Today the tractor is going to be returned to the garage.

As you can see that at 32 degrees we really need the mower deck on it!!  Well that is Michigan for you. 

Even my Christmas Cactus doesn’t know what time of year it is. 

At least I shall have pretty pink blossoms to celebrate my news from the doctors office this morning.  I am indeed thrilled to know that the stress test was good.  It looks like I have a fighting chance to stay around and bore you with my nonsense for a while longer. 

Next on my agenda is an appointment with Dr. Rohr’s office to check on the eyes.  Also one with Dr. Robbins to check out the the right ear.  I see him once a year to make sure my brains aren’t leaking out.  Believe me sometimes I’m sure that it is a good possibility they are!  My dentist appointment isn’t until May so that pretty well takes care of my spring check up. The other half of this dynamic duo is always full of surprises health wise so I won’t go there today.

I still have to take Molly back to the vets for her shots and Brandy is about due for a trip Doggy Depot. 

Of course the trusty rake will have to sit in the shed a few more days until the ground drys up but that doesn’t hurt my feelings.  I did however see that Jay had tipped my bird bath upright.  ( It had tipped over on the berm.)  Also David set up the fountain, when he was here, so I can run the extension cord to it when I’m ready to run it.  A big thank you to both of you!

Jay has just laid back down for a while so I’m off to turn on the TV and pick up the knitting needles.  See Yah!

Saturday afternoon started with the early arrival ( will miracles never cease) of Cindy and David. Cindy had promised to trim toenails—an almost impossible task for old fogies to accomplish.  The feet are too close to the floor and the bellies don’t allow you to bend right!  She also mentioned a pinochle game.  That turned out to be so sad.  The girls (and I use the term loosely) were so far behind we almost lapped ourselves.  (Drag strip fans know what that means—for others it is really bad.)

Please note the official score sheet that appears on this page.  My charming partner decided that because we were going to lose any way let’s have some fun on the last hand.  She bid 65 with our 29 meld—not impossible, but if you have sh** for hands it is kinda leans toward a set.  Obliviously that was the outcome so we, being good sports, told the guys what great card players they were. 

At least my salmon loaf with peas in white sauce for David and tuna noodle for Cindy went over real well for dinner.  We have Jiffy mix Apple Cinnamon muffins, green grapes in Lemon yogurt, mashed potatoes, and lettuce/tomato/ green onion salad for our meal.  A store bought Dutch Apple pie was dessert to round out the meal. 

As usual funny things happened during the day but the thing that caused healthy laughter was when David went to tighten the hinge on one of my cupboard doors. He asked Cindy to get him a screwdriver and she asked if he wanted a flat one or a Stanley.  A Stanley?  The three of us laughed so hard that no one could tell her that the name was a Phillips screw driver.  Poor baby, her momma didn’t even tell her the correct name of the tools she would have to find. 
 
Jay and I had breakfast at Arlene’s Diner this morning( a special treat). 

Back home I mended two sets of flannel sheets.  It was one of those do it another day projects .  But then I remembered I didn’t want to buy new flannels when we would soon be into warmer nights.

Well I have four days of local newspapers to read and I want to pick up the knitting for a while this after noon so I’ll say so long for now.  Have a great rest of the weekend.

You have all heard that commercial ‘because I’m worth it’.  Well for me yesterday it wasn’t diamonds, chocolates, or even hair color, but it was flowers.  I have yearned for a bouquet of flowers for weeks now but felt it a waste of money.  I think sweet hubby believes that you have to be able to wear it, fix things with it, ride in or on it, gain knowledge from it, or eat it, otherwise it isn’t worth the investment.  But I couldn’t resist the $ 6.99 price to bring a bit of color and comfort into my life.  They weren’t all carnations but but they did fit the bill! 

