Always Commotion In This House

I talked with my son in Florida this week, a day late for his birthday but due to all the commotion of this week. I forgot to call him. He got our card though and money to do something special. He chose to drive his bike to the state park and investigate all the bike and hiking trails. He intends to send me pictures but I know he can't afford to get them developed after he takes them. LOL, he'll have to learn to do one roll at a time.

He informed me that he loves living in the RV and he cleaned out the kitchen cupboards and found 5 cans of Rainforest Tea. My favorite and I forgot I had put them all in there. He made himself a cup of it last night and loved it so said it wouldn't go to waste. He didn't offer to send any back though. I'll bet that's the first time those cabinets were in order too! He also washed the floor, cleaned the bathroom and spot cleaned the carpet. I think he is going to do just fine there. He sounds like a little home maker to me. He didn't get THAT from his mom.

Yesterday I had to go for lab work. It was sooo cold out and hubby and I were both hurting bad, but it was important I get them done right away so off we went. We arrived at the hospital and were told to get our flu shots after we left there. Luckily for us the pharmacy had flu vaccine and could give us our shots within a half hour. Then we came home to the mess!!

Earlier in the day Hubby had been taking the toilet apart and putting new gaskets, etc. in it and after putting it back together, it was working great when we left. However, we arrived home to find our oldest son home from work early, and cleaning up where the toilet had leaked and gone down through the ceiling in the utility room. Thank God it wasn't their living room. His wife tried to call us on our cell phone but couldn't get us. Neither could our son. He had to come home from work to find the problem. When he came upstairs to call us using the house phone, he heard my cell phone ringing just fine from where I had left it on my kitchen table. LOL, I'm known for that kind of thing since cell phones are not the first thing I think of. This morning I am charging it and went to find my purse. Do you think I could find it? Now the hunt begins. Darn I hate getting older and forgetful. It could have been from the pain, once you have that, the mind doesn't work as well but that's just the way it goes.

Haven't thought of Christmas but won't have a tree. The new one we bought last year my son would like to borrow if we don't use it. LOL, we couldn't fit it in the living room. We have 3 recliners in here now plus the computer. Another recliner we bought and wasn't happy with, now resides in the den where we always put the old chair to make room for the tree. LOL. I will make a decoration of greens and pine from out back and put them in a beautiful copper pot of my mom's and I can put little red bows and small shiny red balls and berries in it and that will do for me.

Oh, yesterday all our deer friends were waiting for us. 7 at once so hubby hurried out to feed them. This is going to be a cold winter so I guess we will still feed all our critters until we get down to living on oatmeal and soups. Then it will be a toss up as to who gets fed the best.

A New Friend!

I met a new friend yesterday and immediately like her and her family. She lives in a ritzy section of town along with many very expensive houses and less friendly people. To say she got her fingers burned is a mild way of saying she was snubbed by those around her.

You see, my new friend is a born again Christian, she bakes her own bread, grinds her own oats and wheat and many other things that most of us do not do because of time or other reasons. She has seven children, does home schooling, raises pygmy goats, chickens, and gardens only vegetables and things they can can freeze, etc. She is an original back to earth girl and is as friendly as they come.

She has a little vegetable stand at the end of the driveway which somehow looks out of place. It caught our eye as we drove by the other day and we pulled up to the house and made a purchase. Yesterday I went back and bought freshly made whole wheat bread and a dozen eggs. Because they have different kinds of chickens, the eggs were different colored also. I was delighted to find two green ones in there and immediately thought of the book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess.

We talked for awhile and I offered to do crafts with the children on a day when they had time to do something fun and creative. Fran was all for it as were the children. It will give me something to look forward to also since I am alone so much and I have so many supplies for crafts and no longer have the young grandchildren to do them with. I'm in luck, finally.

Last night we cut into Fran's bread and it was delicious. I will have to be very careful how much I consume because it is addictive. She uses Aguave for sweetener and I had never heard of it before. I have an idea that won't be the only thing I will learn from the wise and hard working Fran.

It's Sunday morning and the neighbor is cutting down trees for his firewood for the winter. It's too early for that as people are still sleeping so I've shut my windows and put on soothing music to drown his noise out and give hubby a little bit of sleep time. He was up late with our oldest grandson who just lost his best friend and is not coping too well. The wake and funeral will be Tuesday and he and his brother are to be pall bearers.

I hate to see them go though this at so young an age. You just never expect a young friend to go so quickly. I gave him some books to read that I thought might help him, but this is something we can't fix for him. He will learn to deal with it his own way and we will be here for him. That is all we can do.

I'm sitting here with ice cold fingers and feet and guess my body is telling me it's time to shower and dress. Nights and mornings are pretty cold now and it's still only August. So it's off to the shower and nice warm water to take the chill off.

It's sunny and pretty out so maybe I'll then hop in the car for a quick drive to see the country side. I intend to have a good day and wish the same for everyone who reads this.

Better Late Than Never

Gosh, it seems like forever since I've been to visit my journal. I certainly never meant to be so lax but one thing after another drew my attention away and after awhile, I just forgot about my special place of quiet and relaxation.

We have had a mighty strange summer. Cold spring, storms with torrential rains and hail. That is not common for May and June. Now it is August and we have had 4 storms, some with severe flooding and trees down. Thankfully we were only without power and even then we were lucky for we own a generator. We learned long ago after being without electricity, running water, and a stove to cook for cooking that a generator was the way to go. We met some nice people during those 9 days of doing without. Neighbors needed showers and power for hair dryers in order to get ready for work. A quick cup of coffee was also appreciated.

Today it has been just right and it feels like rain again tonight. Five nights of rain and the wonderful sound of it dancing on the roof to lull one to sleep. I could do without the hail though. Such strange weather, I can't remember another year like this one.

All my work planting my flowers and making up special planters has been for naught. Plants are rotting in the pots and when the sun comes out, then they bake. It really wasn't a year for planter gardening. However, when they were at their peak, they were absolutely beautiful. I certainly enjoyed all that lovely color and the butterflies that were drawn to it.

My eyes are very heavy this afternoon. I think it must have something to do with allergies but after the crazy weather, we have the strangest mushrooms growing everywhere. Yes, it definitely is due to allergies. I need to go take a nap I guess. On second thought, it's time to start supper and no napping in between. Maybe tomorrow I can sneak one in. I never thought I'd see the day when a nap was so appealing. Old age I guess.

I've been away too long...

I hadn't realized time had gotten away from me. It's unusual for me to forget to journal at least once a week, but things have been unusually busy here. I won't go into details because this is my non-negative place to go. Illness, tragedies, etc. will not be discussed here. This is my happy place and I hope the same for all who visit here.

Today it is pouring rain and since getting up so early, I decided to scoot back to bed for more sleep but that didn't happen. My body has it's own time table and 5 A.M. just happens to be it. Also my cat was getting anxious for me to be up. She must have changed positions on the bed at least twenty times in order to give me her message. Spoiled cat!

All flowers are planted and my back yard is a colorful array of blooms to bring me alive first thing in the morning. The birdsong is pleasantly relaxing and the hummingbirds fight among themselves for the best place on the two feeders. There seems to be one very nasty tempered villain though who fights the others off. Ah, so is life.

I have a rose bush growing like wildfire that really never did much for a number of years. My dad brought me a few cuttings for Mother's Day at least 33 years ago when we first had our home built. The roses were from my childhood home and they are the very old fashioned roses, small blossoms with many, many petals.

