Friday, May 30, 2008
Sixty Seven Whats????
On May 30,1941 this youngster was born. The oldest of what would be five children and the only boy.
Despite this and much more water under the bridge he has attained the ripe old age of 67 today.
I’m here to wish him at least 40 more birthdays because he is so much fun to watch, listen to, and argue with!
Please visit Jay’s Jammin’ To wish him a Happy Birthday. (he doesn’t post much so just stick a comment in any where he will find it).
Have a great day Sweet Hubby but you will have to celebrate on Sunday (with family and friends).
Love you!!!!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
First Of 2008!
One of Jay’s doctors asked why we don’t make Rhubarb sauce. To make a long story shorter--after investigating we ended up picking our own recipe and I made it today.
Starting with the stalks Jay picked yesterday I diced a quart of rhubarb, chopped a quart of onions, added brown sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne, and salt to a large pot.
I simmered this for 45 minutes stirring every once in a while. When this was accomplished I bottled it and processed it for 10 minutes.
. 
The results were a dozen eight oz. jars of eye opening sauce.
There you have it --our first canning project of 2008 with several more to come.
I Spy With ………
My Little Eye!
What is bright green with little black squiggles on it’s back?
Damned if I know.
But I found him/her hanging on a branch that had blown off a tree in the yard.
At first I thought it was the green stuff that grows on very old trees.( the name slips my so called mind at the moment).
All I can think of is moss!
But then I realized it was almost a florescent green.
Too bright to be moss ( or what ever you call that stuff).
This little critter is about as long as my little finger from the tip to the knuckle.
So I shook him/her off it’s perch so I could so I could take the branch out to the burn pile.
Another visitor spotted.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The Color White!
A walk around the yard today revealed that white is the flower color this week.
What are they? Beats me but they are pretty!
These of course are Daisy plants. They came up one year in the grass outside one of the gardens so I dug them up and moved them into the garden on the east side by the deck steps. Last year I noticed that one of the plants was growing on the opposite side of the dome and it too is about to bloom this year.
The Lily of The Valley that Phyllis gave me last year are establishing their place in the front west garden.
Another picture of the Snowball bush in all it’s glory.
It is hard to believe that this bush suffered some serious storm damage two years ago. But she is growing strong today.
Now an update on a couple of bushes that are not white.
This bush (or better description) vine, with tiny pink blossoms, was moved from the front side of the dome when the natural gas line and meter were put in. It has done well in the east front garden since the move.
This bush planted beside the front door to hide the utility pipes, wires. and meters is starting to bloom now.
By next year it should be tall enough to hide everything.
Note the rhubarb leaves in the picture. Jay was out there just now picking our first stalks of the season. The little plants on the hill are not doing well at all though.
I sat out on the deck this afternoon and proceeded to fall asleep. The sun was warm, the umbrella shaded me as I read and I drooled on my arm. That is what woke me up. Not a pretty sight but I never claimed to be beautiful.
Yesterday --A party.
Yesterday we attended Megan’s open house. Dad, Michael, was manning the grill so there were hot dogs, brats, and hamburgers cooking. Also several salads, chips, dip, fresh veggies and fruit. I arrived too late to get a picture of the cake but not too late to eat some. Yum!
I know I’m getting old now because Megan looks like a High Schooler not a college graduate. I finally met Darlene’s father also.
While there I ran into this couple.
I know I’ve seen this guy somewhere before but I can’t quite place him. Now she is my daughter -in-law Anne. Wonder what she is hanging around him for?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Preparing And Other Such…
The picture has nothing to do with the post --I just like it!!
This morning two bunnies were playing in the back drive way. No matter how hard I try I can’t sneak up close enough for a good picture. I’ll keep trying but don’t hold your breath.
Yesterday as I raised the bind on the living room door I saw a Bluebird in the tree at the east end of the deck. Phyllis, next door, has a couple of Bluebird houses in her back yard but in the almost nine years I have lived here this is the first Bluebird I have seen. What an exquisite coloring on it. I will have to keep a closer watch now.
This afternoon I took Jay out to buy a new pair of britches, two in fact. He doesn’t have much of a go out wardrobe and we are to attend an informal Graduation party for Megan, Darlene and Michael’s daughter, on Saturday. She graduated from Ithaca College this year. We are going to wish her well in the next step of her life. We have another party to attend in June also.
