"Oh the Pain" aka Dr. Smith

I have had three really (only in retrospect) funny episodes being locked out of the house.  If I could only get into my WP blog, I could just transfer the true story to here.  I'll type however as it's a lost cause.  

Every single word is true.  

I was on midnights...I had a 12 hour shift rotation...and got up as always at 3:15am for days,  or 3:15 PM. if I was on mids. Again...  one was for days, one was for nights.  (I HATE not using military time..I detest the silly colon and all that stuff) (1530)!!!  That was rise and shine time for midnight and 0315 for day.  Days and mids started at 7 and lasted till 7.  Day or night. 

One arrives at HQ at 0435 or 0440 if on days (or 4:30 in the afternoon on mids) .  One walks a half a mile from the parking lot to HQ whereupon one goes into a change house, so called, and puts on one's BDU's etc.  Then, off to the coffee machine, out onto the porch with others on your shift who smoked (I quit) ...to stand and slurp coffee and gossip.  Being the only female...can't say I was the only one to flap my jaw.  Then, by 5:30 PM or AM, in to get ones weapon, then Commander's Meeting.  Then,  relieve the person waiting for you...tear into a whole bunch of stuff for 12 1/2 hrs.  Hurry home unless you get mandatoried to work a 16 instead of 12 hr. shift.  Sleep a couple hours and hurry back. 

On to the story.  Routine was: I  always woke with the hearld of the alarm clock at 3:15 PM or AM if on mids or days...went into the kitchen to pour coffee and eat.  Wash my face...apply my makeup, do my hair, dress and leave within an hour of rising.  And the above I wrote about was the same  time whether in the early morning or the early evening when I got up.  Never changed.  I did log on to see if Admiral had comments...sometimes I wrote her blog.  Looking back, I amaze myself of all I could do in an hour or less including travel time! I was organized. 

 Except, I rose at 3:15 one afternoon...got to the kitchen in my pink gauze baby baby doll nighty.   I saw the trash I'd failed to take out that night- and grabbed it up by its neck..opened the side porch door...looked cautiously left and right for traffic and darted out the door to throw the garbage into the trash can.  Ladies and gentlemen, when I tried to get into the house that brilliantly sunny afternoon with a pretty good breeze blowing, the screen door was locked. And me standing there on the porch, nightgown dancing in the air, cars slowing down and staring at the dumb butt out there with her night gown rising constantly trying to open the door.  

I went to the back of the house, at the deck and found my old extension ladder.  And with my wee nightgown blowing up like a flag, I climbed up it to skinny over the fence.  I threw one hind leg over the rail, hesitated while the audience watched...finally got the other hind leg over as well and stood on the deck...realising that if the deck door was locked too, I was toast.  It opened thank goodness, and I hurried in to the bathroom to start getting my face on..and so on.  I got a lock smith up on my first off day to remove the lock in the screen door! Then, my deck's screen door nailed me  years later while in my nighty.  (knee length). 

Doors HATE me. 

"Why Me" Is the Usual Complaint, I Believe

 Well, Sunday I flew out of the deck door to scare off the rapacious (love that word) squirrel who was eating a LOT of the $5.00 block of suet and seed for the birds. Pi$$sed me off.

Having done so, I returned to the deck door and I started to open the door to go back in.  The temp was 50, a cloudy day and the wind was blowing.  Don't want to calculate the wind chill but I was in thin pants and a thin t-shirt.  I don't wear shoes in the house so...bare feet.

 One of  Katie's favorite brothers was here at the time and he tried to get the door open from the inside.  We almost wrenched the door off the hinges.  No luck whatsoever.

This happened to me several years ago...same storm door.  It locked itself when I was out there in a night gown in January at 6 o'clock in the morning for a sunrise picture,.30 degrees and nothing else on me.  No slippers..just me and the phone because cloud configurations change by the second.  There was no time to spare. I called my neighbor who had just come home from work, and asked her to please get the hidden door key and open the door and let me in thru the window. She had a terrible time finding it. Finally she did.  I could not come in my living room windows that look onto the deck as they were locked.  So my neighbor unlocked and raised the window and after about 20-25 frozen minutes out there, I was in the house. I had face -booked about it.  

The husband of the other next door neighbor on my right side came over  later and pecked on the door asking if that was me out there talking  on the phone at 6 in the morning.  Told him yes, and what happened.  He is a construction man by trade.  He went back, got tools and took that lock completely off.  Three years have gone by and while there is no lock on the door...some incredibly rusty  something  is still attached to the outside  bottom of the door frame, and it decided to fall partially down.  Doing so, caused the door to jam shut.  Another favorite brother came from the Big City about 25 mi. away after I called and asked for help, and used his key to come in. He found the problem and got me in. 

Ladies and Germs..I was very very  very cold.  And equally grateful to be in the house again.  What next can that @*#! door do to me???  Its teeth are and have been pulled...it should not  have been able to bite me. 

Here comes a Holiday.

 I like Thanksgiving  only because we should and do give thanks, but because we get to see our relatives.  For me, as I have very few living relatives that I know of...it's a gathering of the nearest...the children.  I love that time.  As my DIL wishes to see her own family at her parents home, as do many, that son and DIL divide up their time between families.  That's perfectly alright with me though I'd love them to be with me.  That's selfish though.  All three boys are going to see their father and take him a plate. I'm making more of the sides hoping there will be enough. 

Anyone here who would prefer to have mashed potato without gravy on it?  I don't care for the gravy thing.  Smothers the taste of the potatoes. 

If you have a bowl of green beans, what do you do with them before serving?  Not referring to a green bean casserole..which we none of us care for.  I mean nekkid green beans.  For me, I'm happy with a  pat of butter..others I know like something different on or in them.  How about you??  

I have a breast of turkey this time.  Weighs about 15+ pounds.  I took it out of the freezer this early morning.  I will bet any one of you an entire dollar!!!  that it will still be frozen solid Thanksgiving morning at oven time after 4 days!! Never FAILS!  I am going to make candied carrots.  They aren't sweet sweet so to speak, but somewhat sweetened.  But yet are different and good too.  Gotta boil them first till just tender, then work some magic with them in a fry pan.  (no, not fried carrots...ewwww). 