I see my dad out there planting those precious cuttings every time I look at them taking over the rocky landscape. Memories are such a wonderful part of life. I really don't know what I would do without my special memories of the ones I've loved and lost. How sweet to look back and remember a certain smile or kindness.

Yesterday it was the 4th of July and as usual, we didn't do anything special. I know many people are the same and we don't all have storybook lives. However, our son had a little cookout and his wife's sister and brother-in-law came. At first I wasn't going to join them for a hamburger. The stairs looked unbelievably long and the energy wasn't there. I pushed myself though and went in my Muumuu.

LOL, I'm notorious for my muumuus since visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Colorado. She lived in them and so, not to be different, she took me shopping for one. It was so funny, our single minded mission to buy me a muu muu. And we had such a great time laughing at the wildly colored offerings in the best of stores. We got some strange looks from some of the hoity toity sales ladies, but what the heck, we were bent on finding something decent looking and wouldn't break our bank. Yes, the prices were a bit steep also, but I just had to have one to feel the freedom of not having elastic around the waist for a change, and just for the sheer comfort while traveling in record heat in our RV.

At my age I definitely go for comfort, much to my son's delight when he has company over and here is mom, looking as big as a house in her bright red prize, literally covered with what else, flowers. I did mention that I loved flowers in my posts didn't I? Hmmm, since then I have discovered the Vermont Country Store Catalog which has quite a selection of none other than muumuus. Need I say more on the subject?

Muumuu aside, I have to admit it was nice to be with people and laugh until my sides ached. Nothing was particularly funny, I think they laughed mostly at me but it didn't hurt my feelings. I thought it was hilarious also but not so much that I would change into something less colorful and considered lounge wear. Well I was lounging wasn't I? To my way of thinking I was positive I was.

It has stopped raining and now it smells so good outside. The window is open beside me and I just got a whiff of fresh air. I love that smell of wet earth, and allergies aside, will be walking out soon to sit at the picnic table and just relax with a cup of tea. Why not grab one of my fancy cups and join me? I'd love your company.

Hugs

Still Planting

After three unbearably hot days in which I hid in the house with a small air conditioner in the back bedroom, fans going at high speed to rush some of the cool air into the living room, I sat and slept off and on in my recliner. It was so hard to breathe so I took the easy way out, I dozed off. When awake I read a book. Make that two books.

Today it was beautiful out and tonight the breeze is blowing through the window in the living room and feels delicious on my arms. The patio door is also open to get the cross breeze, but for how long depends on our visiting skunk. He got us good the other night and I've been spraying the house and porch down with the hose, trying to dilute the perfume a bit.

I seem to be the one who deals with the skunks. Hubby won't go near the back door for fear one will be sniffing around and plug him. I can't help it, I get so tickled when he gets upset with me. He swears that it will get through the screen. Now the raccoons, maybe. But the skunk will just leave his calling card and walk smugly away. I can't believe it, the cat just attacked the door and hubby with his trusty flashlight quickly got up and shut the door. There goes my cross breeze.

Today while sitting at the table on the patio, I was considering planting two new flats of bright pink and fushia bordered petunias, when I looked up and saw a young deer, right at the opening of the woods to our yard. He stood and watched me for minutes while I sat quietly and enjoyed every second. Deer are my favorite animals and they come often to visit us with their babies. We feed them through the rough winter months and they are like family. Such gentle creatures.

The weather forecast is for rain tomorrow and the next day and the next. Great for planting in between storms. We have a nice overhang to our house and I can place all the potted plants under it and they will be safe from drowning. At least it will be cool and I'm looking forward to that. It also keeps down the bees and I definitely can appreciate that blessing.

I bought a Crock Pot yesterday and am cooking my first meal in it tonight. I'm doing the six hour menu at a higher temperature and hope my roast of pork and veggies come out okay. I will have to stay up mighty late in order to shut it off when done. I think I had brain fog when I started it but I will learn to time things better the next time. I just thought it would be great to cook and still have a cool kitchen during the hot summer. Silly girl, I'm kind of old to be trying new things so late in the evening. I made my first mistake when I took it out of the box tonight to look at it. I'll learn.

Yum, something is beginning to smell mighty good. It's almost 11 P.M. and it still has two hours to go. Oh what have I done? I think I'd better take a quick nap and wake up in time to put it in the fridge once it has turned off and cooled. I usually wake up at 4:45 A.M. so I think I am safe. It will most likely still be hot so I won't worry. The next time I will know better and plan my time more wisely. Famous last words.

Wasn't this post about planting?

Let's Hope I Actually Post This One

It seems as if my domain has been taken over by an unusually large squirrel population. Not uncommon since I live in the woods, but I now think they outnumber the trees and that's saying somthing.

I wrote in my journal both yesterday and the day before but seemed to get into trouble trying to post them. They just disappeared!?! I became so frustrated because two posts in two days is a bit much. I'm hesitant about writing today but will give it a good try.

We had some excitement in our little hole in the woods. Two nights ago in the middle of the night, an awful sound woke my husband. He was sleeping in the living room recliner and was out like a light. He said it sounded as if a bullet had hid the door and the cat was acting up something fierce. He was not anxious to go see what it was about so shined his flashlight on the door. There was a huge white skunk there trying to claw up the screen. The cat was letting it know he was on her territory and poor hubby was a bit shaken up. Darn, I missed out on all the excitement. I told him it wasn't trying to get in but he insisted it was. Now I'm thinking it might have been rabid because that is definitely unusual behavior for a skunk. Excuse me, I mean HUGE skunk. Eventually it ran off, the cat calmed down and hubby went back to sleep. It's a good thing he keeps that trusty flashlight beside the chair. I would have loved to have seen it all.

We went to Home Depot to get a few things hubby needed and the place was full of birds. I was enchanted and a bit tickled to see them pecking open bags of bird seed. Nothing like a serve yourself and eat restaurant. No waiting in lines, nor paying the bill and tip. You did have to be careful of those flying overhead though. They eat and empty in that order. They were chirping and flying around and some were singing their little hearts out. I was enthralled of course. Inside there were birds in every department but most were in the gardening area. The employees take it in stride but do warn shoppers to be careful they don't leave with droppings. I think we should wear broad brimmed hats in there just to be safe.

We also went to Walmart to buy more plants. Hubby loved the tall purple salvia and I told him he would have to dig up the yard to plant them since they are perennials and we want to place them in front of a stone wall to set it off. I will sit and watch since I did all the planters and I can coach him on how far apart to set them. He feels as long as they are in the ground they are okay. He hasn't learned about symmetry.

The little chipmunks are playing catch up and I see a squirrel sneaking under the patio chair looking for goodies. They know I don't put the peanuts out there any longer because they made the worst messes with the shells. You'd think they would carry them off the patio and ditch them but no, they are smash and grab critters.

I have been up all night and am getting tired. I don't dare go to bed now or I won't sleep again tonight. I seem to have my days and nights mixed up for some reason. Most likely because working outside in the fresh air made me tired and when I came inside to sit a bit, I fell asleep and slept for hours at a time. It's no wonder I'm all discombobulated.

I wish I could remember what I wrote about the past two days because there seems to be a lack of something to this post. Perhaps because I feel like a zombie and nothing is quite clicking in my brain.

Oh, big news! I planted my Morning Glories Sunday evening after soaking the seeds overnight. The very next morning I was out checking on them to see if something magically popped up overnight. No way so I kept checking them and on the 4th day, there they were, three little shoots with two leaves each. Yesterday there were 12 and I can't wait to see what today holds in store. I know, exciting and heady stuff isn't it? Oh well, simple things amuse and delight me.

