Other Worlds

Did you have a good night celebrating the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009? Perhaps things don't look quite like they should.

Is it you? Or are aliens invading the earth and getting ready to take over in 2009?

Wishing you a wonderful 2009!

And when you see the moon, wherever you are, you know that we are all connected in some shape or form. 

Goodbye 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Looking for the Model Cow

I was hangin' out with the cows the other day and decided to take a closer look at them. Which one would be my model cow? 

I had my requirements:

-a cow that wouldn't run away from me

-a cow that showed some personality

-a cow not afraid to grace my blog.

A couple early contenders are shown in the picture above, but they didn't stick around, so I had to search for another cow to be my model. I looked and looked, and then I found her.

Number 69, with broad shoulders, a shapely figure, wide set eyes, a pierced ear, interesting facial striping, a warm nose, and to top it all off, a little frozen drool on her whiskers. How could I resist?

Number 69 struck a pose, and I snapped away. The Brooding Look.

The Don't Mess with Me Look.

Yikes, here's number 142 trying to steal away the attention with a come hither expression as she wags her tongue.

 
But I won't sway, I'm back to Number 69, with that drool dripping down further.

She prefers being photographed from this side. It makes her eyelashes look longer.

An Old Homestead

There's something about a coating of snow that makes everything look old romantic, even an old, abandoned homestead like this one. We have a number of abandoned houses in the area, mainly due to a change in the culture. 

In 1900, about 39 percent of the American population was involved in agriculture. In 1945, that number had fallen to about 17 percent. In 2000, only one percent of the American population farmed. This dramatic decrease in the farming population is mirrored by a decrease in the rural population, from 60 percent in 1900 to 21 percent in 2000. Although this huge transformation meant many people left rural areas for urban and suburban abodes, many of their homes were left behind.

Over time I'll feature some of these abandoned buildings and look at some of the architectural styles of them. This particular style is common around here, a square house with a door in the middle of the front. It usually had a living room, dining room/kitchen, and two bedrooms. Running water was not available when the house was built, so an outhouse is out back. Many houses of this type have an addition in the back or on the side for a bathroom and more modern kitchen. Because refrigeration also was not available, a root cellar is nearby, along with assorted outbuildings. It's fun to imagine what life was like in these old buildings when they were occupied by vibrant families busy with their day-to-day activities.

Desert Boy's New Fashion Statement

I like to have light-hearted posts on Sunday reflecting family fun, and Desert Boy sure cooperated this time. He's developing more of a fashion sense, despite his flyaway hair.

He pulled on some cowboy boots and wanted his "monkey on his back" put on. But something was missing, and he went in search of it--his hat.

This isn't any old hat, it's his Fire Chief hat. I mean, what else would you want to wear with your glow-in-the dark backhoe pajamas, cowboy boots, and monkey leash?

He was totally confident in his fashion statement.

He even modeled the back so we could get the full effect.

And then it was time to get to work in his outfit--reading. What a good boy.