The Promised Lan(d)

A wee play on words and someone's guest Wi-Fi.  Seriously though, this place is near and dear to our hearts.  Thank you to the RPCNA for allowing us to share this beautiful place.

Fleur du Jour

Dog Day Friday

I thought this was a particularly good photo of Bullet.

It's been one of those weeks...

To start off the week, I broke my cell phone.  As I use it for many tasks, including as my training log for weightlifting, not having it, has been disruptive!  I did co-opt Monkey1's phone for the duration, until I can get my replacement, so people who know me, can call or text me.  But everything else I use the phone for is kaput!

Then this week saw the return of Homeschool Co-op!  The kids were excited.  I, as the parent, get to teach a class.  I got lucky and my entry of Strength and Conditioning was picked.  Alas, I cannot do barbell training with the kids, as I don't want the liability, and it's far to labor intensive to disassemble, transport, reassemble, etc, my power rack, and several hundred pounds of iron!  So we are doing bodyweight conditioning to start, and adding dumbell/kettlebell weights as we progress.

Since I mostly do cycling and barbell training, my high-rep endurance is suffering.  Yes, my own class kicked my butt today!  At least I was able to do the work though.  Hopefully, my own class will help me up my conditioning level, though it won't help me for strength.

This morning, before Co-op, I got an email from my 3rd hour instructor for yong kids Archery class.  He wasn't going to be able to be there today, and would I, the assistant, take over?  Of course, but since he has all the targets, we ended up playing kickball, and freeze tag instead.  Ayt least they burned off some excess energy.

Finally, the North Texas Giving Day went well for TIRR Rescue.  I want to take a moment to thank eveyone who donated in support of TIRR.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  This rescue is near and dear to my heart--all our dogs have come through TIRR.  And your support of TIRR Rescue means a lot to me!

Help TIRR Rescue via North Texas Giving Day 09/14/2017

This Thursday is the annual North Texas Giving Day.  TIRR Rescue has participated for several years now, and it has proven to be a great help in funding the needs of the many dogs at TIRR.  Anyone can donate.  You need not be in north Texas to give.

If you feel led to donate, I thank you!  If you cannot donate, please share the link to this blog, or copy and paste the donation link in the letter below, with your friends, and on social media.  Every share, and every donation means the world to these folks, and to these dogs.

Below, is TIRR's posting about Giving Day, and their plan for any funds donated.

From TIRR Rescue:

TIRR Rescue is, once again, participating in the North Texas Giving Day which is on Thursday September 14.

This fundraising event is enormous for TIRR Rescue – it is one of the prime fundraiser we participate in each year. 

Each year we try to target something that we need more than anything else.  We always have many needs and wants for the dogs we take in.   This year we have taken into our program many dogs that other rescues could not accommodate.  Currently we have 5 dogs that are Heartworm positive and in need of Heartworm treatment.   It is not uncommon for us to take in many HW positive dogs in the span of the year.  If you are a TIRR follower, supporter, volunteer, enthusiast or simply a dog lover watching from afar, you know that when we take a dog into our program, we take them for “their life”.  So we know that each dog we take could potentially have heartworms or other health issues.  Although we in the dog world are so familiar with heartworms, how they are contracted and how they are prevented – there is a huge population of people with dogs that are not knowledgeable and/or can’t or don’t provide the prevention.  We are hoping to have enough funds for treating the 5 dogs we have now and also to assist with other medical needs these dogs may have and also for medical issues TIRR encounters with future dogs coming to the Ranch.

Hurricane Harvey was a devastating event for people and animals of all ages, and continues to be an opportunity we can offer assistance, whether direct rescue and/or indirect rescue.  One of the best ways local rescues can help is to assist in getting dogs moved out of our local shelters to secure spots from those coming from the disaster areas in South Texas.  Unlike other disasters of this nature, the shelters in South Texas did an amazing job preparing for the influx of dogs/cats they would receive.  TIRR Rescue and Etosha Rescue joined efforts in supporting the needs of the people and shelters that would provide immediate safe harbor for the massive number of animals rescued.

Here is the link to our page on the North Texas Giving Day website.  We are asking for your financial support and TIRR will ensure that 100% of the proceeds go directly to the care of the dogs and the facilities they enjoy daily.  Having air conditioning and heat, in addition to a respect for their needs is the ultimate gift to a dog that has been abused, neglected, scared on the streets or left  in the back yard with no respect for the love they could and would offer.

https://northtexasgivingday.org/npo/texas-independent-rhodesian-ridgeback-rescue

Roy and I both want to thank you personally for your support during this fundraising effort.

More fun fishing!

Yesterday we went out to our friend's pasture to fish her ponds.  We knew there were some big bass, and she said it was ok if we took a couple home.   We caught 15-20 fish between us all I'd guess, and took 5 home.

Here's a look at some of what we got!  God bless Texas farm ponds!

3# 11oz

Scale pic has weight.

Weight of fish above.

And DH send me this picture of dinner that night!  Fresh fried bass, and hushpuppies!  MMMmmm, good!

She will fly again!

The Grumman Guardian undergoing restoration at Toco TX.  I spoke to a woman who was cleaning one of the aircraft there at the airfield.  She told me that yes, the Burchinals are restoring the Grumman to flight status!  Once done, it will be the only flying example of the Guardian in the world.

As seen above, the air frame has been stripped and primed, and the prop remounted.  I was told the plane was trucked to Toco in several large pieces, as it was not flightworthy at the time.  As you can see, it has been reassembled.  I can't wait to see how this project comes together!

The SNJ is still flying apparently too!  I got these nice pics of it at Toco.  It was parked just across from the Grumman.  I am pretty sure it is the same SNJ referenced in this blog post by someone who took lessons at Toco back in the 1970's.  Soloing the Mustang.

Not So Laborious Day

Today was Labor Day, but we didn't labor much!  DH spent a lot of time on a call-out ticket that took two days to resolve, and that thrashed most of his weekend.

So, when our dear friend from the Metromess and his beloved Hairy Monster dog arrived yesterday, we simply took it easy.  Burgers and sausages were grilled.  Tasty beverages were consumed.  And the Hairy Monster got groomed...lots!

First though, Monkey3, my dessert chef in training, decided to make the Ghirardelli Chocolate Crackle cookies.  DH had found the recipe online that my mom had been raving about.  It was simple enough.  It was also insanely tasty, especially with my cuppa coffee at breakfast!

Then today, we headed out to the range for some fun.  There were a lot of butterflies around.  This one took a liking to our friend's rifle!  It must've sat there for 20+ minutes, just hanging out.

 Eventually, we packed up and headed home to cool off, and let the pups outside.  All in all, a fun way to spend the last big weekend of summer!