Yesterday we had Bob and Edna over for dinner.  Edna was my mail carrier when I first moved to Otisville in 1999.  We swam at a pool in Davison for a while until Jay’s eyes began to fail him.  After she retired I would see her working at the polling place on Election days.  She was a volunteer then.  When she called the other day she was programming her cell phone.  I thought that was an opportune moment to invite her and hubby Bob to dinner.  We had a nice meal and she had brought the flowers you see below and sugar free Strawberry short cake with homemade biscuits.

We had a good time talking over what had been going on in our lives lately.  Of course I love people who bring me flowers also.

Today Cindy and David came up for brunch and a short visit.  I didn’t get a picture because she was tired and cranky as she put it.  She was going to post but was too tired to think.  They left early this afternoon because she had to be to work at 5 pm.

Just before they left Jeannie, my late brother’s significant other came in.  She was off from work today and wanted to see how we were getting along.  We had supper before she left (a repeat on yesterday’s meal warmed up but she didn’t mind) and we called and talked with my brother Dan in Florida.
Jeannie wasn’t cranky so we got her picture as she was leaving.

I guess you could call it a catch up and visit week end.  We don’t get many of them so both Jay and I enjoy them. 

Due to a slight mishap (foot tangled in Brandy’s leash, ass hitting the ground, and happy that I’m so well padded) I found myself sitting at the French doors later resting.  That is how I got these pictures of two feathered couples.

Still working on getting two Cardinals together and a Blue Jay but I have been inundated with Cowbirds, Red-wing Blackbirds, and Crackles so the birds I want don’t stay long enough to get pictures.  But I’ll keep at it And I’ll get them evidentially.

From beginning

To end with four hours in between. 

A little zing to it but Yummy just the same!  A good afternoon’s work!

An update:

Two generous bowls for supper tonight and 16 servings just went into the freezer downstairs. Not too shabby I’d say and so good night my friends!!!

The wind is blowing our Welcome flag at the kitchen (front) door almost horizontally.  The thermometer reads 42 degrees and the sky is is speaking out with signs of fair or rain.  Mother Nature hasn’t decided this morning if she should smile or spit on us.  But if I had to bet I would pick the spit.

As is usual this morning Molly is asleep in the Lazy Boy, Brandy is still in bed with Jay snoozing.  Although she did get up to check on me while I was making coffee she decided a warm bed beats watching Momma type anytime.  I haven’t uncovered the birds yet so the only sound other than me hunting and pecking is the bong of my Anniversary clock reminding me that I worked ‘25 long years’ to earn the right to hear it.  ( I must give credit where credit is due)  My Sister-in-law Peggy made that statement about 25 long years when I got that clock from Michigan Bell as a service award in 1984.  For the last roughly 24 years I still hear Peggy saying,“25 long years” every time I hear it bong.  Thanks Peg!!!!! 

Yesterday we shopped.  This morning at about 4:30 am a trip to the bathroom became a major production.  I stood up and knew immediately that I had walked the store too long yesterday.  I grabbed the walker from behind the door at the head of my bed and set it up.  All Right!  I made it without a stumble and without changing the color of the light blue bath mats.  (I so hate seeing green drips on them.)  I know you are thinking how gross.  But Baby if you are any where near my age you understand fully what I’m talking about.

Any way back to the shopping!  Right after my operation on my right foot my dear friend Pam of Grammie Pammie promised to bring me some of her Chili. Well it was a while coming but when it arrived it was in one of those five gallon ice cream pails.  Not full mind you but a very generous amount.  Jay and I loved it and it was quickly devoured.  So I asked her for the recipe which she happily shared. 

So this is what we bought and this morning we will be busy opening cans, pouring ingredients into a big pot, and simmering for four to six hours ( stirring occasionally of course).  I do love that girl’s recipe, easy to find ingredients, no fuss preparing it, and great pleasure consuming it.  Now I must confess I couldn’t find the chili tomatoes in the brand she named so I bought another.  When I got home Dear hubby said, “you didn’t have to buy that brand—What did you can last summer?”  He was right, of course.  On the shelf in my food room sits several pints of home canned Mexican Spiced tomatoes!  Duh!  Oh well I have them for the next time I make Chili!

Pammie had mentioned in a comment the other day about seeing the Bird Totem ( a gift from Dar and Micheal) on the deck but when I checked it it was partially hidden.  I also determined that the solar light on it wasn’t getting enough sun to charge it so I moved it towards the railing.  Now I can see it through the French doors and it is positioned so the sun is charging it when it shines. 

In answer to another comment the feathered visitors aren’t bothered by my Totem at all—must be the meal is more important than the decor! 

Any way speaking of meal I think breakfast is in order so I’ll close for now!

Yes indeedy the thermometer reads a 70!

The sun is shining only to disappear momentarily when the wind blows the clouds in the way. (I don’t really know that I’m making it up but it sounds good!)

Two more feathered visitors finally caught on camera today!

Outside in shirt sleeves and slippers I find myself breathing extra deep to catch every scent around.  Another color joined the Spring flowers in the front garden.

