Tuesday Notes.

Got up early and and had coffee with my bride, them she was off to the truck company. Were back to normal from Holiday routine the last couple of days. Had a nice sunny day with temps in the middle 80’s. Replaced our front flag as it was starting to wear,they only last a couple months when you fly them 24/7 and in all kinds of weather, and with some of the storms we’ve had they take a beating.

Donna said she is topping and picking me up one of my perennial favorites, a hot meatball and cheese Sub, I don’t know where she gets them but they are good and they are big.

My son had to have some dental work today so he is looking and feeling pretty bad.

I am having trouble locating a locksmith and all the big stores with key machines tell me they can’t duplicate the keys for our fiver. Donna lost her set so I may have to call the manufacturer and see what they suggest. I drove up to Wentzville Mo. to my favorite Locksmith and they went out of business in the last couple of months, Tried Home Depot, Lowe’s and WalMart and all of them had key machines but nobody had the blanks to do.

While I was at WalMart they were having a sale on BBQ pits and I picked up a nice two burner for $87. Rigg’s if you remember took our old one for a ride across the back  yard scattering parts and destroying it when he caught his cable for his run on it.

I can see a cookout for this weekend already in our future.

 

                 Our New $87 BBQ Pit.

                The old ones in the junk pile.

That’s about it for today, hope you all have a great week.

Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Monday Mumblings.

Today dawned a beautiful sunny day the temp topped out at 90 degrees I guess summer has arrived, Donna got some stuff done around the house this morning and then since the Rigg’s has been a good boy we decided we would take him to the Doggie Park.

Before the pictures Rigg’s wants to tell you about it.

Hi everybody this is Rigg’s, I want all my friend, like Jody, Coco& Sandy, Annie, Tucker, Sadie , Dusty, and all my blogger dog friends to know that I have the bestus, Mom & Dad, today they took me to my favorite place, the doggie park with the lake in it. Boy was I glad, as soon as I got out of the truck Dad took my leash off and I was good and went right in the gate and ran to the water and jumped in, it was great, I got to play and play with a lot of other dogs, Golden Retrievers, other Labs and a Great Dane, Just so you know I am still the fastest swimmer at the park. but I lost my orange toy from last year it sank and I couldn’t find it. Dad said he would get me another one and Mom had a spare toy with her. Here are some pictures Dad took……

                           In the water at last.

          Mom throwing my toy. Before it got lost.

              My new Golden Retriever friends.

      I’m a Retriever too, a Labrador Retriever.

Me & one of the Golden’s pretending to be rescue dogs and pulling each other in..

Mom to the rescue with a new toy after my old one sank.

Mom look I got somebody’s Frisbee, can I have it , huh.

As you can see Rigg’s enjoyed his Memorial Day Holiday and Donna & I will celebrate with a steak on the grill in a little while.

Hope everyone had a great holiday, be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Sunday News.

We were up early again and Donna started baking again she is finishing the cake for Kira’s Graduation party. By the looks of the size of the cake they must be going to feed an army. Here are some flicks…

 

Neat cake, one layer half vanilla ,half chocolate and one layer strawberry.

Then it was off to the party, Kira' is graduating with honor’s and has already won a college scholarship, Her Mom Renee used to work at the restaurant with Donna.

                                         Kira

                                     Kira & Donna.

                         Donna, Kira, & Sam.

                            Kira’s School Awards.

This little lady has worked hard and really has made her family proud of her. Donna says she remembers her as a little girl and how time has flown. That is so true as we watch our Grandkids sprout up.

That’s about it for today, tomorrow will be a great day as Donna is off from both job’s again maybe I can talk into going for a ride or something relaxing.

Be safe out there, Sam & Donna….

Saturday Mumblings.

Not much to report from the Weeb Ranch today, Donna & I were up and had our coffee at 05:30AM she is off today but will go in to the restaurant at 04:00PM.Then tomorrow is her full day off. We just stayed around the house, Donna is baking a huge caked for the Graduation Party we are going to tomorrow afternoon. One of the girls that used to work with her has a daughter graduating. I always enjoy seeing the young people enjoy themselves and I know Donna & I will enjoy the party and maybe have a dance or two or three.
About the only thing I got accomplished today was wrestling a new bag into the sweeper. you would think they could come up with a simple drop the old one out and put the old in  and close the door, but no you have to put the bag on a round pipe that is just a little to big for the hole so it becomes a wrestling match.
It was another one of those grey cool days again today the temperature finally reached 70 degrees about 03:00PM but it looks like it could ran at any time, Last year the Holiday weekend was sunny and in the 90’s.
Since it is Memorial Weekend here is a little tribute and a Thanks to all the Veterans out there from the Weeb Ranch.