My kitchen table is a mess and I have company coming today so I must put on my cape and speed clean the kitchen. Hubby said he would vacuum since I trip over the hose so much so that will be a big help. The table top will be carried off to different parts of the house and quickly wiped down. Then I can go through all the boxes and bags at my leisure. LOL, those who know me know I speak the truth. I have been going through mail, shredding and filing. It just doesn't end but I do.

I hope we are in for a good day even without sun. It will be a cool day and I can accomplish more after company leaves. Yes, and I know I will promptly fall asleep as soon as the back of my legs hit my recliner.

I had no intention of writing today because of all the planting I did yesterday. The back and legs scream out "NO!", but this lovely saying above convinced me otherwise.

The sun is out and it is beautiful. I have been lazily watching a little chipmunk as he goes willy-nilly from one rock to another. I am all out of peanuts but he continues to look for those I usually hide for him and his brothers. I bought marshmallows instead to satisfy a need in me. My body must need sugar, at least that's how I see it. Marshmallows aren't something that comes to mind when shopping. I think last summer is the last time I bought them, to make s'mores of course. Now I must make a trip after my work is done to pick up peanuts.

I was so tired last night and didn't know which hurt to attend to so I did the smart thing and went to bed early. I think I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow. Now I must go outside and finish up the planters. They look so nice and perky this morning whereas they were pretty sad looking last night with all the dirt and water on them. Try as I might, I couldn't keep the water from settling on the blooms and they dragged under the weight. But I knew that the morning sun would perk them up and it didn't fail me.

So now, before it gets too late, I must take an allergy pill and go fight the battle again. But this is one battle I am winning and all the gorgeous colors give joy to my soul. I am not a woman who craves much, but I must have my flowers in the warmer months to sooth me each morning when I awake and wobble sleepily to the patio door to gaze upon the day. I can't wait for the hummingbirds and butterflies to spy this bounty and my camera will be ever ready on the kitchen table, right next to the patio door.

And now I must end today's journal and get myself going. Once the heat becomes intense, I am useless. I wish a great day to one and all, a day filled with flowers. They truly are a delight to the eye and bring joy and inspiration to my days.

Making Precious Memories

Holding the Setting Sun

'Every day you must arise and say to your heart, I have suffered enough and now I must live because the light of the sun must not be wasted, it must not be lost without an eye to appreciate it.' - Simone Schwartzbart

It's So Dark Out

I just happened to pop up from bed this morning thinking I had an appointment today and had over slept. It was 4 A.M. and still dark out. Talk about confused! No, I didn't have an appointment but in the back of my mind I thought of the car's trunk just crammed with my load of newly purchased plants for my flower boxes. I knew I had to get up and get them out of there so they could breath. And yes, I did go overboard but such a pretty case of 'overboard'. I said to the lady helping me fit them into the car, "I wish I could just drive home with the lid open. All these flowers are glorious and should be seen, not closed up in the trunk." She laughed at me and said, "I'll see you tomorrow." Hmmm, I don't think so. However, there were a few new specimens I'd never seen before and I'm sure they would add height to the box gardens. Yep, she knows me!

Since it's dark I certainly can't describe the day but I can say that with hubby sleeping and the AC turned off to give it a break, it's mighty quiet in here. Of course I hear the droning of my fridge as it chugs along. That sound certainly isn't new. The fans are gently whirring, waiting to be turned on high as soon as it starts to get warm without the AC on. I just get so tired of all the noise, my mind needed a break also. Did I mention I'm not that much in love with noise?

Gee, I'm also questioning new sounds I haven't heard before, like some banging from outside. Perhaps an early wood pecker breaking in on the soothing quiet. I love it but can now hear the ice maker kicking in and depositing ice cubes for my ice water. The ice cube container has to be shared with hubby's pop sickles so I have put a divider in it. LOL, sometimes it's quite a sight when he overloads his side with his bounty and all my ice cubes go over the top and down into the fridge. Then I must turn off the ice maker until there's room for the ice! It's a good thing I can drink cold water from the faucet.

I don't hear the birds at all. I guess it must be too early for them. For me too to be truthful. I tried to go back to bed and get some extra Zzzzzzzzzz, but my mind wouldn't calm down and let me. At least I can write in my blog without any disturbances and finish before too late in the day. And I can also unload my bounty being held prisoner in the dark car trunk. I just have to wait a little longer for the day light to catch up to me.

This is about it for now. I have to rescue my prisoners and get dressed, in that order. It is getting light out and I can make my way to the car. I forget what the weather is for today so must find a safe place for them. If it's sunny and hot, they will wilt, if it rains they will be beaten down. For sure, it's time I move my carcass and get it done. with a car short, my son has to borrow mine. I don't think he'd appreciate a trunk full of flowers and neither would I after spending so much time choosing just the right ones. Yesterday I had a trunk full of lawn chairs I had forgotten about so had no room for the flowers. Oh well, back home again to unload only to go to the nursery and reload. What a waste of gas. I certainly didn't "go green" and I hope I wasn't spotted by the "green police."


Have a happy day! I intend to.

Another Sunny Day, Joy!

Joy oh Joy, the birds are back and singing. It didn't take them long to find the fully loaded feeders after their being empty for long. I think they must have been waiting in the trees, just bursting to pounce on the feeders and fill their greedy little bellies.

Yesterday we took a drive to find flowers for the planters and it was mighty windy and the car was bombarded with all the tree droppings and those little dry things that look like tiny airplanes which dive bombed us the whole trip. No wonder people are having problems with allergies and respiratory conditions. Clinics and doctors are pretty busy keeping up with it all.

With the wind and the closed in area at Home Depot, it was like a wind tunnel and cold. Snapping leaves of the larger plants smacked me in the face a few times and when one tree like specimen slashed me in the ear, I settled for garden shopping outside at Stop and Shop. So brave am I. (Smile).

We bought lots of good stuff at Agway. Huge bags of bird seed and larger bags of something or other for dusting our lawn to get rid of grub worms (eek, you can see their teeth close up). Not really but they sure are ugly looking buggers. Also something in a long cone shaped thingy with the word Peanut on the label to stick in the holes made by the moles or voles. They eat it and die. Slaughter, slaughter the darn devils! They have made our yard, both front and back a literal obstacle course. One looks like a drunken sailor when trying to transverse one end to the other.

Bird feeders have been moved closer to the house and the long Shepard like posts will be used for hanging pots of colorful flowers. On the bad side though, on windy days those baskets are heavy and will be like an arsenal to anyone close by. Usually we take them down when it is fierce out. Saves on broken windshields and such.

Hubby just made a charity run with son to the auto dealership's service department. Car won't start and our expert is in Florida now. Things just seem to go to pot all at once with our cars. Two in the garage this week and now this one that is our DIL's. Of course it must be worked on by certified mechanics. Our son is just a shade tree mechanic but he has changed transmissions, welded in new steel paneling, etc. for years now. Our garage is always full of trucks belonging to friends and we must wait our turn for our vehicles to be looked at. I'm losing patience at this point. Number two son is out of range and we miss his expertise. Oh, enough about vehicles not operating. That seems to be our whole life here in the boonies. Bird song and the aroma of oil and gasoline.

I just had to stop my complaining to put a warm pair of socks on. Cold feet, warm heart. That's true if you believe it. I say cold feet, miserable mood and yet sometimes I'm just too lazy to get thy butt up from the seat to find a pair set aside for winter mornings in Connecticut's Spring. We certainly have had some cold nights and real cool mornings. I think we will go from winter to summer and spring will just be a memory from now on. It seems to follow that way the past few years or else I have some memory loss.