Yesterday consisted of taking my truck to the dealership in Clio because my Check Engine light had been on a few days.  That is until I drove the 200 hundred feet down the driveway and then turned a sharp left onto Lake road.  Bingo—no light.  But being that this is my transportation I felt I needed to have it looked over even though it would cost $85 an hour.  At the dealership they tried to do a diagnostic but what ever it was cleared itself so they sent me home to drive it until it showed up again (no charge).  That rated a kiss on the forehead and I planted one there!

Now while I was waiting at the dealership I worked on my project again. 

Plus a couple of hours in front of the TV last night resulted in 25 inches completed ( half way my friend).  I’m going to make it even if I am the world’s slowest knitter!  It isn’t perfect but that is what it identifies it as—Mary made it—.  I have been trying to correct it as I go along but I still slipped up once in a while!  Hope the recipient doesn’t mind.

I got the letter saying that mammogram showed negative or normal but nothing on the stress test yet.  Oh well worrying about it won’t change the results and I have better things to do with my time. 

The ground is still squishy so I haven’t hauled out the rake yet but it is going to have to be done soon. I have to rake some gravel, from the driveway, out of the grass.  It was moved there by the snowplow attachment on the old Deere. I won’t have that problem next year because the new tractor has a snow blower on it.  Our new tractor/mower is getting the deck put on and will be back on Monday. 

Sweet hubby has been a bit under the weather with breathing problems but is back under the Doctor’s watchful eye more frequently than before.  Actually for all the problems that he has he is doing quite well.  I know he is fine because I’m getting my daily lectures on cooking, driving, and sometimes I feel even breathing.  But that is what comes of what soon will be 35 years together!

Letting Molly out for a few minutes this morning I spotted one of my bunnies sitting under the Quince bush again.  I really don’t know what the fascination is but then my ears aren’t long and my nose doesn’t twitch.  (At least not yet—but stranger things have happened so stay around ). 

Good Morning!  It has warmed up two degrees since I woke up a little over two hours ago.  We had a confirmation that Spring is here yesterday.  We talked to the man. that sold us our new tractor, in the the drug store parking lot and he said he would be over today, if it didn’t rain, to take the tractor in to convert to a lawn mower. He said if we had any more snow it would be very minimal.  Wanting to see the cold disappear I’m ready to believe him.

Checking the French door window this morning I spied one of my bunny rabbits munching out on the side of the hill.  The other bunny was just disappearing around behind the Quince Bush as I opened the door for a better shot.  A check of the feeder confirmed that seed, thistle, and suet needed refilling .  I also noticed a broken white egg approximately the size of my thumbnail abandoned on the deck.  There was no nest overhead that it could have fallen from so it appearance is a mystery.

This morning consisted of starting the Domestic Goddess routine when the ‘but first’ syndrome kicked in!  The need to tell you I’m so freakin’ glad to have the stress test over with was priority one.  Of course it will be a few days before the results will hit my Doctor’s office so there is really no real news to tell.  I did however commit to sending a few canning recipes to the nurse who handled the injections during the test.  Oh well it helped to ease the apprehension during the procedure. 

My project is now 14 1/2 inches long so progress is satisfactory.  I’m beginning to feel like Mrs. Dof because I have another project lined up, to start when this one is done, with a completion date in August.

I caught up on two days of newspapers this morning to discovered that The Flint Journal is following other papers across the nation by cutting the printed issue to three days a week.  It is time to have my son put the website for it on my desktop so I can find it every day easily.  (hint—hint please Les). TIME MARCHES ON——dragging me kicking and screaming along with it!!!!!

Well my friend I want to check the E-mail and the blogs before I get back to the real world of meal, dishes, laundry, knitting, and etc.  Have a good day!!!!

I’m sitting here enjoying my second and last cup of coffee for the next at least 30 hours.  Yep the stress test is tomorrow morning and the rule is no caffeine for 24 hours before the test.  For me that is a double Whammy because I drink International Delight Chocolate Cream in my cup of coffee.  I like to joke that if you cut me open at the ankles coffee grounds would flood the room.  Of course that is not true because after surgery on my feet the last two years I heard no one complain about the grounds on the OR floor.  But it is going to be quite a chore living through these next hours.  I do have plenty of Orange Crush, which has no caffeine, to drink.  I can make lemon aid or apple juice, drink white milk, or use that stuff (water) you wash your feet in so I won’t get thirsty.  But I figure by the time Jay gets in from dialysis I should be fit to be tied. 

