Ole' and Buenas (Buenos) Noches y Buenas (Buenos)Dias etc!

This photo was taken last year at the Medina Board of Realtors Chili Cookoff. I won first place for the Howard Hanna Office in Brunswick.

This year (photo coming) I participated representing the office and we came in "second", out of twelve offices.

This year we kicked it up a notch' by adding a half of a potato/cheddar sauteed pierogie as a garnish on the top of the sample cup. The chili filled the 4 oz. styrofoam cup and the half pierogie topped the chili like a "sail". Garnishes of cheese, sour cream and crackers were available. A huge thank you to my office for providing the money to purchase the ingredients, and a huge "thank you" to Tim Rhodes, my Howard Hanna Mortgage rep. for purchasing the 10#'s of meat, beer and fresh limes that go into my special recipe!

Thanks to Mollie Pfister, Karen Tittel, and Jan Ivory for their help at the event, and a HUGE thank you to Dave Ivory and Tim Rhodes for manning the electric saute' skillet and cutting board. (I made 10 dozen pierogies for the event) They prepared my pierogies and sliced and topped the chili cups. All donned latex gloves and looked so professional. I could not have done the work without you all!

People were surprised to see our product and were delighted to enjoy them!

Brunswick Rocks (Tangos if you will)

Gracias amigos and senoritas!

Yeah Howard Hanna Brunswick!

Inquiring minds...

.........want to know. At least some inquiring minds want to know. I had the opportunity to meet this woman, Amy Chorew, at the Ohio Association of Realtors Winter Conference on Sunday afternoon.

Now, I have taken a class or two with her. She left an impression on me then also. The impression that she left was this: She is incredibly bright, intelligent and a Tech savvy genius, while I on the other hand am a slow, plodding slug- -like person who has no apptitude for tech skills at all.

Well, I actually have some skills, I just don't have the same type of skills. My skills are: I can get up in front of a crowd of people, friends and foe alike and speak. Sometimes I make people laugh. Go figure! I do not speak from "scripts". I just speak. That is why there is always the danger lurking that the words are not always "G" in rating.

As my friend Linda of Louisville says, "we all have our gifts".

Hers are connected to small incredible black objects and mine are connected to my mouth.

I can make people smile and she can make people smile and text at the same time.

(actually, she is a huge supporter of NOT texting while driving, which is a big Hallelujah (sp?) from me.

Actually, I can't wait to go buy a smart phone. After seeing her whiz through some pretty intense apps that are available, I can only hope that when that little black box enters my life I will grasp it and run with it instead of running over it. (see previous blog regarding my most recent experiences with ATT)

As I pointed out to Amy in the the short session that she taught, I am from the farm and the biggest danger to a smart phone, or any phone (It would appear I now own a "dumb" phone)

is it's life expectancy is fairly short. Falling out of my pocket while I drive a tractor, or lawn tractor (I have driven the lawn tractor into the pond on one occassion and I have driven over the phone with the mower blades running)or falling out as I mount my horse, or dropping it into a water bucket in the barn or while I am up in the hay loft are all distinct possibilities.

The last time I went to the AT&T store to get a replacement phone the gal at the store mistakenly asked me if I had a duplicate SIM card. Say what?

You all get it don't you? I can see you smirking now.

Until a short time ago I thought FACEBOOK was the autobiography of Elizabeth Arden!

Cheers everyone, text me after reading!

It's here!

Finally, after waiting 30 days, we have a replacement truck.

Tim arrived at 7:30 p.m. yesterday with "Ole Red".

Today will be spent evaluating what needs to be done to put him and "Ole Red" on the road safely.

Thanks to our friends, family (for all of your help, encouragement, kind words, support), and the grace of God!

"On the road again"!

The Brunettes!

We are dog sitting. Sarah, Kevin and Daniel made
a vacation trip to Albuquerque to vist Scott and Tina Good and family. They left on Friday morning and will return Tuesday evening. In the interim we have houseguests.

Dozer and Jinx, our brunette grand dogs (we have blonde grand dogs owned by Nathan and Traci) are spending a few days at the "spa".

Dozer, Doberman rescue is aptly named. He never got the hang of "His own Space" as opposed to "Your Own Space" will get as close to you as his fur will allow.

Jinx, a Rott/Dobie/??? mix was adopted at the
Columbus dog pound after Brinks, the Dobie/Rottie mix that was Sarah's College graduation gift, left to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Two more different dogs could not exist on this planet. Dozer's sheer size alone would strike
terror in the hearts of men but he is as gentle as a pussycat. That is, if you are not entering his home area and are an "alien or unknown". If you gently blow in his face, he will lick his chops.
Quite cute actually. Jinx is quite vocal, growly and crabby. Well...cutting her some slack, she does have to live with Dozer.

Anyway, it is our weekend diversion taking them out for potty breaks. Tim has to take them out at night, black dogs in the dark....no fun! Thankfully they have a white snow background during their visit or I would not be able to see them!

The last deed

Yesterday morning, Tim and I went up to the farm to await the arrival of the excavator that would be bringing his equipment to dig a grave for Zana.

As I was waiting in the lounge, Sarah came in to warm up and we sat quietly for a moment before she said "I opened the big arena door and opened the arena gate all the way out into the driveway"...( to allow the equipment operator to have access to the spot where Zana lay covered with a large blue horse cooler, a rectangular soft blanket used to keep horses from cooling down too rapidly after workouts or baths).

"As I walked away, the large gate slammed shut and latched". "She's gone Mom".

I then asked Sarah to do one final deed for me. I always kept a crystal for Zana

I kept it in the horse trailer when we traveled, and placed it discreetly in her stall

when we were at a show. It was clear and reflective, about 1-1/2 inches tear drop

shaped. I asked Sarah to braid it into her forelock so it would always be with her.

Sarah did.

We believe that her soul was waiting for the gate to open to allow her to leave.

Farewell Zana, and God's speed.

Zana Bey

She was buried this morning with dignity and respect. The equipment operator was very gentle and careful, Sarah went down into the grave and spread a clean sheet on the floor of the grave, then the mare was gently lowered down to her final resting place.

Sarah covered her with a clean bedspread making sure she was totally covered so that no dirt would fall on her face or body. She placed an apple under the bedspread, I said a few words, placing two handsfulf of dirt gently over her saying "ashes to ashes, dust to dust", God's Speed dear friend, and then the operator gently filled the grave.

She was laid to rest next to Max the quarter horse of Louisa's. There is a cross on Max's grave with a Christmas wreath still in place.

The graves are adjacent to the west fence of the pasture. I believe Zana would have wanted to someday be beyond fences.

I will plant flowers in the spring.

God speed my dear one.

Zana Bey (AA Apollo Bey X Zannadu)

Foaled March 11, 1997
Entered into Heaven January 12, 2011

My beloved mare.

We had dreams didn't we!

Somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pasture place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go.

Zana Bey....she has earned her wings!