My burgundy clematis are wide open this morning and showing their bright yellow centers. They look like beautiful stars and I need to take pictures before they are no longer. A beating rain would just do them in.

I did plant my morning glories last night before dark. I was already out this A.M. checking on them to see if they were somehow peeking above the soil. When I see Jack from the Beanstalk I will know they are okay and need staking. I did that last year and ended up with so many vines I had to tie some together and string them up to a post. Just beautiful until we left for a week and they didn't get any water. The hot sun just baked them. Needless to say, my heart was broken.

Well, I better get dressed and go to another nursery to find a few more plants in colors that please me most. Mauve, purples and bright fuchsia. I also have to find some white trailing things (I used to know the names of all these plants but somehow I have lost them) that look beautiful as they fill out the boxes. I'll remember the name after I get off the computer. Vinca Minor is also a graceful trailing plant that looks lovely in the planter boxes. It just adds so much to the effort.

I will take pictures when I am done with all this planning and add it to a post. It is a shame they are all annuals, but they are instant color and I need instant gratification. Plus with some in bloom I can move them all around until I get just the effect I want and then I plant them with high hopes for a beautiful color display. Made especially for the hummingbirds and butterflies, and for my delight also.

Happy day!

Where Have I Been?

Well, I guess I have fallen back into my bad habit of never completing what I have started. I really thought this would be a cinch for me but it has turned out to be a chore. I guess it must be spring fever even though our weather is more like winter.

Allergies have taken up most of my time and energies. All the beautiful trees now have leaves of varying shades of green, but the pollen is still bad and I find I must stay inside most of the time. Even with allergy medication, I had to go to the eye doctor who put me on eye drops because the allergy med doesn't have enough antihistamine in it. This is a new thing for me! What is happening to our world?

I have noticed the birds have stopped coming to visit and wondered what the problem was. The problem was and is, my hubby hasn't filled the feeders in two weeks. His morning ritual has fallen by the wayside as the feeders are hard to get to with all the walled levels and the ground is full of holes where the moles, voles or whatever have set up house keeping. One fall and it could mean a hip or worse. Time to move the feeders in closer to the house.

Since I've been cooped in the house I have decided to go through all the boxes of pictures we have stuffed away all these years. Some of the babies defeat my memory. Why or why didn't I put names and dates on the back of the pictures?! Of course I never meant to get older and now notice my memory is slipping away little by little. With so very many pictures, whichever I have forgotten I have others that replace them and are much easier to recognize. Of course the old cameras didn't help any with the black and white film and the fading. Many I just need to toss because my children and grand children won't have any idea who they are or even care long after I'm gone. I just wish I had asked more questions of my parents so I could pass on information that the children might need or want to know someday.

I think I need a flower boost. That's what's ailing me. Cold nights and cool days and not a flower planted yet. I did soak my Morning Glory seeds last night so as soon as it warms up some I will get out and plant those. I will enjoy checking on them each day to watch their progress. I think I will do up long planters with cascading petunias in fuchsia, deep purple, white and pink to brighten up the walls and my spirit. I am always happy around flowers and petunias are safe because I am not allergic to them. I will also plant some Heliotrope for their light and lovely scent of baby powder, and its changing shades of pale hyacinth blue to the deeper variations of purple.

At present my Clematis is in full bloom and had so many buds I was anxious to see them open. So much so that I asked my hubby to cut a little 8 inch sprig of leaves from the tree brushing against it in order to save the buds from being knocked off. Hubby did better than that, he cut off a large branch of tree and needless to say, it came down with a crash and landed on my beautiful vine full of buds and knocked some completely off. I can't believe how upset it made me. I could have done it myself and should have but couldn't handle the lopping shears. Oh well, I'm learning.

He is the same beau who continually mowed down my mom's lilacs every year while trying to be helpful. She warned me about his not knowing a weed from a flower. Now we have all kinds of little oaks sprouting up which have ROOTS that go on forever. I have and will continue to have a tug of war with them for some time to come. The plants were pulled out since he didn't realize they would eventually flower. The tiny tree starts looked important to him. At least we got rid of all the spearmint that was overtaking our yard. Now I know you plant the mint family in pots.

I think I will buy some nice silk flowers and spray them with a preservative to hold their color and sneak them in any empty looking spots. As soon as I plant a beautiful fully blooming addition, I step back and admire it for the day. The next morning the plant is gone, pulled down through a hole in the ground. Others get chewed off at the very bottom of the stem. The only thing that has lasted through the winter and is now filling out is my Mother's Day Butterfly Bush which for some reason, nothing out there seems to find it tasty.

Sssh, the sun is now out and it is supposed to be cool, a nice day for planting. Now I have to get my butt in gear and go to the nursery to buy my flowers. I'm excited and leery about that part. I always tend to over buy and my back suffers for days as I try to get everything planted before they die. I will reign myself in though, I promise. Like I did last year and all the years before them. The only thing I really have going for me now is I have learned to plant flowers in pots and decorated planters. My stone walls will look beautiful but the rest of the yard I can no longer get to. Oh well, it really doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things.

A LIttle Bit of This and Some of That

Oh dear, so much time has passed since I last wrote and I feel as if I have given up on my blog too and I promised myself I wouldn't be a quitter again.

I was trying to so hard to put this together in some kind of order last night, but just couldn't see straight to type because my head kept hitting the keys and waking me up.

I always wanted to be a nurse (truly) and go into the Peace Corps. I also wanted to go into the Armed Forces to get the education to become a nurse. I was also pursuing a singing career but gave that up for my hubby, along with my other aspirations.

I enjoyed being a mother but it was hard. I had my first child at Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado. Within a month hubby was sent to Germany due to the Berlin Crisis. I went home and lived with mom and dad and I couldn't wait to get out of that house so took out a loan to join hubby. What a rude awakening to go to another country with a one year old and not have housing. We lived in an apartment in a small German town. Two days after arriving, hubby was sent to the Congo. He was a helicopter mechanic and his MOS was critical. So off he went and I was on my own with a one year old.

While in Germany I got pregnant with my second son and he was born in a German hospital. I loved the Catholic nuns there. They were so kind, unlike the army hospital where my first was born. My second son was brought to me right after birth and was allowed to have his crib in my room. When I was able to go home, our first son, Mike, adored his new baby brother and was quite a little helper. After a year, I got pregnant again (yes, it WAS the water) and in my 7th month my husband was issued orders back to the states. I was excited but also very sorry to leave my German friends from whom I had learned to speak a type of low Dutch and we got along fine with our close neighbors. The trip and flights home were a nightmare but that's another story.

We came home to the good old states and were stationed in Georgia. I was 8 months pregnant and then hubby was sent to the Dominican Republic because of the uprising and fighting there. I developed Toxemia and had no one to help me out. That was not a happy experience but I got through it without my mom coming, (whatever made me think she would?) and our third son was born.

It was now time for my hubby to get out of the Army and he wanted to reenlist for the 3rd time. I said no because I was tired of raising three small ones on my own. He was discharged and three days later his whole outfit was sent to Vietnam. He was sick about it and felt he had let his buddies down.

Life in Georgia was much different than I had imagined. The heat was unbearable and the weight of the air nearly suffocated me. Both Jon and I ended up in the hospital with heat exhaustion. Life styles are very different in the south. You did what you had to in the early morning and afternoons you napped if you were lucky. I learned the two most important words to suit that time of life, AIR CONDITIONING. Two years there and we were ready to come home to Connecticut.

