Jay and I were asked to come down to Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital to pick up our friend Richard and his car upon his release.  We agreed to help so yesterday when the call came we gassed up in Otisville and started down to Pontiac.

Richard is Jay’s friend from his high school years so when he asks for help we willingly oblige.  With gasoline at $3.64 a gallon we decided to add two other projects to the list. First with Jay not able to drive we had to pick up son Wes in Lake Orion to drive either my truck or Richard’s car back to his home in Oxford.

While at Wes’ we delivered a birthday present to granddaughter Jasmine.

She will reach the ripe old age of 17 on the first of May.  The years pass quickly when one is old.  I still remember buying talking doll houses for her and Courtney one Christmas.  Now she is into chalk art, photography, among other interests and will be a Senior in High School.  An early Happy Birthday Jazzy!

Wes and I went to the hospital and Richard was no where to be found.  So Wes called Deb at home to learn that Richard had just walked in the door.  He decided he was strong enough to drive so stopped at Wes’ on his way home.  So it was back to Wes’ to take him home and pick up Jay for the last matter we had planned to take care of while in the area.

Our lady barber of over 30 years had fallen down her basement stairs and shattered both bones in her lower right leg. 

Shawn and I go back to when Wes was in his teens and she dyed his hair with colored cellophane (at his request).  Les had to sit on a board across the arms of the barber chair to allow her to cut his hair.  When Jay married ‘us’ he was added to her list of customers so it is no wonder that we still drive around 50 miles one way to get our haircut.

I had called the salon and was told she had an accident.  She called us Saturday to tell us what had happened.  I told her we were waiting for a call to go pick up Richard so we could come by and see her if she would like. She said certainly so I asked what I could bring her.  Home canned Pickled Beets and Peach jam was the immediate response. 

So with the present delivered and the beets plus jam safely in Shawn’s kitchen we started back home.  In my mind I could hear a song the Meatloaf recorded a while ago.  It seemed so appropriately called Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.

I waited yesterday for the man to come and take three of the damaged trees out of this clump in the front yard.  There is a danger that two of them could fall over on the dome and the third one as you can see was broken off in a storm.  The man said he would see us on Friday but sweet hubby said maybe he meant next Friday ( he wasn’t sure). 

A walk outside today to check the Bleeding Hearts.

I’m waiting for them to open a little more to get a good picture of the blossoms.

I’m waiting for the gardens to fill in a little more with flowers.

Although the Tulips have taken off now.

You are looking at one of the ingredients for jam and chutney growing in my front garden.

Yep it is rhubarb.  We use it in Strawberry Rhubarb jam, Blueberry Rhubarb jam, and Apple Rhubarb chutney.  So you know I’m waiting for this to get bigger. 

I also have to wait to mow the yard.

Down the hill between on the curve in the driveway there is a bush .  Beside that every Spring tiny Grape Hyacinths grow in the grass.  Bits of purple showing every where.

Last for today we are waiting for a call from friend Richard who has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks.  We are supposed to pick him up and get him settled at home.  Jay is calling on him now.  It seems he isn’t coming home yet. 

So we will wait ‘cause that is what friends are for. 

Yesterday I moved the outdoor bird feeding station.  Only some seeds remain on the deck to identify it’s winter location.  Now I will go sit in the swing and watch the activities that Spring brings.

The regular seed feeder, a new Goldfinch feeder (not visible in this shot) , two suet cages, even a nectar feeder with sugar water in case the Hummers come early.  (when I spot them I’ll change the feeder over to nectar .)  In late May I’ll add the Oriole feeder also.

Now as soon as the umbrella for the table is brought up from the basement our deck will be ready for a people feeding station. 

You can always tell it’s Spring Time when Miss Violet comes to call.
She never comes in winter not even in the fall.
She doesn’t mind the old leaves that always share her bed.
She just needs a little space to rest her pretty head.

We never need some teacakes because she never comes for tea.
She just visits for a while spreading colors for us to see.
She spreads her lavenders, her purples, and whites among the lawn so green.
The patterns in the way she moves are lovely to be seen.