Katie Isabella was honored as a guest Assistant Chef this past Saturday with a recipe she submitted. Thought you would like to see how Mom Pam and  Chef Teddy, a handsome Ginger boy  dressed her up!  

Whoa Nelly. Whew!

I was a busy bee this morning.  Did the usual before leaving. As in making the bed, getting myself in order...watching HER refuse her breakfast choice (mine) and doing dishes (my machine is my set of hands). Getting ready to do laundry. Making a list and checking it twice.  (I already know I'm both naughty and nice).  List and I got into the vehicle and went first to the grocery store.  Would you believe that yesterday that very store had NO bags! This Country has turned into a very different place- and I will stop right there.  

Anyway, got the groceries, (those that were available). I tried to get some "sundries" too.  A few were available.  Sigh.  Went to the Pet Food store and found a few things for Katie..got 2 cans of food from that grocery store as well I will add. *rolling my eyes* and headed off to get some gasoline.  Horrific amount $$$ for that, and then off to the back to "ATM out" some money.   Headed over to get two loaves of bread  next, away from the 4 main grocery stores, and saved as always.  The other smaller store I visited for the bread charges $2.17 whereas the same brand is $3.65 + in the other grocery stores.  I won't eat bread before I pay that much!  It only takes me a few days to get used to not eating bread.  My sandwiches, say a BLT, turn into a bowl of lettuce, tomato bacon pieces and some mayo salt and pepper.  Don't have to have bread.  Don't eat my so-called breadless sammies unless they can be decently made into a bowl prep.  In other words...no PBJ! 

Oh, and I saw a jar of Smuckers Cherry Preserves in one main grocery store for $4.19!!!!  Ain't NO way I would pay that much.  Walmart had it for $3.19. 

I am doing a bit of online Christmas shopping today.  I have been to busy to do any shopping.  Hopefully I will git 'er done this week. 

well...the laundry is dry...gotta get moving. 

Back Again...

 Things seem to have calmed down a bit since I last posted.  I even got to do my aerobics yesterday afternoon after three weeks of not being able to.  The difference in how I felt afterward and until I went to bed was huge!  SO much better and more energy.  It is an excellent reminder why one should keep moving.  Of course that is my everyday goal but circumstances work against that for quite a while,  I have to try to work it in and if that is within a tight time slot, I lose interest many times with available time slots when there were some.  Mornings, and early afternoon times that suit me better. That goes for the long walks too. No late afternoons or super early mornings or after supper.

I have two appointments pending that I need to help with, knocking out much of Wednesday and Friday. Maybe it can worked in somehow.  Sure feel like a million when I can.

Cold cold.  Two were just below freezing morning and several weeks of in the 30's...not quite freezing.  Three hard freezes in a row last weekend and Monday.

I was noticing that trolls are worse than ever on FB this morning.  No, not to me, but just in general.  There are nice topics in there sometimes (surprisingly) and someone posted in one about finding a Care Bear in a store.  A woman "started in" with her capital letters, that crappy shortcut for the word "you" where she had "U" instead...trying to shame and humiliate the finder of the bear- who turned it in.  That person needs psychiatric help.  For me, I asked on a local forum on FB here a few months ago if anyone knew what happened to the drive- by post box at the main  post office.  I was beat up thoroughly for asking, accused of a number of crimes like not walking as well as other stupid things... like...WHAT????? ...until someone said "she was only asking if anyone knew what happened to the drive- through box"! 

Very tired,  but trying to rest while I can.  If I can keep the aerobics going, I should be doing very well. 

I know this isn't a pet page but I loved this find today.  Thought I would share.  Maine Coon cat family.   LOOK at that Daddy cat. 

  

For now

 Taking a little break for now as I tend to matters here. ( I am OK). I will check by and see if anyone requests or needs anything...otherwise, I won't post for a few days.  

Be kind to one another.  That's your greatest good, you know. 

Don't they know that Thanksgiving is just days away? 

These fellows are local....

It's Only a Word...I Know

Suddenly Very Tired Of, Department:

 Tell ya what!  I would love for the latest word fad to disappear.  I think it was the British who started the word "jab" for inoculation or shot.  It spread everywhere, the word I mean, and I long to read the word inoculation or shot again, as of the "old times"several months ago.  Sheesh!  Enuff already. I guess eventually.  It's like the "gone missing" thing the British say.  The rest of the world took up that phrase and the word "missing" disappeared from the English language.  That phrase will stick here in the US until the end of time. 

Anyway, a few months ago in the blistering heat of the early afternoon, little did I know that as I got out of my vehicle at WallyWorld, my flap closure handbag was not secured with the strong magnetic closure.  It remained opened somewhat but I didn't see that as I exited the vehicle in there parking lot and started down to the store.

I was standing in line the usual seemingly 100 years for checkout when I thought I would see if I had email or texts.  Not finding the phone I assumed I uncharacteristically left it in the holder in the car.  

When I approached the car later, I saw something red colored on the ground next to the car.  It was my PHONE!  It had fallen out of my handbag and roasted on the blisteringly hot pavement a good 20+ minutes.  

I scooped it up to see a message on the screen that said to not use the phone and to cool it.  Scared me to death.  I called one of my sons  when I got home and used the landline, who said it would likely be all right.  Just let it cool a good hour or so and try.  It wasn't until later that I realized how amazing it was that the phone wasn't run over...and that it was still there and not picked up by someone.   Who ever would have imagined that stroke of good luck? 

Here's my Fall blooming Camellia: 

That was a week  earlier.  Now it is loaded with blossoms and buds.  Crammed.

Close Up...

Oh Noes

 Well, guess who discovered how scratchable the new chair in the living room is?  Hint.  It wasn't me.  

Here I was, all happy that I had a new chair albeit the color of it was not in keeping with the rest of the room...however, I was glad that the Ruler of the house had not done more than plant herself in it a few times.  That was it.  But, when cooking, I could hear the awful sounds of powerful claws digging into something.  It was the new chair I saw, as I looked into the living room.  

