Tuesday Thoughts.

It’s a sunny gorgeous day except the temps are in the 20’s with a low below 10 for tonight.Donna is off today and we have been sitting around and being lazy all day. Tomorrow she will have to work the night shift,

My Grands out in New Jersey went bird hunting with their Dad and Mom.

                                              Meghen & Katie.

They are so into outdoorsy stuff, along with music, and ballet.No way I am going out in this cold, I just hope the rest of the country and our friends who escaped south are having warmer weather. hoping Donna a nd I can get away here one of these day, just waiting for her to feel better and give me the word.

That’s about it for now , be safe. Sam & Donna…

Saturday Notes.

Not a bad day, the high was about 45 and cloudy all day, Donna was off work  so we did some wash and just sat around, she will have to work days tomorrow and Monday.The boys and Sadie either played or slept all afternoon. My Son and his girlfriend went away for the weekend so we had their two pups  Charlie & Sadie to feed water and babysit for the weekend. Although they live here the kid’s do take care of feeding and letting them out. Also when the kid’s are away Charlie and Sadie have to sleep on our bed with us as they don’t like being in the kid’s room alone at night. Rigg’s lays on the floor next to our bed.

Not much going on, hope all is well with all our friends out there. Be safe. Sam & Donna………..

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends out there. Enjoy our Holiday and be Safe.

Monday Meanderings.

It’s raining lightly and about 47 degrees. Just came back from the store, as I walking across the back yard I slipped on some mud and fell flat on my back,my hat glasses went flying and I had to go back in and change, now I have a splitting headache from where my head hit the ground and my back is sore, I will just lay around for the rest of the day. Donna is at work at Walgreens, she is off tomorrow, then works evenings on Christmas eve and days on Christmas. I picked up all the stuff at the store, for our Christmas Lasagna, Donna will make it tomorrow and then I will bake it before she comes home on Christmas day. Reminds me of all the holidays I worked as a police officer.

Here’s a picture of Charlie enjoying chewing the edge of his rug.

                                                    Such an innocent look.

He is growing longer and a little taller. But he is behaving and listening a little better as the days go by.I have a feeling he will be a puppy for a long time like Rigg’s was.

Hoping all our friends out there are ready for the holidays and enjoying wherever they are. Be Safe. Sam & Donna…

Thursday Happenings.

Woke up this morning to a couple inches of snow on the ground.

The pups were happy, Charlie got out there and ran and ran, he must think it is something to eat and play in.Rigg’s has always loved snow for much the same reason.

Sadie not so much, she is built so close to the ground she can’t go potty, and her hair and feet get cold easy.

Here’s a throwback for you.

My Son Andy at Fort Madison Ia. Taking pictures of trains with Dad.about l989. Our first RV trailer and old 63 Shasta.

My brother Rick, sister in bath, and my Mom.

Sam, Rick, and Bill taken and my Grandfather Genett’s about 1956.

That’s about it for today Hope all is well with all our friends. Be safe. Sam & Donna.

Tuesday Thoughts.

Here it is Tuesday, cold and cloudy started out at 49 degrees at 06:00AM and now at 02:00PM it is 34 degrees with a wind blowing, I ran to the store earlier and then brought the dumpster up from the front of the of the driveway. Man o Man was it cold, I guess even Florida is having some cool days according to our friends down there. We generally get colder weather right around Christmas and it stays cold into January. This coming week they are predicting a chance of snow for Thurs, Friday and Saturday. Hope that doesn’t turn out.

The furballs are playing and having a good time, Donna is off today and doing some cleaning and computer games.

That’s about it for today, Be safe, Sam & Donna……

Saturday/Sunday Notes.

Just a shorty today, it is a gorgeous day, sunny with a high to be in the 60’s . My Son is happy, he is having trouble with his truck. It quit running on him and he thought the fuel pump in the tank was bad, but he says he can hear it running, he poured some gas down the throttle body and it fired and ran for a minute. I told him to get a fuel filter for it in case the one that’s on there is plugged up, also when he gets the filter off he can see if the pump is pumping fuel. At least it will be warmer than freezing to work on it.

Donna had to work the day watch at Walgreens today, first day she says she has been feeling better, maybe the flu bug has run it’s course.

Charlie is managing to stay in mischief today, here he has started to remove the white stuffing from his new orange toy, and also is finding time to chew on the edge of his rug.

such an innocent look.

Rigg’s is enjoying the sunny and warmer weather by bugging to go out most of the day.

That’s about it for today. Hope all is well with all our friends, Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Wednesday Musings.

