Ranch floors have been stained

Now, I just have to paint... paint... paint. Dan will be home from China to hang doors and paneling. He will get it started and hopefully, I can do alot while he is at work.

My Mother's Day present

I received a welder and an incredibly HUGE welding table.
Had the barn wired to use this.... first project is making something for Dan's tractor.

Ranch Pictures - latest buildout progress

Pretty exciting times at The Ranch.

We now have working flush toilets! This is the guest bath which is shared with the living area. We don't have doors yet though.

Hot Water tank has been installed.

Propane tank was hooked up. YEAH - hot water now!

We also have electicity inside and most of the lights are up.

Fans installed on the porch - helps when the breeze dies away.

Air conditioner installed and working! Works great too!

Next, the floors are being worked on.

Heading out there Sunday to check on that progress.....

Father's Day 2010

We celebrated Father's Day early as Dan had to leave for China and would not be here.

The girls treated their Dad (and me) to dinner at Grotto here in The Woodlands - excellent Italian food.

Then they gave him a new big Craftsman Shop Vac (it is what he asked for.)

The best present was having both his girls home.

SPEE 2010 - Victoria, BC

Dan and I were lucky to be able to attend the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers convention this year in Victoria, British Columbia.
Dan attends the meetings and I get to play and then get dressed up for a really great dinner at the annual banquet.
This year we were convening in the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It is amazing and the food was fabulous!
I had a great time - walked around the city and went on a castle tour. Dan and I went to the Gardens and whale watching.
We also were able to visit with our many SPEE friends. It was a great time!


Dan & I at Butchart Gardens - Sunken Gardens section - made in an old rock quarry.

Rainbow heading back into Seattle. You could see the whole thing. My little camera had its limitations. We saw a double rainbow as well.

Washington state road sign. It is a silhouette of George Washington's head. These cracked me up!

Fort Wilson - where Richard Gere was Private Mayo in Officer and a Gentleman.

Pulling away on the car ferry heading back to Seattle.... view of the Fairmont Empress.

Ruffles - big daddy killer whale in Pod J.

I was in Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown.... Mel Gibson & Goldie Hawn road a bike through this alley for Bird on a Wire.

Dan and Tracy with "Queen Victoria". SPEE pulled some strings to have her as a guest speaker at the banquet.

Chasing Snakes with Lawn Mowers!

Yep - it works!

Was mowing around the slab/foundation at The Ranch yesterday morning early.
Turned the corner to do the back side and a 4 foot black snake took off in front of the mower. Well, I squealed, jumped, but kept hold of the handle of the mower and took off after the snake.
All I could think about was don't go in the barn you dumb snake or we will have war.
So off I go, cutting off the snake from the open barn door and chased his ass across the pasture.
All this happened in about 2 seconds time.
So, I chase him into the tall grass below the propane tank and than start laughing.

If anyone was watching, I probably looked pretty crazy. Woman with jeans, steel-toed boots, long sleeve shirt(already 90 degrees outside) and a red floppy hat... running across the pasture pushing a yellow push mower. (My pony tail was under the hat and not flying straight out like when the moose chased me in Alaska. Another story - another time.)

For my girl scouts, picture the day at Miss Cindy's cabin at the lake and the dog pack and me with the broom.

I don't think the snake will be back...

The Barn and our Little Ole' Piss Ant Country Place is now habitable - flush toilets, electricity, and air conditioning. Posting pictures as soon as I have time to get them downloaded.