My strong "NO" brought me a hiss in my general direction and a swat as well. Can we guess who never has a strong word used against her? Till now?  That would be The Ruler. 

Both top and bottom sheets swathe this chair...ew-glee indeed- but if it keeps the claws off and out of the fabric...it has to be.  These are a set of very heavy winter sheets.  Cost a bundle, but I don't really need a blanket when I use them.  Now the chair will stay warm.

You may also guess, if you will, who was UNDER those chair sheets when I turned out the light to go to bed.  It wasn't me. 

Heck, no!

See the last pair of true mercerized  cotton socks from 100 years ago I bought.  They don't stretch, they don't have that tourniquet top on it to stop your blood circulating to your heart.  They don't feel like you're putting a  thick fuzzy sweater on your foot.

They would feel weird to today's customer because the customers aren't used to un-giving cotton.  Just a crew sock, cotton, real shape and form, and your SIZE  is required.  You'll see that my big unruly toe poked a hole in the toe of the sock, and sadly I'll have to throw them away.  The very last pair of good decent cotton well made socks in my possession. That's actually sad (to me).  They fit closely to the foot, as they are sized.  You never notice the wearing of them.  Thought I would eulogize them here with their photo.  Buster Brown advertises socks that look like this..these ARE Buster Brown from years and years ago; but nowadays,  BB socks  are stretchy somewhat, there is an elastic's thread running along the shorter crew top to "hold them up"...no reinforcement in the toe and heel...they wear out before you can get across the floor and...they still leave a mark, however faint, on the ankle.  And nope, I don't have swollen ankles.  9" around by the tape. 

RIP Socks.  I enjoyed wearing you two. 

Happy Day to You

 Welp...not going to complain about anything I don't think.  

About to take the oldest to his place.  Made him scrambled eggs, 4 of 'em, and bacon and toast.  Cinnamon toast.  You can forget how good that is until you try it again. 

When I return I will be cleaning up around here.  And I will have my western's I love on Saturday blaring over the vacuum cleaner.  If I cannot be still to see them, then I wanna hear them!  You know, I LOVE Wagon Train and Raw Hide.  Wanted Dead or Alive too. And all the others but the day isn't good if I haven't been able to see those three.

Have you seen bacon prices?  They have tripled here.  Just under tripled to be more accurate. Another 20 cents or so.  I know why they have risen so drastically and I have thoughts on it, but they will remain here in my wee head.

Hope it cools down soon.  Too warm, humid humid humid and rain that hardly quits.  But I have been saying that for 11 years.  Because it's true.

Headed off to the big City.  See you in a while when I whirl by sweeping, vacuuming and dusting and...cleaning the bathroom.  

This next here below, be me.  I figured face recognition wouldn't get a good bead on it this way.  

Oh for Pete Sake

 For pete sake.  I was just a minute ago over on a pet blog I enjoy, and there it was again.  A not veiled at all,  snark.  Even a veiled one is not what I expect from the mouth of an animal.  I guess that will about do it for me over there.  I so dislike those little ugly surprises, just as I was at pains to say in my blog before my  last blog yesterday. Why people have to foist their  personal political views on others is a mystery to me. If you ask me, I'll discuss mine in person.  But I won't lie in wait- and when I see you, jump up and throw a mess in your face as you come around the corner.  You can depend on that. 

Meanwhile, I am so glad you liked the petunias.  They are so beautiful.  I am not a petunia person at all.  Pansies are my faves.  But the minute I saw these several years ago, I became a petunia fan! 

It's pretty dark when I get up in the morning.  Because it is, I am sleeping an extra half an hour.  But when I get up, I have to turn on the light which is hard on Katie's eyes and mine for a few seconds.  We wend our ways through the house raising blinds etc. and then, the important thing  Getting her breakfast ready! The start to the day...dark and quiet. Bring on the sun. 

I am using time right now that should be spent getting dressed and washing up.  It is such a pleasure not having to do other things, that I am allowing this indulgence.  Just today.  

It's been raining steadily for several days and will continue for a week, as always.  I still have a female hummingbird, so I keep changing her nectar every day or so as the rain dilutes it too much.  She's worth it. And a reminder.  You may not see anyone at your feeder but there may be a single bird who is still using it...and there are transients coming through needing nourishment.  Please keep the feeder full for several weeks after you think you've seen the last.  It would be a blessing to the stragglers and travelers.  

XX

Taken at the arboretum

Waste

 Hello and Howdy, friends.  These two posted pictures coming up aren't the best I could have done.  I wish I had given more consideration to them as I was taking them.

I had just returned from The Big City (as I persist in calling it) and I saw two BIG boxes on my side porch.  I got out of the car and saw they were something I had ordered.  While out there, I thought since I was next to the recycle and trash bins and I had my knife with me as always,  I would open them right away and dispose of the boxes and packing before bringing the product inside.  

(Seeing the lower shadow on the box, now I know what I would look like at 200 pounds)! 

Why would the seller put a packet no larger than a sheet of typing paper and no thicker that 10 sheets of same, in a box big enough for me to sit my personal human rump down into it?  What a waste. Then I had to break the box down before putting it in the bin.  A waste of my time since they used so large a box.  After cussing that box, I opened the other LARGE box which had five (baby pacifier-sized)!!! vinyl units in it.   Another having me standing out in the hot sun cutting the box down and taking more room in my recycle bin.  Two weeks ago it was so full of broken down boxes the lid out not go all the way down.

Thank you very VERY much for your considered replies to my last blog.  I feel very strongly about the topic and even though this isn't Katie's blog- and purportedly, I could write you my personal thoughts about the two topics we addressed, I won't. 

I saw a posting of my favorite petunia yesterday on an enjoyable blog-  and in comment, I said I would post mine again.  I think these particular petunias only came out about three years ago perhaps.  I start looking in March.  If you don't get a pot when they are first set out, you won't get one at all.  They go like hotcakes as the saying goes.  You might biggafy both. 

