Almost Keeling a Kayak on Fall's Creek

Hellloooooo!

Whenever I am recovering, my patience really get a workout.  Lately, per doctor's orders, I have been resting my left foot.  Having had numerous problems with my right foot in the past from running,  I've been stretching it to help keep it healthy.  Right now is a critical time for that, since I've literally been hoping around on solely my right foot. (No pun intended!)  :)  This torture device is used to help keep the Achilles and plantar fascia limber:

In other health news, Gladys came home from field day at school, with one heck of an outbreak on her face.  My guess is it's a rash from Poison Ivy.  It seems every year about this time someone here breaks out with it.

Despite all of our aliments, Gladys and I went kayaking with the IYAK group yesterday.

Gladys is quickly becoming a  very skilled kayaker.

The afternoon was so beautiful on the creek!  Just look at that wondrous sky!

Kayaking is very good upper body exercise.
 

Lucky for me, the IYAKers were so helpful in getting me and my kayak on and off the water. 

Well, technically the only kayak that is mine is the blue one that Gladys used.  I had plans to buy another kayak that evening, but encounter some unexpected problems.

All of the sudden, while approaching the halfway point of our trip,  I noticed the red kayak was filling with water.  Apparently, it had a small crack, yikes!

I did kept my eye on it, but I was determined to go under the bridge before turning back.

I did just that, then paddled with the current back to the launch.

Unfortunately, I had a little too much faith in my ziplock bag containing my camera and phone.  They got wet and I thought they were both goners.

My phone began going nuts, vibrating, and turning on and off on it's own.  Even the fish were freaked out by it; they kept jumping right beside my yak!!!
 

Perhaps they thought someone was trying to give em a ring.  I dunno, but I will say next time I am out fishing from my yak, and can't find them I am going to have my friends call me and let it ring to test the theory.  :)

Somehow, I managed to luck out, after my phone and camera spent the next day sunbathing on the dash of my truck they worked!!!

Also, I made it safely back to the launch with a lil help from my friends.  Thanks to Eric, for tossing me his cotton t-shirt.  I was able to soak some of the water up and wring it out over the side.  Now that's a man who will literally give the shirt off his back.  He saved the day!

Another Cortisone Injection

Sadly Dear Readers,

I've not had the best of luck when it comes to my health lately.  I try, what more can a gal do?  Sigh.  Yesterday, I woke up and couldn't walk.  My ankle was very swollen and I went to the doc that afternoon.

 

This is the same doc that did my foot surgery.  He uses an ultrasound to see what is going on.

And he took x-rays to rule out the possibility of a fracture.  Not that I recall injuring myself or anything.

Then he suggested a Cortisone shot to bring the swelling down.  What I did to deserve a shot whenever I visit the doc is beyond me.

I toughed it out.  After surviving childbirth, I could amputate my own limbs if I had to. The Doc thought that since I've suddenly been more active, the Compartment Syndrome played a role in my troubles.

He ordered me to stay off my feet for a week and rest.  Augghhh-- I'm seriously missing out on spring here.  :(
At least  I had a little spring visitor at my door last night, this cute lil tree frog:

Hopefully, after a week of rest I will be back to hoping around again too.

Hello There!

The other day someone told me they were having a garden party and making a Watergate Salad.

Well, I don't know about you, but it's been way to long for me since I've had that!  I decided to whip one up this past weekend.

It's super easy to make.  Start by mixing a can of crushed pineapple with Instant Pistachio Pudding (I used sugar free pudding). Then sprinkle some finely chopped pecans .  Mix in CoolWhip, and tell the kids not to touch the green lake slime salad in the fridge. 

It's a good idea to let it chill a few hours.  I don't dare tell them what it actually is if I want any chance of it staying untouched till it's done.  Next, add mini marshmallows and your in business!  (Official recipe included at the end of this post.)

Now's the time to break the news to the kids, that id if you plan to share. If not, don't let em see you adding mini-marshmallows!  I broke down and shared it with my kids.  Troy lemme use his Cars dish.

In case your wondering, I had a red raspberries in the dish, and topped them with the Watergate Salad.  They are soooo good that way!

Along with the Watergate Salad, I served up a light supper of corn and chili cheese dogs.

Yes, that's right, these dogs have a chili flavor and cheese inside them.  They are by Johnsonville.  No, I don't get anything for the advertising.  :)

 

Oddly, I feel it's my duty to tell ya'all about the good stuff.  (Or at least Mom and that fortunate soul who stumbled upon my blog.) 

Speaking of good stuff, this bunny hunkering down in the grass, was licking his little bunny lips in anticipation of me planting the garden.  Soon, Bunny Boy, soon.