The big thermometer reads 32 degrees this morning, no snow yet, but the bushes and branches are dancing to a rhythmic wind.  The feeder on the deck is about due to be refilled and the sun hasn’t decided to honor us with some basking areas for the animals to sleep in yet.

The words AW S**T just echoed from the kitchen signaling that sweet hubby has nodded off with a cup of coffee in his hand as he waits for the YOUR RIDE bus to arrive.  So it is a frantic change of clothes as I mop up the spill on the kitchen floor.  The story of my life has just unfolded again.  Had he spilled it just 10 minutes earlier his clothes could have gone in the washer.  But when I checked the load it was all ready on rinse.  Oh well such is life!

Les, Anne, and Courtney were up on Sunday and Les looked at my CPU because drawer wouldn’t open to allow me to play a Print Shop Disc.  I had all ready had problems with the outlet that you plug the camera cable into when transferring pictures.  (Boy can you tell I don’t know a whole lot of technical terms about my machine.  Now you can see what my tech, Les. has to put up with when I try to explain my problem!)  The short of it is he may build me a new machine rather than patch the old one.  Jay told to him to go ahead—-we can afford it right now.  I stipulated that this one will be mine because the last one he built for me became Jay’s. 

We had a bit of dinner, some conversation, and Les tweaked a couple of things on Jay’s computer before they went home. 

My new project calls for finishing three inches every day in order to complete it on time.  Yesterday (the third day) I had eight inches when I spotted a mistake some three inches back.  So I ripped it out and finished at seven inches which is two inches short of my goal.

I will close this post and knit another five inches + today.  Tomorrow I have no knitting plan because of the test so Thursday will call for another three inches. 
I will try to better my goal each day and finish early but I never know what events will happen that will change my plans. 

Well I just took my third sip of feet washing liquid or as Jay loves to say ‘what fish sh** in’ ( which is a little grosser!)

Have a great day—-I’ll see you in two!!!!

I promised a while back that I would post a picture of my painted feather.

My good friend and clowning partner, Shane, brought this back from Mexico for me.  I treasure it greatly and it hangs in my kitchen right beside the entry door.

My other promise was pictures of my first spring blooms

The Crocus blooms are in two locations in the garden below the bedroom window .  Shoots from the Hyacinths, Daffodils, and the Tulips are all ready making their entrance into the sunshine.  It promises to be a colorful Spring around the dome soon.  It also reminds me to get the rake out to clean up the beds before the other blossoms start. 

My bunnies are out playing in the morning and the evening but the camera and I are never together when I spot them.  It is a kick when all I see is a white tail headed into the woods at not quite warp speed! 

Well the cardboard in the mudroom is cut up, placed in a box, and tied for pick up on Tuesday morning. A few more clothes have wandered onto dining room table to be folded today so I guess I’ll close for now.  Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

The big thermometer on the porch says it is 16 degrees out there this morning.  No snow—some frost—lots of cold!  The sun is climbing this morning but isn’t up high enough to create a spot on the carpet for Molly and Brandy to bask in. 

My walks down to the mailbox with Brandy have been stopped the last two days.  The feet and heels are not happy with the pressure.  The thought of my nightly stumbles to the bathroom make it very hard to roll out of my warm bed and put my body in motion.  Yet if I don’t I’ll end up like that fifth little guy in line!

The mammogram went all right except that age has left me with less ability to twist around in to position for ‘photographing’ the lymph nodes.  That had to be redone on both sides and was a bit painful.  So my throwing 10 lbs. of liver unto the platform isn’t funny anymore.  Oh well another laugh slipped down the tube!
The phone just rang and the nurse from Dr. Hukill’s office says that the test showed everything was fine. 

