Temple Grandin

| M Miles

Temple Grandin was an exciting yet emotional movie.  A true story about an autistic woman who overcame a lot in her life. There were parts that I loved, parts where I cried, and parts where I laughed. Temple’s qualifications for the diagnosis under the DSM-V were deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills, she had limited social interactions and abnormal response to social overtures from others. Symptoms that were shown in the very beginning were not playing, spinning, no speech till the age of four, lack of bonding with her mother, and she didn’t play or associate with others. Although she was quite intelligent and was able to see everything in pictures, she talks extremely fast, lack of emotions. 

I believe in my opinion, that Temple would qualify under the new criteria. This is indicated by the way she talks, her lack of emotional connection, and repetition of speech. Specific instances were where Temple kept saying and laughing “Would you like for me to open the gate?” She didn’t want to be touched, she wanted things to stay the same way and if they didn’t she would get extremely upset such as when the sign fell off her door, also loud noises bothered her and she would cover her ears. I think that she would be considered a Level 2. I feel this because she is able to speak in full sentences, yet they are limited. Also, her interactions with people are limited to things that interest her. When she engages in communication, she must stop and think. She also difficulty adjusting to change like when she was going to college and she wanted things to stay the same, she wanted to stay in high school and take science classes.

 

Temples greatest accomplishments were graduating college in 1970, earned her Master of Science in Animal Science in 1975, became a writer, and was a designer of livestock pens. One of my favorite part was when she told her roommate I’m the same as you, you hear sounds, I see pictures. Then at the end the way she believed “Life is precious now, thought about death, and was closer to God.” 

 

Goat to Goat

| M Miles

Oh yes I love goats, long-haired goats, short-haired goats. I love all goats. I look forward each year sometimes twice a year, I get to go to my sister-in-laws house and guess what they have goats. I have taken tons of pictures of the goats. My cousins wedding a couple years ago I got to feed a goat, the petting zoo at the Topeka Zoo has goats and someday I plan on having a goat.

Where our house sits I have lots of space and grass for the goat to eat. I have also researched make cheese from the goat’s milk. All this is really exciting for me. I think one of the coolest things about goats are there are two different types domesticated such as farm goats and then there are mountain goats. Goats are mammals with horns and hooves. There are so many different breeds of goats depending on whether you are wanting for meat or for cheese like I want.

Breeds of milk goats include the Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, Saanen, Sable and Nigerian Dwarf. There are a couple others but these are my favorites.

Till the next time…

Ciao,

M

Staying Home

| M Miles
  I hope this email finds you all doing well. This global pandemic makes me at a loss for words. I believe in my heart that eventually all will be ok..But everyone has to their part. I know there is an uncertainty amongst everyone but we all have to take care, stay away from everyone, and wash our hands.

We have been planning summer trips and now this is all on hold. This is a time where we can now spend more time as a family inside and out in our yards, taking a walk, playing a game, listening to music, even cooking outside to get some much fresh needed air. Practice social distancing and don’t go to public places unless you totally need to.

Leave a comment how you are  handling this current situation. What are some things you are doing and that is helping  you to cope?

Till the next time…

Ciao,

M

Family Weekend

| M Miles

So it began I wanted to go camping agin with the whole family, daughter, son-in-law, grandkids and my other half. I dreamt of ping pong, volleyball, going to the zoo, and campfires. The menu was already planned after numerous conversations with my daughter. Now to only pack and get everything ready to go on this family adventure. We weren’t going far, just a couple hours away : destination – Salina KOA.

We were going to arrive the night before the family so we would have everything ready when they got there. I love three day weekends, especially with family. Thursday when we got there, it was checking in, getting the dogs settled and setting up the trailer. I brought everything I thought we would need, the food along with extra sheets and blankets.

Friday, we went and ate breakfast at the nearby IHOP instead of cooking it, then headed into the town of Salina to pick up the few things we forgot (or should I say I forgot). It was a fun day, thrift stores, parks for the dogs and driving around. Back at camp we played ping pong and sat at the pool (yay it was still open in September unlike so many other KOA’s that closed Labor Day weekend.

Finally my family arrived, there were so many activities we did, walking, swimming well the grandkids did it was to cold for me. We played ping pong, the kids rode go-karts, we played games at the campsite, and we played volleyball. And one of the greatest things of all were they all wanted to plan another camping trip somewhere..Nebraska here we come

Till the next time!

Ciao,

M

A Basic First Aid Kit

| M Miles

Most people are prone to getting a cut, a blister, or even a scrape, so having a basic first aid kit is a great idea. Whether it be a real emergency or just to be prepared for the worst. There are some things that should be kept in all kits.

  1. Dressings and bandages
  2. Adhesive bandages in all sizes to cover all types of wounds.
  3. Alcohol wipes or cotton swabs
  4. Gauze pads of different sizes
  5. Dressing Tape
  6. Disposable gloves
  7. Scissors
  8. Safety pins
  9. Alcohol free cleaning wipes
  10. Sterile water
  11. Eye bandage
  12. Digital thermometer or an old fashioned thermometer
  13. Tweezers
  14. Mouthpiece for CPR
  15. Sanitizer
  16. Disposable syringes
  17. Cotton balls
  18. Basic cough and cold medicine (prescribed)
  19. Antiseptic solution
  20. Aspirin
  21. Povidone-iodine
  22. Antiseptic ointments
  23. Eye wash Saline solution
  24. Calamine lotion
  25. Sting relief spray or cream
  26. Anti-nausea meds
  27. Prescribed medicines

It is also very important to keep your emergency numbers in your first aid kit and make sure that it is kept where it is accessible for everyone. Till the next time it pays to be prepared.

