we can actually get things from our points!

today we finally didn't have rain, so i was able to take the dogs out to run around in the yard-they could be country dogs...but only when i'm out there because a hawk might swoop down and carry them away (like in the proposal-favorite part)...or the bobcat could come back. yes, there is a local bobcat (not to be confused with the cougars picking up on the young guys in town).

mom was just telling me last night on our walk that there was a bobcat that was in the driveway one morning, and dad was looking out the front door, when a car whizzed down the road and spooked the cat. the bobcat bolted toward the door because the light was on, and ran smack into the door! dad thought it was going to break the glass, it hit so hard.

anyhoo, i know you want to see them milling around in the yard...

chaco is a copy cat. whenever bruno finds something, he wants to stick his nose in it as well.

little investigators...

the neighbors off in the distance have some hounds, and they were barking up a storm today.

there are just so many new smells!

of course as they were doing all of their exploring, chaco lifted his leg every other step... if chaco were a native american indian, his name would be: MARKS-ON-EVERY-CLUMP-OF-GRASS-IN-THE-PRAIRIE. and his middle name would be NEVER-GETS-VERY-FAR-VERY-FAST.

SORRY, i was in the middle of almost getting a good picture when he hiked up his leg.

after a little grading, i had to get out of the house and just go for a joy ride in the country- i love a little exploring too, the difference is that i don't feel the need to smell everything and leave a mark everywhere~ there are so many little county roads and junctions around here it's nuts! i'll probably do something similar tomorrow. if it were warmer, i'd go kayaking on the niangua-it's close and there's a little kayak rental just down the road! can't wait for warmer weather!

i also got a welcome home banner done for a friend of mine, who is actually out of town and i will not get to see them, so i thought i would write a letter and put up a banner-i was here, and i thought of you. (picture of the banner later).

when i got in my car today, i was reminded that misourri is not texas. my gum was partially frozen and it took my jaws a little work to get it right.

pretty sure i mentioned that i love the country, so here's my ode to country living:
it's great to breathe fresh air.
better than breathing non-fresh air.
i don't miss the noises of the city,
not even a little bitty..............(bit).
i can see the stars at night,
only not tonight...(it's cloudy)
 i can shoot out back by the thicket
and the police won't be giving me no ticket...
i don't love it when relaxation ends,
but it'll be nice to be back with friends (until the darts start flying).

so. i'm going to turn it into a song, then into a children's book. then i plan to create a painting to depict the scene.

it was target man, in the yard...with a LAMP! a lamp? (mixture of clue and snl..anyone?)

love the little rifle.

alright, not much else to tell tonight. maybe we'll work on a puzzle or something.
julie