Tomorrow while Jay is in dialysis I will shorten his new pants. I also have a little alteration on an article of my wardrobe to make. So the old sewing machine will again spend some time on the dining room table doing what it does best or at least as well as my abilities allow it.
I have Brandy out tied to the wishing well so I’d better say adios for now and go out and get her.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Mid May Update
Today was what I call a non-productive day.
Not that I didn’t get anything done but it was nothing major.
Brandy wanted to go outside around a dozen times today.
But it had to be with someone .
Out alone is not her cup of tea.
One good thing did come of it though.
I was able to verify two Hummingbirds at the feeder.
Sadly Brandy and I were outside and my camera was in!
When I opened the blind on the bay window I was greeted with this surprise.
The Mother’s Day plant from Dar and Michael is starting to bloom--all six lovely buds at once.
The majority of my late morning and early afternoon was spent in front of the RCA with two DVDs.
Now for me this means getting out my light blue notebook, turning to the CD-DVD tab and figuring out how to set everything up. I must confess for the longest time I wouldn’t even attempt the project. I would wait until one of the kids came up. But I finally got the procedure down on paper thanks to SEB.
My first film was “Stardust” based on Neil Gaiman’s novel. The special effect were very good but the makeup was excellent! Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeifer turned in some really believable performances. Les had said it was good so I bought it.
The other film was “The Phantom of the Opera” with Gerard Butler, Emma Rossum, Patrick Wilson. Now I must say that Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were my favorite Phantom and Christine but the cast of the DVD did a very good job. I especially liked Minnie Driver as Carlotta. This DVD has laid unopened for a few months but after I got Stardust set up I figured I’d get the second one out of the way at the same time.
Every time Les comes up he asked me if I’ve watched “West Wing” yet knowing full well that I haven’t because the cellophane is still on it.
Well Potato Crusted Cod is in the oven, I have an addition to add to 2008 medical expense list, and a tub of laundry on the dining room table to fold so I guess I’ll get up off my well rested butt and get busy. Have a good evening and remember to laugh out loud It is good for the attitude and the lungs.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Yard Part Three
Now on to the bushes.
These two bushes were planted to hide the utilities in the front of the house.
The fire bush has grown to almost cover the gas meter.
But the other bush still has a ways to go to accomplish it’s job.
A check on the Sand Cherry reveals it is still blooming.
The Snowball Bush Is beginning to bloom now.
This will be a treat for a couple of weeks.
The trees are the last to cover. Sadly---
---the blossoms are almost gone from the Crab Apple.
But the Red Maple Is just as regal as it was last year.
There are several other tree on the property some doing well others needing to be removed but most are green and swaying in the breeze.
The Yard Part Two!
The following is a series of the new flowers and additions coming up around the yard with some comments starting with a picture of the berm out front.
The white and blue bells ( that I must admit I don’t know the correct name of) appeared this last week or two and are a welcome addition to the gardens. The Golden Globes and Creeping Charley are also blooming now.
The storm damaged Bleeding Hearts bush seems to be surviving though I don’t hope for any more blossoms.
I can visualize that Strawberry/ Blueberry Jam just waiting for this rhubarb to ripen.
On to the new addition in the front.
I finally found a home for my chimes that has enough wind movement to make them sound after more than three years of searching. Jay put them up for me this morning.
The Yard Part One!
Last Wednesday was my first sighting of the Baltimore Orioles in the yard. Although the man I buy wild bird seed from said his Dad had seen them in his yard for the last week. The bird totem on the deck must have attracted this little fellow. He looks like he is asking,"Is there any food around here?”
The second one came right up to the French door to ask me that same question.
Unfortunately I wasn’t prepared for visitors so I opened a carton of orange juice to pour into the feeder and headed out to buy nectar and grape jelly. Our grape jam has cinnamon in it and I didn’t want to try feeding them that. The orange juice doesn’t seem to be doing the trick so I’m going to prepare some nectar today in hopes of attracting their return.
I have also seen a Hummingbird for the last five days but I haven’t been able to catch him with the camera yet . But I’m sure that a few days of sitting quietly near the tree and I’ll get it soon.
My other visitor is a bunny. There were two but I’m afraid one ended up squashed on the other side of the road a few days ago. So now there is only one visiting the yard.
Two days ago he was playing in the back driveway and this morning he was out by the bird house at the back of the yard.
Last week a couple of wild geese flew into next door neighbor, Phyllis’ pond for a swim but unfortunately I was outside and the camera was in so a good picture was lost. I must admit though that there is a lot of joy watching the critters around here.