Anyone that has been to the Wall in Washington DC, especially if they grew up during the Viet Nam era. Knows what an emotional experience it is, seeing the names of kid’s you went to school with, guys from your squadron that you served with, a neighbor kid from down the street. All who never got the chance to grow up and be parents and experience the life us old timers grow to take for granted. Thanks God for giving us all these brave Men & Women.
Ah, this is enough for me for today, Everyone have a great holiday and Just be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

TGIF

Up early again and had coffee with Donna, then she headed out to work. About 09:00AM I noticed the sun had come out, I decided I would take the truck out and top it off with fuel, Donna took it to work yesterday and came back with 1/4 of a tank, which is where I like to fill it so I will never run out of fuel again. Like on my trip to Iowa last year.
The reason she had my good truck was her dag gummed check engine light came on again, I took it to Auto Zone and the tester showed a bad TPS Sensor, (Throttle Position Sensor) so I thought back and I remembered replacing one last year, I asked if they were guaranteed and he looked it up and yep a 2 year guarantee on the one a I bought last August Great so I got the replacement for nothing and put it on and the light is now off again.
This afternoon the adjuster came to look at our roof, we noticed some damage after the Good Friday storm and we have  had a couple more hail storms since then. He spent quite a bit of time on the roof and when he was done he said they would replace the roof as it was damaged.
So we will have a new roof on the house before we sell it.
The big news for today is it was Nicole’s last day of school so she only has a half day, when she got home we found out that she has been promoted to the third grade level. Grandpa is really proud of her work. I haven’t heard from Adam yet but he should be advancing to the fourth grade without any problem since he’s been on the honor role all year.
That’s about it for today, looking forward to a wet weekend, and then it’s supposes to be sunny Monday. Glad now I didn’t go to the Lake as the kid’s would have been disappointed with no swimming and rain all day.
Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Thursday Happenings

Got up early for coffee with Donna,Then she was off to the truck company, and then the restaurant, She came home early from the restaurant last night because a large party that had been scheduled cancelled due to all the storm warnings again yesterday. can’t blame some of them but me personally I would rather go out in a flash with a beer in my hand.

Same weather today rain and gloomy all day and no warnings for a change have,’t heard the tornado siren since yesterday hope they haven’t burned it out.

Okay now for the big news KEVIN & RUTH-Travels with Kevin & Ruth some of our blogger friends from up in the wild Canadian land, will be hosting the drawing of an RV Cover. Wow how’d they score a prize like that, All I could find was software when I had my drawing. Anyway make sure and click on my link above to see the contest details, and you will also be getting the benefit of reading some great travel experiences as Kevin, Ruth and their dog Whiskey travel Mexico, The States and their homeland Canada. Donna & I follow them daily and really enjoy their blog.

I had been thinking of taking the fiver to the lake this weekend but with a wet forecast for the holiday weekend I will wait, also Donna has a girlfriend that asked us to come to her daughters Graduation party Sunday so it will be easier to do this way.

I really think most of the campgrounds won’t have the normal holiday crowd this year as is usual, none of the lakes are warm enough to swim in yet because of the unseasonable cold spells we’ve had. I would imagine even the pools will be cold unless they have a heater.

Donna & I are counting down now until June 16th when we will leave for our Illinois, Wisconsin trip in the fiver, I am sure Rigg’s is anxious to get out camping too. Poor Sadie will be guarding the home front with Andy, Samantha & Nicole while we are gone.This will be the first we won’t have kid’s or Grandkid’s along for a vacation in a long time.

Not much else going on here at the Ranch the dogs are just laying next to my chair while I am typing this.

Life is great when you have a big brother to protect you.

Here’s a blast from the past:

“Any landing you walk away from is a good one..”Author unknown..

Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……

Wednesday Musings.

