Too wet to plow....

It was too wet to plow at the garden today, but it wasn't too wet to mow. I got on the lawn mower and started mowing. My brother and sister-in-law usually do this on two mowers and get it done quickly. One person takes about 3 hours of solid mowing. When my brother drove down the road and saw me mowing, he came over on his mower and helped me finish. Now everything  there looks so pretty. I love a fresh mowed lawn. Mom and Dad went to some senior function at their church and weren't home when I left, but they will see that everything is all mowed and blown clean. Dad won't be able to see it, but Mom will. His eyesight won't even allow him to see that. It's sad!

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What a great day!

Nothing makes me happier than having a yard to keep all pretty with flowers. Today being the absolute perfect day for yard work, I started early in my yard planting my yearly caladiums. All 75 of them are in the ground now and I expect that they will really show off this summer. They always do. In fact, I am known as the yard with the caladiums in my hood. My friend, who owns a garden shop recommended Carolyn Wharton's for my yard because they tolerate the oppressive heat better than others. The last 2 years, I planted this variety and it did well, so I used it again this year.

I spent the entire morning in the yard just doing various chores and already twice this morning people have stopped by to compliment me on my beautiful yard. Yep, I love it! I just went and bought some more flowers, but I think that will be a job for tomorrow. I'm used up already this day!! I also have some metal, colorful butterflies ordered to put on my wooden fence.

Random nothingness!

I'm still here!  I guess I've been on an extended coffee break. Just didn't realize so many days had gone by without posting something. Can't use the "busy" excuse because that's not the case. A couple of days of rain kept me a bit on the lazy side.

One of my dearest friends from Texas was in the vicinity on Friday, so I went to her aunt's house and visited with her while she was here. Haven't seen her in a couple of years, so it was a nice visit.

The rains have been really beneficial for our garden. Potatoes are looking great, corn is up all over the place and we have managed to keep it tilled so the weeds and grass haven't taken over. I think we are going to have a good garden this year. I just love working in it and watching it grow. We still have several things to plant, such as okra, bell peppers, egg plants , sweet potatoes, and peas, but it is a little too early here to plant those.

Well, CRAP!

I am trying to be frugal and it is not working! Today it was computer crap. I called someone to come help me with some computer issues...mostly printer issues and $85 later, we have ordered 1G of new memory to speed this sucker up. That's an additional $47. I'm trying not to buy a new one even though this one is 6 years old. I have a new laptop, but I really like a desktop better.

As soon as he left, I was off to serve hot dogs at the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) party. We had a great turn out....probably 400 people in this small town! The signs were great, the best being D.C. = District of Corruption!

Productive day already!

My day started earlier than usual today for some unknown reason. I fired up the ipod and went for a walk, which got the productive juices flowing. After cooking a chicken in preparation for making chicken and dumplings, I went to Dad's to work in the garden. Miracles do happen. I started the tiller myself! No call to brother while hanging my head in shame because I was too weak to start the tiller. I got the garden all tilled and planted 3 more rows of sweet corn, beets, radishes, turnips, turnip greens, and sunflowers. Dad is happy and I have the rest of the week free to do whatever...well, not exactly....

Tomorrow I am involved in the local tax day tea party. My job is to serve hot dogs. I can do that!

He is Risen!

Not much planned for Easter. I will attend early service and Bible study before going to lunch at my brother's. That's the plan every Sunday. Since there are no kids in the family, Easter eggs are not invited. I am providing a ham and my sister-in-law will fix something to go with it. Weather gods are saying 100% rain, so that sucks for the Easter egg hunts and family get togethers. It just means nap time for me while watching the Master's golf tournament! Not a problem!

Good day...

There is very little left to be done to have my yard in pristine condition. Today I bought some new seed and sod dirt to fill in some gaps where I am impatient for the grass to fill in. I even threw some Bermuda grass seeds down on the new dirt. Bermuda seems to be the only grass that does well in this red clay soil. Most of my pots are filled with beautiful color. Now I am hoping my azaleas will bloom. I have a late blooming variety, but there is so much new growth that there doesn't seem to be many buds to open. I pruned them dramatically, but they have already doubled in size again. I don't want big bushes in front of my house. They must not touch the brick! I know....I know....I am a bit OCD! My variety is Conversation Piece and it is supposed to look like this, but it almost never does!