These flowers are so delicately colored that they look almost fake.  Amazing what Mother Nature does to bring a smile to my face!

I wish I could blow the whole afternoon swinging, walking and gazing but there is a bed to make, clothes to fold out of the dryer, garbage to haul down to the road, taters to peel, and pork chops to cook.  Guess it is back to the real world for today.  See Yah!

From Junie Roses blog—another get to know you!

The rule!
Remember:

You
Can
Only
Type
One
Word

~~~

1. Where is your mobile phone? ~purse

2. Your significant other? ~ loving

3. Your hair? ~ short

4. Your mother? ~ passed

5. Your father? ~ also

6. Your favorite thing? ~ Music

7. Your dream last night? ~ none

8. Your favorite drink? ~ Coffee

9. Your dream/goal? ~ comfort

10. The room you’re in? ~dining

11. Your ex? ~ dead

12. Your fear? ~ loss

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? ~ alive

14. Where were you last night? ~ asleep

15. What you’re not? ~ selfish

16. Muffins? ~ raspberry

17. One of your wish list items? ~ health

18. Where you grew up? ~ Michigan

19. The last thing you did? ~ worried

20. What are you wearing? ~ coat

21. Your TV?~ on

22. Your pets? ~wonderful

23. Your computer? ~ communicator

24. Your life? ~ lonely

25. Your mood? ~ apprehensive

26. Missing someone? ~ YES

27. Your car? ~ pickup

28. Something you’re not wearing? ~bra

29. Favorite Store? ~Vg’s

30. Your summer? ~ needed

31. Like someone? ~ definitely

32. Your favorite color? ~ red

33. When is the last time you laughed? ~ yesterday

34. Last time you cried? ~ yesterday

35. Who will/would re-post this? ~ unknown

Have fun!~~~

On Thursday Brandy and I took a walk around the property and came up with 27 pictures of how Spring is advancing in our area.  Yesterday we showed you the gardens around the dome so today it will be trees and bushes minus the two fruit trees that can be seen on Jay’s blog.  Same rules as yesterday apply on IDs.

This bush is in between the two fruit trees in the east side yard.  Then it was out to the pond in the back.

After leaving the pond we walked back to the back driveway.  On our left beside the shed are the garden barrels.

On a hill going up that back drive are the following:

On top the hill at the steps to the deck on the kitchen side of the dome is this bush.

Around front is the Snow ball bush.

To the right out front is this.

Of course we have several trees like the popular and several evergreens that dot the property.  That pretty well covers our walk around.  We try it again later in the summer. 

Yesterday’s walk about brought three different sets of pictures.  I have tried to identify either what they were or where they were on the property but failed in some cases.  Today it is the gardens around the dome.  There are six but I have pictures only of five .

That takes care of the gardens until they start to bloom.  Hope you enjoyed our walk .  We will continue with more tomorrow.

Yesterday I decided to work on the ‘Bless this Home’ tapestry.  A couple of minutes into the preparation I knew I would need help.  So I pulled out my 2.5’s.
Oh no I lost my eye!  Well not really my eye but the lens in the right one.  Actually in the right side of the frame.  No problem I’ve corrected problems like this when I wore regular glasses. I’ll just pop the screw back in, then the lens, and be in business. 

You never know how age affects you until you try to pick up tiny screw the size of—Well take a look.

Even tweezers didn’t help me hold and position this little bugger.  I tried to use the magnifying thing that (Pammie gave me) that hangs on your neck and the base lays against your chest but my chest is going south so that isn’t too steady.  I guess it is off to the drug store for another pair of 2.5s if I’m going to make any headway on that particular project.  As you can see Brandy had gotten a hold of the case so I guess a new pair wouldn’t be out of line!

I did however work on the cross stitch wall hanging.  Thank goodness that takes only my eyes to work on it. 

On a different subject the temperature is 38 outside and climbing.  It looks like we are in for a lovely day.  I want to get some pictures of the shoots coming up through the leaves later in the day for another entry.  I also want to do a little pruning on some bushes.  So I’ll close for now and get busy!  Have a great day—I know I will.

What was that incessant racket?  What time is it? It’s the phone. Why isn’t Molly getting it?  I hired her because she seemed to be very capable.  It is stll ringing!  OK throw back the satin comforter, crawl out of my nice warm bed and leave Randy to snooze on!  I have to answer the damn phone!
” Mrs. Axsom ?”
“Yes.”
“This is Allan Stone from the First Third Savings and Loaning”.
“Yes Mr. Stone”.
” Well I thought I had better call you due to the unusal circumstances that occurred this morning”.
” Yes Mr. Stone it is indeed morning—8 am to be exact.”
” Yes well I need—”
” You need to get off the telephone and call my lawyer if there is a problem.” 
” It actually isn’t a problem, you see”
“No I don’t see,actually I don’t even think at 8 am in the morning”.
” I’m sorry Mrs. Axsom but I need to know which account you want the Million dollars deposited in.”
Then it hit me!  Molly is my cat not not my capable maid.  Also Randy isn’t my hunk but actually Brandy my dog and she does sleep with me. 
” It is April Fools Day”, damn!”