Thursday, September 28, 2006
Dance I Do!
Dog Philosophy #2
Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. ---Ann Landers
I finally figured out that my cat, my birds, and my dog have come to rule my life. Some of the examples of why this is true follow:
Molly, my cat will come through the banister to the upstairs, on to the computer desk, and then walk between me and the screen when she thinks I’ve sat there too long or my attention is not lavished on her. Last night after midnight, Brandy was already in her carrier for the night, seated at the computer I looked to the to my rght and there was Molly sitting on a chair watching me. She started to meow at me and didn’t stop until I got up, turned out the light, and headed for bed. As I was getting ready to lay down and pull up the covers I could see Molly in the bedroom doorway making sure I was actually going to bed. A while after I turned out the light I felt her crawl on to the foot of the bed and settle down.
My Brandy will jump up, hit me in the ribs repeatedly to get my attention when I’m at the computer, reading the papers, or if I have a bag of treats that rattle when I open it. I can watch TV or crochet with no interruption. She also whines to get me to look at her. Of course the familar putting on my jacket means going for a ride and she is dancing all over the house.
Spirit, my African Gray has a whistle that he uses to remind me that I haven’t fed him yet today and the cockatiels pace their perches for attention.
None of this is spectacular as far as behavior is concerned but it demonstrates those invisible strings that make me dance. Dance I do and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is what keeps me moving!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Good Question!
My very good friend sent me the item ‘Dog Philosophy’. I will be sharing bits of it with you.
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. Anonymous
The digital camera will be sent tomorrow for repair. I don’t know how long it will take but you can bet your bottom dollar I won’t be throwing on the floor again.
Nina who help to sell our other house and acted as buyers representative when we bought this one still sends me items even after we have lived here soon be seven years. This I would like to share with you.
Did You Know....
As fast as summer seemed to burn,
Inevitably the leaves will turn.
Cider, donuts, burning wood,
The smells of Autumn are always good.
And then the snow begins to fly,
Say goodbye to our blue sky.
But sure as rain the flowers will bloom,
And Spring will come none too soon.
We have four seasons, some just have one,
Enjoy them all, just have some fun!
Some folks become friends once you meet them and isn’t that what makes life worth living?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
The Week In Review!
This is Brandy after her haircut going Bye-bye! It is also the last picture taken for a while but more about that later.
On Tuesday it was Brandy to the Doggy Depot for her haircut while Jay and I went to Sam’s Club for our usual monthly, sometimes two monthly, stock up.
While we were out I picked up some more yarn for an afghan. I wasn’t happy with the color combination I had so I have enough for two projects now.
Wednesday be darned if I can remember what I did --couldn’t have been real important!
Thursday It was a trip to Quest for a blood test and back to Vg’s. I also surprised Jay and took him to Davison Bacon for his favorite cure which is maple with hickory smoke. I pulled the tractor out of the garage and cut the first (front) half of the yard. The back forty will go begging.
Friday Brandy, Jay, and I went to Brockway, Mi. near Yale to visit with cousins Pat and Gene. I must confess it was a selfish thing. I had boxed up all my quart jars last year to take to Pat for canning. They sat there for a year and I decided it was time to move them because she is canning right now also. Jay took a whole nutmeg and his Micro plane to show Pat what a “grate” tool it was. He told her to buy one because they are so handy. Then he promptly left his when we came home. So he called her to say she could keep it as a gift that he would buy another.
We also called our haircut lady for an appointment on Saturday. While talking with her we said we were going to buy some more tomatoes and she asked if we could bring her four. So it was off the McDaniel’s Farm Market for tomatoes, on to supper out at McPherson’s Family Restaurant, Millington Hardware for more jars, and Rosati’s Market for sugar and Sure Jell. I was then ready to can some more on Saturday afternoon after the haircuts.
On Saturday, it was off to Clarkston, Michigan for our appointments with Shawn. This was when stupidity hit this old lady between the eyes. I dropped my purse on the floor at the shop forgetting that my camera was in it. Also had the cell phone in it and somehow I broke the camera. I have a focus error on it so I guess it goes in for repair and I depend on the ‘my pictures file’ for a while. I did manage to can 17 more jars of tomato jelly and five additional pints of Mexican Herb Tomatoes. Suffering with the screaming ankles I went to bed.
Today those pesky ankles are still protesting movement but I’m used to that now. I plan to pull the fountains today and put them in the shed. I want to check my can of house paint and see If I have enough to paint the patch that the builders fixed in the soffit. We are working on building a conversion for the wild bird seed feeder because we don’t want to fasten it to the new deck railing but we do want it up where we can see it in the winter. So that is the next project to buy for.
So it is goodbye for now and see you soon.
Monday, September 18, 2006
The 18th Of September Already!
So both my companions are in need of a haircut as you can see. Brandy will get hers tomorrow at 11 am but Jay will have to wait for his. We plan to leave Brandy off at the Doggy Depot in Clio and go on into Flint to Sam’s Club for some overdue shopping. A quick lunch at Red Robin thanks to a gift certificate from our Long Island family before going in the store so we don’t buy every thing we see. On the way home we will pick up Brandy and see if we can see her eyes again.
It has been over a month with lumber on the driveway and a dumpster on wheels blocking the garage access but that changed today. Upon return from Davison this afternoon every thing was gone. Our deck is officially finished. We obtained the quote in May but getting financing, getting the roofing out of the way, finding a date when work could begin, the episode with the honey bees, and the weather all delayed the finished date. But now it is done and we are very happy with the results.
These last few days with nothing to can have left me a little lost about what to do. I had started a crochet project with Painted Barn Red and Ranch Brown Homespun yarn but I couldn’t keep it from looking like a ruffle curtain that got caught in a cement mixer so I ripped it out. Now I have decided to do one of the afghan with the brown and a golden yellow. Then I will find a complimentary color to go with the barn red and I will have two of them instead of one. (Hopefully)!