The stress test next Wednesday is at Genesys Hospital (which I am not looking forward to) then Doctor and I will try try to map out a regimen to improve my general well being.  My motto—The golden years suck—is proving to be true, at least for me!

The last couple of days have seen no projects worked on and no novels read.  Besides my test on Wednesday I drove Jay to the Doctor on Thursday.  I dropped him off then drove across the parking lot to Vgs to grocery shop.  $160. lighter I had filled some of the holes in the pantry, assured that Brandy would eat for a while, and bought some items for my menu for Sunday dinner.  Last night it was tacos, plus brussel sprouts, and strawberries from the freezer.  Tonight it will be spaghetti with garlic toast, a veggie, and lettuce and tomato salad.  This way I can use up the lettuce, tomato, and onions that I cut up for the tacos plus the left over beef can go into the spaghetti sauce, 

Well Brandy and I have just made our trek across the driveway and Jay has come alive so I think a bowl of cereal is in my immediate future. This morning I plan to drive to Dotty’s in Clio for seed for Spirit and possibly some more thistle from Tractor Supply for the finches.  Then I best take time to play Domestic Goddess, clean house a little, iron shirts and blouses, fold and stow laundry. change the flag at the front door, and try to bring a semblance of order to my humble abode. 

I hope this is the beginning of a great weekend for everyone!

Is me, sorry to say, the fifth in line.
But other times I’m just fine.
It’s a old tale often told
What you do when you’re getting old.

Happy St. Patrick’s day!

Sorting and Organizing:

  1. Recipes from the internet into two WANT TO TRY binders and filing TRIED ‘EM-LIKE ‘EM recipes into two larger binders
. 
2. CDs, DVD, and Videos into separate racks to find more room for music.

3. Finished the ugly afghan Two pictures of that

All that remains is to notify the recipient to come and get it.

4. Cleaned out the two bird houses out by the frog pond. A picture of one of them.

5. I saw two robins in Phyllis’ yard yesterday and one in our front yard today but not being able to speak robin I couldn’t get close enough for a good shot.

.

6. Brandy and I investigated the pond again this morning and there is still some ice on it.

Then it was back up to the front yard to swing a little.

Had to get another shot of our dome sweet home!

This pine tree is half way down the front driveway.  After we moved here we noticed is was twisted a little. It’s growth was being stunted by the tree right next to it.  We managed to cut the offending limbs out and have watch in amazement as the pine is now growing taller and more beautiful than expected.

Since the Doctor said more exercise I have had David bring down my exercise bike to the front room.  He and Cindy were up yesterday for a little visit.

I have a mammogram scheduled for this Wednesday and a stress test for a week from Wednesday.  Then we will plan what tortures are ahead for me.  Doctor gave me the standard report of I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in!  No, actually for my age I’m doing well.  I will gladly take either one of those reports. 
I have to go but I’ll be back!!

As you can see the big thermometer on the porch reads cold.  Brandy and I have been out across the driveway and partially into the wood for her morning visit.  ( Yes sleeping shorts and jacket again today—but you can’t see much from the road so I won’t cause an accident). The breakfast dishes are in the dishwasher.  Jay has left for dialysis and I am 15 minutes away from the shower.  My physical is today but as usual I have planned side trips to the post office, the hardware, the gas station, and the grocery store. 

Yesterday, looking out the french door window, I spotted a muskrat in our pond overflow. After a short swim it crawled out, ran across to Phyllis’ pond next door, then disappeared into the woods.  I could see it with the binoculars but my camera couldn’t pick up the image clearly.  Unfortunately there are more important places to use the money that a new fancy camera would cost. 

The Red-winged Blackbirds have returned and found a convenient eating place at our feeder.  I haven’t seen a Robin yet but I need to be outside to spot them.  They don’t come to the feeder and I usually see them in the yard . 

Well my friend it is bath time so I must say a temporary good bye—until later.