Oh glory! I have counter tops!

Well, the title is a little misleading...I have most of my counter tops. One small one is missing. This process is really a pain, but I think it's almost over. The refrigerator is still in another room, the dishwasher and microwave/hood are still in the carport and the sink is still on the side porch. Other than that it's mighty close to being done! The painter has repainting to do and the roof on the overhang outside the French doors still needs work...but it's all coming along! Thank goodness!

I feel like throwing everything away that I took out of the kitchen and stacked in the dining room and just starting over. If I could afford to I just really might do it!

Tuesday Bert and I (with the help of an ambulance) moved Mother to a nursing home. Before she left the rehab center she called almost everyone there "Nincompoops"! That's Mother! I do hope she'll not make folks angry at the new place.

Nancy and I have talked (lots) about visiting Mother. She actually doesn't remember if we were there recently or not. We both work (and I drive over from another town) and this trying to see her so often is taking quite a toll on both of us. This is going to be a long term thing with Mother and her physical health is fine. Soooo, we have decided to each see her one day a week each on a different day. I saw her Tuesday and Nancy will see her today. I feel sure that this isn't going to sit too well with Bert, but we're both tired and have to take care of us too. Wonder why I feel so damn guilty?

Just got my high speed internet service up and running. That's been quite a process too! It's amazing how much faster than dial up it really is! So nice to be able to post from home!

Got my power bill yesterday. It was the lowest I remember it being...$46.39! However, air conditioning season is just about here...

The light at the end of the tunnel

I'm just hoping that the light I think I see at the end of the tunnel isn't a train! The kitchen floor went in on Saturday and looks great! Yesterday the cabinets went in...no counter tops! They only measured yesterday for the counters!!!! and say it'll probably be a week before they're in...but the cabinets (except for the one falling off of the wall) look good, but the doors aren't even at the top or bottom...this is very expensive and is taking sooooo long and damn it, I want it right!

I was to get high speed internet service through EMBARQ yesterday. They say that order has been processed, however, something happened and I have no phone (thus, no internet either!). That should be resolved by 3:58 this afternoon. Can you believe it?

I know that other shoe is hovering!!!

Mother was to be moved to the nursing home tomorrow, but a bed came available in a private room (hard to come by) and she's being moved today. I feel sure the rehab center will be happy to see her go as she is very uncooperative, cranky and cusses quite a bit! We (actually Nancy) overheard two of the nursing staff one day last week say they could only hope she was leaving soon! I told Bert I'd be over there after work. I went yesterday but she was sound asleep and I didn't wake her. I did, however, put a sticky note on her chest so she'd know I'd been there.

The kittens are now mostly outdoor cats and they love it. I think they spend a lot of time under the house, but I've seen them in the main yard and out front. That worries me. I try to pray them safe. They do come in for meals, but getting the back door closed with them in isn't easy. If I happen to "trap" them inside the yowling is unbearable! Litter boxes are much easier to keep up with! Now instead of scooping 4 boxes twice a day I'm scooping once a day. Better!

The 1st Fletcher First Cousin Reunion on Saturday was fine. Nancy and I were not treated as cousins. Things were given out to family members. Nothing to us. Oh well...I told her that we were afterthoughts when the post marks on our invitation letters was 4 days past the RSVP date! She insisted and we went. We did get a free meal and I finally got to meet some of the people I hear about quite a bit. Ferrel Samms (sp?), the author, is a family member and was at our table. Nice to meet him. There were apx. 65 people there from new borns to Bert who is now the oldest at 90.

I just got off the phone with Bert. I'll meet him at the rehab center after work today and then go with him to the nursing home to help settle Mother in. Oh joy!

Bye Bye AOL

Yesterday Nancy sneaked her dog Maria in to see Mother. She put her in a purse and walked right in. She had to wake Mother, but she knew Maria and even said "Oh look, Maria came to see her Meemaw"! They didn't stay long.

Tomorrow Nancy & I will be going to the Waukulla Springs Lodge for the 1st Fletcher First Cousins Reunion. Should be interesting. We'll go by to see Mother before hand.

I just ordered Embarq high speed internet. They said I'll be up and running after 7pm Monday. I've had AOL for so long, but they have really not given me the service I've needed this time...and high speed will be nice!

My flooring and cabinets were delivered yesterday. They are in my carport, but at least they are here! The builders had to jack the kitchen floor up from under the house and got that done yesterday, so I'm hoping (I know it's foolish) that the floor or something is done when I get home today!