Here is another that only had stars on one side.  How fortunate to see that on mine. Look below:

They are called Starry Skies. 

I am a coin collector...why I am including this link.: https://coinweekgiveaways.com/index.php/giveaway/coin-giveaway-402/?share=749489

Oh Goodness...

 Katie and I were going through her blog friends' blogs this morning and as we came to one we have started visiting more often, wham.  An unpleasant political statement

For me, I have been very careful on FaceBook and all three blogs to not air my little thoughts and opinions regarding politics.  NO one wants to read them...it would do NO good, as we all of us have our minds made up.  Nothing will pry loose a single perception that  one has already formed.  They are nailed in tightly and covered over with Gorilla Glue I am sure.  And each opinion we have is perceived by us every one,  as immutable, unswerving and of course, the only correct thing. 

The last thing I expected is cats and dogs and bunnies or the occasional turtle, etc. as having political things they feel they need to espouse and broadcast to other cats and dogs and bunnies in a CB bloggie.  

If I see it more than once, I'm outta there.  Neither Katie Isabella nor *I* cause others to suffer my/our little political thoughts and opinions,

swiped from the internet

 and I hope to have the same courtesy. Kitties and Woofies ought keep their opinions private and just speak of their days and lives.  Someone can put politics in their human blog or FB if they insist.  But I had hoped the precious animals in the CB would be a last bastion of non political talk.  

OK.  I can't imagine anyone here being particularly offended that I dislike politics on a sweet animal blog.   As not one of you who visit here does that.  Whew. 💗

What Possessed Me?

 Good Grief!  (I recall a friend at person who remarked  in semi- exasperation to my often uttered remark "good grief":  "Carole, there IS no good grief"!

But, good grief....  I was sitting in a chair with a heating pad at my back, and  suddenly I got up...went to the kitchen and cleaned the coffee pot.  You know that has to be done with vinegar.  Pew.  Then, I got the baking soda and scrubbed the pot inside and out to get rid of any lurking coffee stains which did exist.  Rinsed till the pot glowed...and turned to begin taking things out of the fridge, and I cleaned THAT out.  What in the world brought that on? My back still hurts too! 

 Scrubba scrubba dubba! And got that done, washed, dried, etc.  And back together.  Something came over me and I took the kitchen trash container (supposed to be white) apart, and spit shined IT!  If I hadn't already shined the wood kitchen floor yesterday I likely would have done that too.  I have the urge to bring my long table into my room and totally empty out a large cupboard onto it- and throw away things and make it more orderly.  

My million books and their shelves need to be cleaned up, and books put in better order, and believe me.  I am a book maven so I have many MANY books.  They are friends to me.  I re-read favorites many times.  Can't get rid of them.  Would be like losing family.  If someone was here to see me company while doing it...it would be done now.  But when I ask a friend to just sit and talk while I do it, they everyone think I want them to work.  No.  I don't. I meant what I said.  Just company. 

So, my feet are dancing while sitting here to get the table out, set it up in my room and get cracking! 

What? A Month Has Passed? Time Flies.

When you ain't having fun.  

 I am about to give this blog up.  I appreciate the friends who come by always.  I can't seem to be very interesting though.  That may be "my sign".  

Just got back from wally world and a grocery store.  I have to go back to wally's world as I saw the small bottle of makeup had been opened...of course after I got home.  And the grocery store sold me a bag of stale popcorn, that was like chewing rubber pieces.

Nothing like having to repeat the steps all over again. 😞

The cat still isn't happy at all.  She was doing alright till she fell using her tree trying to get down from the highest point. 

 She got a new tree and the old one was hauled away.  She hates the new one, though she got on it a total of three times in as many weeks.  She won't do anything she always did.  She hates the new dining table, and as for the tree...nada, and she won't play with any of her toys.  She just stays in her PTU all day except to eat and use her box.  Nope, not even Donkey. She won't play at night...all toys remain where they were.  No running feet marks in the carpet..just nothing but staying in her room mostly in the PTU. One toy made it to her room a few nights ago.  That's it. 

So, with this gloomy post, I'll say so long till the next post.  Oh.  She and I are alone until next Thursday.  Then Brovver will be back a couple days. 

So...grouch and gloomy here, will again, bid you bye.  Till we meet again.  Who knows?  If something good happens maybe it will be soon. 

Which Way Did it Go?

 Time, I mean.  Where has it gone? What did it take with it that belonged to me? We'll be staring Thanksgiving in the face in no time, And then, Christmas. And if we are fortunate...another new year. It's so corny and over-used a phrase and yet so true that time flies quickly. Like flowers and grasses in a field we are come and gone in a day I believe the book says. 

Here it is:  I just looked it up.  copied and pasted..."As for man, his days are like grass, he blooms like flowers of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.…"  

Rather sobering, ain't it? I am in no way morose, worried, or anything else.  Just talking.  Just so you know. When you wake tomorrow morning, notice time as you walk away from the bed. You have a set pattern fairly much...breakfast, feed pets if any, straighten up, go to work.  Look up and it's mid-morning.  Blink, and it's lunch time.  What?  How did it get to be lunch time?  I just got up.  Turn around twice and it's evening and supper time.  A few hours later, bedtime and the "rewind" occurs...there you are, repeating the entire sequence.  

 We've many of us had that occasion of really noticing ourselves in the mirror and getting surprised at the face looking back.  I get a surprise on occasion.  I thought I was 17.  There have been quite a few times I felt 17 years age.  Act like it too.  If you know me personally, you know it is true. (In my mind).   

Anyway, Happy Fall to come.  Stay 17 if you can.  Boundless energy and of course, you know everything when you are 17!  

The household, town, world, would be better if they would only heed your advice. You are invincible, and you have already taken on the world.  I sure did. 

Two mama's and two sets of babies.  The world moves on and without us directing it.

 If I had been lacking sleep I would have had a great jolt waking me up this early afternoon.

