Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” — Reinhold Niebuhr.
(One of my favourite quotes!)

I never can resist the opportunity for a TOPP!

And that's a really good one!

Since I missed the TOPP (I was looking for a good quote), I'll post a quote I like now:

'Solitude is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living. Talking is often torment for me, and I need many days of silence to recover from the futility of words.'

Carl Jung

WooHoo!!!
All the steers are gone to the sale barn for the Graded Sale. That's one less group of animals to care for, and these were the most work. They'll sell tomorrow. By sending them today, the State Grader will assess them and sort them into groups of steers of the same weight and grade, and they'll be put into the printed catalog for buyers across the country. This way, they'll bring the maximum possible price. And they look fantastic!

Mike's trailer is bigger than mine, and we barely squeezed the 10 steers in. We figured we might have been able to get 2 more in using a pry bar. At least they loaded in very easily and quietly.

Sorry I beat you to the TOPP Heidi!
Your choice was a good one too.
Hope your steers get you a good price.

My granddaughter Hayley and her partner are out in the Pacific on a cruise headed to Noumea and Vanuatu. And what happens, a 7.0 earthquake in Vanuatu yesterday. No big problems with this one but it's a worry when a loved one is in an area which could be dangerous.
Makes me think of when my grandson at 12 went to Japan with his school just after the Fukushima quake. I must admit to being relieved when he got back unscathed. He did have a fabulous time though!

Thunder is back in the shop. Yesterday I was delivering eggs to s friend, and I started hearing a grinding noise from underneath. I pulled over and called the repair shop. It was only a few miles away, and I told them I thought we could make it there ourselves, so they told me to come right in. The mechanic did a quick test drive and exam, and told me it looked like a broken bearing in the drive shaft. Which he thought would not be an expensive repair. But since I have to drive Robert to the hospital for knee surgery in an hour, I rented a car from them. The mechanic told me that Thunder would NOT have been able to make it to the hospital, so she did me a serious favor by getting sick in a convenient place and time, and not stranding us.

Long day today. I left home at 9:30 in the morning to take Robert in for his knee surgery. It went very well. But I didn't get bck home until 6:00 pm.

Thunder is back home, safe and sound. It turned out to be an easier fix than expected, because it wasn't a broken bearing in her drive shaft, or anywhere else. Somebody, we don't know who or when, switched the lug nuts on one of my wheels and put on some that didn't fit correctly. The grinding noise was the improperly fitting lug nuts grinding down and coming loose!!! They told me the wheel would have come off in another 10 miles or so!!! The cost of the rental for 2 days, and the thorough exam and diagnosis, and the new lug nuts was only $200.

We're presently under severe thunderstorm watch, with a possibility of tornadoes. A good day to stay inside, but I promised Robert I'd go to his place and remove his bandages today.

They let Robert go 'home' without a co-resident to look after him? Hmmm.

They knew I would help him if needed.

I just got the check for my steers. It blew my mind. They sold for a LOT more than I expected or even hoped for!!!

Rainy day today.... and the mud was just starting to dry out. At least it's relatively warm.... 50˚F.

35C today but thunderstorms predicted lter - be good to not have to water the garden. I have been planting some new herbs and think bad time of year as i am out with the hose each day.
Went to the caravan last week for a night on a very hot day - daughter helped me down to the beach and into the water (the waves were only small but kept messing with my balance). Had the most glorious dip in the ocean - the water was so clean and beautiful - looked like a wrinkled date when I went back to the camp.
Was going today but unfortunately work was calling and it took too long to finish shipping documents. Next week I hope.
Son in Seoul due back here for a week in Feb - so looking forward to seeing him. Son no. 3 went back to Darwin yesterday - wish they would all settle somewhee a bit closer to us.
Best wishes to all
My brother suddenly lost most of his vision 2 weeks ago and now what he has left is very blurred - will be visiting him this weekend. He is fighting so hard but is now in palliative care.
Happy to hear you received a decent amount for your steers Heidi. See you are not having much luck with the weather in your area too.
Hope Robert is getting on o.k. and not calling on you too much. I agree DorA - Heidi has enough on her plate - co-resideint would be good relief.

With the cold weather we had for a few weeks, followed by warmer with some rain, my daffodils are confused. I see a few shoots starting to show. They are about two months early... Good to see ya got some ''beach time'' in Midge.

With our warm weather, the grass in the pastures has greened up and is growing!