I think my ankle is finally getting better. I had to go upstairs twice this morning (here at work) and it didn't absolutely kill me. Yeah!

Probably won't post again until Monday or Tuesday.

I saw Mother yesterday

I was with Mother for a little over 2 hours yesterday. She seemed the most lucid that I've seen in the beginning. She made a pitiful stab at her lunch eating a total of 5-6 bites. She asked me why her parents haven't come to see her and I told her to think about it. She thought for a while and then asked if they had died and how long ago. While I was hanging up some of her clothes I had my back to her...she said "oh look at him, isn't he sweet, look at how nicely he just lays there". It was like she had a kitten or something. When I went over to see what she was talking about it was her right hand in her lap and she was petting it. Next Tuesday she'll be moved to The Consulate Nursing Home. This is a very sad time.

My kitchen is painted!

The beautiful tongue and groove ceiling and crown molding in my kitchen was painted a bright white and the walls an off white...I can live with that...yesterday. Looks great, now if there were just some cabinets and counter tops, etc.!

My new French doors are almost installed. They are in the hole, but that's all. They put a board across them, so now when Shirley needs to go out I have to put her leash on her and take her out the carport to the fenced in area. I sure do hope that's finished today! and, I hope they'll take the plywood down between the living room and the funny room. Oh, the house is such a mess, I can't imagine that I'll ever get it put back together or clean. The building dust has made it all the way to my bathroom, Every lampshade is covered and my bed even feels gritty! What a mess, what a mess!

Will go see Mother for lunch today.

Change is the norm

Years ago it dawned on me that the only thing that's really normal is change. Nothing ever stays the same, relationships, health, jobs, and all of the various day to day things that we often aren't even aware of undergo change constantly. Damn it, why can't we just find that comfort zone and stay put? I am so tired of the feeling of being tossed into the air and wondering where I'll land.

Not much change with Mother. Don't remember if I mentioned that she'll be moved to a nursing home on the 2nd...which one is still to be determined.

Chilly this morning.

They put beautiful spring flowers on my desk yesterday. Dogwood, redbuds, loropetalums, cherrys and something else. Now my office matches outside! Pretty. Sweet!

Oh, the builders installed wonderful old crown molding in my kitchen yesterday! Didn't know they were going to do that and it's really, really nice! Love it! Of course, the rest of the kitchen is still empty...oh well...maybe it'll be ready for Thanksgiving!

Wild weather

Yesterday was extremely windy! Wild day.

Yesterday Mother was more lucid than I've seen her since her stroke.

My internet access at home has been down for several days. Posting at work is hard. I'm waiting on a disc from AOL...they say 2 weeks! Ish!

The wearing of the green

So far everyone coming in to work this morning is wearing at least a touch of green. I think everyone should always wear green here as we are a nursery!

Mother fell out of bed Friday evening trying to reach her water...at least that's what they say. She wasn't hurt and doesn't remember it.

Saturday Nancy and I spent hours and hours looking for her tax information. We went through one closet and didn't find anything for taxes, but found stacks and stacks of magazines dating back to 1996! We tossed them along with one of the most extensive stashes of used tissue paper I've ever seen. She had empty boxes and shopping bags which we also tossed and lots and lots of just plain junk. There is another closet which we plan to do on Sunday.

We had taken shampoo and blow dryer with us when we went to see Mothero on Saturday, but she was asleep both times we went there so we didn't wake her to do her hair. Yesterday Nancy went there and washed & dried her hair. It had gotten so bad and smelled. When Nancy called me after doing her hair she was almost yelling. She had worked herself up with so much anger and wanted to take it out on me. When I told her finally that she had to get hold of her anger she practically hung up on me. Wouldn't answer my calls later. Oh well.

I was gone from home for 13 hours on Saturday. I told Bert that I'll not be visiting Mother this week as I need to stay off of my ankle as much as I can and I'm very tired. Also, gas is eating me alive!

I reinjured my ankle Saturday by slipping twice on the piles of stuff we'd tossed out of her closet and now it's very swollen and painful again.

Smokey and Bandi spent all day Sunday outside. They loved it. The builder had accidentally let both of them out on different days last week and every time the door is used they both rush it. I really hadn't planned on letting them out at all, but now it's a done deal. I do hope they'll stay close!

