The Goat

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Racing Pigs

A couple of friends and I went to the Jacksonville Fair on Friday. (Thanks Mike and Chris for suggesting the outing!) I've lived in Jacksonville for five years now and I had never attended. I'm used to the big county fairs that we have in Michigan, so I was quite curious to see what kind of a fair a Southern city could create.

I would have never guessed that I was going to see some pigs run around a track and jump into a water trough.

It was a very popular event! The pigs are a few months old and gladly race around the track so they can get to the end to get their reward.

What do you think motivates a pig to run?

Look at them go!
The little capes on them are their numbers, so that the crowd can root for their favorite.

They look like SuperMan with those capes.

In answer to the question - the pigs are motivated by an Oreo Cookie. That's their reward at the end of the track.

One of the other things that pigs like to do is swim!
The pig handlers said that if pigs had a nice big pool to swim in and cool off, then they wouldn't roll around in the mud (to cool off.)

Since the pigs enjoy the water a special water trough was set up for them to swim in.

This group of four came barreling around the corner and put on the brakes!! It was so funny. I think they are new to the water trough trick.

It took one brave soul to put a hoof into the water before the others would join in.

They were still racing to the end for an Oreo, so they made short work of the swim. I was amazed at how quickly those teeny little pig legs could paddle!

Snouts up!

I Win!!

But these fellas are right behind.

At the end of the show we could get a picture taken with this little piggy.

I completely enjoyed the Racing Pigs. They were a hoot!

That's what can happen on a Sunday in Jacksonville, FL. For more Sundays in my City, please head on over to Unknown Mami's place. Who knew you'd see a pig race when you came here?! You never know what others will blog about in their city.

Have a great day!
Kristin

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Just a little drama

We've had a little drama at our place the past week. My husband caught a cold last week, not a huge deal for most people, but being that he's immune suppressed that makes it a bigger deal than usual. This cold immediately became a hacking cough and fever type of cold. I gave him the OTC stuff for a few days, but on Saturday evening his temperature wouldn't come down and his coughing was out of control. Time to go to the Mayo Emergency Room.

Can I just stop here and say that I am so very grateful that we moved to Jacksonville almost 6 years ago. Walking into the ER at Mayo is just heavenly. Hardly a soul is there and all of the doctors in the ER are part of the Mayo Staff. We get right in and all of Tom's history pops up on the screen. Not to mention, they know exactly how to handle a post transplant patient and all of their medication dos and don'ts.

He's the only one at the ER, so he gets in right away. No matter how fast you get into an ER, the wait is three hours before you get to go home. Labs take time to test and read if nothing else, so I'm always fully prepared for a three hour wait. This night was no exception. The doctor comes in, chats with Tom, listens to his breathing, listens to his concerns and orders a chest xray.

Pneumonia.

They give him an antibiotic while he's there and give us a script for more.

Three hours later, nearly on the button, we go home.

The next day, Tom is feeling much better already and I feel awful. Damn, I got it.
I stay in bed half the day, rest and try my hardest not to breathe the same air as Tom. I don't want this any worse. I end up only being sick for Sunday and Monday and slept most of Monday, barely awake past 7 pm. By Tuesday I'm pretty chipper but still I could sleep most of the day!

Monday, Tom takes his antibiotic and is feeling itchy, but he didn't think a thing of it. I wasn't awake, nor was I sleeping in the same room as him with this cold the two of us had, so I had no idea that he was having a reaction to the meds.

Tuesday comes around, he goes out on a job and comes home complaining of being itchy. I suggest several things, but the medication issue hasn't clicked with me either. At 9pm he takes his antibiotic again and goes to bed. He comes back out an hour later and he is head to toe hives and red blotches. I run off to the drug store and get him some Benedryl.

Around the two hour mark, post Benedryl, his face starts swelling and he has a fat lip. Mayo ER here we come again.

