What a beautiful "spring" week we've had. Riding my bike three days out of four in the middle of January isn't exactly the norm. My goal was to get in 50 miles in January and with yesterday's 15.1, I made it! Only 3 of those I had to endure indoors. I thought I'd better go as far as possible yesterday as I figured it would probably be the last nice day for a while.

Curtis & I went out the other evening with camera in tow, looking for the bobcat kittens he has seen. But, of course, none to be found. I'm pretty sure wild animals sense when you have a camera with you. We did find an interesting looking branch that I took a picture of. Let me know if you can guess what happened to it.

This am as I was ready to go outside, there were five cardinals having a snack just beyond the door. By the time I got my camera, there was only one left. I've included it on my Picture of the Week.

One of my many interests, passions is photography. The pic behind my blog heading is one I took last week. As I pulled out of the garage, I could partially see this through the trees. So I grabbed my camera from the back seat (always available) and stopped about 1/4 mile south of the house and took three pics. These are the kind of things you can't plan. They just happen. Whoever says Kansas isn't pretty, hasn't seen grazing cattle silhouetted in front of a beautiful sunrise. Most of the scenic pics I have enlarged and framed are from Colorado, but I'm pretty sure this one will be hanging in my house soon. Hope you enjoy it too!

OK - guess I'm back. Not sure how often you do these things, but I've had comments asking if it was a one time thing.

A week ago today, Thursday, I took my first outdoor bike ride of 2009. I went 10 miles, although after about 1.5 miles, it was obvious to my legs and to anyone I met on the road with my beet red face that it had been awhile. But, it was great!!! The weather was perfect - 58 degrees and just a hint of a southerly breeze. This couldn't be Kansas! But, yes it was, as I was reminded 24 hours later when it was 30 degrees with 30 MPH winds from the north. Then, today was single digits and snow. Well, I'm just glad I got at least one outdoor ride in for January. I'm hoping for 50 miles this month (in & out combined). Maybe I'd better get with it inside (only 3 miles so far) by the looks of things. January IS half over, isn't it?

Today I worked at Sandstone Hts Nursing Home on the 6/2 shift. I prefer the 2/10, but was filling in for someone. All was going really smooth until 8am when we lost water. There had been a major water line break for the city water. OK, think about it - we need water to take pills, help clean those who can't clean themselves, to bathe, to launder towels, etc, wash equipment, ... and FLUSH. Enough said. We made the best of it with a lot of instant hand sanitizer, wipes, etc. Water service was returned about 1:30pm. Just hoping tomorrow's 2/10 shift won't have any major glitches. :)

Well, here I go - starting a blog. I enjoy reading my niece's blog to know what's going on in her life. I'm not sure if my life is quite as exciting as hers, but I can also see this as an outlet for my writing. Yes, I'm a nurse by profession, but my passion is writing (along with cycling, photography, flying, my grandchildren, etc). Okay, so I like to do lots of things ... but by blogging I can share some of my life and express myself to whoever wants to read it without forcing anyone to listen. :)



I'm still putting Christmas things away. We held an open house as a fund raiser for the local 4-H club, which caused me to get a bit carried away with the decorating this year. My biggest problem has been putting my new "million dollar" tree (not quite, but that's what Curtis tells everyone) away. There is NO WAY it's going back into the box it arrived in after being "fluffed" out to look full. I finally got the top and bottom smooshed back into the box and used three large garbage bags cut up, then duct taped around the middle section! Now we just have to decide whether to put it in the storeroom upstairs or downstairs. Maybe we should just leave it up year round...



Of course, my favorite part of Christmas was being with the grandchildren, so I'm adding a picture of them (in front of my "million dollar" tree) dressed in their Santa Suits I bought 1/2 price last year after Christmas. I can't believe I actually thought that far ahead.

Enjoy the New Year!!!