Now dinner is in the stove and I am kicked back watching the Master's. Happy to say that I have been there twice and it is one of my favorite places to go...absolutely beautiful.

Good Friday

The weather gods were angry tonight!

Whew! We dodged a weather bullet tonight. The weather people have been on nonstop since about 7 tonight. A tornado went through downtown Shreveport, through Barksdale AFB, and was headed directly toward my brother and my parents. Luckily, it went right between me and them. Not sure of damage yet because of darkness, but it was so hairy that Mom got in a closet. I guess I can go to bed now. As fire chief of the volunteer fire department in their little village, I'm sure my brother is out with his chain saw removing trees from roads. The TV just went back to regular programming, so I guess I can go to bed now. Whew!

Don't hate!

 

I will be having salad tonight that was in the ground this morning! Good Grub!

Field Trip

My friends and I took a field trip to here today. This place is owned by my best friend from high school and her husband. The plantation house is their residence! Cool! It is magnificent. After walking all over the grounds and looking at all the beautiful Louisiana Irises, we picnicked on her patio overlooking Caddo Lake. Stunning....but, of course, I forgot to take pictures!

Pointless randomness...

The weather gods went all crazy yesterday about the freeze we were going to have last night. It's important here in our little corner of the world because everyone has gardens planted and fresh new flowers planted...including ME! Of course, I moved everything in the garage that I could and covered the rest and......IT DIDN'T EVEN FREEZE!

Yesterday it was cold and very windy which was a clue to me to just keep busy inside. I did all the mundane, but necessary, stuff like washing and cleaning. Today, the weather was just perfect so I negated all the cleaning from yesterday by tracking in grass clippings all over the place today. I just cannot win......but, my yard looks pretty.

Tomorrow, my parents will have been married for 68 years. My mother is a saint. I could not have lived with my dad longer than the 17 years I did live with him!!!! After high school, I went to college and never moved back....not even in the summer!!!

Think about it!

'Nuf said!

Yep! We proved this!

Go fly a kite!

Well, I would go fly a kite if I had one because that's about all that can be done this afternoon. That's OK though because I got a lot of work done this morning at my parents' house. Had to replant some of the corn that didn't come up or where the planter just didn't drop seeds. As I was replanting, I saw a few kernels that were swelled and probably will come up, so I just replanted them along with some new ones. I would have gotten more done, except that I cannot start the damned tiller. It makes me so mad that I can't get stuff done without calling my brother to come start the damn thing. Today I refused to call him and just did something else! GRRRR!

Sad day....

Dad had an appointment with a new ophthamologist today hoping for some glimmer of hope, but he didn't get it. Mom was going to bring him here to my town for the appointment, but it was pouring rain, so my brother brought them to the doctor and I met them there, went to the appointment with them and then took them home. Dad is totally blind in one eye due to macular degeneration....the type that can not be helped. The other eye has some vision still, but it has the other type of macular degeneration. Glasses do not help, but this doc thinks he can prescribe some glasses that might help him read a little bit. I hope so. He is so pitiful.

When I went to lunch with the ladies, I saw my dad's urologist, who is also my cousin, and told him that Dad wanted to drop by and see him this morning, but I was on a schedule and didn't have time to take him there. The doc told me to call Dad and tell him to come on in this afternoon to see him. Dad did and feels somewhat better about his urology problems. I wonder if there is ever a man anywhere who does not have these age related prostate problems.

It was too wet to mow the yard today and the wind was brutal, so that was my signal to chill out and take a nap. I'm good at picking up those kind of signals....others...not so much!!

Slug trails on my sidewalk! I hate the slimy little pests...take that PETA! I pour salt on every one and watch them squirm!

It's official!