Poor guy was allergic to the generic form of the medication. The ER folks spring into action and he is quickly given and IV Benedryl, Prednisone and a few other things to help him relax and doze off while the drugs work on getting the swelling down. Three hours later we are on our way home.

It's Thursday now and he is so much better. The hives haven't come back and he has hardly coughed at all the past 12 hours. He is jumpy and wide-eyed from the Prednisone but it's only a 5 day dose, so he'll get through it. He managed to fall asleep last night so that's a big plus.

So that's what I've been up to...

Hope your life has been a lot less drama and a lot more fun!
Kristin

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Beauty in Ordinary

POTD - Beauty in Ordinary

My jar of fortune cookie fortunes is filling up, which is really nice because now when I reach in for a fortune, I'm getting ones I haven't seen in awhile. This particular fortune that I grabbed said, "You find beauty in ordinary things. Do not lose this ability." I don't ever remember seeing that one before, but the interesting thing about it is that I hear this from people all the time about my photography. It never fails to inspire me to do more. Now that I'm in the push to finish out my 365 project and I'm feeling like I have already taken pictures of nearly everything around me, this fortune tells me that I need to just keep going.

60 days left.
Enjoy!
Kristin

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

POTD - Pumpkin on the windowsill

At my sisters house I spotted this pumpkin with a red leaf on top just sitting in the windowsill of her kitchen. It was just so beautiful I had to stop and admire the simple beauty of it. Hope you had a happy Halloween.

Kristin

Monday, October 31, 2011

October 2011 Links

These are the links to all of my posts for October 2011

Halloween

Twas the afternoon of Halloween and the ordinary was starting to look a little scary.

Was this tree always this dark and sinister?

Could it just be the day of the year?

Pumpkins were huddling together hoping to be safe from the the ghouls and goblins that would be coming out after dark.

Some pumpkins sprouted wings and donned a mask just to blend in with the crowd sure to come by this evening.

This fireman decided to hang off to the side to make sure that the crowds stayed orderly.

For now the sun is still above the horizon, but soon it will be dark. Soon the streets near and far (except in New Hampshire) will have front porch lights on, kids in costumes and laughter and joy will be in the air.

When all have been tucked in bed, what will come out from the shadows then?

Happy Halloween!
Kristin

POTD - Halloween Bee

I spotted this bee buzzing around someone's house. What a fun and interesting way to display pumpkins. Don't hit me, but carved pumpkins would hardly last a day in Jacksonville's 70º heat. You folks on the East Coast, I bet your pumpkins are buried under snow! Hope you can find them :0)

I do hope this is a fun and enjoyable Halloween for everyone!

Enjoy!
Kristin

Saturday, October 29, 2011

POTD - Spicy

One of my Michigan trips I found myself at an estate sale with my Mom. I recall seeing quite a few big or heavy things that I would have loved to haul home with me - a typing table, a large framed poster from the 70s, books. One of them was a gallon zipper bag with seven spice tins and a small box of birthday candles. All for the bargain price of 50¢. I remember telling my Mom that I was going to need these for a photo shoot some day. I was right. I was fresh out of ideas, when I remembered the spices. I tore out a page from a 60s cookbook to make the backdrop for the tins and spent some time arranging and rearranging the tins until I finally got a shot I liked.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Friday, October 28, 2011

Friday Fragments

It's Friday Fragments Day!!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

Welcome to Friday Fragments! This is the place where we're able to put little snippets of fun or interesting things together without having to stretch that idea into an entire blog post.

Mrs. 4444 is our lovely host and I am so grateful for her continued hosting of this fun carnival. For more Friday Fragment finds, please head on over to Half-Past Kissin' Time. Thanks!

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I've discovered that when you have a credit card that is completely paid off, big money things find their way to the pocketbook. $5000 in teeth (just mine), $40 three times a week for 6 weeks for the Chiropractic appts that I need for my back and neck, $600 on the car, once a year automatic payments show up - so I knew about that one, but had forgotten the time of year. I think there are a few more, but I'm in denial.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

At our monthly potluck one of the women makes a really great punch. She's kind of a jokster so I purchased a shark fin ice ring that I'm going to freeze. At the next potluck I'll sneak it into her punch. I think she'll get a kick out of it!