Just a quick one, I have been so busy lately - family birthdays, trying to organise my spare room which is full of things to go to the charity shops. Now I have to track down who wants what - some want clothes, some want blankets, some want household items. I have everything and too much for 1 car load even though I have an SUV now.
Glad you got a good price for the steers, Heidi!
Midge, happy you got to have a dip in the sea. It's so long since I've been in the ocean and look where I live! My hubby hates the ocean, he's really freaked out by sharks. Once we were on holiday and I got sick of swimming in the resort pool all the time so I insisted I was going into the surf. He came in with me. I said - see it wasnt so bad was it? He said - someone had to be there to save you from the sharks. True story!
This errant weather is pretty horrid worldwide. I'm glad its warmed up for Heidi and DorA. Parts of Australia have had/are having torrential rain and floods or heat waves, I'm touching wood as I say that here in SE Qld we've had a nice summer so far, no really high temps and not too much rain, mainly at night.
Stay safe all, be good!

Had my eye exam today. Eyes dilated, and very fuzzy and light sensitive tight now. But, the doctor was pleased with my eyes. he said they're very stable and exactly as they should be.

Tomottow morning I have a pain management appointment (no shot) and Friday I take Robert to the eye doctor.

Hope your eyes are better by now Heidi. Col used to get that stuff in his eyes all the time and then he couldn't see well for hours and I'd have to drive home on the Motorway, something I like to avoid.
I had my eyes checked last week and am waiting for my new glasses. My eyesight hasn't changed much but my right eye is weaker than last checkup. I do have cataracts developing but not bad yet.
Just signed up for Art classes again this year with U3A. Because of my arthritis, my artwork isn't fabulous, but I like to watch the lessons and the people are now my main circle of friends, except for those special friends I have had for ever!

Got through the week of 4 doctor appointments (2 for me, 2 for Robert). This morning I dropped off 5 dozen eggs to a friend, and she's giving me 3 Budgies that she wants to re-home. I'll be picking them up tomorrow. I didn't have a travel cage with me today.

Next week Robert has 2 important appointments. On Wednesday he has to see his cardiolofist in Louisville (1 hour 15 minute drive each way) and on Friday he has to see his knee surgeon (50 minute drive each way). They'll schedule his right knee replacement then.

How is Robert progressing after his left knee surgery. Better, I Hope. Less pain and better mobility.

No pain whatsoever, and full mobility. His right knee is in agony, though.

Good to hear the first procedure went well...

In 4 days he learns when the right knee will be replaced. It should be 4 weeks from now, if the surgeon likes what he sees.

Just got my 5th Covid shot.
I still wear a mask in public, and the combination must be working, since I have not gotten Covid yet.

Cold morning. Everything outside is white with frost. We're back to Winter temperatures again.

It's raining right now, and due to switch to snow in just over an hour. The roads should be OK when I leave to take Robert to his cardiologist at 1 pm tomorrow.

I hope it doesn't get too cold, Heidi! Meanwhile we are expecting 35c today, highest temp so far this season. Our summer has been mild with temps under 30c. We are also expecting storms most days and they say the cyclones are coming soon. Fingers crossed for no severe weather.
It's Australia day today, we're not doing anything, Col is not well. Having trouble breathing and has chest pains. Doctors thought he had a Pulmunory Embolism but have almost ruled that out, so he has tests and scans and Doctor visits scheduled for next week, I'm on watch, if he gets worse I am to take him straight to the hospital. I'm hoping for an easy solution, but it never is with Col. Fingers crossed.

My fingers are crossed, too, CynB.

I got another skunk in the barn! I have no idea where all these critters are coming from! The closest woods, which are only about 8 acres, are 1/4 mile from the barn, and I have thinned the population so much that you'd think they wouldn't need to wander so far for food. But I do NOT want skunks in my barn. Besides the danger of being sprayed, more than 30% of all cases of rabies in the US are from skunks. Since my cats, and alpacas are in the barn every day, and the horses and cattle are around the barn, I cannot risk it.

Another one bites the dust. And another ones gone, another ones gone.....
Me thinks any responsible land owner would do the same. For the same reason(s).

I just set out some live traps at my local service station. They just discovered a litter of feral kittens, and they asked me if I wanted them. One is black and white... but, one half of the face is black and one half white, and the body is reversed. The black side of the face has a white body under it, and the white side has a black body under it!! One sounds like a blue cream and another is yellow and white. There may be more. They're open until 5, and will call me if they catch any before that. I will check the traps between 10 and 11 tonight, and again first thing in the morning.

Trap = transport to a good life at Heidi's place. Good Luck. When you are successful, we expect pictures......

So far I have only caught the black and white kitten. It appears to be around 4 months old. The markings aren't quite as dramatic as described to me, but it IS a chimera! That's an animal that develops from 2 different zygotes, so is basically a totally conjoined twin, with 2 different sets of DNA in one body. I will take pictures once the Vet has checked it out, sexed it, and given it vaccinations. I'm naming it ''Domino'', both due to the colors and because as I was driving home with it, the song ''Domino'', by Van Morrison, came on the radio!

Domino is a male.

I haven't caught any more yet.

Good name - Domino - and I love that song.
Nothing much happening here, started my diet on Wednesday. Doing well so far and feeling good.