Say It Ain't So......

WOW, I knew I had been lax in posting, but didn't realize I missed the whole month of August. It's not that nothing has been happening, there is just way too much going on.

Today I had a BIG scare at Walgreen's. If you don't know, I do a lot of couponing and when I stopped today at a friends to pick grapes (she also happens to work at Wags) she told me they were notified TODAY to stop accepting printed Internet coupons. O.M.G. does that throw a spanner in my works.
I don't have a CVS or Rite Aid nearby, nor do I have access to any of the big grocery chains that double coupons, so I channel my efforts to deals at Walgreen's. Using printed Internet coupons is an integral park of my system. So quick like a bunny I checked out the corporate coupon policy on line and it still plainly stated they accept valid home printed Internet coupons. So twenty minutes later, with Internet coupons and printed policy in hand I was at Wags for my regular Thursday shop. Immediately one of my regular cashiers broke the news to me so I showed her the policy and she called the manager. At that point I was told i could use my coupons today, but I would need to check on the Internet next time as the policy would be changing. Next I was told it would be at the managers discretion and FINALLY, what sounds like the most sane option. They will take the printed coupons if they can be scanned or recognized when the numbers are entered. They must also have a picture or list the item(s) they are good for. The cashier cannot over ride. Sounds good to me, I can live with that. It really stinks that folks will actually fake coupons and ruin it for the rest of us.
So I was able to breathe a sigh of relief for now, but I can only believe that between 'extreme couponing' and counterfeiters rules will just get tighter and tighter. :-(

The heat and humidity today is putting a damper on my canning mojo, maybe I can catch up this weekend. I also have a ton of posts I'd like to catch up on in the next few days too.

Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend.

Dog Days......

We are preparing for a long stretch of weather with highs in the 90's and lows only in the upper 70's with high humidity and stagnant air. Times like this makes me want an air conditioner!

So so so many things going on this time of year. Picking the last of the broccoli and the first of the cucumbers, tomatoes and potatoes with beans added to the list before long.

I have had dismal results with Muscovy eggs in the incubator this year (ironically I'm having trouble keeping the humidity high enough) but the hens are doing a good job setting.

The Guinea keets are also starting to hatch and the 4 Light Brahmas are producing a steady stream of eggs for the incubator. I did purchase a few from a hatchery to diversify a bit and hope to have my flock up to pre neighbors dog decimation levels soon.

Independence Day Fireworks

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

One Fish, Two Fish!

Grandpa has made it back up North for the summer and a few weeks ago we managed to get over for our first visit of the season. I have spent the winter listening to Boogie ask to go fishing with Grandpa on an almost daily basis, and finally he can! Boogie is old enough this year to have a grasp of what fishing really entails.

While it was too windy to take the boat out on the lake, there were plenty of pan fish within easy casting distance from the shore.

Grandpa cast out a bobber with a piece of artificial worm on the hook ( this things are really weird, they are not the plastic kind and look incredibly lifelike, ick!) and the impatient Boogie-monster wanted to reel in every cast.

Well his technique worked and his first ever fish was a really nice bluegill.

He had a bit of a problem with releasing the fish, but I explained that the fish needed to go back in the water to live and he finally agreed. He went on to catch two more small fish before the ADHD kicked in and he ran off to explore. We are planning to head over again this week and Boogie is hoping we can go out on the boat this time.

More Robin News

The last few days it looked like there was no room left in the nest for all four fledgelings. It got to be a pretty tight squeeze and then * POOF* they were all gone.