Another cold grey day here at the ranch. The high is only supposed to be 39 degrees. The furballs are enjoying playtime, except for Sadie who sits under my chair and stay out of the way as the boys play rough. My New Jersey Grand had her ballet recital the other night, the Nutcracker. Here are some pics.

Looks a lot different here than her normal cowboy boots and horse gear.

Donna will be working the night shift at Walgreens tonight, which leaves me and the furballs for homeland security detail.

Hoping for a sunny day soon. Not much else going on things have quieted down in Ferguson and maybe life will go on.

Hope all our friends are safe, especially the one in the warmer south where I wish we were. still just sitting and checking prices and trying to see what we might be able to do in the line of a little travel. THat’s it for today be safe out there. Sam and Donna…….

Sunday Reflections.

73 Years ago our fleet at pearl Harbor Hi. was attacked by Japan and several battleships and capitol ships were sunk. Nearly 3000 sailors were killed in this action that

precipitated our entry into WW II. Lets never forget this day and reflect in our prayers the loss of life and to their families.

I have let the blog go for a couple days again, call it what you may, writers block or just plain nothing going on , no excitement at the Ranch in Dardenne Prairie. Of course Charlie and Rigg’s create there own excitement and usual play to exhaustion. Here's is the evidence.

                                                                  Down for the count.

Still Cloudy and cold here, high will be in the low 30’s. Hoping for some 60 degree weather.Although we are heading into the coldest part of the winter here from now until after New Years.

Had to make a run to Schnucks to pick up a couple prescriptions. Then when I got home I discovered we were out of beer so a run will have to be made to correct that.

Not much else doing. Donna took the day off and is resting, which is fine with me. Hope all is well

with all our friend out there. Be safe. Sam & Donna……….

Wednesday Musings.

It is  a cold cloudy day here at the Ranch, Donna was supposed to be off today,
but they called her last night and asked her to come in 9-5 as someone had called
in sick. So I have the furball watch today.
Speaking of furballs, here's Rigg’s showing off his pie plate tongue as Donna Cave calls it.


The boys are playing up a storm and Sadie is watching from the side lines staying out of their way. They are both bulls in a China Shoppe.
In the morning when they get out of Andy’s room, When Charlie runs down the hallway to jump on our bed I call it the thundering herd.
Have a couple of Grandaughter shots.

            Okay big boy how bout a kiss.

Meghen the little one, absolutely fearless, she is the one who brings the ribbons home from the horse shows.
That’s about it for today, hope all is well with all our friends, And just be careful out there. Sam & Donna…

Saturday Notes.

It is a sunny warm gorgeous day here at the ranch with the temp going to reach 65. Just a couple days ago it was in the 20’s.

Today is our New Jersey Grand’s birthday.

                           Happy Birthday Katie.

Since Charlie has come to live with us he has gotten about 4 inches longer and 4 inches taller all this in a couple months plus putting some weight on. Donna seems to think instead of a beagle he might be a coon hound of some kind, his ears are huge. Here's some pictures what do you think.

Charlie and Rigg’s are best bud’s, and spend hours playing until they are played out and crash on the bed together.

So good to have the fur kid’s around. Thursday when Donna was working the kid’s left to spend the night with some friend so I had all three fur babies to babysit. They all behaved and then at bed time they jumped up on the bed with me and slept until Donna got home.

That’s about it for today. Be safe. Sam & Donna..

Happy Thanksgiving.

Here it is Thanksgiving already, and we have a lot to be thankful for, family is safe, and healthy. We hope all our friends and relatives are sharing in this great holiday spirit

With the snow on the ground it is a pretty holiday, especially when you can watch it from inside a warm house.

The tense situation in Ferguson has calmed again last night, only two arrests, maybe the snow and bitter cold helped, it was in the low 20’s last night. Feel sorry for the Guardsmen and law enforcement forced to stand out side and patrol and guard the city of Ferguson. I can remember many winter nights when due to calls I was out in the snow and cold with no way to stay warm, one blizzard we had no relief and were forced into 12 hours on and then 12 hours off for a couple days, luckily the fire department had a couple empty bunks and a steaming hot shower.

Donna has to work this afternoon at 02:00PM so there will be no big meal here today, luckily I mad a homemade pizza last night and there is enough tovars for a meal tonight for me.What could be more Thanksgiving than beer & pizza. Since we are Italian instead of a ham or turkey on Christmas Donna always makes her world famous 4 inch think Lasagna.

TBT.

Thanksgiving Day 1965, Scranton Tech vs Scranton Central, WE won(Tech) undefeated that season. I was on the field playing in the Band at half time when this was taken.

 

That’s about it for today, Everyone have a great holiday and be safe. Sam & Donna……

Wednesday Musings.