Google images
This is the mold. It's a hoot!

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

For the They Grow Up So Quickly part of the program.

I took this picture in October 2010 when I went home to Michigan to visit with my family and my nieces.

This is Scarlett the week of her first birthday.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

This picture is Scarlett, October 2011. It's once again the week of her birthday. I took this photo in the same park and on the same swing set as I had the year before. She looks like such a big kid and she's only two!

I'm totally jealous of her curls.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I have seen this photo on Facebook a dozen times and it never fails to crack me up!

Hello?

Is it me you're looking for?

I can see it in your eyes

I can see it in your smile

You're all I've ever wanted

And my arms are open wide

'cause you know just what to say

And you know just what to do

And I want to tell you so much

I love you

I long to see the sunlight in your hair

And tell you time and time again

How much I care

Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow

Hello!

I've just got to let you know

'cause I wonder where you are

And I wonder what you do

Are you somewhere feeling lonely?

Or is someone loving you?

Tell me how to win your heart

For I haven't got a clue

But let me start by saying I love you

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

We only have 64 more days of the year 2011. We've already passed through 301 days. Can you remember most of those days? I can't. I'm glad I have a blog so I can remember what in the world I have been doing this year.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I've got dozens of people collecting bread bag tags for me. It's fun going to the mailbox and finding a little envelope with a few tags tucked inside. Had I realized this project was going to bring me more snail mail I would have started this a long time ago! Thanks everyone, I'm still collecting. If I could fill an entire wall with them, that would be awesome. I have a vision of a backdrop of the tags with photographs hanging in front.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

Thanks for stopping by my late entry :0) I'm just happy to be able to participate this week.

Don't forget to visit Half Past Kissing Time to see the other Fragmenters.

Kristin

POTD - Cattail Reflections

The sun was in the perfect place to lend some light to the photo. The water was barley moving but left enough of a ripple to make the reflection interesting. The water reflected that brilliant blue sky and the cattails. It all added up to a really fabulous find.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Doing a little detective work

If ever there was a use for a thesaurus it's when you're trying to do a search for something that you know very little about. I kept wanting a new set of words for "seed pod" and had very little luck.

This afternoon on my photo journey to find something interesting for my 365 project, I came across some interesting seeds.

I tried to take one of the seed pods with me, but they were really stubborn! I broke the pod of the one I was trying to pull off and the stem to the plant never did break off.

I took a photo of the seed pods, but there weren't any flowers on the very tall plants.

So I come back home and try to Google some keywords that relate to my seed pod to discover the name of the plant. I switch to images so I can go through them quickly.

I tried
Black Seed pod 5"
flower seed pod black four sides
Black seed pod + bean-like (I got beans - hundreds of bean photos)

Nothing.

I just assumed it was a flower, so I tried
black seed pod bushes

Nothing

Finally I started THINKING!
that's difficult some days.

Florida Flowers with black seed pods

BINGO!
It was on page two, but there they were!

Source

Candlebrush is a member of the bean or legume family, and there are two different species that go by this common name. Other common names for this bold tropical beauty are Christmas Candle and Emperor’s Candlesticks. So it’s important to be able to identify today’s featured plant as Senna alata. (And to add to the confusion, older books name this plant as Cassia alata.)
(Source)

Source - Top Tropicals - Senna Alata

According to the UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service, where the above quote was taken, these cool looking plants have some bad habits. They are a bit invasive, the entire plant is poisonous if swallowed, but are used for medicinal purposes and they really only have a three season life. They can become quite large, think shrubs, and they create sucker plants like crazy. I guess if one were to plant this flowering shrub you'd want it to be confined to a small location so the gardener could weed the suckers easily or to give it tons of space to just take over.