 

Ciao,

M

 

 

It’s That Time Of The Year (Christmastime that is)

| M Miles

So it’s the beginning of what used to be one of my favorite holidays. I used to love Christmas, starting with December 1st the time to put up the Christmas tree and begin decorating. It wasn’t until five years ago, that I began to wish that Christmas would just go away. Reason behind this is because my mom passed away. She always told when she was growing up that she hated Christmas, but yet I loved it so it always got her into buying presents and I would always help decorate.

The first couple years after she passed I did not put up a Christmas tree. I have tons of decorations and lights. This year at our house we probably will not put up a Christmas tree and just use my little metal one and my little pink one. I think nothing is better at Christmas time then to have a real tree. It is the amazing smell that fills the house with the aroma of a fresh tree. The worst part of a real tree is the pine needles. I have done everything over the years from going out on a country road and cutting my own tree, to buying it at the store, and my favorite of all Christmas tree farms. I love dressing up warm and taking walking around picking out the perfect tree – not to tall , not too short, not to dry; then there is the first cut with the saw. dragging it back..So much fun.

I have ornaments from my childhood and since I turned 18 I have been collecting a new ornament every year. I buy my grandkids a Christmas ornament every year, so that way when they get old enough they will have their very own set. I also have ornaments for my fur family members.

So this is my Christmas tree rules, that I have every year. I am looking forward to reviving these traditions this year as time is passing and although it can be sad memory, thinking back the good outweighs the bad. This year however, we will have family on Thanksgiving so I think that is when we will put up the tree.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Ciao,

M

Brain Flog

| M Miles

So I hit and miss on writing. Some days it comes easy and then other days, I have no idea as what to write. Writing this blog is usually about my travels, except now that it is fall I don’t have a lot of traveling planned except for football games.

I really need to feel the need and passion for writing when I try and sit down to come up with a topic. I know that the more I write the better I get. Some stories are better then others and some come with pictures and some don’t. I take pictures all the time it is just that not all go with what I am writing about.

I am sitting here on this Sunday afternoon trying to come up with a topic, watching the Hallmark channel and not doing much of anything. This fall so far I have canned salsa, spaghetti sauce, made pumpkin bread and over the next few days, planning on baking apple cider doughnuts.

As you can see, I am all around the topics on this blog, but I am really enjoying not really sticking to one topic right now. Hope you all have a fabulous Sunday afternoon.

Till the next travel…

Ciao,

M

Autumn Preparation

| M Miles

As the end of summer approaches and everyone heads back to school, I start dreading the cooler temperatures the days of summer getting shorter and not being able to take our boat out of the lake. However, on the other hand I love the thought of wearing sweatshirts, shorts, my cowgirl boots and having bonfires.

The sky start getting a little darker a little sooner and you can tell by the colors in the sky and the crisp colors of the trees as they turn. This is a time when I start feeling the need to make chili, hot apple cider, and start baking. Nothing smells better then the smell of cinnamon and vanilla in the fall along with the smell of apples.

I love to start decorating for this time of the year, the pumpkins, signs and the straw bales are all things that decorate our house. The refrigerator is filled with hamburger, sausage, mushrooms, onions, pastry crusts and bottles of apple cider. One thing that it is never lacking is cheese. This we eat all year long and we always have plenty of different kinds. The pantry is stocked with chili seasonings, maple syrup, hot apple cider packets to take on the go, crackers and lots of different items for soup. Mmmm! Just thinking of these thoughts and smells help get me in the mood.

It is a time to prepare for the cold winters ahead, the snow, and the wood fire in the house.

Till the next trip or adventure.

Ciao,

M

Survival List

| M Miles

Many people out there are called preppers, many people just think about preparing. I am somewhat in between. I think about it a lot anymore. What things do I need, what clothes would I want to have, do I have enough food and water, and am I prepared to take care of my pets.

I have composed a list of what I have come to find that I think that everyone needs to have:

  1. Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home). Plus you want to have extra if you have pets
  2. Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home). Canned meats, beef jerky, almonds, peanut butter and little already prepared meals like raviolis. This is just a few of the things that I have set back.
  3. Flashlight (Don’t forget extra batteries).
  4. A weather radio or hand-crank radio. (I don’t have this yet, I am working on it, but, I do have a regular battery operated radio.
  5. First Aid Kit and any medications that you might need., along with family emergency information
  6. Multi-purpose tool
  7. Fireproof box to hold personal documents, medication lists, birth certificates and anything else you feel important.
  8. Cell phone with chargers. We have both car and wall and I am working on getting a solar one.
  9. Extra Cash. I believe a minimum of $300 is necessary and you want to have small bills.
  10. Emergency blankets, sleeping bags, wool blankets.
  11. You also need to have maps..Yes paper maps, you can map out areas where to go and this way you can keep track of where you have been.

This is just a small list of items. You will want to adjust if you have kids. Plus I have my my fur kiddos and they have there own bag and I have extra treats and dog food for them. One other thing that we like is a deck of cards it helps pass the time, and don’t forget things like a whistle, matches, duct tape and scissors.

Thank you again to all my followers and regular readers, and hello to you if you are new to my blog! Till the next adventure.

Ciao,

M