Our round of Doctor’s appointments start again the first week of October. Then I will read one of the novels I have set aside while waiting instead of trying to crochet.
Well I hope all is well with you and that you will enjoy Mother Nature’s new coat of many colors that she is donning now!
Friday, September 15, 2006
Sweet Sixteen For Wes And Deb!
Year number 16 for Wes and Deb rolled around today. Yep in California in 1990 these two amazing people became one and yet after all these years they are still two. Devotion to one another holds these two together but respect for each other keeps them individuals.
Happy Anniversary my son and my daughter ( for 16 years sure qualifies her for that title) and may the years ahead bring good health, prosperity, and all the happiness you deserve.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
More Jars --Oh No!
I said I would play with tomatoes today and play I did. In the picture the first group of seven pints to your left are Italian Herb Tomatoes. The next group of twelve half pints are Bruschetta In A Jar. This is a tomato spread to go on a toasted baguette or bread and you garnish it with grated cheese. The next group of seven pints are Mexican Herb Tomatoes. The last group to your right are 10 and a half eight oz. jars of Tomato Jelly. Unfortunately Jay spilled one reaching for the wash cloth. I have never canned any of these items before so it was quite a thrill to try something new. In fact all these recipes except the Tomato Jelly came from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving that our friends in Long Island bought Jay. The Jelly recipe was from Cooks. Com. Now we have the job of taste testing everything--I can hardly wait!
Now my friend I am all done untill Phyllis Mm next door neighbor bring over some grapes. Then I have to go buy more Jelly Jars!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tomatoes Tomorrow!
As I sat down to discuss the last couple of days I was joined by my screen-saver--no make it my screen blocker!
For the last three morning I have been expecting the deck men and the road people to come but all that came was rain rain and more rain.
Yesterday we adjusted the sugar and spice on the newly canned cabbage relish. This involved adding the ‘girly ingredients as Jay called them at seven pints at a time and resealing them. This improved the taste tremendously but did nothing for the person doing the improving. ( I tried to smile really!)
So then my computer buddy joined me again before I was able to visit with you.
Tomorrow I’m going to play with tomatoes.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Hanging
Yes indeed we are back. These few days off were spent canning, shopping, and feeling the ankles scream from standing too much. On Wednesday Cindy and David were up for a visit. Cindy helped me prep plums for canning and David did some outside things to help me get ready for fall. He buried the cable for the satellite dish that had to be moved when the deck was replaced. He also brought the swing down to store under the deck for the winter. On the inside he closed the cupola windows because our nights have become increasingly cooler.
Les called yesterday to say we were up and running but I had to type in Jay’s blog entry for him. I read his e-mail to him and we visited the Allotment Lady’s blog. I was able to peek at a couple of my favorite people on line.
Then in looking around I saw a pile of unread newspapers, mail to open (including a checking statement to peruse and a summons for jury duty which I can refuse because I’m over 70 years old. I figure they had 50 years to call me and never have so why serve now!). Add to that a sticky kitchen floor from canning, newly canned food to go down to the food room (or canning pantry), a dryer full of clothes to fold, and a very dirty Brandy to round out some of the duties. Brandy got bathed this morning and some of the newly canned produce was taken down but the rest of the mess is still right where it was. It is calling me and derailing my train of thought. I can see the sun shining outside, the temperature is 64 degrees on the thermometer in the corner of the porch. and I feel the urge to visit the great outdoors but I can’t today.
A call from the builder Saturday informed me that someone would be out on Monday to put the handrail on the steps at one end of the deck as promised but not written in the proposal. He will also to patch a hole left when a post was removed that was fitted into the soffit. Also the Road Commission called to say they would be out Monday to do the correction on the driveway erosion. So tomorrow promises to be a busy day. Then Tuesday the beets will be in at the farm stand.
So I’m hanging in here and hope you are too.
This Mom’s Life!
In my E-mail today I received this from Skyline. Now I don’t know about you but this says exactly what my life as a mom is!
Is there a magic cutoff period when
offspring become accountable for their own actions? Is there a wonderful
moment when parents can become detached spectators in the lives of their
children and shrug, “It’s their life,” and feel nothing?
When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital corridor waiting for
doctors to put a few stitches in my son’s head. I asked, “When do you
stop worrying?” The nurse said, “When they get out of the accident
stage.” My mother just smiled faintly and said nothing.
When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom
and heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the
class, and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read
my mind, a teacher said,"Don’t worry, they all go through this stage and
then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them.” My mother just smiled
faintly
and said nothing.
When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone to
ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said,
“They’re trying to find themselves. Don’t worry, in a few years, you can
stop worrying. They’ll be adults.” My mother just smiled faintly and
said nothing.
By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was
still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle, there was
nothing I could do about it. My mother just smiled faintly and said
nothing. I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by
their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.
My friends said that when my kids got married I could stop worrying
and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by my
mother’s warm smile and her occasional, “You look pale. Are you all
right? Call me the minute you get home. Are you depressed about
something?”
Can it be that parents are sentenced to a life time of worry? Is
concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of
human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is
it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life?
One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me, “Where
were you? I’ve been calling for 3 days, and no one answered. I was
worried.” I smiled a warm smile.
The torch has been passed.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Got Steps, Got Railings…..
The steps to the the living room door.
The deck in front of the bay window.
We can now walk out the French doors and take Brandy along.
It is time to lay the wood slab (concrete) path again.
No more flying Shih Tzu at our house!
8am this morning I was up preparing blue berries for jam. We now 10 1/2 jars to join the rest of the goodies we have been canning.
So another chapter closes and another will begin soon enough!