I have tried twice today to type a (as Silverfox called it) Bird walking post and deleted it accidentally both times.  I guess I don’t have the knack for blathering today.  Maybe I’ll try tomorrow.

It was one of those days that when it was over your cheeks hurt from all the laughing. 

Les and Anne came up to take Jay and me to brunch for Mother’s day.  Daughter Cindy joined us also.  The light in Arlene’s Diner was a little difficult to judge but you can see we had a good time. 

The girls ( and I use the term loosely) returned home with full tummies while Les and Jay went in search for a new mouse for Jay’s computer.  We played a few hands of rummy until the guys got back and replaced the mouse.  The girls told of dreams we were having and laughed as we tried to figure out what they meant. 

After a while Les and Anne had to leave to go visit Kathleen, Anne’s mother, on their way home.  So Jay took Anne’s place in the card game and as usual Cindy won with flying colors.  All in all it was a great visit and I really enjoyed my day.

With the celebration of Mother’s Day tomorrow I took this picture because it was an inspiration to post even though both my Mother and two Mother- in-laws are gone.  I would have written off this day except my children remind me with cards and visits that I’m a Mom.  So I decided that even if you aren’t my mom I’m going to wish you a great day too.

Back to the picture!
I pulled off my t-shirt that I sleep in and tossed it on the bed.  It landed on Brandy but she didn’t move.  Returning from the bathroom this is what I found.

Now this is love.  When my dog crawls into my t-shirt and waits for me to return it shows her devotion.  She is every bit my baby since my babies are all grown up. 

A walk out in the yard this morning just reinforced my feelings on why I fell in love with this home almost 10 years ago. We moved in during the fall but the following Spring the trees and bushes came alive as they have ever since. 

The Crab Apple tree in the side yard is one example.  An old, ugly tree that just changes it’s dress and becomes a stunning vision.  The fruit is passed being edible but the branches hold the bird feeders and provide shelter for the feathered friends that come to dine.  Kinda wish I had a dress that could change me from old and not too pretty to drop dead gorgeous. 

My next choice is the Quince bush. 

Just starting to bloom and leaf out it is the spot where the bunnies hide.  Also the birds fly there when I come out to fill the feeders.  As the days wear on the blooms will multiply and color will radiate from it’s branches,

Another favorite is the Sand Cherry that is at the foot of the steps leading to the deck,  When I first moved in here it was a lovely tree but a bad storm split it down the middle.  Wes, my eldest, cut it back in hopes of saving it.  It has now developed into a lovely bush with dark red leaves and pink blossoms.  I am happy to see we didn’t lose it.

With these three plus the Snowball and some other small bushes that are not quite ready to make their debut it promises to be another pleasant Spring display. 

I think I woke up sick this morning—if not in the tummy at least in the head.  I say this because I have swept and vacuumed the main floor, changed the bedding, plus the usual morning duties.  I mean I’m not even expecting company.  I think part of it was because I started Cindy’s dish towels last night and I wanted to sit back down today with them and not feel guilty. 

Something is tickling my ankle and Brandy is outside with Jay.

It is Spirit sitting on my chair rung.  ( Wow I sound like an ADD case,) I am talking about feeling guilty then jump right to Spirit.  ( Oh look there is a chicken!)

Lets see if I can pick up my train of thought after that derailment.  O K I’m back on track.  Brandy and I spent some time in the swing after I got through my bit of feeble mindedness.  I had to marvel at the old Crab apple tree. 

Even though it is past producing good fruit the leaves and blossom are beautiful.  It is just filling out now so the feeders are more inviting to the assortment of birds that come to visit.  I can confirm there is a Hummingbird visiting now but getting a picture may take a while. 

The Snowball bush, out front, is also leafing out now and the blossoms will be along soon.

Checking under the bedroom window I found the dark tulips, under the Rose of Sharon, had opened up. 

Brandy and I checked out the frog pond out back.  It is the highest it has been in the last few years.  It is the source of some lovely melodies sung by the green chorus in the evening.  It may not be a sandy beach but it is my ‘waterfront property’ in the back yard. 

Off subject a little we received the CD/DVD Playing For Change from Amazon today.  My friend Pammie sent a link, via E-Mail, so after hearing it we had to buy it.  I have ordered copies for my kids also. 

Also I’m all set to start the next afghan which is for son Les.  I have until the middle of August to finish it. 

Well that wraps it up for today.  Stay happy and healthy!

Here lies the extent of my good intention yesterday.  Yes I wanted to start embroidering Cindy’s Apple towels yesterday but other stuff kept popping up in the way.  These towels are stamped cross stitch because anything that is identified as ‘counted’ automatically falls off my to do list for two reasons.  One, I can’t see the little stitches to count them and two I have ripped some false starts because I didn’t count right.  I know the best projects are counted cross stitch and that I can use a magnifying gadget to see better.  I own one magnifier that hang from your neck and is propped against your chest.  I also have the adjustable arm lamp with the magnifying lens which is great for vision.  The other item is the 2.75 reading glasses.  But the old “counted word” brings me to a screeching halt every time.