I was driving through the neighborhood, and I was later glad I was following the speed limit of 25 mph.  I came to the last intersection before arriving to the main drag through town- and this probably  a 13 year old girl, yapping  non stop from what I could see on her phone and gesticulating like an air traffic controller might if he was on the ground...just walked right on out into the street right in front of me.  I had a bad feeling she was going to do that, so I had already started breaking.  She couldn't have been more than 3 feet away from me when SHE came to a halt.  I was already stopped.  She was  that close to waking straight into my car.  She looked at me~I looked at her, and she walked behind me..I drove on.  It didn't startle me because I saw her...I was already slowing to less than 5 and stopped when almost walked right in front of me. I saw the doofus she was talking to I'll bet, a block up the street  walking along like another traffic controller, arms flying in all directions..laughing, giggling (I heard it) and just going along fairly well paced.  Two dummies.  But at least one was on the sidewalk still. 

It's Sunday, and absolutely nothing I can bear to watch on TV so it has remained off after her baby shows this morning.  I will crack a new book that I told another blogger I was hoping to finally have time to read after all was going on stopped!  I will give it to him to read when I am done. It's a mutually liked topic by a well known author.

The youngest son is recovering very well.  Getting up and walking around with a walker in a few rooms, 5 times a day.   Still on a liquid diet.  That will be over soon.  K.I.'s oldest favorite brovver is doing better after two scares end of last week as well.  Things were hopping, let me tell you. Middle favorite brovver is back over the mountains, teaching summer school. Me, I am  finally resting some.  Feels very nice.  I have had 2 great nights of sleep. Highly unusual.  Katie said I slept like a rock lying out in a field Friday night and she was right.  She could have bitten my nose and I would have slept on. Saturday night too.  

Tomatoes are all ripening at once.  Darn. But I love them so I can just slice and eat.  I may shred some lettuce and lay in tomato diced up, and just go for it with nothing else on or in it. 

Middle boy took this picture I am including in a local grocery the other day and said what I typed at the bottom of the picture.  I laughed so loud people looked at me.  And laughed again! 

Cowardly Flavor...

Gotta wonder

 Gotta wonder if Google will ever allow header photos to go back to full size?  I am stuck with what I have on Katie's page forever as well as here of course..despite having at least 10 other header pictures. If it requires manipulation to change it using various apps I am out of luck as I don't do tech. 

I came home from whatever last week to be greeted by the mowing man.  He ran over a yellow jacket nest in the ground unknowingly and certainly let me know.  I have had a lot of advice as to what to do...pouring gasoline into it is one...um, no.  I don't want to be there that close to do that, and it will ruin the surrounding area. Then, there are foaming things that can (and will) be bought to spray from a distance.  I'm still a chicken..hear me  buk- buk -buk- bukkkkkk. 🐔 My pest control person doesn't want to do it, and from the ads on the local internet pages, they cost a lot of money to do it.  So, I'll wait.  The boy coming next week had to take care of them at his home over the mountains, so he knows how. 

Now I have to go mattress shopping.  I hate that.  Box spring time too.  $$$$$$$$. Katie sure knows how to wear out a mattress! She just reminded me that it's been 20+ years!  And blames Admiral. 

Let's go get our hair done.  OH wait...it's still an hour early.  See you after while.   Mean time, here is the stinky ol' yeller jacket nest. 

Yeller Jacket nest

Jeepers Creepers, What's Next?

 Well, maybe I don't really want to know "what's next" but, it comes in handy to say!

We had a heckuva  electric storm late afternoon into evening.  Gees Louise.  Sixty- six mph winds and sideways rain.  Lightening whizzing around, and  a little mild thunder (except for one clap). 

I feared for my container garden of tomatoes.  I was right to do so.  Opening the deck door showed one, plant, the tallest...taller than me (and that's easy.  I'm 5' 1/2" tall) lying... on its side, blown over by the wind.  A small number of green tomatoes lying on the deck.  That was pitiful to see. Most are still hanging on, but the plant is crooked  now and not happy.  I set it to rights the best I could.  I can't yet tell if major stems are somewhat broken or not. 

This year I have had the worst luck with them.  They were/are growing like gangbusters and then, they became infested with tiny insects.  I finally got most of that under control, but the insects popped up on the plants again after just a few days.  Then, it has rained like the Rain Forest rains in South America since I planted them.  Inches of rain a week which drenched the plants over and over and over.  That interfered with good growth, and certainly with the on-coming ripening process. The tomatoes stayed too small, though many were formed...and never turned red.  

We shall see ultimately what happens. I think I know..they'll go belly up. 

All alone in the house a few days.  One boy was here for 5 days, he went home last Thursday. And then another  boy come to see me from over the mountains in NC.  He just left after four and a half days.  I'll have another one day after tomorrow. The coconut cream pie is finished now as of last night.

Guess what?  In order to get rid of the nasty looking cloudy headlights on my Toyota, I am buying a set of new headlights.  I just checked to make sure I chose the right ones, and on how much it will cost to have them installed. No one will fix the cloudy lenses.  That stuff for 9.99 ain't gonna do the job. The automotive industry sure saved beaucoup monies doing the evil plastic cover thing to us.  They won't manufacture them so  that you can just change the cover. Nope.  The whole thing, lights and all  or tuff beans!  

Here's Gary Larson.  LOVE that man! 

Wasn't Kidding

 When I say I live in a forest (yet in a small City), I wasn't kidding.  It's beautiful here. 

My home is at the red dot. There are so many animals coming through.  They are downtown, walking in the street occasionally but usually, as with the deer, they walk on the sidewalks.  The rest dart around- prefering to get back into the trees.   Sitting on my deck is a treat.  EVERYONE comes piling through the deep woods, jump my chain link fence, and continue on their way.  Had to quit feeding the birds finally because the deer ate it all.  Right in front of me. 

Sufferin' Succotash!

Great mother of pearl!   There I was in the waiting room and halls of the hospital, and after HOURS and hours, I happened to glance down at my shoes to see  if they were shined decently- when what to my wondering eyes should appear?  The glaring proof that my pants were on inside out.  Yes.  I did that early in the morning apparently.  

They are black, and if you weren't looking at the bottom leg area, you might not know unless you saw seams!  But there was the cuff seaming on the legs showing up like a flashing caution light!  