I am officially old and I admit it and own it. Last night during sleep, I got a cramp in my leg...not unusual...happens all the time. I always hop out of bed quickly and start trying to relieve the pain and anguish. Last night as I started to hop out of bed, I fell and hit my head on the solid wood nightstand...also got scraped up on both arms. I couldn't dwell on that because I still had the cramp to cope with, but it was constantly in the back of my head about that actress who fell on the bunny slope and hit her head. As soon as I could, I put an ice pack on it and watched to make sure it was making a knot on the outside of my head instead of the inside. ( I learned that on TV after that woman fell). Today, I am pretty sore and have a sore head, but not a headache. Old age sucks!

Check this out!

Just got these in by email and had to share! He was my weekend visitor!

Nobody reads titles!

For some reason, I didn't go to church today. I don't even know why. My lazy butt just didn't get up and go. I hate when that happens! The rest of the day, however, has not been lazy because I went to Bossier City and bought more plants and visited Lowes. After my obligatory Sunday nap, I got in gear and and got all the plants back in their appropriate places after having to bring them in to protect them from wind, hail and frost! Also, got the yard edged and everything blown off so it looks pretty. I am just way too anal about my yard. My caladiums were supposed to be shipped today, so I am ready to get them in the ground.

 

There's lots of work to be done in the vegetable garden, but it may be a few days before it dries out enough to run the tiller and plant more stuff. My potatoes and corn are up, but they need to be hoed around to get rid of the weeds.

 

I had guests on Friday night that included a beautiful 4 month old boy. He was a real sweetie pie.

 

 

Ringa-dingy-dingy....hello!

As I was dragging my lazy ass out of bed at 8:30 this morning, my phone was ringing. WTH! It's my neighbor checking to see if I am alright....why, yes, I am! Why? Seems my driveway was full of police cars! Turns out they made some car turn in my driveway and they arrested both the occupants. I have no idea why. Good thing I didn't have somewhere to go because I could not get out!

Everything is so refreshed today after a much needed rain yesterday. We are still lagging behind in rainfall, but this will surely help the yards and flowers get a better start. Rain is just better than watering the yard. Now I need to go to my dad's and check on the garden.

Cleaning or sleeping?

Today is one of those days not conducive to doing the outside things I like to do. It is very dark and dreary, so for some unknown reason,  I was up earlier than usual. It's always a crapshoot trying to figure out when the garbage guys are going to collect, but today at 7:30 they had already been through my neighborhood. One would think they have a regular route and would arrive somewhere near the same time each week....but NO...who knows when they will show up? Since I was up and pissed already, I made a breakfast casserole and had a nice breakfast. Since it is so dark and the rains are on the way, I should be sleeping, but have been cleaning instead. I guess that's a good thing! I like having things clean all the time, but cleaning....not so much!

More onions!

I don't know why my dad thinks we need to keep planting more and more onions, but he bought more at Wal-Mart the other day because some man in there told him they would grow as big as apples...OK, whatever! He doesn't even know the name of them because due to his macular degeneration, he could not read the name on the crate he took them from. Anyway, I planted them this morning...another day of crawling on the ground and digging in the dirt. We are due for rain the rest of the week, so I wanted to get everything done before the rains come. I also got a few watermelons planted that he had bought as well. Of course, before anything can be planted the ground has to be cleared of weeds and fertilized and composted. I had to do all this for the watermelons. Thank goodness I already had the onion row prepared with the tiller. It wasn't my plan to put more onions there, but they are there now! I could work full time at the old home place and never get finished, but I have my own place that must be kept pristine because that's how I roll.....gotta be perfect! 

After I got home, Mom called and told me she saw her first hummingbird. Now I have their food preparing so I can hang my feeders back up. I love watching my hummers. They are so mean to each other!

Note to self..quit yer whining!

Today I have been moving rather slowly and feeling the effects of being on my hands and knees digging in the dirt yesterday. There is no other way to plant little plants without just getting on the ground with them...at least, at my age there isn't. Then I think to myself..."You moron..your 87 year old dad who has lung cancer was on the ground planting his 9 little tomato plants...just STFU"! Of course, I was only whining to myself...thank goodness I had the good sense to keep it to myself!

Beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Well, except that I wasn't in my neighborhood today...I was in my dad's. By 9 I was at his house ready to go to work in the garden, but he was ready for me to take him to the garden shop. We went and bought some tomatoes, cabbage, onions, squash, cucumbers and watermelons. He got the few little tomato plants in the ground and I got the rest in the ground.