Her welcome never is worn out because her stay is short.
But when you see her in the yard you can’t be out of sorts.
So when I see Miss Violet she always makes me smile.
I’m only sad when I realize she’s here for just a while. 

Not a great poet but I try   Momma

It seems like only yesterday I glanced to see if my Bleeding Hearts were going to appear again this year.  All I saw was what looked to be purple almost maroon fingers reaching up through the fallen leaves of last year.  Two years ago my departed brother, Gene, dug up this plant and brought it to me for the side garden.  It bloomed that year and again last year.  My brother died in July of last year and I never thought of the plant he had so carefully gave to me.  But yesterday I gazed in amazement at the growth and the buds of new blooms about to burst forward.  I will also remember Gene with each season that it blooms again.

Some days start with an important mission—today was one of those days.

After breakfast both Brandy and Molly felt the need to help the Daddy (Jay) get dressed so we could started on the mission.  I mean how long could it take.  It was around 11 am when we went down to the garage to get started.

Jay decided that we would have to take the snow plow, the weights, and the wheel chains off the tractor if we were going to move anything.  So he started the tractor—no go—the battery was down.  We would put the trickle charger on the battery and while waiting we could take off the wheel chains.  But we needed to move the tractor to get at the locking links on the wheels. Try to start the tractor It started so Jay backed it up so we could see the links.  That done he turned off the tractor and went to work on the chains.  The one on the left rear tire was on the outside and after a few attempts he managed to get it loose.  I found the other link to release the chain and it fell to the ground.  He tried to start the tractor again and no go.  So it was put the trickle charger back on to wait for it to charge. We then turned our attention to the right wheel.  That chain was put on with the locking link on the inside of the tire. ( We had the tractor in for repairs last fall and they readied it for winter for us.)  After quite a bit of finagling we managed to get that one off also.  While waiting for the battery to charge I walked to the shed, cleared a place for the weights, and plow blade in a back corner.  I then got the bucket that we keep the chains in and brought it back to the garage.  OK time out for something cold to drink and then back to work.  Jay started the tractor, I disconnected the charger, and he backed the tractor off the chains.  I put them in the bucket and walked them to the shed.  He followed on the tractor and backed it into the shed where I took a small dolly and moved the weights one at a time to the back of the shed.  That done It was back to the garage for the air gun and hose which he put in a milk crate along with the charger in case the tractor wouldn’t start again and set it on the plow blade to take up to the bedroom window. 

It was back to the shed for Jay to take the plow blade off and store it.  As he worked on that I figured a way to use a flat wooden dolly to move the air compressor up to the window area in order to use the nail gun for the repairs that were needed.  We slipped the end of the dolly under the air compressor then moved it the rest of the way onto the dolly. We bungee corded the tank onto the dolly, then tied the whole thing to the tractor, and pulled up the hill to the window. 

With the air hose in place Jay made repairs to the window sill.

Repairs done one happy hubby smiles out the window.  Mission is accomplished.

All this so our Molly can lay in the window, watch the birds, feel the sun, and smell the fresh air. 

Who ever said Necessity is The Mother Of Invention was right.  We proved it today! 

Another busy Monday.  Today I decided to start bringing up lawn furniture and decorations.  But start was about all I did.  On the first trip from the basement to the deck I loaded the back of the pickup with plastic lawn chairs, four of them, a glass top patio table, and the gas grill cover.  I wasn’t able to pull the grill up with the truck so I pulled it by hand across the grass, up the hill, and onto the deck—not easy but effective.  The second trip was an assortment of plant pots (which I will explain later), the seed feeder for the tree, a suet cage, a gazing globe with stand and some hanging decorations from out of the shed.  Still more to bring up but I ran out of energy so I drove to the Rosati’s in Millington to pick up a few items for lunch. After Jay got home from dialysis we had lunch.  Then I just hauled the garbage, newspapers, and recycling down to the end of the driveway for Tuesday pick up so most of the Monday chores are done. 

