Tagged, Updates and Ramblings

Tagged!
Michelle tagged me for the 5 random facts topic. As copied below, this topic requests each tagee to disclose 5 random facts about themselves:
**Here are the rules: Each person tagged gives 5 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 5 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 5 others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave a note in the comments of the blogs of those you plan on tagging so they know that they have been tagged and need to read your blog.**

First, though, it's been a while since I updated the blog at all. That isn't for lack of things to write about, fer sure! I think of suitable topics all the time - while driving to/from work, while feeding the sheep, while feeding the dogs, while feeding me (as I am now....), while spinning, while moving fences, while filling water tubs... you get the idea. When my blog is "quiet", life is just the opposite.

The last entry was before Butch had his splint removed. Since then:

• He and his sisters are now integrated into the rest of the "Scottie flock". That's a subject for a whole blog by itself.
• I went to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a week to give a paper at the North American Manufacturing Research Conference. While there I visited Stephen Rouse and Heather Ludlam's Shetland flocks. Hi Steve and Heather! ...material for another blog
• We hosted more farm visitors plus held a Memorial Day BBQ. The all homegrown meats were exquisitely barbequed by DH Dave.
• Etta, one of the SBF lambs, lost a horn in the evening feeding frenzy. - another blog subject, though we got no photos of the very bloody incident! For some reason, we weren't thinking of photos at the time.
• The local stores are out of later cutting hay from Eastern Washington, so we're feeding some lousy looking 2006 first cutting hay. At least the sheep like it.
• Finally decided that Stripes the cat isn't coming home. :-( She disappeared several weeks ago and we've found no trace of her. We decided to imagine her being picked up by a loving family and now enjoying her new home rather than the not-so-nice alternatives.
• Contacted a feral cat rescue organization and arranged to adopt a couple of feral cats for rat and rodent control. Since Stripes has been gone, we've noticed more and more new ratholes appearing.
• Today, my youngest niece, Alecia Lee Pitt, is having a graduation party. She's graduating both from High School and from Junior College with her AA degree. I'm so proud of her. :-)
• And of course, spent lots of time watching, stroking, and evaluating the many EverRanch 2007 lambs!

Soooo, while writing that list, I finished breakfast. Recently I've been eating Cascade brand Greek or Mediteranian plain yogurt mixed with fruit, nuts and uncooked rolled oats. This yogurt is really thick and creamy and tastes deliciously rich. There are lots of variations on the theme. This morning it was Greek style yogurt, rolled oats and chopped Braeburn apple topped with cinnamon and sugar. Another of my favorites is to use Bear Naked granola instead of rolled oats. Bananas, raisins, blueberries and apples are my favorite fruits to add. Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are my favorite nuts. YUM!

Well! On with the trivia... drum roll, please!

1. I was born and raised in the Seattle area. There have been many, many changes in those almost 55 years - some good, some not so good. The mountains and green, growing things are still good. The traffic and cost of living is terrible. Don't come here to live. ;-)
2. In 1996(?), my son discovered the online text RPG "Gemstone3". After watching him play a bit, I started in. We played for several years and became part of the online community as a result. My main character was Lady Rosamir Rockette, a Sylvan Wizard. We started online through e-World, then AOL and all its ups and downs, and finally to bare bones unlimited access internet servers. Wow! There have been a lot of changes along THAT path! (He's now playing WOW... I don't even want to go there.....)
3. In 1994, my son (again! what's with that kid???? ;-) said he wanted to ride the STP. This is a mass 2 day bicycle ride from Seattle to Portland and is approximately 200 miles long. At the time, we weren't riding bikes much... in fact, I wasn't riding at all! For many reasons, I agreed and we started training. We rode that year with about 9,500 others, and enjoyed it so much that we did it again for the next 4 years. The last year, 1999, I rode by myself. 1999 was a beautiful ride, perfect weather, I was in good shape and ahead of the pack for most of the ride. The final approach to the finish line went over the St. John's Bridge in Portland. Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams were all out in their white gowned splendor. It was wonderful and sad at the same time. I missed having company on the ride, yet it was so beautiful. I hope to ride again someday.
4. My first car was a powder blue 1968 VW Squareback. I went all through High School and partway through college without wheels of my own. I got married (at 19! waaaay too young) and my husband was stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington. I needed a way to get around and we found the car in Tacoma. It had been stored for a couple of years, so was low mileage and cheap. Gas was less than $0.30/gallon and with the 10 gallon tank, I could fill up for $2 plus change and drive for hundreds of miles. I drove that car all over the state - to dog shows, camping, school (again!), work, moving several times. We finally sold it to get a pickup truck (bad decision) and I miss it even now.
5. I'm competitive. I want to win, but I want to win fair and square. I get more pleasure out of competing fairly and losing than even thinking about cheating and winning. If you compete fairly and beat me, I have a great deal of respect for you. I'm not tolerant of people who win at all costs. That said, I'm very proud of having owned, trained and handled the first AKC TDX Labrador Retriever and the first AKC JH Labrador Retriever in Washington State. translation - TDX = Tracking Dog Excellent, and JH = Junior Hunter. Tracking tests and hunt tests are part of American Kennel Club competitions that emphasize performance skills rather than good looks. Dogs are a big part of my life and have been since I first started reading Albert Payson Terhune books in grade school. My first dog was a Norwegian Elkhound. She was actually the family dog. The first dog of my own was a Rough Collie (remember APT?). Labrador Retrievers have been *my* breed since 1972, but I've also had a Shetland Sheepdog, several Rough Collies, a Welsh Springer Spaniel, and a German Shepherd (actually DH's dog).

Okay, there are 5 things about me. :-) Now for the other part of the rules - tagging 5 more people. Hmmmmm. That's the hard part for me. I read only a select few blogs, and looking back, all those folks have been tagged at least once for the trivia disclosure. This one will take some thought and more time.... Right now, the sheepies are calling and my niece's party is coming up ... then there's getting a place fixed to confine the new barn cats while they get used to their new home, websites for the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club and Gotland Sheep Association....

- Franna