My brother was on the tractor, but it died. Come to find out the rodents (rats) had chewed on the wires on the tractor so the fuel gauge was showing full, but it was actually empty. He discovered that lots of other wires were chewed on as well. When I left, he was still working on splicing wires back together. Next step will be to try to rid the barn area of the varmits! I also saw deer tracks in the garden. That's not good. They will eat everything! Both of these species are hard to co-exist with. Someone call PETA because I will be poisoning the rats!

New bumper stickers...

Top o' the day to ya!

Today was oncologist day, which means labs and chest x-ray. There was a little shadow on the upper right lung, but the doctor was really not sure if it was anything or not. He was not real worried about it, but we will go back in 6 weeks to take another look. Dad is not having any trouble breathing and his labs were all good.

The luck o' the Irish seems to be with me as well. Finally, my blood glucose has been back down where it should be. I hope the Actos is the reason. This morning it was 119 and that makes me happy. Anything below 120 in the morning is a good start for me. I didn't eat at all today until I got back from taking Dad to the doc. Then I cooked pork chops, cabbage, corn bread and squash. I also ate Girl Scout cookies and I still got a good reading 2 hours after eating, so things are looking up!!!

Unsolved mysteries...

Lab results showed no abnormalities that would cause any fever, but I got an antibiotic anyway because I still had fever at night until last night. Doc has no clue what is causing it. The last night I had fever, it was not as bad and last night I had none. Who knows!!!

The blood sugar mystery is still a mystery as well. My HbA1C numbers went up another 2 points. This number was 7.4 which equals an average blood sugar of 160 over the last 3 months. National Diabetes Association wants it to stay under 7.0. Doc said I am his first patient that the Januvia did not improve blood sugars. Mine got worse, so he is trying Actos now. We will see how that works. I just don't want to take insulin shots yet!!!

WTH!

We have had rain for a good 24 hours now and we are all grateful for it. Drought has been the norm here ever since I moved here, so we are very glad to have this slow, cold rain. Now maybe my potatoes and corn will come up next week when it warms back up.


Strange things happening with me. For the last two days about the middle of the afternoon, I have gotten a fever that causes bad aches and chills. All I can do is take aspirins, which don't help much. Sometime during the night my fever breaks and I wake up all wet with sweat. What's up with that? I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my GP today for all the 3 month labs. He did a nose swab and checked for flu, but it was negative. We'll see what happens today. He wants to know if it goes above 101.


Holy CRAP! There goes my rain gutters I was going to put on the front of the house. I don't know why because we don't get enough rain to warrant them. The dentist got my rain gutters yesterday with a grand total of $700 for a crown. When it does rain, my front door becomes useless because the pitch of the roof causes the rain to dump right at the front door. No one can come in without getting soaked. It's a design flaw, but fixable with some gutters.

My luck ran out!

On Thursday, while eating an animal cracker, I broke a tooth. A big chunk of tooth and filling fell out and, as in most places in the USA, my dentist doesn't work on Friday. I guess I still have a little luck because it is a back tooth and it doesn't hurt. Couldn't get an appointment until Wednesday! It certainly is my luck that I got a refund deposited in my checking account from the IRS the same day. It never fails that when I get a little chunk of change, something happens requiring large sums of money. I'm sure this tooth thing will require a crown....not cheap!  

The same day I finally gave in and bought a new gallon of $35 touch up paint because I could not find what was left here after they painted the interior. I knew I had used it before, but I could not find it. Yes, of course, I found it yesterday in the attic. Yes, the paint is non-refundable.

Today, I got my farming clothes on and went to Dad's to work in the garden. Of course, I could not start the tiller. Brother came and started it with one pull!!! GRRR! I got everything tilled and looking good and planted 3 rows of corn. My poor daddy just can't do anything. He could not even push the little planting gizmo down the prepared row because he couldn't see the row. His eyesight just continues to deteriorate and there is not a thing that can be done for his particular type of macular degeneration. It's so sad to see him that way.