The builder thinks my new French doors will be in the first of this week. No news on the cabinets. I pray they finish soon. The was I'm living at home is worse than camping and there is a thick coating of dust on everything, even the bathrooms. No wonder the cats and I sneeze lots!

Mother update

After work yesterday I went to the rehab center to see Mother. She was in physical therapy and doing much better than the day before. Her nurse had washed her hair and it looked terrible, but clean. She said she wasn't feeling clean and I asked her what was bothering her the most and she said her teeth. Among the items Nancy and I took to her on Saturday were her toothbrush and toothpaste, but they haven't been used. I went back to her room and got them out and put them on her tray. I couldn't stay as long as the day before as I had an appointment across town. When I told her I had to go she burst into tears and said "Oh don't leave me Mommy". Needless to say not only did I cry, but her therapist did also.

Spring has sprung!

Everywhere you look something is blooming! The dogwoods, redbuds, cherry laurel, azaleas, bulbs of all sorts are in bloom and the camellias are still holding their blooms from January. It's beautiful!

My kitchen renovation is coming right along. Last week they gutted it. When they tore down the ceiling tiles they uncovered the original ceiling which is a wonderful tongue and groove thing. I'm going to keep it! Monday they did plumbing, Tuesday electrical and yesterday the insulation and drywall went in! I'm trying not to be too hopeful, but I do believe I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel! Yeah!

Monday when I got home from work I couldn't find Bandi. I thought she was just hiding and didn't really begin worrying until it was their supper time and no Bandi. She's never been outside and I know the workmen are careful about leaving the door open (I sorta yelled a lot about that in the beginning) so I was concentrating on the attic and the walls, in fact, last night I was sure she was behind the new drywall. But this morning when I let Shirley out I heard her and called and out she came from under the house. Thank goodness! My little group is now complete again!

I went to Tallahassee yesterday after work to see Mother. She was in physical therapy when I got there, in her wheelchair, slumped over with her head down and her eyes closed. Two girls were saying "Miss Jane, open your eyes, Miss Jane hold up your head" and she wouldn't. I walked over to her and said "Mother, what in the world are you doing?" Her head snapped up and her eyes opened and she said "Exercise"! I stayed with her for the remainder of that session and for her speech therapy. Then I took her back to her room and put her jacket on her as she was very cold. She was very cooperative. I'll go back after work today.

She's seeming much better!

When Nancy and I got to the rehab center yesterday Mother was in a wheelchair! First time and was much more lucid! She knew both of us and called us by name. First time. They brought her lunch and she fed herself (left hand). First time (as Bert fed her her breakfast).

She still has almost no use of the right side, though her nurse said she'd kicked the covers off the night before and she made a fist for us and flexed her fingers. She has trouble putting thought to word and trouble finding words.

We were so pleased with the progress.

Chilly here this morning.

Bill, thank you so much for your comment. I'm embarrassed, but do we know you?

More Mother news

They moved Mother to a rehab center late yesterday. The ccu unit nurse told Nancy that the main reason they moved her so quickly was that she was fighting them and was uncooperative.
Nancy and I will visit her there today. I pray this will be the stimulus she needs. The MRI of her brain showed massive damage. I don't know how much improvement we should expect. Her general physical condition has been upgraded from critical to fair. Her heart, lungs, etc. are good. This is so hard.

Yet another update

Bert called me at work twice this morning. He (and her attending Dr.) wanted to surgically implant a feeding tube in Mother's abdomen. I've heard such horror stories about people having to get court orders to remove same when the patient wasn't going to recover and told him that. I really thought we should wait a few more days before doing something that drastic. After all, she's being fed IV and the chance of recovering her swallowing ability should improve as she improves. Anyway he called Nancy and she was all for it, so they overruled me and did it. She came through the surgery quite well and I was there when she woke up in recovery. She was pretty alert, though her speech isn't good at all. She seemed to know me, or at least liked me. She tried to talk, but got very agitated when she couldn't. Bert went home for a much needed rest and I called Nancy who got there around 3 o'clock. We left at 4 o'clock. We told both Bert and Mother that we wouldn't be there tomorrow, but probably would be there on Saturday. Mother has no concept of time or days, etc. But I explained it to her a couple of times and I figure it may sink in some day.

Mother update

There is no significant change in Mother. The doctors say she had a major stroke and it will be a week to 10 days before we really know anything. They had a music therapist in with her yesterday and she tried to sing along and move her good foot with the music. That sounds good.