After seeking employment for weeks on end, hubby finally found a job but the drawback was it was three shifts. It was a nightmare but I found ways to keep the little guys quiet so hubby could sleep during the day time. The children were ages 1, 2, and 4. And did I say very active! I had always been very creative and my imagination really came in handy.

I was a stay-at-home mom and when the children got older,I was a den mother, school room mother, Sunday school teach, and class party planner. I was also the one who picked up sick children from school for working mothers and kept them at my house until They could pick them up after work. I did everything I could with my boys and while we weren't well off by any means, we got by and did a lot of nature hikes, crafts, etc.

I have to say those days were the most fun. I never feel I missed out on anything by being a stay-at-home mom. I finally went to work when the youngest was 12 years old. I had done my share of Room Mother, Den Mother for all 3 of them, baking cookies and having cookies and milk ready for them when they came home from school. But I now needed to get out and help moneywise so we could eventually own our new home.

Finally, after 16 years of marriage, we found a few acres out in the boonies and paid on it until we were able to start building. All in all it took us much longer than we expected and I was finally working as a secretary to help with the mortgage payments. It was so exhilarating to be free and on my own for most of the day. I also needed to be around grown ups so I could increase my vocabulary again. Raising children and always having errands to run for last minute school projects, cookies for a special day, and a number of other little emergencies kept me busy for a number of years kept me out of grownup circulation

Those days are now over and have been for some time now. But all this rest and relaxation is getting to me and I seem to be going through a new phase at this late age. Maybe I need to get back out around young people again. Others my age seem to be forgetting too many words, and I think it's contagious!

All's Quiet Again

I lost my little tenant. My friend who is an Animal Control Officer called to say she was on her way to pick him (her) up and bring her to a lactating mother cat. While here she and my hubby walked up in the woods and flushed out the mother cat. Kim got down on the ground and stuck her flashlight in a large hole and there were the other kittens, all frightened and looking at her with large eyes. Sooo, she carefully scooped them out and took them with her. I couldn't help it, I shed a few tears.

I would love that little kitten but Alie (my other cat) did not and wouldn't come near me. Even after the kitten was gone. Last night she finally allowed me to pet her when she jumped up in my face so I would notice her and not that bratty kitten. She is still sniffing around for it. LOL, talk about getting one's nose out of joint!

Today Kim and her assistant are coming back with the traps to try and catch the momma cat. She is that grey feral cat but I've got her coming to the house to eat at least. We'll see what happens today or tomorrow because we need to get her back to her kittens.

When MY kitten, little Brat, was put in the box with the other kittens, he was so happy he pounced all over them. I can only guess what the poor little thing was thinking being stuck with me for a so called mother. Oh happy day, together again!

Later after they were situated, Kim called to tell me they were all doing fine and little Brat was so happy to be with the rest. She also said they were all healthy but SHE was the runt of the litter. Feisty, she is the loudest and most advanced one. She doesn't have to tell me, I know! I can't help a bit of pride here...

I am tempted to go and get her when she is old enough to be put up for adoption, but then we just bought two new recliners and they wouldn't last long with 'The Terror.' I will say those mothering instincts really kicked in fast.

Today is another rainy and dreary day. A good day to clean but I'm still tired from being up all night with Brat. But I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to. Now to see if we can catch the mother cat. I'm kind of doubting it but sure would love to be proven wrong.

Kim has told me to be sure to set them during the daytime and not at night. Living in the woods I'd be likely to catch skunks, raccoons and heaven knows what else. So we will set them today when Kim comes and see what happens. I so hope the mother cat cooperates so she can be with her babies again and I can quit worrying about her. She must be frantic without her litter. I would be too.

We've Got Kittens!

That stray grey cat we've been feeding had kittens. Dad was tearing all the junk out of the back of the garage building and heard something crying as if it were hurt. He found 5 kittens and without coming in to tell me, he put them in the cat carrier. Then he came in and told me and went looking for something to shelter them from the cold. Momma is wild and won't come near us and there is no way we can catch her. When I came in to get a warm quilt to warm them tonight he was building a little shelter. I went to the cat carrier and she had removed two of the kittens already. We padded a box with the quilt and put it in the same place he found the kittens. But I think she will move them to another place. He didn't know that you can't disturb a nesting place that momma made. Anyway, the quilted box is out there with the same tarp over it and I'm hoping she will bring them back. I wish we could catch her because this is what she does and every batch has been killed or born dead. We fed her special food and she had plenty of water everyday. I hope she is healthy enough to nurse. The kittens look to be about 2 weeks old and are adorable. One is a real cry baby and just wanted to stay inside my jacket close to my heart. I feel so bad that we interfered. I will take them to the shelter where my ex-DIL works when they are old enough or she abandons them. I don't know what will happen now that he moved them. He thought he was doing right with his big heart, but we can't do anything with the kittens without the mother to nurse them plus half are gone. I guess I just have to pray that momma knows best and try to keep away from the area.

Well, I am now mama to the black male. She hurried off with the others when I was in the house and left him. He was so vocal I imagine she thought he would bring danger to the others.

Anyway, it was getting really cold last night and it didn't look at if the kitten would make it so I brought him in, inside my jacket. Once warmed he snuggled in for a nap. I was hunting high and low for the eyedropper bottle I bought for just such an occasion if the need arose and sure enough, it did. I put milk and a little warm water in it to thin it out a bit and tried it. He did just fine and between feedings and naps on my chest, I managed to keep him somewhat quiet.

Last night I fed him and put a quilt down on my sheet and put him on it and folded it over to snuggle him so he wouldn't feel all alone. LOL, I was up most of the night with feedings and once I got him quiet, fell asleep with him next to me but higher up so I wouldn't roll over on him. Not to worry dear old senile girl, I woke up this morning to find him cuddled in my neck. I really had to go to the bathroom but didn't want to disturb him since we were up most of the night.

This morning, different scenerio. He attacked that eye dropper as if his life depended on it. I had no problem getting milk down him. Then I addeded a little warm milk to cat food to soften it and tried putting it in a flat saucer on the kitchen floor. Man he was in that plate and gobbling it up in high fashion. After cleaning him up I needed a break so put a quilt in the bottom of a tall cardboard box that he can't climb out of (yet!). He finally settled down and is sleeping. And I'm trying to get back to normal for a few hours at least.

As for loud mouth, people don't want a kitten that is not ready to eat on it's own. I can't leave him out in the yard for the mother to find because I don't think she really cares about him and the wild animals would just eat him in one gulp. Tonight I have a Bible group meeting in a town an hour away and I'm dreading asking Kert to kitty sit.

Everyone has been telling me to trap the cat, did that but didn't work. Now with kittens hidden in the woods I wouldn't dare do that. Later, definitely. I will try to get through the week with the feedings and when the crying gets too loud and he's just being a brat, I will put him in the high box with the quilt and teddy bear. Maybe I'll stick a small clock under the folds to fool him into believing it's a heartbeat.

My cat Ali just hit the door with a whamp and scared away the mother cat. Darn but she is jealous and she is a pain in the butt. I'm in for the long haul I guess.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

If I had a picture for a volcano it would be posted here!!

In writing my blog today I lost it in the act of trying to edit it. I do mean lost it!!!! It took me 45 minutes to write it and over an hour to find it and finally publish it. If I hadn't panicked and gone to History and then gone to everything and every place I've been today, I never would have found it. Pulling it out of all that fine print just about did me in!