I must also explain that every other week, Tuesday was recycle pickup day.  That meant going the the basement mudroom to cut, fold, and place the accumulated cardboard boxes into a large box.  This box was then closed and tied with twine to go out to the road for pick up.  It also meant that the tin cans, glass containers,  and plastic also had to be taken down.  The last items were the wheeled garbage can and newspapers that I put into a brown paper bag to be collected. A walk through the dome emptying assorted waste baskets, cleaning the bird cages, and of course Molly’s litter box is the final ritual to be accomplished in the collecting for garbage day.

Next was a trip to Jim Mathes Shoes, Inc. in Burton, Michigan.  I had heard from Mrs, Dof in Normal, IL about how good SAS shoes were and I was long overdue on replacing my old ones since the operations.  Well I found a pair of Freetimes on sale and wore them home.  I need a little more time in them to make a final decision but it looks like my limping will improve. 

It was then back home to a little blog catching up and then supper was calling to be prepared. 

I tried the Cook’s Illustrated Orange-Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs recipe.  I used two thighs,then added two legs, and two skinless chicken breasts which left me with the two breast for another meal.  Very tasty and I was surprised that another dish came out right. 

Speaking of other meals, I have three packages of the beef stew I made the other day in the freezer now and two bowls waiting for lunch today.  I do like to try to cook that way.  I don’t have anything special to try for tonight but that may change during the day. 

I have to call Dr. Hukill today because I have been bothered with cramps in both legs that run from my toes to the back of my knees for the last two nights.  Anyone that has to get up to (excuse my language) ‘pee’ two or three times in the middle of the night can imagine the trouble that the pain can present as you stumble to the bathroom.  But I’m sure Dr. can help me get that straightened out. Damn It is tough getting old!!!!     

Take care and See Yah!

Update:

Just put a Sunshine Pie in the fridge and loaded the dishwasher with the assorted bowls and utensils I use to create this fat lady’s dream!  Supper will be the chicken breasts, leftover boiled potatoes, a vegetable, and if I get real ambitious a lettuce and tomato salad.  I’ll have to add some Jiffy muffins to that because the bread is getting low. 

The mat from the kitchen floor plus the bath mats are all out on the deck railing drying but I still have one more load of clothes to fold. I’m going to thread my needle in preparation for the kitchen towel project and depending on how long hubby sleeps I may get a little stitching done.  He had a difficult time in dialysis today.  This usually calls for a bite of lunch and then go lay down to recuperate from the session. 

I forgot to mention that I think I saw a hummingbird yesterday but he didn’t stop to drink so I don’t know if he will be back or not.  I’ll say bye again and visit with you another day!

Any one who knows me well knows I hate to cook.  So when I got up early this morning to try to cook a different recipe for beef stew I was sure my marbles had spilled out of my ears!.  I had everything but the Italian dressing for marinating the beef.  So I decided to cut up all my vegetables, make the beef broth, chop my bacon, and set out my home canned stewed tomatoes so I’d be ready as soon as I had bought the dressing and treated the meat.  Jay and I then went to the township hall for the Otisville Lioness’ Breakfast.  We had pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, orange juice, applesauce, and coffee.  A good spread for only $5.00 per person.  On the way back home I picked up the dressing and started the stew right away.  While I waited for the beef to marinade I decided to make my Swiss steak for supper also. I used my Italian herb tomatoes for that dish.

There you have the stew, which we had a bowl of for lunch and are waiting for it to cool so we can freeze portions for other meals.  Also the Swiss steak which will be our supper meal.  I don’t mind cooking when I can double up my meals instead of one at a time.

I had to take my picture of the little yellow flowers in the grass out front this morning.

Then walking around to the side of the dome I found little purple ones. 

In among the purple ones the Hostas are also coming up now.
 
Well my good intentions to start a new project went to heck yesterday so I don’t know if I’ll attempt it or not today. 

Have a good one—-See yah!

Good Morning!  The thermometer on the wall reads 48 degrees.  This has been the norm along with rain for the last week.  It is a little disheartening when you are looking to hang your coat or your flannel lined shirt in the closet until cold season again.  The sun does shine throughout the day but it doesn’t stay out.  Despite that Brandy wants to be outside all the time and we do clash when I’m busy.  But I do try to go out to the swing or we walk around taking pictures. 

This is Brandy ‘hightailing’ out of the violets.  (Yes my friend that is a pun because she moved before I snapped!)  She delights me because she seems to stop and smell the different flowers blooming around the dome.  But catching her with her nose in a bloom is not always successful.

The Bleeding Hearts are coming along well.

Now it is time for the Daffodils to fade and the Tulips to bloom.

Yesterday I spent time at the new computer watching the two disc DVD CROSSROADS.  It is the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2007 featuring 25 performers.  What a great couple of hours listening to some wonderful guitarists.  Some of them I had never heard of before, some I had, and some were familiar name wise but I had never heard them play.  The royalties for this DVD benefit Crossroads Centre, Antigua a facility for treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse. 

Today I think I will start a new project.  I haven’t been accomplishing much lately so I better get my butt in gear.  It is also pay bills day so I’ll get that under control too. 

Hope you have a great and satisfying weekend and remember the laughter thing!