Now, that's some real horsepower!

This just in from the S&S Ranch.

Apparently, yesterday was the first post-Fay clean-up out there.

Fortunately, they didn't have any of the flooding a lot of folks have had out in the hither and yon.

But, they did have quite a bit of broken limbs, etc., strewn about the place.

Can you believe a horse Sunny's age can be trained to collect all that stuff and drop it in a wheelbarrow?

Seeing is believing!

S&S Ranch for sale!

That's right, ye socks, the word on the street today . . . or, at least over Cecil's BBQ . . . is the infamous S&S Ranch is on the market.

So, if you're looking for a new place to keep your equine friends, check it out:

http://mfr.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=1999525625&s=MFR&t=MFR

Sarah's a grandma!

I just about fell out of my chair when I got the news delivered to me that way, so thought I'd let ye socks be as shocked as I was!

In actuality, it was her pair of cockatiels (Mama Nextel and Papa Sunny) that grew the family circle over there on the S&S Ranch.

The strange thing, Mama and Papa had shared the same cage for 3 years and never produced any offspring.

I guess anybody--or, any birdie--will grow on you if you're caged up with them long enough.

Anyway, the new addition has been dubbed "Dover."

Don't ask me why. I think it has a NASCAR connection somewhere . . .

Belated Birthday Blessings

Feliz cumpleanos a Sarah Taylor.

Actually, her birthday was yesterday, but we celebrated it tonight with a spaghetti dinner.

And, the birthday girl brought ME presents!

She brought a box full of old books that had belonged to her late husband Van, and I am having a field day going thru them all.

Turns out we are distantly related thru the old Ivey/Mizell pioneers.

Sunny ain't a teenager anymore!

My crazy friend Sarah threw a 20th birthday party today for "her boy" Sunny.

I say "crazy friend," because Sunny is her horse.

That's right, a birthday party for a horse. Complete with cake and all the trimmings.

Well, I guess if you have to have an excuse to throw a party and eat stuff that's bad for you . . . . I've just never had either of those problems!

Anyway, happy birthday, Sunfire!

And, pass me a slice of cake.

A noticeable decline

The last 24 hours have been very taxing on our family, as Dad has made a noticeable decline. The hospice nurse told us today that we should be thinking in terms of days (not weeks, as previously suggested). It's as if he knows he's home, and has achieved some sort of peace. . . well, perhaps a spiritual peace. The physical struggle continues.

Let me tell you, hospice nursing ain't easy.

It's like taking care of a premature baby, only in our case the patient is over 6 feet tall and isn't going to get better.

On a thankful note, I need to express gratitude to all the friends who have called or emailed over the last week. Please know they are truly appreciated, even if we cannot respond to each one. And, I would particularly like to thank Sarah Taylor for stopping by the house last night with the awesome carrot cake and the nice flowers.

That's it for now. This time change is really throwing me for a loop. I think we should let the night nurse take over and try to get a little shut-eye . . . YAWN!!!