 

Sunday after church, the kids and I went go-karting!   Little Mario there, was super speedy!

Luigi's kart was slower than Mario's.

Troy, opps, I mean Mario, kept speeding though the pit stop lane; he turned it into a passing lane.  Except when he wasn't near Gladys Luigi.

Luigi, got daring and did some no hands driving. Wonder where she learned that?  The kids and I rode the over 42 inches tall Karts too.  Finally, a vehicle that I could reach the gas pedal!!!

Sunday, we also took a ride out to the neighbor's farm.  They live down the road near the quarry and have turkeys, as well as several other farm animals.

The quarry had a few clusters of what looked like swirling dirt at first.  It turned out to be large schools of minnows, or possibly tadpoles.

I also noticed several fish hitting the surface.  I thought this big bluegill was a bass at first:

Monday evening Gladys and I went to the park.  Justin caught a sucker fish.

I got a rock bass.  I was using a rubber spider in the creek and my line got snagged on some old, cut line in the water.  Luckily, I was able to pull it up and it had a hungry rock bass on the other end!

Talk about HUNGRY, this poor little catfish Gladdie's friend, Justin caught in the pond is nothing but scales and bone.  He released the starving fish into the creek.

Yes, both girls have Justin's.  Gladdie was in the middle of snake chasing when he came over and introduced himself.

She was trying to get a closer look and pet this guy:
Hint-- his head is sticking out in the middle of the pic.

It's a baby water snake.  Mama snake came out too! (Curved close to the rocks.)

Sibling snake joined in the fun!

The three snakes refused to pose together for a family pic.  :)

Watergate Salad

 Adapted by: Kraft

Rich with crushed pineapple, pudding, marshmallows and whipped topping, a sweet, chilled Watergate salad is always the first to go at the buffet table!

8 servings, about 1/2 cup each

Ingredients:

1 can  (20 oz.) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained

1 pkg.  (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Pistachio Flavor Instant Pudding (I used sugar-free)

1/2 cup  chopped Pecans

1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (I used Light)

1 cup  JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows

COMBINE first 4 ingredients in large bowl.
STIR in .  JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
REFRIGERATE 1 hour.

Prison Fishing Tourney

This past Saturday, the Pendleton Reformatory held a Prison Fishing Tournament.  Glenn was invited to fish it, but he declined. They allowed the kiddos to take his place though.  The night before, Gladys went out and collected worms.  It's what she does to prepare.

 

I found some more shrooms, but they were much darker this time. Not sure if that means they are rotted or if it's just a suntan.

 

So, the night before the tourney (which starts at 5AM) Gladdie tells me she is getting up at 4:30AM. She was super excited, but somehow we all slept till after 6AM.  Gladdie packed herself a breakfast of meatballs to go.  Breakfast of champions right there!

Luckily, we didn't have far to drive to get to the tourney, as it was taking place at the quarry near our house.

The water still had fog coming off it when we arrived.

Jean set the trolling motor up and played fishing guide.

Most of the other competitors were fishing back in the coves or near the creek.

The kiddo's had hoped to hook into a monster, so we fished deep 45+ feet, to begin with. 


 Troy was having a hard time because the catfish he was trying to hook into wouldn't listen to him.
  
The geese rooted him on.
 

Somehow, my fingernail got a hook under it.  Instinctively, I yanked it out immediately, and then it kept bleeding under the nail bed.  Gross, I know.  The weird thing is, my cousin's wife posted a gross pic of that on my Facebook page, a week or so ago.



Chaplain shared his boat with Gladdie and I.  Mainly because I forgot my helmet, oven mitts and protective suit of armor, needed to stay in a small boat with three danger kids.  :-)

Some competitors just fished from land.

The weather cooperated for the most part.  There was a brief rain shower, and the temp was on the chilly side, but not that cold; high of 57 degrees.



Mostly, I helped the kids; tied on lures, took fish off, and unhooked trees (hey, it happens).  :)  I did manage to catch a bluegill off the pier.



The poor fish had some of it's top fin missing.

 

Several small bass were caught.

And Chaplin kept reeling in crappies every time I turned around.

And bass.

Afterward, we all had a picnic.  Altogether, there were about 20 competitors.

Cole gave out prizes.  Chaplin won the most fish caught catagory.

Ajay won the largest bass category, at 19 inches, from his kayak.

Marge won for biggest fish. She also got a 19" bass.

And these two sweet little girls tied in best fishing:

Jean helped take the boat out of the water, luckily it's something we are getting much better at nowadays.

When I got back to the house, I craved a hot bath.  Fishing tournaments tire a gal out, besides I was soaked from the cold rain and wet boat.  Hot water never felt so good and the beauty bath worked like a charm!  :)