From now on whatever I type is what I publish. Full of commas, mistakes, minus new paragraphs, whatever! Today has taught me that blogging isn't EASY 1,2,3! And my blood pressure has gone up so my darn hands are finally getting WARM!

Any comments (HELPFUL PLEASE) would be greatly appreciated. Sis, are you out there?

PM (That brings a smile to my face. Prescious Moments NOT!)

Seeing Things In a New Light

Oh how nice to see the sun shining this morning. I woke up early and sat in a chair in the living room, almost touching the wall. I just couldn't get close enough to that life giving golden orb in the sky. It's very windy and the varied shades of new green seem to have opened overnight. All the rain did its magic after all.

I was smiling and feeling gifted at the sight of the beautiful dark green laurel leaves shining as if wet with the lingering rain, and glittering as if lit by thousands of tiny white Christmas lights as the branches danced in the wind.

I was warmed by the friendly neighborhood deer as they ambled slowly and with many stops along the way to the stream below, sparkling as if filled with diamonds. It was so bright I had to lower the blind a little in order to see. Just my movement allowed me to see a gorgeous bright blue jay on the tree limb nearest me, preening himself and glorying in the sunshine. It's been a mighty rough 3 days for my feathered friends with all the cold the drenching rain.

My mood is so much lighter now that I have been gifted by nature and it's early yet. But it's also cold and my fingers are having some difficulty striking the right keys. I am going backwards much more than forward. I know there is a complaint in that sentence but hey, I wanted this to be a positive blog, but I'm only human.

I notice all the golden yellow forsythia bushes are losing their flowers and filling out with a lighter shade of spring green leaves. The rain beating them down for days has taken its toll. How I hate to see them go as they last for such a short time as it is. I also spy my missing red tulips, only two were left me by the deer and now they, too are missing. Don't go getting yourself in a huff my dear. Be grateful they at least let them bloom for your eyes to behold. Gnashing teeth at this point.

Brrr, I just checked the outside temperature and it is only 44 degrees out. Of course it is only 9:15 a.m. but I want my cake and be able to eat it too. If there is sunshine then there must be warmth. It's the end of April for crying out loud. Another complaint from me and I haven't typed that much yet!

Why can't I have 72 degrees, guaranteed? A nice comfortable temperature and leave it at that? No need for air conditioners, no hot flashes, sweating, (no, ladies don't sweat, we glow) etc. Do I detect another complaint there? Seems I'm turning cranky with spring's obstinate ways.

I'm just dragging my feet here before going grocery shopping. If I'm cold when I go in the store, I shiver going through the frozen food aisles and my fingers turn blue. That happens in the dead of summer too so I can't blame that on this fickle spring. However then my hands are warm before going into the store. Not so now. Whew, I just heard a loud rush of wind and tree branches are bouncing about. Time to go back to my book until hubby awakes. WE can go shopping later together and I don't have to lug groceries in and out of the car. LOL, this has worked out rather well don't you think? Okay, enough writing for today. I'm going to go and sit on my hands!

One of Those Days

Oh Joy! This is another one of those days. Rainy, dreary and I'm feeling about like the the broken branches and matted wet fall leaves look. The grey Elms all have those ratty looking tails hanging from them and they are not my friends. The yellow pollen they have been covering the cars with is now washed off for the moment but when the sun finally decides to show her face, the coverlet of pale yellow will be seen again topping everything.

I was hoping to get some planters started but with the cold nights and now all this rain, I'm glad I didn't go in forward gear because they would all be flooded by now. Sometimes things do work out for the best.

Since it is cold again I guess today will be cabin fever soup day. Nothing special, just whatever the cupboards and fridge holds. I'm hoping that before the day is over the rain will stop and I can fit in a run to the grocery store. Anything to get out of the house and pick up a pot roast or something good. Yesterday I made my Granny's old stand by of creamed tuna with peas to go over potatoes or toast. Hubby and I opted for toast. We love it but as my boys used to say, YUCK!

Hmmm, I just remembered, I have a pound of bacon in the freezer and all kinds of corn. A nice corn chowder with corn muffins sounds good and I wouldn't have to fight the crowds in the stores. When it rains they take the kids shopping so they can blow off some steam and drive the shoppers nuts. Sorry people, this gal is going to stay home with a book and a pot of corn chowder.

Well, I promised I would write something, and as boring as it is, it will have to do. I can't be fun and games all the time!

Winter Again

Here it is April 28, and it's cold enough to put the heat back on. I shouldn't be surprised as it was the same way yesterday. Cold, dreary and without power or internet for over 5 hours. Since I couldn't get on the computer to write, I did the next best thing, said 'to heck with the house work' and grabbed a book.

I was fine the first chapter but getting into the second I was feeling a bit unsure of my book choice. When the tears started I knew it was the wrong book for such a dreary day. The book was about a little 5 year old boy with cancer and a father who was trying to hunt down the mother because she refused to put him through anymore torture with the trial protocols, etc. Smart lady took off and lost them both in a beautiful privately owned hospice located in the Redwoods.

The book is full of characters coming and going, in that order literally, and just as soon as I became attatched to one, he or she died setting me up for a wicked migraine from all the crying and a box of Kleenex which was quickly becoming depleted.

I got up to go to the bathroom and to get a large glass of water to hold me through to the ending. With lump in throat so big it was hard to swallow, a headache and my blankie and winter gloves on, I gave up the ghost. The heater got jacked up again.

I lost all track of time and could care less about the television or computer. By the time I finished the book the same day, it was time for supper. Why is it we must eat when we have better things to do?

So today it is the same. Hubby is asleep and bundled up in his special blanket made for him by my sister-in-law. Extra light but super warm. I will steal one of his other blankets and sit in the recliner and fall asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the roof. The body needs warmth and the hands don't want to type today either. I'm minus the winter gloves but that is only because I can't type in them.

I Lost My Mind

Here I sit, just a few hours later than usual and laughing at myself. With nothing to write about I was going to skip out on today.

But I remembered as I awoke in a state of 'freezing' from all the windows being open and the temp at 58 degrees outside that I had something important to do. The nice warm oven would be just the thing.

Does anyone remember those Friendship Cakes we made years ago where you divide your batter, putting one cup into 4 large Baggies and then every day you are either squishing the bag and letting the air out or you are adding ingredients? Well I had forgotten all about them although I loved doing them at the time. At least 20 years ago and while working, had people to give the starter batter to. Many times I kept all the batters and made extra cakes for hubbie's friends at work for coffee hour.

Well, to cut thing short, my daughter-in-law came home from work and asked me if I would like to try a starter cake. Naturally I foolishly said "Yes." Today was THE day to bake the cake. I got everything ready and thought I was set to go. Wrong! The print on the directions was very small and I had to hang the directions on the hood above the stove with the light on it in order to see them. Then I began to add ingredients and measure, I'm sure the measuring came first but at this point I'm not sure.

I used a Bundt cake pan instead of two large bread pans. For some reason I thought I had to have two pans since the recipe stated 2 pans. So I went and found a new Bundt pan I had bought as a gift and ended up giving a card with money instead. So far so good.

After adding all the ingredients, not quite the proper measurments because the eyes aren't what they used to be and that is why I don't use recipes. I realized that the recipe called for 3 eggs and not the one I had added. Also I left the salt out because it called for baking power and baking soda. That I did intenionally because hubby is on a sodium free diet.