Well, last night was a little quieter than Monday. no major fires, one police car fire bombed and the Ferguson City Hall had windows broken out. 2000 National Guardsmen were moved in. which freed up the police to be mobile and make arrests for a variety of charges, 44 arrests were made.
Sorry if I seem to dwell on this but when you spend 30 years of your life trying to make a place a safe and wholesome place to live and you see it being destroyed before your eyes by criminals who only want to steal and destroy, it makes me sad. Donna also worked for years in a restaurant in Dellwood after her evening shift at the truck company, she would then work a midnight shift at Sambo’s Restaurant. We shopped in many of the Dellwood shops and you could walk the streets at night without fear, virtually no robberies or felony crimes. Now the major intersection in town, W Florissant Ave & Chambers Rd looks like it took a hit from and airstrike of Navy hornets. Not one building is let standing , all gutted by fire,a half a block east at W Dell and Chambers RD County police came under automatic weapons fire and had to retreat, luckily no one was hit. In 30 years I was shot at or my patrol car was shot at 5 times. Not bad for a Metro area that is at 240 homicides so far this year, and almost always breaks 250 a year. Anyway I hope all my friends out there understand my feelings on this, and believe me it helps to have an outlet for this frustration.
NO worries here, the Weeb Ranch is on the other side of St Charles miles away from the riot area, I can assure you if something threatened our home, we are prepared to defend our home.
Hey how about something on a lighter note.

                 Hey Dad, got an idea.

Isn’t it time for us to take another vacation, huh, huh.
Hope we can end up later this winter going south for a vacation. Everyone be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Ferguson/Dellwood Burn.

Spent most of the night watching the news, as most Americans & Canadians know, The St Louis County Grand Jury announced the verdict for Ferguson Police Officer, Darren Wilson who shot Micheal Brown to death in August.That announcement came about (09:30PM) CST  that no indictment had been issued.

It did not take long for the violence and looting to begin.

Over a dozen large fires were started in businesses on West Florissant Ave from Ferguson into Dellwood dozens of cars including at least 2 police units were burned, One police officer in a neighboring community was shot and wounded.This alone is a miracle since hundreds of shots were fire, some from automatic weapons in the area. The Fire Departments could not respond to the fires due to gunfire. Lambert St Louis Airport diverted incoming flights due to gunfire and limited flying to police and military aircraft.

In the past I have been accused of being a racist retired cop because of my views on rioting and looting. I will make it clear, I see nothing wrong with exercising our first amendment rights to dissent and demonstrate in a peaceful manner. But somebody out there tell me what gives someone the right to destroy and steal and use firearms in an unlawful manner and put the population at risk, because they don’t agree with someone else's opinion.

                Business’s on fire in Dellwood, My old beat.

            St Louis County PD Unit, victim of a fire bomb.

                       Pizza Rest burns in Ferguson MO.

My favorite, two looters carry a big screen TV from Aarons Rental Ferguson MO.

Somebody tell me what this has to do with mourning a dead young person.

Anyway it looks like we will be having some hectic days here in the St Louis area.

Please pray for those Officers and Guardsmen. who will be out there in the trench's trying to get this situation under control.

So far it looks like a couple dozen businesses burned out on a stretch of West Florissant That runs from Solway Ave in Ferguson, through Dellwood to I-270. One report said the Dellwood City Hall and Police Station was on fire, if that’s true, That’s my old station house. So many memories of that area up in smoke.

Oh well I guess I am lucky to be retired and watching it on TV, someday I’ll drive back and take a look for myself.

All is well here at the Weeb Ranch, the pooches are doing fine, and beside being cold. life goes on.

Hope all is well with all our friends out there, Be safe. Sam & Donna………

Saturday Notes.

Been a few days since our last post, really been a slow week, Bitter cold until today and then it stayed cloudy but got into the 50’s. Besides, me going to the store nobody left the house all week except for the kids and Donna going to work.

The pooches are playing and getting along great. My Son Andy got a new to him truck, for his side jobs, it’s a used Chevy 1 ton with a tool body, He can put his weed eaters and blower inside where it can be locked up in one of the tool compartments.

Charley discovered Donna’s penny stash and got into it and opened the wrappers an spread penny’s all over the bedroom and the hallway. Just like a kid he has to find some way to get into mischief. Then we she went to scoop them up he kept barking and going after the broom and scoop.

I did have to buy a couple of floodlights bulbs for the back yard since both of the bulbs shot craps at once. Plus the two over each of the garage doors. Don’t know if they had a power surge or why four bulbs would be gone at once.I like to have those back yard bulbs so I can see all the way to the back at night when I put the dogs out.