A nurse was standing near to conduct someone to a room when I started laughing.  She looked at me with a peasant look and I pointed  to my feet and said "For pete sake!  I put my pants on inside out"!  She cracked up as did the row of patients.  I got up to head to the public potty and turn 'em right side out.  

Guys, when you're in hurry and busier than two bees, there is no telling what will happen if you don't give good attention to what you're doing. 

Here's my gardenia bush.  Lot of spent blossoms but a bunch that just opened and probably a hundred buds ready to open.  My house smells like a house o' ill repute with all the gardenia fragrance in here.  Three blossoms in the kitchen have the entire house fragranced. 

Trouble with the Photo

 Here is what I spoke of on FB.  The header picture is all the way over on the left...most of it gone.  No way to change it.  No idea if there is anything to be done, but I suspect not. 

Can't Believe I Did That

I can't believe I got up, fed us both, looked at mail on-line and got ready for the day.  Then I left to walk...just as in near past times.  I did the old one-two!  I left the bed un-made (like, who cares)? and  I left the sink with  dirty dishes from my  breakfast eggs and her food. Cups, glasses etc and blah blah.  I left the floor unswept of litter crumbs (as I call it) but I DID clear out the litter box. I left the light on in most rooms...the morning routine things out in the bathroom...I didn't put them up either.  Everything was left where it stood.  I took off like a big bird, and got up there at just before 8.  Met some friends up there with their woofies.  Always a plus.  Mariette, you would have LOVED the conversation. 

I was trying to beat the heating up from the sun if I could.   I always left early, winter or summer.  It was 60 degrees when I got there.  An hour later, 70 degrees.  That sun beats down like it was swinging a baseball bat at you!  Whew.  I dewed up in the face and hair which means shampoo time later! 

I have been using videos to do aerobics with great results but hurt my knee again and had to quit all of it for awhile.  Yesterday was breezy and 50 degrees...I HAD to get out there.  The clover smelled like  the best perfume I have even smelled...and the blue of the sky was not something that can be replicated easily by man.  The bird song...oh my goodness.  I'll leave it at that.  I came home feeling like a zillion dollars. 

So that was today. 

Swiped from Face Book...LOVED it. 

 

Special Day...Memorial.

 I love Memorial Day.  Don't know one in all my of memory that they weren't sunny and beautiful in all ways. Even when I was living overseas...they were sunny and beautiful.  We would go to an American Base on the day and enjoy they parades and music and speech.  Always special.  

I have been out for quite a time walking.  I came home for lunch and in a minute I am headed out again.  It is too absolutely wonderful outside to stay in the house.

Oh--  I bought a pillow that advertised  itself as one that you could take filling out OR put it in.  They send extra for the pillow's regular price.  It has a zipper on one end, so I thought this was going to end my continual search for a thin pillow.  Normal pillows jack my head up so high, to where I feel the most uncomfortable ever.   A certain store in VT sells thin pillows.  They charge an un-goshly amount  of $$$ for them but they are perfect for me.  Maybe 2 inches high. They get mis-shapen  on the middle edges and middle to where you have to buy a new one after 4 months or so.  More $$$'s.  

So when I saw this one I bought advertised for 60 some dollars, I took a chance (what a PRICE!!  UGH) and looked forward to it arriving.  Glad it had a zipper or it would have gone straight back.  A person could use that pillow for a step stool it was so stuffed full.  I took out 3/4ths of a kitchen trash bag full of stuffing.  And I finally tried it last night.  Almost still too high for me.  But I had my thin miss-shapen one handy in case I couldn't stand the new one.  I got thru the night.  Not sure but I may take out more tonight before bed.  How do people stand pillows so high? 

Son with kidney stone had a CT scan...awaiting results... as he had pain in the flank even after passing the stone.  DIL with Gall bladder surgery is about 100% recovered, and their son is able to go back to school (virus) just when school let out. 

Just saying hello.  ❤️

Ay Caramba!

 For those not on Face Book, I am so sad!  I went out to see how my tomato flowers were doing and today is the day I discovered white things all over the plants !  Flowers, leaves and stems.  I threw myself on the combined knowledge of people of Face Book.  They mostly concurred these are aphids.  I didn't see any  sign last evening while watering. If I cannot get rid of these things I'll have to give up and throw these WERE flourishing plants into the woods.  I just hate this!  

I'm trying to post pictures but Blogger said not now.  Go figure.  Still trying, but it keeps saying "an unexpected error happened, try again later". 

Now I see I will have to go buy a spray bottle. Water, dish soap and baking soda. I hate going out but I have to in order tp get the bottle.  Just got back in from the Big City.  

Sleepy and I wish I could get more sleep.  I go to bed early enough but I am obliged to get up early to go somewhere...usually not for me.  But this morning it was for me at the dentist.  Just a quick run in there and back out but had to do it. 

Made a lemon cake with lemon frosting..THICKly layered on...and sprinkles.  OH that was so good and I doubt I will eat again for the rest of this day.  Let me try another time to get a photo posted. 

I just moved this screen shot over to the blog.  

My Usual When Complaining..."Good Grief" NOTE: Made legible and an addition was made to text as well.

I'll blog about this because it remains a sore point with just me, I guess. I was getting dressed a while ago. I chose a navy color tank top and a cap sleeved top to go with it. Once again this morning I was struck by the quality of the tank top that I have had for years as well as the top I chose to go with it. (I take care of my clothes). It's all cotton, both articles I chose, they have body to the fabric. Not any cheap polyester or spandex in it at all.  The feel of it after I put them on is so nice.

Unlike all mass produced tank tops, t-shirts and knit (not woven) tops of the past 15 + years, these two things I am wearing today are very nice, soft, have substance to them. And you can't buy this quality any more. Once these are gone...that will be the end of good quality clothing for me. I always buy classical type clothing. Always. Never buy on trend. So they aren't out of style. I have a few suits that I hope I can get in to again, that are as perfectly able to go to a meeting or somewhere of importance NOW as they were when I bought them. Nothing to date them.