Next I added two small boxes of banana cream pudding and needed to figure out what goodies I would throw in extra. I settled on the cinnamon/nutmeg and sugar mixture I always fall back on. Next I added lots of walnuts. By the time it was ready to put in the pan I couldn't lift the heavy bowl. So it was touch and go and most did go in the pan. The drips I licked and I have to say, they were delicious. Although those were some pretty big drips! I don't know what I was thinking, but that second Bundt pan wasn't really needed. It all fit in the one pan.

Into the oven it went and there also I had to make a change upping the temp to 350 degrees instead of 325. Hubby just said, "Man that cake smells good!" Hmmm, am I on a roll or bound for failure? We'll see soon enough.

Oh, you remember I said you had to take out 4 separate cups of starter and put them in large zip lock bags. Well, the people who at first said, "Sure, give me one, it will be fun." all seemed to have changed their minds by yesterday because it was hot out and nobody wants to bake in that heat. Today, however is cool so it's perfect for baking.

Having said that, my counter now holds two large zip lock bags with twice the amount of starter in each one. I just figured I would do them all when it was time, 10 days from today. I forgot that from all those starters I now have 16 to give away when the time comes and I have a feeling I'm going to be peddling them at church. Oh why did I ever say yes to begin with?

Hubby just said I should check my cake because he thinks it's done. Smirking to myself, I did and it has another 10 minutes to bake. He's already getting the plates and coffee cups ready. If anybody out there is reading this and would like a bag of starter, I'd be happy to give it to you.

Okay, so I stopped for a taste. Well, more than just a taste, more like a hunk beyond what Weight Watchers allows. But it was delicious, and my better half is ready for the next batch. I sure hope we have a freeze by then because without air conditioning, I just might have to toss it all. I can just see my counter top with all those voluminous bags of starter if the seal lets go.

I Remember Mom

As I sit at my computer and see all the waving arms of bright yellow forsythia wishing me Good Morning, my thoughts turn to my mom.

With the lilac bush ready to bloom and send forth it's delicate scent beside what was once her bedroom window, I think of Mom. We planted that white lilac there just for her and its so light in fragrance compared to the heady purple.

Since our nights have warmed up, we sit and enjoy the sound of the peep frogs courting, something Mom and I loved to do when we lived in the country, and now I enjoy listening to them with my hubby. He will drive me to the largest pond in the area and we will sit until I have my fill of them. Music to my ears but I'm sure not to the neighbors living beside the pond. I so love the water concerts they put on for all to enjoy and they end much too soon to suit me.

I have always loved the night sounds and remember hating the time we traveled, staying at KOA parks and Good Sam's which were usually close to the connecting highways. The sound of traffic and truck tires whining on the concrete set my teeth on edge. I was missing the soothing sound of my night critters.

I look out the window to reassure myself that everything in my world is as it should be. The slight breeze, the branches of the trees gently dancing and looking forward to the opening of their new green leaves. The brook just barely running since we have had warm dry days but I can still see the shining water as it winnows its way sluggishly through all the dead fallen leaves.

It's nearly the end of April and soon it will be May. No wonder my thoughts have turned to Mom. Everything she loved is in bloom, even the majestic magnolia. It will soon be Mother's Day and then her birthday. I always brought her a huge bouquet of deep purple lilacs on her birthday. She preferred them to store bought flowers. She love wildflowers and music. She was so light on her feet and made dancing look so easy. She tried to teach me but I was stiff as a board so kept my dancing attempts to my bedroom when I listened to my radio.

I did inherit my love of music from her and my love of wildlife, but somehow she failed to impart the simple movement of dance to my uncooperative legs and feet. However, she did leave me with memories of all the musicals we attended when I was a child and I still remember the words to most of the songs and sing them often. Yes, I remember you Mom and I miss you. Especially now, your favorite time of the year, and mine.

Going Back In Time

I really don't feel up to writing this morning but I am one of those who starts something and then quits halfway through. I have promised myself I wouldn't do that here, that I would write something if only to write, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WRITING TODAY! I think we all feel that way when our little life has been shaken by something we can't control.

I noticed the other day when driving through the back roads to Rhode Island, a house with a yard full of lobster pots. It instantly triggered happy memories of when I was a kid and lived on the river. A River Rat I suppose some called me. Those days were some of the happiest I remember from my childhood.

Dad had a boat and we lived right off the river. I would wake up and as soon as my feet hit the floor, I was running down the river bank, eager to find my gifts for that day. Lifting the slippery stones and finding little eels swimming out from under, startled by my intrusion always made me smile. The good Lord always had plenty for me to do, whether it was cutting the boat loose and just drifting in the water with my eye on the shore so as not to get too far out or just jump out and try to doggie paddle without holding on to the boat. I couldn't swim then, yet had no fear of the water. I would jump overboard and cling to the boat with one hand while kicking my way around the other side. To make it to the shore I just got to the back of the boat and kicked my way in to the mooring spot. Of course it was only a row boat but it was ours, pretty special to me, and I used it as much as possible.

I remember low tide and getting into my old sneakers so I could walk the muddy river bottom, pail and crab net in hand. What fun it was to out maneuver the crabs sitting on the bottom of the river and quickly catch them up in the net before they could scuttle away, and safely drop them into the pail. I would spend hours doing that until the tide started coming in and it became too deep for me to safely see the river bottom. Then I would walk home with my sneakers sloshing, pail weighing me down so bad I could hardly carry it with it propped against my skinny legs let alone swinging it with a smug look on my face. Laughing out loud as if I had done something perfectly wonderful. Well it was wonderful. And my neighbors were happy about it also because there was always enough for everyone to share. I didn't particularly love the taste of crabmeat, but loved shelling it and making crab meat salad for the family.

Then there was clamming, a really fun chore digging in the wet sand for long necks. We had another name we called them but don't think I should write it here. Those I wouldn't eat at all, just couldn't stand the look of them let alone the taste. And the horseshoe crabs that we had to be careful not to step on while in the deeper waters feeling around bottom for quohogs. The Indians used quohog shell for wampum years ago. And the purple and white shells were truly beautiful. After the clams were shelled, I would wash the shells up as clean as possible and paint them or drill a hole in the smaller of them to make jewelry. I don't think I was a bored child as much as one who could see things in junk that others couldn't. And I would always be making my jewelry and gifts.

But getting back to those lobster pots which set me thinking of my childhood days, I can remember helping my dad to replace the wooden slats in the pots where boats or humans had done their damage. The netting was always in need of repair also along with replacing the buoys used to mark where the pots were located in the deep waters. When we were lucky enough to find the pots with a few lobsters, it was off for home to cook them up and savor the meat while they were fresh. Those were the good times. When we discovered too many empty pots, we knew they had been pilfered and it didn't seem like fun anymore.

In true River Rat fashion, I would rake for scallops alongside my dad and help fill the large bushel baskets with our bounty. Oh how I love scallops. Of course I had to help shell the darn things too, being careful not to cut myself on the jagged shells or with the short shelling knife. There definitely was a trick to it and once I learned, could shuck in time with my dad.

When I wasn't crabbing, clamming or playing in the boat, I was fishing from the bridge. I caught so many flounder (we called them flat fish) and many times came up with long slimy eels. They gave me the willies but a few people loved them and would pay me to bring them home to them. One time we had them slithering all over the kitchen floor because I had knocked the bucket over. I thought my mom would have a heart attack! I wasn't in her good graces at time such as those so would make myself very small and hide away somewhere. Out of sight was out of mind.

Gosh, for someone who didn't feel up to writing anything this morning, I think I outdid myself. It's easy to do when you relive your childhood. Because no matter how unhappy it might have been at times, there were still those bright spots and the good memories I now cherish.