Not much else going on. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna…..

Sunday Musings.

Started about noon and we got about 1-2 inches of snow, for the first snow of the year. Not much but enough for Rigg’s to get out and enjoy it with his brother Charlie.

           Rigg’s playing, Charlie was with my Son.

Usually out here in Dardenne Prairie a small snowfall like this is a non event as everyone has 4 wheel drive. and on a Sunday there is not much traffic.

Donna worked the day watch at Walgreens, and the rest of us stayed home until the snow started then my Son took Charlie and Sadie out, and we et Rigg’s pay in the yard.

Other than that a slow cold day here at the ranch. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……..

Saturday Notes.

Another cold and cloudy day here at the Ranch, high in the low 30’s. Waiting for the snow to start, had a few flurries but nothing heavy yet.

Rigg’s got a surprise in the mail. Mom got him a new orthopedic bed to maybe help with his hip condition, that and the fact that Charlie chewed the zipper off his old bed and was working on removing the stuffing.

                     Rigg’s on his new bed.

             Rigg’s sharing with Charlie.

                      Charlie not sharing.

Can’t wait to see if the snow comes to see what Charlie thinks of it, this ill be his first sight of snow.

Donna is off today so she is baking dead chicken for supper. The kid’s are making a store run for us.

Not much going on for today. Be safe out there.Stay warm looks most of the country is colder than normal.Sam & Donna…….

Thursday Happenings.

It’s a sunny, but cold day here at the Ranch, 27 degrees at 09:30AM only supposed to be a high of 34 degrees today.
Reminds me of growing up in Scranton PA. when by this time in November you would already have a hard freeze, some snow on the ground and be ice skating on Lake Lincoln in Nay Aug Park. It was the largest man made concrete swimming pool in the US at the time.

AS you can see there was plenty room for swimming and skating.
By the way the sandy beaches were actually smooth concrete.
How about a couple  TBT’s.

                         Sam and his Mom 1978.

                       Donna camping 1986.
The boys are playing in the kitchen, tug and rough housing, they both play until they drop for a nap,Sadie just watched and stays out of the kill area.
Nothing much going on today, Donna is on and off day so we will pretty much lay around the house. Be safe out there and stay warm. Sam & Donna………

Wednesday Musings.

Well I knew it was to good to be true, it went from sunny and 70 degrees, to sunny and 30 degrees today, it was 27 when I got up this morning, Glad I got the fiver winterized the other day although it takes about a week of a cold freeze to bring the inside temperature down.

Naturally with the cold, all three dogs are just going out and doing there thing and running back to the door.

Sadie went over and took over Rigg’s big bed, so not to be out done Rigg’s grabbed her bed.

                                           Sadie

                                         Rigg’s

Charlie went in with Samantha in her room.

Donna has the evening watch at Walgreens tonight. Then she is off until Sunday. Unless she gets called in.

We may get our first taste of snow with a 30% chance on Sat, 50% on Saturday night and 30% on Sunday. I will stay home even if there is only a coupe inches, If my Son wants to plow he can put the plow on John Deere.

I have decided no more plowing or going out in the snow, the dogs can play in it in the backyard, That will be it for me.

Hope al is well with all our friends, Be safe. Sam & Donna……………..

Veterans Day.

Today at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year. We celebrate, A US holiday to commemorate all who served their country in the Armed Services.

The poppy has come to be representative of Veterans day, and as it is known in Canada as Remembrance Day. I got mine when I went to the store from a VFW rep in front of the store.I put it on my Navy ball cap until it wears out.

As you all know I am a US Navy veteran, having served from 1966-1970 in a Rescue Helicopter Squadron ( HC-2) as an aircrewman/rescue swimmer. Even today when someone Thanks me for my service , I will tell them your welcome, but in all honesty I had the best times of life during that period, I loved flying and the high you got when you did make a rescue. As I remember it it was very young men 18-26 years old doing jobs that had no counterpart in the civilian world, since I flew from aircraft carriers I got to see exactly how dangerous it was.As I said it was kid’s who were forced to grow up and do a mans job all at once.

Here’s a few before and after shots. 

                 Sam USS Shangri-La 1967

              Sam USS Independence 1969.

Sam 2014 Together We Served Reunion.

Quite a difference 45 years makes.

The Wall, if in DC visit it someday, you will be glad you did.

I want to thank all my blogger friends out there, that served time in the armed forces and are now US Veterans.Thanks guys and gals, for giving this great country a part of your lives.A big Bravo Zulu and Hand salute to all of you.

Be safe out there. Sam & Donna……….