tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9283794621785699832024-03-14T00:00:24.335-05:00The Monkeywrangler's BlogMonkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.comBlogger624125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-35542617653159068462023-11-05T18:46:00.001-06:002023-11-05T18:46:35.993-06:00Been a while... Sitting out this evening with a nip or two of bourbon and a Nov 5 bonfire. Dave reminded me it IS Guy Fawkes Day, after all.A bit too warm today and this evening, but tradition, ya know?I see no reason why gunpowder, treason should ever be forgot! Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-43253882957141854632022-01-21T10:59:00.009-06:002022-01-21T11:06:45.066-06:00RIP, Meat Loaf Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-46292189494743983892020-09-09T07:32:00.001-05:002020-09-09T07:32:50.455-05:00The new knee We are Borg. You will be assimilated.Aug. 19, 2020 I joined the Collective. In Dallas, I underwent a total knee replacement surgery, aka TKR. It has been an interesting journey.It all started when I tore my medial meniscus in a church league softball game, somewhere around 2006, I think. It was scoped, which seemed to fix things, but I was warned it would become Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-6357482572889248982020-05-30T07:24:00.000-05:002020-05-30T07:24:33.206-05:00The Bees Knees?So, the left knee is healing well, at one month post-op, and I've been released from Doc's care/treatment. Over the next month or two it should get back to normal.That's a good thing too, since I'm pulling the trigger on the bad right knee in mid August. It, and it's damnable cyst the size of half a banana are going away.After X-rays, MRI's consults with surgeons and specialist Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-20518887718092469152020-05-07T10:11:00.001-05:002020-05-07T10:30:14.940-05:00If it's not one knee, it's the other!A long time ago, (10+ yrs iirc) in a Metromess not so far away, I hurt my right knee. Church league softball was to blame. Surgery fixed up that medial meniscus, though Doc Killemquicker warned me that I would end up with arthritis in it.
FF>>> to 4 years ago, when the arthritis started getting bad, and I began favoring things to my "good" left knee, which had experienced a Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-33190484744673682412020-02-06T10:17:00.001-06:002020-02-06T10:17:28.592-06:0028*F and a Surprise at Dawn
Woke up before dawn this morning, during our cold snap. The house was cold, but that's to be expected when you don't run the furnace. Dave said there was a surprise outside. I was expecting an ice storm.
So this was better than that, at least, though Ruby and the hens might disagree.
The hens got some scratch to warm up with, and Ruby got a flake of hay to Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-9693178650299839202020-01-11T11:19:00.000-06:002020-01-11T11:19:28.583-06:00Winter in TexasFor those of you wondering what winter is like in NE Texas, I give you the following...
Weather for the past 24 hrs here:
Yesterday it was 72° with winds hiding over 30mph
Last night we got over 4" of rain.
Last night there were tornados all around NTX/NETX.
This morning it was 32°.
Now sleet, and possible snow early this afternoon.Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-60952990675350866572019-11-20T10:51:00.002-06:002019-11-20T10:51:38.564-06:00Beautiful Sunrise over Needs Work Ranch
Wishing everyone a safe and blessed Wednesday!
Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-52299033387731523972019-11-05T15:54:00.000-06:002019-11-05T15:54:16.993-06:00November 5th
Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...
Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-16608485149429841482019-10-07T09:55:00.002-05:002019-10-07T12:44:13.555-05:00The last full measure
Circumhorizontal arc, aka Rainbow Bridge
She was just a little yellow cur dog. My daughter had seen her, as we drove down the county road. Just sitting, as some dogs will do, in the bar ditch. We thought she was just sunbasking there. We drove on, like everybody else.
On the way back home, from dropping off my daughter at her temp job, I was passing by the same Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-41573593305716050032019-08-06T19:53:00.000-05:002019-08-06T19:53:59.604-05:00Shiloh, a final update
Shiloh, our senior female Ridgeback is spending her final night with us, resting quietly on our bed. Ever since her diagnosis, she has decided that our bed is no longer off limits. Neither DH nor I were inclined to boot her off either.
The cancer has been as aggressive as we feared. It's 3x as large as it was back in Feb, when we had most of it surgically removed. Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-82213212304482820142019-07-25T18:12:00.004-05:002019-07-25T18:12:51.865-05:00The Platform
The deadlift platform...
There are many like it, but this one is mine. However, at first glance, while the wood is pretty, the platform is a bit dull. DH built if for our home gym, using Alan Thrall's plans from YouTube.
DH suggested we do a logo for the platform, as that was included in the video he had seen. We came up with a basic idea and he turned me Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-15444167398291249172019-07-10T11:41:00.001-05:002019-07-10T11:41:37.925-05:00Work getting done at Needs Work!
Last week our neighbor/seller was able to make the time to come by with his tractor and mower rig and cut our pasture! From what we can tell, it's pretty high quality grass, with few weeds. But having no livestock this year, and desiring to keep our Ag exemption intact (we'd be fools to let it lapse!) we needed to have the pasture hayed.
