Monday, April 30, 2007
Outside!!!
The new seed feeder and Hummingbird feeder ready to go.
On the other side of the tree are the thistle feeder, the suet cake for the woodpeckers, and the Oriole feeder.
All in preparation for removing the feeders from the deck and bringing the umbrella, table and chairs up
so I can sit with my cup that Maria sent me and enjoy my coffee.
I also took some ‘in anticipation’ pictures of what will be flowering bushes and trees.
The snowball bush sans the snowballs.
The Sand Cherry bush starting to bloom.
The bedroom garden that needs weeding.
The Peony plant and the Bleeding Heart plant are going gung ho in the other side garden which also needs weeding. But hey they are growing and that is what is important.
Have I seen any Hummingbirds or Orioles? Not yet, but when the bushes and trees bloom they come flying!!!
It was good to be outside today!!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Isn’t That LIfe?
Mission accomplished this morning! I can see my Sweetie’s mouth!
News from my brother yesterday was not good but it was what I expected. His Doctor says three to six months. My job is to keep in contact and help him through. This is a big job. I will need a deep breath every once in a while so please excuse me if I’m sometimes absent.
Les was up Wednesday to help us with the computer again. I came across this cartoon that I think fits the situation.
I want to wish my sis-in-law Peggy a Happy Birthday tomorrow. Also Granddaughter Jasmine will be 16 on May 1st.
Jay and I have been smoke free for five years tomorrow and I’m going to break my arm patting us on the back. (A job well done!)
It is almost time for my bushes and trees to blossom and I can’t wait!!! All the trees and bushes around the property is growing greener every day. Soon you won’t see the homes that are set back in behind us until late fall.
This week was rainy but the sunshine should pull our hearts up soon.
So there you have it. Some good ,some bad. some happy, some sad but isn’t that life?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Haircuts!!
This morning this was Brandy. Just short of mats in the hair on her ears, eyes weeping because of hair in them, and too warm for comfort.
This afternoon a trip to the Doggy Depot in Clio improved all her problems.
Looking slim and trim again.
And speaking of trim----
This Sweetheart is next and soon!!!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Little Ugly
My sweater is finished. A little ugly. A little misshaped. But guaranteed to be warm come winter!!!
Two more Dog Philosophy items
You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’
Dave Barry
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
Roger Caras
( just two more left)!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thank you John
A couple of years after we moved in out here I noticed a rock hidden in the weeds out near the pond at the side and back of the property. I’d walk out every once in a while and try to figure out how to bring it up to the top of the driveway. I knew the garden tractor couldn’t move it. Also I had no way to drag it up with the pickup, nor the money to have it moved. I grew resigned to the fact that my rock would spend the rest of my life buried in weeds behind the bushes out back.
I had asked my neighbor’s hubby John how much he would charge me to bring the rock up front. He never really gave me an answer so I figured he didn’t want to waste his time and equipment to move it for me. Then today he asked to see the rock and said he would move it soon.
Later today I heard the equipment lumbering up the back driveway and sure enough in the claw was my rock . He placed it at the head of the driveway for me and another wish was accomplished. Thank you John.
A Paw Over My Eyes!
Between the tree planting, getting the old Troy Built Rototiller out front for a couple of days for sale, and walking up and down the hill around here I’ve run out of steam. I still have an umbrella table and chairs to bring up to the deck. I have to find the Hummingbird and Oriole feeders and get them ready to hang in the tree. A pile of lawn decorations that I pulled from the shed have to be set up in the gardens around the house after I rake. There are twigs and branches to pick up around the property and my goodness I feel like Molly right now! I’d like to stretch out in the sunshine and put my paw over my eyes and sleep!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Great ‘Girl’s’ Time!
I called Cindy yesterday to to come up and go shopping with me. Sometimes younger arms are a blessing for reaching, lifting, and pushing a cart with way to much stuff in it. Besides I miss her and it was a good excuse for ‘the girls’ to get together. Oh and shop we did! On a small clip board I had a list for Sam’s Club which turned out to be 24 items and a shock to the (as my old friend used to say) pocketbook. Everything from Scotch Tape and printer ink to pork loin and potato chips in the vending size bags. (These bag kinda remind you to eat just so many and they stay fresh longer.)
I also wanted to see the new highlights in my daughter’s hair.
She was going to go on vacation but the friend she was traveling to visit got sick so she stayed home instead. But she did get a change to get her truck and herself ready to go before she canceled.
After Sam’s we went to Michael’s because they had Homespun yarn on sale.
This is what Jay’s new afghan will be made from. That is as soon as I get the sleeves on my sweater done and sew it all together. Speaking of sweater we looked at Michael’s for buttons for said item and found nothing but novelty types so we gave up and went to lunch at Red Robin. Giant Hamburgers with tomato, lettuce, cheese. and pineapple plus big steak fries filled the bill (and the tummy too). It was pushing 7 pm then so we headed back in.