I take Jay to Dr. Ross’ office for his appointment so there will be no work around the yard tomorrow.  Maybe Wednesday we can do a little more.  I want to get the outside bird feeding stations moved into a tree so I can use the base for the deck table umbrella. 

As you can see the Forsythia is blooming and leaves are now visible on all the bushes (not out fully but moving right along).  The grass is getting greener by the day.  Such a welcome sight after snow and then drab gray every where you looked. 

Our two days of visits with one son’s family each day over the weekend was pleasant, we got our gifts delivered,  and had a little time to chat.

I’m a little tired now so I’ll close, put my feet up, and wait for Jay to wake up.  The dialysis always causes a need for a nap after.  I still have a supper to throw together or else I would join him in that nap!

Almost overnight blossoms in all the garden burst into colorful life.  Brandy had to get out and ‘smell the roses’ even if they were not roses.  But they just as welcome in our gardens as any American Beauty that blooms. 

While waiting for our company today a smelly Brandy and an equally smelly Momma got baths this morning.  The potatoes for Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes are soaking.  I snapped the ends off fresh green beans to try making Green Beans Northwest Style.  Also the Corned Beef brisket is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away from being ready to be slathered with an apricot glaze (using our home canned apricot jam).  I baked a Butter Pecan Cake which is frosted with white icing.  So I think we are almost ready to fed the SEB clan when they arrive. 

Tomorrow we are going visiting for a change.  Into Lake Orion to see Wes, Deb, and the the Grandkids.  Deb is one year older today and we want to deliver a present to her tomorrow. 

It is another beautiful day out there and I’m taking Brandy to go swing for a bit.  Later!!!!!

You know how you are having a pretty good day.  The weather is sunny, 72 degrees, blues skies, and some what windy.  The outside calls to you making it harder to get your inside duties done.  Well I’m glad I was inside for a while today because the phone rang and it was Maria of Silver Fox Whispers.  What a delight to hear that happy voice.  We exchanged our I’m OKs and each made the other laugh.  She sure knows how to make good even better in just a few moments.  I have no picture of her but I thought this one is appropriate for the post.  If you don’t know what I mean pay her a visit to find out. 

Thank you Sweet Maria you certainly made my day!

The array of flowers are still pretty sparse but the Hyacinths and Tulips are getting ready to burst open any day now.  We have had two days of beautiful weather so Brandy and I spent some quality time swinging and searching the gardens for new color.  I managed to cut away the old stalks on the Peony plants today and started to pull weeds.  Then I remembered that last year I pulled out Daisy plants and few assorted weeds that were actually flowers .  So I guess I’ll call Phyllis, my next door gardener to help me save a few flowers lives.  I still have to trim the bottom of some of my bushes, rake out the gardens carefully, get a burn permit and burn the pile of branches and limbs from last year.  As soon as it drys up a little more I want Jay to hook up the lawn sweeper and get the leaves picked up.  Evidentially we have to get someone to help us change the tractor from snow plow to lawn mower.  I still want the planting barrels brought up next to the patio near the deck but this also involves using the Mantis to break up the ground, laying down barrier material to stop grass growth around them, and wood chips or something to dress the area up.  This again depends on when the area is dry enough to work on.  It is a lot of excuses to be outdoors and get the exercise we need. 

On another subject Maria of Silver Fox Whispers has finally gotten her computer contents backed up and is on the road to success again.  I think I’ll ask son SEB to give me a quick lesson in backup and do my blog entries.  However Grammie Pammie of Pammie’s Place had her computer die the other day and I guess her Hubby is trying to get it fixed for her. 

This last weekend friend Darlene of Too Much To Say turned a year older.  Son Les (SEB) and wife Anne are going to be celebrating an anniversary this coming week.  Also my daughter-in-law Debra will be one year older this weekend.  ( But I won’t be mean and tell her age)!

I’ll get back with my doctor’s visit next time.  Take care and laugh out loud!