Last night, as we have had a brief Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-73831018551376517392019-07-04T06:29:00.000-05:002019-07-04T06:29:11.650-05:00Work continues at Needs Work Ranch
Moving is so much fun! And if you believe that, I might have some swamp land to sell you! Moving may be exciting sometimes, what with the exploration of the new and shiny, but I don't think it's ever fun.
Stuff gets lost, misplaced, abducted by space aliens never to be seen again until you purchase the replacement for it...but hey, 2 is one, and 1 is none, and 14 of 'em is an Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-9325497136703723542019-05-01T15:48:00.000-05:002019-05-01T15:50:08.615-05:00Moonlight over Needs Work Ranch
A distinct lack of internet access is limiting my posting ability. Bear with me...
Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-35485723749833483092019-04-01T14:21:00.001-05:002019-04-01T14:21:21.543-05:00It's officialWe're moving! We signed final papers on a purchase of some property, east of our current home, early this morning. 5.28 acres, fenced with a pond, 3 large really nice outbuildings, and a much smaller home in need of some mostly cosmetic maintenance. The best part?? We will be mortgage-free!!!! Which means, we will be fully debt-free!
That just boggles my mind in a Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-71499843226133690222019-03-04T13:38:00.000-06:002019-03-04T13:38:24.299-06:00On Shiloh...
Shiloh, our only female Ridgeback, has been aging gracefully. Gracefully, until perhaps now. The other week, Monkey1 noticed one side of Shiloh's face seemed swollen. I looked, and agreed. We did a little research, and it seemed like it was likely an abcessed tooth in her upper jaw.
A vet visit was scheduled, for a dental cleaning and exam. Unfortunately, the Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-4937183959417662612018-10-27T19:39:00.000-05:002018-10-27T19:39:20.929-05:00Score! In my quest to find a couple pairs of jeans and not pay full retail, I have been haunting the local salvation army and goodwill stores. Jeans are apparently in high demand... So I've not found any.
Today while the kids were working the pet adoption event, DH and I were able to go to the aforementioned stores. Still no jeans but I decided to look for a hoodie.
That's when I sawMonkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-16878789735396831852018-10-25T20:53:00.001-05:002018-10-25T20:53:58.932-05:00FallFall has always been my favorite time of year. And it is in full swing here in Texasas. The temps have dropped the A/C is off, the windows are open, and the rains have come.
Tonight is damp and chilly, and too cold for ice cream for dessert. So instead I opted for a cup of hot chocolate! It was a nice change of pace.
Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-35489925753498072142018-09-13T15:53:00.000-05:002018-09-13T15:53:07.486-05:00Small update on life
This ancient oak has weathered many a storm, and I shall weather this one.
Some of you out there have been wondering where I've been. Well, life has turned somewhat chaotic of late, and we have decided to sell our home, and downsize. Most of my time lately has been spent packing the house up into storage units (again!), and cleaning and painting anything that doesn't move!
As Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-1611463587320382432018-08-13T17:53:00.003-05:002018-08-13T17:53:58.158-05:00Rain at last!It's been a hot, dry summer here. Not unusual in Texas, but this week we caught a break. Since Wednesday, we have had 1.75" rain, most of that falling today. If the current band of rain would just drift about ten miles east, we'd probably get another 2-3"!
Still, the Silverado Sage is blooming like mad, a good indicator of rain incoming. I'm both ecstatic over the rain, Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-34321050436045399632018-08-01T10:52:00.001-05:002018-08-01T10:52:41.439-05:00Hard to believe it's August in Texas!
After the unexpected and much needed rainfall this week, where we got almost an inch, I was surprised to step outside in the dawn, to find it actually COOL! Yesterday dawned at 67*, and today was even better! 66*F, and much lower than normal humidity!
Since the summer solstice has come and gone over a month ago, I feel I can safely say, Winter Is Coming! Oh, I know this mild Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-37901136262586686522018-06-11T14:46:00.003-05:002018-06-11T14:46:58.222-05:00Indy turned 7
Indy on adoption day
Indy now.
My eternal puppy, Indy, turned approximately 7 yesterday. By most accounts that makes him a new "senior dog". His true birthday is unknown, being a rescue from the Collin County kill shelter. However, we rescued him on June 8, 2013, so that became his birthday for all intents and purposes. At the time we got him, we were told he Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-8197830551070515652018-06-08T10:07:00.001-05:002018-06-08T10:07:08.315-05:00Weekend musingsMore storms popped up here late yesterday afternoon. Not a lot of rain at the casa, but in town there was minor flooding. Of course, town has minimal runoff infrastructure, so it always floods if it rains. But the cloud-to-ground lightning was impressive! I'm glad I had the foresight to put Indy in his Thundershirt and give him 1.5 K9 Calming treats before the storm got toMonkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-928379462178569983.post-45608255625918042252018-06-06T09:38:00.003-05:002018-06-06T09:38:45.352-05:00Golden HoursThe storms rolled in around 04:00 this morning, though I think it was the screaming sinus headache that woke me. The kind of headache that only coffee and being vertical will alleviate. I had hoped to sleep in a little this morning, with DH having the day off, but it was not to be. Even the dogs, disrupted by the thunder, had to contribute their cold-nose alarm to the mix.
I Monkeywranglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732066232389894763noreply@blogger.com0