Started the day off at 04:30AM with coffee with my bride, she left for the truck company at 05:30am, I then played on the computer until about 06:45AM when I saw Len go out and start to back his truck over to his rig, I went out an watched them hook up and get ready to head south again. After hugs and see ya laters’s they backed out of the driveway and headed toward Texas. I have to say I hope the weather improves for their travel day as it was spitting rain as they were leaving and we had rain all day again. I want to say we had a great time with Phyllis & Len and they are great people, if any of you out there should run into them in your travels.
As I sit here the tornado siren just went off, I had just gotten back from the store around 03:00PM. On the way home a terrific storm hit with hail and lightening all around. It completely stopped as I was driving in the driveway, once I carried the bags in the siren went off, seems to me it’s little late today. Oh well not to worry, something is going to get you sooner or later, I never heard of anyone getting off the planet alive. I just called Donna and told her to be careful on the way home, then I remembered she is going to the restaurant so she won’t be coming home. That’s what happens when she is off a day, I was thinking all day yesterday it was Sunday because she was home. and wondered why all the highway crews were working on Sunday while we were out.
It’s dark as could be outside now at 04:00PM just like winter with all the dark clouds.
I'll breathe easier when Samantha and Nicole are back from school.
That’s about it for today, Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Tuesday Notes.

Donna and I were up early, since she had taken the day off to do some sightseeing with Len & Phyllis, we scheduled an 08:00AM breakfast so Len & Phyllis could sleep in after a long travel day from the east coast yesterday.

                         The Breakfast Cook.

                         The Breakfast Club.

After breakfast we decided to head to Old Town St Charles for some shopping, since we got rained out last week.

                Len & Phyllis taking a break.

             Same break different photographer.

Then we headed down to South St Louis MO. to the Anheuser Busch-Budweiser Brewery on Pestalozzi St. we went in and joined the walking tour.

                                 Beautiful Fresco.

Did I mention after the tour , they take you to the hospitality room and you get free beer, pretzels, and soda for the kid’s.

             Doesn’t look like Donna liked hers.

We had a great day out and tonight it’s burgers for supper.

Phyllis & Len will be heading south in the morning we have really enjoyed their company and stay.

                                         THE END.

Monday Mumblings.

We were up early and had our coffee together, Donna headed for the truck company and I relaxed, Before I forget I has some calls and an few e-mails from people concerned about if the Weeb Ranch got any damage and were we all right. Thankfully for Dardenne Prairie it is located across the state from Joplin and we were spared any tornadoes this time around, Our hearts and prayers go out for the families of the over 100 that lost their lives. Today just before noon we did have some wild weather though, the sirens went off, and we had high winds, hail, thunder, lightening and soaking rain, the power went off and stayed off until almost 03:00PM. Our guests Len & Phyllis arrived back fro their trip out east just 5 minutes after the power was restored. They do have a generator on their Fiver.
Donna should be home about 04:15PM, so I don’t know what plans are yet for dinner, I told our guests I would let them know between 05:00 and 05:30PM, so they could get a couple hours rest after flying in from Baltimore.
Boy Lucky was happy his Mom & Dad are back.
Donna took a vacation day from work for tomorrow so we are hoping for some sightseeing with Phyllis and Len before they head out on Wednesday morning.
What were Sadie and Rigg’s doing during the storm, with loud thunder and lightening and howling winds.

In their storm shelter right next to Dad’s chair.
Neither one likes storms so they crash next to me where thy feel safe.
Oh where did Donna & I go last night for a nice cozy dinner for two in an nice romantic setting, The Olive Garden, one of both of our favorites, no pictures, sorry we didn’t bring a camera.
That’s about it for now, be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Sunday Notes.

Donna and I were up early for coffee, the forecast said chance of rain, but the sun came out and it’s been a nice sunny day, a little warm so the A/C was started and the house closed up, Donna & I and the three kids went and and cut a bunch of small growth away from the one corner of the rear of the house, Donna used her new electric chain saw, the kid’s would drag the small limbs to the burn pile, unless they were too heavy the Grandpa got John Deere out and the two boys Adam & Chris took turn dragging them with the tractor. All three of these kids worked hard, Donna & I were so proud of them no griping and they each did their share. They will get a nice allowance for the week to put away for whatever they are saving for, each of them has a stash of allowance money for something special they want. Adam spent a little of his last Friday at Wal Mart on a toy he has been wanting. You could tell it took some soul searching at the store when it came time to part with his cash.

Our company Len & Phyllis will be back from new Jersey & Maryland tomorrow I’ll bet Lucky will be glad to see them, you can tell he is lonesome and doesn’t like being alone.Donna played with him today and told him one more day.

I told Donna when I take Adam home to Warrenton later today she is going with me and just the two of us are going to stop someplace and have a nice dinner and maybe a drink to celebrate our Anniversary that occurred three days ago. We always celebrate things on the Sunday before or after an event as it is the only day of the week Donna is off work. Boy I’ll be glad when that is over.

