This is what we are looking for.....

A dark wall of RAIN! Please pray, that we get some rain soon. Many ranchers are very bad off and need water for their cattle desperately. Even though in some areas there is still sufficient water, in others the farmers/ranchers have to shoot their livestock, in order to "save" it from starvation. In the neighbor town, there was a rancher that had to put an end to 30 of his last cattle and then went to hang himself. Luckily his wife found him and could save him in time. But it shows how desperate things are getting. In some areas it has not rained in 11 months! That is also the reason for our very high temperatures. A rain would cool things down some.
So as many of you will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, say a thank you for your rain. Even if it doesn´t seem like you need it, you don´t know what a treasure it is!
And say a little prayer for us.

Thanks to all!

As promised....

Just a few pic´s of the new guest room. Unfortunately I didn´t take any "BEFORE" pic´s, it would be much more dramatic that way.
And I have not completely finished yet. I´m still searching for a nice chair and area rug, to put in one corner.
The paint on the walls is new, the curtains, the bed, and the bedding. My daughter will be the first "guest" to live here.


With adjoining bathroom.
Who will be next? You´re invited! :)

It is soooo hot here.......

• the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
• the potatoes cook underground, and all you have to do to have lunch is to pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper.
• farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.
• the cows are giving evaporated milk.
• you no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
• you can say 113 degrees without fainting.
• you can make instant sun tea.
• the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
• you've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
• you would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.
• you can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
• The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
• you discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window.
• you notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
• hot water now comes out of both taps.
• you break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m. before work.
• no one would dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car or not having air conditioning.
• you realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
• a sad Chaqueño once prayed, "I wish it would rain - not so much for me, cuz I've seen it -- but for my 7-year-old."



I guess all we can do is laugh!

I´ve been a bad blogger this week. I have not commented much on peoples blogs and I only managed to post the meme on Wednesday.
If I thought it was busy a few weeks ago, this past week has been C-R-A-Z-Y!!! Today I had my first few hours off. And only because I refused to come to work, because I was invited to my friend Elisabeth´s birthday!
It was time for something else other than work, work, work! And the HEAT!! It´s driving me nuts! Today our high was 45C/115F!! Can you even imagine? I am lucky and can work inside with an AC, but my husband is in his shop with the doors and windows wide open. It´s like working in an oven. He comes home soooo tired and sapped. Our kittens think we are punishing them. They have to stay outside, while we are at work and they are getting used to being inside pretty quickly.... When I come home they run to me and miau as if they are dieing! :) Of course Lady is always ready to come inside too. And you would think it cools off at night. The low last night was 31C/87F.... In the mornings we usually drink Mate (this is a hot tea). We sit outside with a fan blowing and still end up all wet, from sweating. But we have out Mate! :) It´s our "together time". LOL!
Anyway so today I finally got a few hours off and we celebrated E.´s birthday.




Of course we had had cake. But with iced coffee. Who wants hot in this weather?!


But the kittens are doing fine. They are thriving and love to play! I´m too busy (or pooped when I´m home), to take many pictures of them, but we love them a lot already.


I will be back to regular posting soon. This time will end and all will be normal soon. Luckily (??) there is no one waiting for me at home, so I can do the work that is required of me. And the extra money will be needed soon too. Have I told you all that my daughter Marisa (from Canada) is coming for Christmas??! If not, then I tell you now. I can hardly wait to see her! Every time I speak of her I tear up. It´s really time....

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Random dozen #6

It´s Wednesday. That means I´m joining the other´s at Linda´s again for the Random Dozen. Check the rest of them out here!

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?
Volleyball. I love to play it and watch.
(Those that have read here a while, they will know this)

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?
I do research. We just bought a new bed for our guest bedroom and I went to every place in town and the neighbor town to compare prices.

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?
Since I have no middle name, can´t really say.

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?
My favorite music, for sure!

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?
The greenish one, because with those you can always wait till they ripen to your preference. I don´t like overripe bananas.


6. Your favorite tree is?
Paratodo. It means "For eveyone". I love the beautiful yellow flowers, that
it produces, when it blooms.



7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?
I think maybe a 5 or 6.


8. Has H1N1 touched your family?
Not yet. We are in summer now, so the "scare" has left us. No bug stays around for 110°/45° degree temperatures!

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don´t. When I feel something is ridiculously long winded or too complicated I do question it, if it can´t be made simpler.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?
haha, what is a Koala like? I think I´m like a cat. At times playful, other times just plain lazy. Sometimes I´m very curious and other times I couldn´t care less. And I´m pretty spoiled, like my cats.... :)

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?
Yes I do. Although not very regularly, I do call them on their birthdays and special occasions.
Especially our friends that we made, while living in Canada. We love them very much!


12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?
I choose the one with less people in the line, even if it´s not the express lane. Usually it takes some time paying for the grocery´s too, so if there
are more people in the express lane you have to calculate that into it.
Of course sometimes I get it wrong, but mostly I have a good eye, in finding the shorter/quicker lane.

You need to know this.....

This is a re-post from my previous blog, but it´s important to get this info out there! :)






Now you know. :)

The winner and my first vlog!

Sorry I´m so late at announcing the winner of the cookbook. First I had to get my daughter to film me, and now I´m trying to upload the thing and it won´t work. We´ll see how long it takes.
Anyway I decided to choose the winner the old fashioned way. I printed out all the names from my comments, cut them into strips and put them in a container. Then I picked one. And the winner is: ............(watch the video)






So there you have it Kristine! I met your challenge and made a video. I hope my accent is not too bad.
And I must say, it will probably be my only one. I´m not a fan of myself on film......

If you´re interested in checking out Maribeth´s blog and her adorable puppies, just click here.
I´ll be sending the cookbook, as soon as I receive your mailing address.
Congratulations!