I'm going to try to go back to the location where I found the bush, this time armed with a knife or pair of scissors, and get a few more seed pods. They are just terribly cool and I want to photograph them in an unnatural environment - like my table!

Have you found an unusual plant lately?

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Really Great Cookies

I picked up three cookies to bring to a friend's house, knowing of course, that the cookies would have to be my photo of the day. I just assumed that my friend would have a nice plate or something decorative that I could use as the base for the cookies. After searching through his cupboards, pantry, books and blankets, I discovered these neat silver and black DVD cases. I teased him about being a BOY and not having anything fancy. It was a bit of an effort, but I think the background and the DVD cases make a nice backdrop for the really great cookies!

Enjoy!
Kristin

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

JibJab Disco

The past couple of years my friend, Steve has created a birthday dance for me on Jib Jab.

They are always so funny!

I think Steve looks like a disco queen in that perfectly curled hair, don't you? I remember my hair looking like that a few times.

Then there's me, in the psychedelic shirt and that far out afro! I love it!

I didn't realize I had such dance moves.

But Steve and I must have been a hit at the local disco.

We had all the moves!

And then I had to take center stage - Look at Meeeeeee!!!

I can't believe that it's been 9 days since my birthday. I really did sleep through that week!

I'm nearly feeling 100% and with that enthusiasm, I'm able to embarrass myself with these photos.

Thanks Steve!! Thanks JibJab!

For a few days this link will be active - Click to view the Disco Birthday in its entirety.

Kristin

POTD - Pine Cone

It's Fall in Florida. Sometimes it is hard to tell when Fall has arrived as the trees hold on to their leaves until the middle of December. The pine trees, however, produce their cones this time of year. A perfect time to gather them for Thanksgiving and Christmas displays.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I have survived...so far

I know that I kind of left my last blog post talking about my teeth and saying that I was having a root canal on Monday.

I had no idea that my days between that appointment and the one on Monday would consist of me becoming one with the couch, eyes closed, passed out cold, for days on end. My nights I slept in bed, rarely moving until the pain meds wore off.

When the pain came back it wasn't on soft kitty cat feet, it came roaring over me like a hurricane.

Normally I can take pain pretty well, but mouth pain is an entirely different category. I cannot tolerate it. Now is probably a good time to mention, if you hadn't figured it out already, I'm not very functional on pain medication either.

Thankfully Monday 8am finally arrived and I had my root canal. My heart was beating out of my chest, but I was fairly calm after a few minutes and my mouth was numbed up. My new-to-me dentist did a real nice job. He didn't numb me too much and not too little. It all wore off within an hour of being home. My jaw still hurts, but he had a lot of work to do in there. Tylenol is working just fine to keep my pretty pain free today. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be a much better day.

Since I'm no longer sleeping the day away I expect I will rejoin the blogging world. If I could have held onto a thought for more than a second, I wouldn't have taken the week off. Then again my blog is about my life and last week my life was all about sleeping!

I will be fitted for two crowns next Monday. The fun never ends!

Hope you had a great week!
Kristin

POTD - Pile o' pens

On Saturday I attended the Gift of Life Celebration. Mostly transplant recipients attended this particular event, but there were a few kidney donors and donor families. We had a lovely BBQ meal, listened to a few speakers and looked at the information tables full of literature, pens, car magnets and bumper stickers. The green pens were just one of the many freebies available at the event.

Whenever you see a green band on someone's arm, it probably means organ and tissue donation, just like most pink bands are linked to breast cancer awareness.

•♫♪..♪♫•It's not easy being green•♫♪..♪♫•

www.donatelife.net

Enjoy!
Kristin

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Dental news

Well, just as I suspected, I've got one expensive mouth. It's all my husband's fault. Well, not his direct fault, but when he started getting sick 7 years ago I took my stress out on my poor teeth for a few months by grinding them in my sleep. I broke a tooth at that time and cracked a few fillings. I went to a dentist and they fixed me up...

