Veterans Day and a Mash Up

Last Veterans Day, my retired soldier and I were able to 

attend the Leavenworth Veterans Day parade together, on 

a cold day. 

Remember, Leavenworth is a "company town". 

Keith had to go to a doctor's appointment early this morning, and 

someone could not get herself together and get out in the 

25 degree cold this morning to take pictures of this year's. 

I'll make it next year, and in the meantime, heartfelt thanks to Keith and all 

of my friends and family who have served... from Korea to Iraq... we 

appreciate you all so much! 

Our friends at Oak Grove Animal Sanctuary (they are on Facebook, folks) posted this picture this morning of a new barn going up for the rescued animals.  I show it to you because....

Those two brown animals in the foreground... are

(Inca) 

Inca and Aztec, formerly of Calamity Acres.  Renee and Brian were 

the kind people who adopted them two years ago.  I was so surprised to 

see them this morning, and so glad.  Nosy as ever! 

This was also posted on FB yesterday, I don't think it's a joke, either. 

Folks, I raised chickens for almost 20 years.  They can, if kept in decent surroundings, i.e., a decent 

henhouse, some supplemental heat when it's WAY below zero, in good flesh (fed well) and with fresh water daily... chickens don't need clothing.  In fact... they use their wings to balance themselves, and these sweaters would prevent that.  I know these folks are well-meaning... but... 

I don't even want to think about the poop being flung about, and the problems they would have getting up on a roost with sweaters on.  Ugh. 

Surely, surely... this is someone who owns... two hens. 

I know of a very well-known person who wrote a book after two years of keeping chickens (that sold very, very well) was criticized for something like this a few months ago... and her 

supporters flamed the critics roundly... so badly that I had to quit following the site and the FB page. 

Just my humble opinion. 

It's very cold here today, after yesterday's 71 degrees, but we still went out to run. 

It did not take long to get tired. 

I shudder when I hear the phrase "pop of color" on design shows (which I love, unfortunately). 

These are the only pops of color I truly love. 

This is one of the four Bradford Pears in our own front yard.  Give it two more days! 

Update on Keith: 

He is in technically Week Four of dialysis, counting the week in the hospital. 

He feels SO MUCH BETTER but is still more tired than normal. 

Today he met with the surgeon who will embed his permanent connection, called a "fistula" on Tuesday of next week. As he will be sedated for this procedure, and have to go to a recovery room, 

I'll be driving.  It will take about two months for that fistula to mature in his arm, and then 

the same surgeon will remove his temporary pick lines and sew him up. 

We are having to learn a whole different way of eating, as he is limited as to 

certain things he can eat and drink.  The DaVita Dialysis center website, though, 

has 800 some recipes on it, and tonight I made the Alfredo sauce on the site, 

and mixed it with chicken and we had it over fettucine.  YUM. 

We're learning! 

I'm leaving you tonight with a piece I saw on Pinterest... that cracked me up... 

this was Me AND MATH.  Trust me. 

Keith, on the other hand, can figure huge sums in his head.  I'm in awe, and always have been! 

How I Spent Friday Night

Let's just say I had FUN.

After having taken the entire day off to attend a Christmas shopping event in the morning, I spent the evening with friends, sisters, Theresa and Veronica.  We went to the Fort Leavenworth Haunted House Tour, that is held to raise money for the Frontier Army Museum on post.  We had the best time, and the weather was perfect, cloudy with a chance of rain, but the moon peeking through from time to time.

First, we ate at the old Disciplinary Barracks.  This is the front portion of the old "Castle" prison, the home of the worst lawbreakers in the armed forces. Part of it has been turned into the "12th Brick Grille" (every twelfth brick had the USDB initials on it). 

We had great sandwiches and drinks.

The front of the building is forbidding, and I am sure it struck fear into the hearts of those men who had erred and were sent to it.

After we ate, we strolled around for a while. Theresa and Veronica had never been into the military installation very far, and were very interested in the beautiful old quarters in the oldest part of the post.

Tom Custer, brother of General George, died with him, their brother Boston, and two of their relatives at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  Many famous soldiers have lived on post, and they are commemorated in the older quarters with their names on brass plaques in the doorways.  During April there is usually a tour of the quarters to benefit the museum, and you can walk where the famous have slept.

Tom Custer is a two time Medal of Honor recipient, and lies in the National Cemetary at the post.

At dark, we gathered for check in at the park

Theresa (left) and Veronica (right) applied their wrist bands.

We began our tour along with 20 other souls.

At each stop, a volunteer told us ghost stories about the hauntings of that particular quarters.

At this one, we were allowed to go in, as it was unoccupied at the time.

The startled looks reflect a door that slammed as the docent was telling stories of what had happened in the quarters. You see the beautiful staircase behind us, the old quarters are stunning.

While we stood in front of this quarters, we noticed movement at the quarters directly to our right. The Rookery is the oldest lived-in quarters on post.  It is believed to be haunted, and many things have been seen and heard there.  The current occupants are getting ready to move, as the soldier is retiring. While we saw the basement, we did not get to go upstairs.  On the porch, something was moving, and red eyes were glowing.  We kept getting distracted while this docent told stories.  After she finished (and as it started to rain), we walked over to see what it had been.

I am telling you it MOVED.  It is an motion-activated pirate skeleton from Michael's (?) but while we stood next door, there was no one on the porch and IT MOVED AND THE EYES GLOWED RED.

I took a picture but it was so very dark, all you can see are two little red dots.  It was creepy!

This is how it looked from the house next door, you can barely see the eyes glowing red in the doorway.  I am TELLING YOU IT MOVED!!!!  No one was on the porch! 

(double-click on the picture to enlargen and see the EYES)

Our final stop was back at the Disciplinary Barracks, where this soldier told us about how life at the prison had been at the turn of the last century.  It was most interestingly done in an Irish accent, and we all enjoyed it. 

The rain started as we walked the two blocks to the cars... and I took one last shot as the moon began to go behind the clouds for good.

Happy October!