So fathers and moms too, take those children fishing. Pack a lunch and be prepared to laugh a lot and grow closer to your children. Enough with those darn video games and all the noise that goes with them. I just can't bear seeing a childhood wasted on electronic junk. Fresh air and a day of fishing is just what they need. Doctor's orders or a grandmom's.

Another Day, Another Time

Here it is a new day and I am not too thrilled with it, but then, I guess we take them as they come and are to be thankful for each one we are blessed with.

I checked outside on the progression of my tulips to find the plants are now eaten down to the nub. Hope springs eternal but I know when to give up the ghost and get on to other things. I wonder if I could plant skunk cabbage and have it grow safely? Speaking of which, I happen to like the smell of skunk cabbage. I always have and don't get what it is that makes people hate it so much. Just looking at the way it grows is a real mystery. All the swirls and tightly formed leaves. I have an aunt who swore her ex hubby smelled like skunk. I always loved him and his smell so who's to say what is pleasant for one and repugnant to another.

We have a family of skunks living right outside our garage every year and when we go outside, we have to make darn sure the black and white kitty on our back porch is just that, a kitty! My son has been fooled before and answered for it. LOL, I'm so glad I didn't have to bathe him down with tomato juice. He's old enough to take care of himself and it was his own fault. But the air was rife with the smell of newly sprayed skunk for some time afterward and my second son was afraid his tent would be a total loss, but it wasn't effected except for some residual scent.

My poor cat is a house cat. She had the misfortune of jumping down off the chair and hissing at the cat on the porch. Wham, right between the eyes! I had to clean her twice in a bucket of water with peroxide, Dawn dishwashing liquid and baking soda, being very careful to keep it out of her eyes. There I was in the dark, a little past midnight, stripped down to my bra and panties. A big bucket full of solution on the picnic table where the light shone dimly and with a cloth in one hand and the poor cat in the other. I had no takers to help me through the process. I carefully dunked the cat in the bucket getting her soaked and scrubbed her good, dunking her back in the water to make sure she was truly saturated. Next the trick of holding her up to wash her face, being careful not to get the solution in her eyes or ears. To make matters worse, I had to do this twice to get all the smell out. Usually my cat fights me if I put her near water, but the poor thing was willing to go through water torture to be back to normal. I only suffered bad scratches on my arms from her back claws since she is declawed on the front paws. As I said, you have to be very careful when using this solution not to get it in your pet's eyes. I used a wash cloth and a LOT of patience since I was elected to do the dirty job once I opened my mouth to say I liked the smell of skunk. I meant far away and just slightly scenting the air! Not a power house shot that made my cat's eyes run without quitting and kept me gagging. I'm just thankful no wiseguy was around the corner taking pictures of me. I can only imagine what I must have looked like!

My cat's plight drew us much closer. After toweling her dry and hugging her to let her know she'd be alright, she promptly went in and jumped on my bed. Now I didn't have the heart to drag her off my nice quilt and besides, she smelled nice and clean by then. I certainly couldn't detect any odor on her and the others didn't want to get close enough to try. Guess who the cat always sleeps with now. She still hasn't learned not to jump at animals when the screen door is open. I guess her memory is very short, somewhat like mine nowadays. I guess it's only a matter of time before it happens again...

Still In My Flannel Jammies

Here it is the 21st of April and usually it would be warm in the house without the heat turned on. Not this year. I sit here in my flannel jammies trying to get the old bones warm enough to actually get up and do something. Anything!

Last night, as we drove to Wal-Mart to do our shopping, a huge peach colored moon came into sight just above the tree line over the farmer's fields. It was truly a spectacular sight and me, without my camera, of course! I followed that moon all the way to the store and it just became more and more beautiful to me. The sky was a pretty shade of blue, and as it darkened, the moon became more softer looking and I could swear there was a face in it.

I arrived at the store and spent an hour or so looking at potting soil, buying wildflower seed, lots of it! For some reason I bought lavender to put in my rock garden. What a mistake! By the time I got home from the shopping trip my eyes were almost too swollen to enjoy that gorgeous moon, much higher in the sky by then.

My plantings don't do too well with the deer eating up my tulips,lillies and other expensive plants as soon as they reach the stage just before the bud begins to open. And I notice less and less of my bulbs, planted by the hundreds, just seem to have disappeared. It is disheartening because I look forward to the first tulip to make it through safely somehow, and now I just get leaves. What a bummer! The deer do stay away from my daffodils though. Thank goodness because I look forward to the first sight of yellow in my yard. It gives me an automatic lift. I even love the dandelions that pop up everywhere and I forbid my hubby to destroy them. No manicured lawn for me. Wildflowers (weeds to some) are beautiful to me. Especially when accompanied by the bright purple and white of the wild wood violets. It is a heavenly sight to drive up and be greeted by all that color. It looks likes a painter's palette. The good Lord's doing and not mine.

I remember my great love of flowers caused me a lot of grief when I was younger. A bad habit of putting my hands through the slats of the neighbor's fence to pick all the beautiful colored flowers usually landed me in hot water with my parents. Especially when I picked our landlady's prize roses which were to be judged in a contest. Stems didn't look too exciting after I was through with them. I was so proud to bring my mom those beautiful roses though. Even without stems. She chewed me out and then put the blossoms in a large clear bowl on the kitchen table. They were sweet and worth the trouble. Until the landlady came over and yelled at me while shaking a large wooden spoon in her hand. I knew what she would rather have done with it. Ah to be a 3 year old again. Oh well, the landlady made us move shortly thereafter and I went on to greener pastures. I also grew up to know better. Not that it kept me from snitching a flower or two when they were in my way while walking home from school. I couldn't leave them there to be trampled now could I?

Ah youth, climbing apple trees and reading a book, all the while smelling the sweetly scented blossoms. Once after moving to the country when I was 13 I wandered into a farmer's field. Just by accident of course. Walking through the tall grass toward the apple trees, I was delighted to find a tree I could climb without too much trouble seeing as how I was carrying a book and a journal to write my poetry. I made it up that tree and got nice and comfortable and during my musings, fell asleep. I awoke to cows milling around beneath me. I had never encountered cows before and they looked mighty big to me. I sat in that tree until the farmer's son came out to call in the herd and he walked right under my tree. MY tree! I had to let him know I was there and couldn't get down because of the cows. I thought he would bust a gut laughing and I forever heard about it all through high school.

Well, the sun is now streaming in the living room window, right on my left shoulder and I am getting mighty warm just sitting here. I think it's time to move, as in getting showered and dressed before someone comes to the door and catches me. I don't think blue jammies with snowmen is quite the fashion statement now. Especially for someone my age.

Have a great day and if you have sunshine, send up a Thank You. We've had a long and dreary winter as far as I'm concerned.

Hugs,
Precious Memories

The Song of the Chimes

Today I got up and was full of energy and just bursting to get outside in the glorious sunshine. But alas, I took a minute to catch my breath and sat in the recliner by the window. Within minutes I was fast asleep, lulled by the music of the wind chimes and the birds chirping. It was just like a sedative and I awoke as if from a drugged sleep.

I take it that the fresh air coming in on a soft breeze set the allergies in full flight. Headache, stuffy head and I just don't have the energy to do anything constructive.
So, here I sit at my computer, enjoying the breeze and still listening to the song of the chimes and birds. How I love wind chimes and bird song. Nature and I are one. What better gift could I possibly want. Without the allergies of course!