Today's t-shirts for example, men's and women's are so thin even when they claim 100% cotton which is rare, that you can see through them under proper conditions to do so. Bright light does the trick. I have stood at a mirror in a sunbeam from time to time with a cheaply made t-shirt (all you can find) and faintly, just barely saw the light color of my underclothing.

If it's a skirt, know you'd better have a good slip on under it...because outside it will reveal all of you- albeit in shadow form. I've been surprised on occasion in dresses and skirts approaching a store and seeing all of me, as it were, approaching.

Mass production- unless it is made by the most expensive labels where quality is still built in, is just cloth to cover you, never mind it is made in china of the cheapest possible materials and labor. Remember the old Union labels we used to see on our clothes? Which were made here in this Country by workers who did quality work and were proud of it?

Just sayin'.

Sitting and Waiting

 Howdy.  Sitting around and waiting for them to text and say the car is ready.  I noticed a few weeks ago that it is running just a bit roughly.  Just a bit, but the condition was always present these past several weeks. I had already guessed plugs, and that's what it is.  Next up are the brakes.  Got 100,000 miles on the car now.  Then, drain and change transmission oil etc. 

Just found out only  a few seconds ago that one of my sons is in the ER as he has kidney stones.  No idea if he knew that they were/are a problem prior to this attack. And here I am without my car if needed. His wife of course is there. 

I have the house pretty organized thank goodness.  While I wait for my car there isn't a lot to do.  And I've spent all of my money on gasoline and food anyway.  Done for a few days with that!  After my dental woes and Katie's, that was a LOT of money.  Today's garage visit won't be cheap either.  

Just texted to get the yard mowed.  I can't do it.  It's like a house on a mountain ledge and plenty of rocks all around and in the clay soil.  An exaggeration, but close enough. 

If the car was here I would make an appointment to get it washed and cleaned inside.  But I will wait until I have it back in my possession as they might have an hour or so and tell me to come in now! 

Going to try to find someone to paint the inside of the house.  Then, the carpet cleaners.  Whoopee. Somethings are more than I want to deal with.  I still remember how I used to beg to be allowed to paint inside of  the house when I was just barely a teen. 

Hey, I saw two really great scarecrows in a field as I was on my way to The Big City last week.  That was cool!  I haven't seen scarecrows, the traditional type you see illustrations of in books etc. in a gazillion years.  One was in a checked shirt and the other in  plaid. They had brooms in their hands.  I wish them success. 

Anyone here watch Colombo?  Or used to?  The show that Peter Falk starred in. I love the shows and the music with them.  The composer for most of the movies was so good I cannot find adequate words to describe his talent.  Post, I believe his last name is. 

See ya later.

Taken in the arboretum

Many Many Thanks

 My friends, thank you so much for your well wishes for Katie.   And really for me as well, as I was distressed by her not being well.  I have never seen her under the influence of drugs and it scared me.  Especially when she tried to leave the carrier and her legs splayed out like a star fish on the floor, and she could not told herself upright.  That horrible collar, the tight tight tee shirt, hunger and thirst...her misery and not leaving a place in the living room for 24 hours just made me suffer as much as her. I was up most of the night trying to be there for her.

Now she is free of the pain patch, the tee shirt, and that horrible horrible collar.  Thank you so much.  It meant a lot to me.

Here is an early early morning off my deck....two pictures of the same thing...separated by about a minute in time and one room, as I rushed from one place to another. I am so fortunate to live in a beautiful place.  My back yard.  My property runs to the County/City line. 

Grateful you are my friends.  

It's Getting Time!! YES!

 Look what I saw this very morning an hour ago when I went to get the hummingbird feeder in to change the nectar.

I didn't expect flowers this soon.  The tomatoes will start very very soon from the flower, and I cannot wait to see that little pencil eraser sized 'mater as it starts forming. I will feed it again today or tomorrow.

Right now I am watching and waiting for Katie's doctor to call and tell me I can come after her to bring her home.  That will be later afternoon.  I got to stay with her an hour and fifteen minutes while the premeds worked.  It kept her stress at a minimum. She is having two teeth removed.  They may call about more but I won't allow but two more this time if it has to be.  Cats' teeth resorb, and cause a bad problem when they do so.  I hope that is not the case here.She's having a radiograph first, That will tell us.

Look at the size of these strawberries.  The one on top there is 6" around at its "waist". 

Happy Mother's Day

Dear friends.  Happy Mother's Day to all the moms of two and four legged children.  The love is real and strong no matter whether or not fur is involved.  And as I always do, I wish a Happy Mother's Day to the Dad's out there who have been both mother and father  to their children, including four legged ones.  

I always wish a happy Father's day to all the women who are both mom and dad to their children when that time comes because I know how that is.  I was mom and dad both for years. Still am.  I "channeled" my own father in order to impart the right things to my children as best as I could.  I had a tough job too, and because of harsh long shifts and much over time, our important times had to wait several days before we could all be together as a family of four. We rarely had Christmas on the day.  I always had to work. (I was paid very well for the OT and holiday working, but that is never like being with your children). But we did celebrate together either before or after, including their birthdays, when work let me alone for a break.   But, just as each of you do, I love(d) my children with all my heart.  I still do even though they aren't with me now.  That doesn't matter at all.  My sons were and are loved to the nth degree.  Nothing will ever change that and I am grateful for them in my life. I will go to my last day on earth still being grateful for all three of them.  They really are the world.  Ain't nobody gonna love them and be grateful as I am, that they are in the world giving every day and that they are my children

Be grateful for what was given to you, rejoice in it and be glad. 💗

Might Be...

 Good morning to you!  Got to thinking while making the bed and all that stuff whether or not this next thing I will write is a local phenom or everywhere.