My twin brother Bill after not talking to me for a year and a half, since the death of our younger brother, has started to talk again. Last week when we took Len & Phyllis to the Railroad club, he was there, and low and behold he wanted to bury the hatchet, I forgive as easily as the next guy and said sure, I then offered to sell him all my trains for a ridiculously low price of $300. He made a counter off of $400 so I made the deal. Does that sound like reverse Mexican horse trading. He said he would get me a check. I am thinking of using the money on a generator, and a new bicycle for Nicole, she is outgrowing hers and her Mom and my son are both still out of work, when we were at Wal Mart her eyes lit up when she saw this pretty girls bike, ( a pink one ) with a carry bag on it and a neat paint job, I asked her when her birthday was and she said August. I told her you never know what happens around birthday times at the Weeb Ranch. Does Grandpa see an early birthday present in Nicole’s future this year.

Well that’s about it for today, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

Saturday Mumblings.

It was a dreary morning when we woke up, Donna & I were up early as usual, even though she is off today. The kid’s got up about 07:30AM, breakfast was cereal all around this morning. About 09:00AM Grandpa & the kid’s went to Wal Mart they all picked out new bicycle helmets. Evidently someone was watching over us as we walked out of the store with all the stuff we got the sun was shining and it turned out to be a really nice day , even though the forecast said cloudy all day, haven’t seen a cloud all day. The kid’s all had their helmets fitted up and then took off on their bikes.

I waited till about 1:00pm and took John Deere out back to do some mowing, looks like it will be at least once maybe twice a week with the warm temps and rain we are getting, I cut the front and side Thursday, we had rain yesterday and you can se where I cut it is taking off already.

Donna left about 03:00PM for her night at the restaurant, all is well here at the ranch, the kid’s played in yard in back with the kid’s that live there, they have a trampoline so there is always a gang of kid’s hanging out, all in the 8-10 age bracket.

That’s about it for today. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

TGIF

WE were up at 04:30AM, and had out coffee, then Donna headed for the truck company, we are going to have a Grand weekend, all the Grand, Adam Chris & Nicole will be here, of course it is Pizza night, but Grandpa discovered he ran out of cheese, so I will have to send out instead of home made, Although they say mine is better they all said they wanted Papa John’s when I asked them what their absolute favorite home delivery pizza. So we are waiting for the delivery person now, Rigg’s and Sadie will let us know when they hear a car come up the driveway. Got all the bicycles together so if we can keep the rain away they will all have their bikes to ride on the new sidewalks around here, I do have to take them to Wal Mart in the morning since the two oldest have outgrown their helmets and Nicole ‘s was lost in the move. The boys are just fat heads now. They are excited because they put a new playground a block and a half away and a traffic light with a pedestrian signal, so we decided we would allow them to ride their bikes as long as they used the walk signal and walked the bikes across Hanley road.

Donna is working at the restaurant tonight, and the boys are already doing battle on the xbox with Black Ops. All in all it should be a fun weekend.

Lucky is doing fine and eating and drinking her water and loving the attention she gets.

That’s about it for now. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna..

Thursday Happenings.

 

Happy Anniversary Donna. & Sam..

Well I guess you all know now that today is Our 32nd anniversary, Wow where did the time go. It must be true time flies when your having fun. Always wished I could say” There I was, sitting on a bar stool minding my own business, when in she came, and swept me away”. Didn’t happen that way Donna was working at a restaurant in Dellwood where I was a Police Officer, we would eat there quite a bit, one of her co-workers had a daughter who played on a girls baseball team I was coaching and she is the one who suggested I ask Donna out. I never thought she would be interested in me, I was divorced, didn’t make a lot of money as a cop and I didn’t consider myself an attractive man. Donna was young Blond and Beautiful, I just figured she would say no. Well she didn’t and on May 19th 1979 we were married.

Sam & Donna dating in 1978.

 

They say you live longer if your a dancer.

The Happy Couple around the year 2000.

Celebrating Mother’s Day 2011 at a restaurant.

By the way she is still Blond & Beautiful, 2 out of 3 is still good odds. Love Ya my Dear…

How is Rigg’s taking the attention we are giving Lucky the cat, Whenever I come back in from my visits, with Lucky, Rigg’s rushes over and switches his nose into high gear and gives me a good smelling, then he insists on playtime.

Oh Boy Oh Boy Dad let’s play it’s my turn now.

Well that’s about it for today, I think I will get away from grass and cars and go to the railroad club for a couple hours this afternoon. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…