They actually did a pretty shotty job and left gaps between the filling and the tooth, I later found out, which has caused so many issues. After Tom's transplant I needed to have extensive dental work, but I couldn't afford it all at the time, so I opted for just a filling for the tooth that needed it most. The rest I'd deal with later.

It's now later.

I am now in need of a root canal and crown for the broken tooth that causing all the pain. I also need two additional crowns and the removal and replacement of the fillings that were so poorly done years ago. One or both of those may need a crown, depending on what is found once the fillings are removed. My molars have extremely deep pits and they have been filled and filled and filled until some of them are half tooth and half filling. This just creates problems.

The bill for the proposed treatment of all issues found today is $5,744.00

It boggles the mind.

My husband's liver transplant was well over $300,000 so I know about medical bills, but it just seems like a little ol' tooth or two shouldn't cost more than a down payment on a cheap car.

Monday at 8am I'm going in my my root canal. Wish me luck!

One of the good things about getting new xrays. If anything should happen to me, I now have current dental records and that can help with identification if necessary. (I watch far too many forensic shows)

I hope you have a great day!
Kristin

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Home, birthday, dentist

I'm home!

I had a birthday!

I have a broken tooth.

I've been sleeping most of the past two days.

I'm getting my tooth looked at and hopefully fixed in the morning.

I'll be back good as new real soon!

Kristin

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

POTD - Mail art and gifts

It may be called Snail Mail these days, but it's pure JOY when it's unexpected art and gifts! I have to admit that I did know that I was getting some bread bag tags and some mail art, but the extras were all unexpected and totally fun! Another friend asked for my address the other day because she wanted to send something she got in Hawaii. You can't see it very well in the photo but mixed in with the bread tags is a Pineapple Pete smashed penny! Thanks so much Susi and Tara for the fabulous snail mail.

I'm getting some ideas for Christmas cards...hmmm.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Monday, October 17, 2011

Fall in Michigan

Fall in Michigan.
Oh how I love thee.
Let me count the ways.

The start of the Michigan State University semester - the students are back, the student rental houses are full, the stores are busy, the place is buzzing with activity.

College Football. Michigan loves it's College Football and I'm an MSU Spartan. This year MSU is host to the MSU v UofM game. Each year since 1953, the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game receives the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a 4-foot wooden statue of the legendary lumberjack. Michigan State has had the trophy sitting in it's case for the past three years and I know we plan on keeping it this year, too.

(I wrote this days ago hoping to publish, but alas I didn't. However, I'm happy to report that my Spartans did indeed win that game and keep the trophy!)

Fall means LEAVES! Lots and lots of leaves of varying colors and sizes falling from the sky and rustling on the ground.

When leaves are on the ground you can hear things. You can hear a squirrel digging for acorns, cats running through the grass or friends coming to the door.

Cool weather is almost guaranteed, but sometimes you get that amazing Indian Summer where the temperatures are way above average and the sun shines bright. It's an incredible event because just when you thought your summer activities were over, you get a quick do over! My MIL and FIL spent several days relaxing by the pool during this years Indian Summer which lasted nearly two weeks! Unheard of.

Drinking apple cider and picking out pumpkins.

Allergies. Yep, I'm allergic to Fall. The dust of the leaves, the decay and the rain of Fall do a number on me. It's really hard NOT to jump in the leaves! I suffer every year and I keep coming back. The beauty of it is intoxicating and I have to do it again. (OK, so I don't love allergies, but it's expected in my version of fall)

My birthday. Now my birthday will take place whether I'm in Michigan or not, but it's always nice to have a little birthday celebration when I'm in town. This year the celebration was for the two year old, Scarlett, who was born just two days before my birthday. It was fun being a part of her birthday this year. I'm going to celebrate mine with a few folks in Jacksonville. It seems I've met several folks who also share a Libra birthday with me.

Hope you have enjoyed the things I love about Fall in Michigan.
Have a great day!
Kristin