In Clio we stopped at JoAnn’s Fabric and pick up the seven buttons I needed then went four doors down to ACO for a Bar-B-Q grill cover and a new brass bristle brush for cleanup. We joked about it getting dark and how our mothers used to say to come home when the street lights came on. Of course my Mom is dead now and Cindy was with her mom so it was a kind of joke.
When we got back home Jay, she, and I unloaded the truck. Now the things that would normally go down to the food room are still sitting in the kitchen but I’ll reload the truck and drive them down to be put away this morning. Cindy went to pick up David from work and go to her home but we had to admit we had a great ‘girl’s time’ together.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Tumbling Plans!
Traditionally today would be settle up with Uncle Sam day. For years we paid after the kids got up in age but now with the retirement and medical expenses the old Uncle has to pay us. This being Sunday and we having filed in February our day was stress free. So for what Jay said was over two hours Brandy and I walked the property. With clippers in one hand and Brandy’s leash I started at the steps on the East side of the deck. I fastened Brandy to the tree there and cut out all the old peonies stems and dead leaves that had been trapped in them.
From there we moved to the large tree at the property line near Phyllis’ garden. I fastened Brandy to the clothes line and started clearing the vines from the base of the tree. Again I cleared the dead leaves and sure enough the bright green leaves of the Tiger Lilies (to be) were hiding underneath.
From there we walked to the back of the property to cut the vines out of the bases of the trees out there. These vines have large thorns on them and the hands get a little tore up when you forget your gloves. With Brandy’s leash tucked into one of the trees I cut and cleared.
The double trunk tree in the middle of the picture was the only one not finished when we called it quits for the day. Soon the leaves will be out, some of the trees flowering, and we will sit on the deck watching the Hummingbirds and Orioles at the nectar feeders. I’ll have to get the mirror globe, the fountains, and the decorative stakes out soon. The gas grill is up on the deck but the umbrella table and chairs still need to be brought up. I think I’ll try to spray paint them again to cover the scrapes. Also my swing needs to be but in the side yard. Now this is all predicated on the fact there is no more snow!
I also have to disassemble my Rube Goldberg bird feeder and hang the different components in the side yard tree because I used the base of the umbrella to hold it. Ah the plans tumble over each other as the weather slowly improves but for now I’ll pick up the knitting needles and work on the sweater again.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Ah Michigan!
I have lived 72 years of my 72 year old life in the sweet land of Michigan.
Spring here can come anywhere from April first to June first!
In fact after the hyacinths and daffodils poked up their pretty buds and opened up this last
week Mother Nature has dumped a lot of snow on them.
Yesterday it all melted away and the blooms were trying to raise their heads.
This afternoon however we have a storm warning in effect. More snow and cold to come.
I’m afraid my flowers will give up and the robins out in the yard will just throw up their wings and leave!
Well checking my list of Dog Philosophy I still see a few left so here goes!
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
Robert Heinlein
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you;
that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
Mark Twain
We have a few more of these gems to go folks.
A trip to Dr. Webb’s office yesterday to get the stitches out brought good news. The Teflon graft is working well and hopefully Monday they will start to use it. If after three cycles it is functioning well then the catheter in his chest will be removed. Hooray for that because the showers will return and he is so looking forward to that. We did over schedule on appointments yesterday and had to leave Dr. Ross’ office without seeing her. because she was behind, to be on time for Dr. Webb’s appointment. So we rescheduled Dr. Ross’ appointment for later in the month.
In my sidebar is Me and the Cat and she has a link to a fascinating blog by Olive Riley who with help is the oldest blogger in the world at 107 years old. The entry is for March 25th. Please go and read it--a great find. Stop and visit with Lorriane while you are at it.
We have a few days of staying home now so I can pick up my sweater and work on it. So stay warm if your weather is like ours and enjoy your good fortune if it is warm. Until our next visit.
Monday, April 09, 2007
A Delicious Visit All Right!!!
The King and his Queen arrived on Wednesday evening and settled in their chambers.
Lord Jay and I cooked for them on Wednesday and Thursday.
But on Friday the King took over the kitchen.
With great concentration King Michael as we like to call him set about to create a Seafood Enchilada Dish.
( Actually three dishes of them because we had them when Cindy and David came up on Saturday also).
There one of the dishes sat with sides of refried beans, yellow rice, and bacon-lettuce salad.
Chocolate pudding with homemade whipped cream ended the feast.
On Saturday after another round of the King’s creations with Jay’s mini cheesecake and apple flautas for dessert the King and Queen left for their Monroe manor house to prepare their kitchen for an Easter Sunday feast for the Queen’s father.
A very happy visit drew to an end because after their dinner at their manor house they must start preparing for the long journey back to the palace in Long Island, N Y
Thus our Easter Sunday was a quiet day. I had called Wes and my brother Gene, Les had called on Saturday and of course Cindy was up on that day.
The only bad part of the whole thing was the four pounds I found when I stepped on the scales this morning. Yup it was a delicious visit all right.