Where I live..the entire town is hills and flatland and hills again.  Predominately hills.  I get a jolt worthy of a heart re-start while I am driving down or up, into where I live by people speeding on down the 25mph streets in the middle...straddling the yellow solid line. Sometimes a third of the way over into the opposing lane.  Seriously stated, that far over.  You will come to a place where you turn the corner...no stop sign involved... and here comes a car turning as well, all the way in your lane!  They get this huge eyed "what are you doing in my way?" look on their faces to swerve belatedly into their own space.  I already wrote here twice (2 separate occasions) of having to go up on the side walk to avoid a head on collision because a person who turned at the same corner did so in MY lane that I was using to drive in.  Thank goodness I said then and now again that there was no one on the sidewalk there at the time.  If there had been, I would have had to risk myself and take the collision. 

So, is it just lame brains here or does this happen where you are too.  It occurs mostly in residential areas but also on the main roads in town  Just not as badly.  Their tires will be over the yellow lines. Not a lot of the vehicle as well. 

I was going to water my new sunflower just planted and discovered that the last person who used the hose (which is one of the more expensive collapsable ones) and that would be the gas system service man...broke the connector of the hose to the faucet making it unusable.  I'll take the pieces to the store.  No idea if that piece that connects to the hose and then to the faucet is available by itself.  It's cheap plastic. 

Taking Katie's brother back today and then, a cleaning fest here in my castle. And if the antenna behaves, I get to watch my faves this afternoon on TV after that.  Haven't been able to for 5 weeks now. All the other channels work but that particular one.  So it's not placement. 

Anyhoo, are drivers in their own lanes where you are? 

Bizzy Bizzy

 They oughtta call me Bizzy Bee.  I have three weeks out of four in a month in which I am pretty busy.  Today was yet another one; and the several upcoming weeks will be as well.  My dental appt. went fabulously well. Thanks for caring.  I am doing better already, and I have two more  dental visits first week of May.  This must be doctor week,  as I have-- and had already--- several appointments.  One on Tuesday at 0840.  Ugh.  And I guess I have to also face the music and request another echocardiogram. ( If he thinks I need one).  Once you've been through heck and high water...seeing the cardiologist is not your fave place to go. Who knows what they'll tell you next. 

I was a worker bee this morning again.  Several more loads of wash done, dried, folded and put away.  Clean sheets fresh beds all around, as well as towels. Groceries fetched again, put away and so on--- and on.  Housework that was  not done yesterday was done today. 

 Thinking about May the 10th, and my girl going in for her dental.  I just hope her personality is not affected the way to was the last time.  She will not get that anesthesia again, no.  But you never know how they are affected until they are. 

The sun is out all day today.  It was raining so hard the past few days that my car is CLEAN! 

Hey, one of the family who..along with everyone else who sees me thinks my sitting atop three pillows in the seat of my car (I put a picture of it in FB sometime last year) is funny...researched adult booster seats.  I don't care for how much  $$ it was to ship to me as the cost, what with tax and shipping etc. came to almost as much as the seat itself.  LOTS of money, but I am riding on ONE cushion now.   And I don't have to fiddle with them all slipping off in their own directions any longer.  Yea! 

Here tis.  

Jack Frost is Working Overtime. Corrected all my typos just now (I hope)

 I'll tell ya...the poor tomatoes will have to go undercover again as will the hybrid petunia, as it will be freezing the next two nights. Poor guys.  Having to be out there in freezing cold, although the frost won't be on them per se is small return for having to be covered.  And when I take the covers off the next day it's still colder'n kraut out there! 

This picture below is after the first time  I was caught unawares.  I don't watch TV, except for  re-run channels, and I won't read those pieces of paper they call newspapers...so I missed the weather warnings and didn't have warnings set up yet on the phone/watch.  Now I have it so the my watch and phone tell me when it will freeze. The skinny 'mater there was the biggest, with a thick stem.  The picture of it second one down shows it trying to recover a few weeks after.  The third picture down shows how full and much taller the other tomato is now. The fourth shows the big skinny (now) guy starting to leaf out again- and getting taller.  

Here they are after they recovered some from the first freeze.  I had cut off some of the hopeless tiny branchlets.  

  

.

 

 

 

The bottom two here are the same one, recovering and growing. 

    

Here they are a few minutes ago.  I told the I'll be out about 7 to cover them. If I didn't think Katie would rampage through the petunia, I would bring it in.  

Other Worldly

Guys,  Good day around here.  It's been extraordinarily busy  for me today until just now.  The business I have accomplished was rewarded by a link that a valued blogging friend sent me a month ago.  I had a difficult time getting it to play, but finally, half an hour ago I was able to do so and I am sharing it with those of you who value classical singing.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA88AS6Wy_4   It is:  

Gregorio Allegri: Miserere     The Choir of Claire College, Cambridge, Timothy Brown

The notes are so  extraordinarily harmonious that I am unable to find a good enough adjective for it.  The singing is so pure and so pristine as to be other-worldly. 

This beautiful haunting work was my reward for the continued business and "doing" of the day.  I got a lot accomplished since early morning including watering my tomatoes who asked me to do so. Changing the nectar in the hummingbird feeder.  They are ravenous after flying all the way home again.  I cooked them more and it is waiting for three days or less perhaps, from now.  

Just when I thought I had all the wash done, darned if I didn't have one more load this morning as I changed my own bed linens.  There were other things in the washer as well.  Done and done Again.

 

Had to go and get some produce and a few frozen things.  I did that after I washed my hair, set it, ironed it and styled it and went off to dazzle the world. I'm sure I left 'em dead in the aisles.

I put a "share" on my FB page regarding honeybees.  There was, in the share, a picture of a man's hand holding a poor girl honeybee who was dead.  He said her tongue was out because she has been poisoned by insecticide and weedkiller that had been sprayed on dandelions!  PLEASE don't poison the dandelions. They are the first good food for the honeybees.  Those innocents who gather pollen from them are soon dead because of the lawn spray- or weedkiller.  I did not know they were dependent on the dandelions when they bloom.  Had no idea.  I don't spray, never have- so my heart is eased knowing I haven't been responsible. 

Have the dentist tomorrow.  Sigh.  The Vet senior exam w/ blood tests and vaccinations was just over $300.00.  Her surgery will be may as well say $800.00.   Whew..and now my own dental.  I'm keeping my upper fangs though. 

Live long and prosper. 

These were the last of my daffodils on the South side of the house.