They began tearing out my kitchen Tuesday. It has been totally gutted, cabinets, walls down to the studs, floor and ceiling. Friday I bought a tomato and an avocado...can't find them...I suppose that if this cold ever goes away I'll be able to smell them out!

Mother

Mother had a stroke yesterday. She's stable now and in Cardiac Intensive Care. I haven't called anyone as I'm so scattered and can't find my address book. Rosie, I have your # on my cell and when I get it charged up and know something more I'll give you a call. Nancy, Bert and I were with her until midnight and then Nancy and I left. Bert stayed...we're worried about him as he is 90 and really not handling this well at all.

She is having speech problems (counts a lot) and is partially paralyzed on her right side and very confused, doesn't know her name or the date or what happened or where she is, etc..

We have a big storm coming in today with tornadoes, hail and such.

Daddy died on the 5th of March.

Back to work

Went back to work yesterday. Probably should stay out for a few more, but you know about the old pocket book! My ear is still bothering me even though I finished the antibiotic yesterday and I'm weak as all get out! This past week I did nothing but sleep and then toward the end of the week watched movies on DVD's. If you haven't seen it, "No Reservations" is really a feel-good movie!

We got over 7 inches of rain last week...really needed it...and we have more coming today. Yeah!

Work's work. Found some porn (actually, lots of porn) on the computer in my office yesterday. That idiot that moved to my old desk was dumb enough to leave it on the desk top unprotected scattered in with pictures of his grandchildren! Stupid! Sick! Ugly!

Catching up

I started the new job in Home Office last Wednesday. I have a lovely office with an antique computer. I'm filing, answering the phone and going to the post office. Not good.

HWB and the guys at the old job sent flowers and candy with a card saying it was for my first day on the new job and an early Valentines Day wish.

Wednesday afternoon I went to the dermatologist in Tallahassee. Several of the places my GP was concerned about were nothing. The place on my nose was removed and required a stitch inside and one outside. There were two places on my lip that he froze. The shots in my nose and the freezing were most painful.

Thursday was Valentines Day. Got several things of candy and another flower. One of the girls brought in homemade chicken and dumplings and a large salad. Nice.

I was sick all weekend and when I got up Monday morning was much worse. Was at my doctor's office at 7:30 when they opened and told them I wouldn't leave until I could see someone. They said they'd fit me in at 10:15. Went to work. At 10:15 went to the doctor. I have flu (had the flu shot, but it seems the shot is only covering around 40 percent of the strains going aroung) and a secondary bacterial ear infection and fluid on my lungs. He perscribed an antibiotic for the ear. Went on to the post office and back to work. Sorted the mail and came home.

Had only been home a short time when my builder called and wanted a key to the house. He came by and picked it up and asked if I could do without a kitchen for a few weeks. Ha!

Yesterday I called work and told them I didn't know when I'd be back.

Still feel rotten and the antibiotic has torn my stomach up!

It's been quite a week.

A little progress.

I still haven't made the big move to home office. I'm told it'll be this coming Wednesday. That also is the day my skin cancer surgery is scheduled for. I've already told them and I'll have to leave an hour early on my first day there.

I am seeing progress with my office. Monday there was a desk with no drawers. Tuesday there was a stack of drawers in the corner. Wednesday the drawers were in, two don't fit too well. Thursday there was a computer on the desk and today a red leather (old) chair had been added. There is still no desk chair and everything is rather dirty. Watching this has been fun.

I really was a wreck on Monday. I didn't sleep very well over the weekend because of fretting over the move. And a fellow who is moving into the office I'm leaving was there when I got in. He's a nice guy, but sharing a phone and a computer has had it's challanges! But, when I left today I was just fine and feel sure I will be this weekend.

Those storms that ran through our midsection (our as in our country) two days ago were unreal!
So many people have lost so much. Our driver said he saw several flat bed semis carrying what looked like FEMA trailers while he was on I-10 today.

Neither of my daughers, who live on the fringes of the horrid weather paths, have posted lately. That's not really odd, we all go through spells of not posting. I'm just an ol' worry-wart, always have been and probably always will be!

I've been cutting pennies a bit finer lately. I dropped Callwave, though I loved it and dropped the call forward busy feature that I had to have from Embarq in order to use Callwave. That's going to save about $12.50 a month. Then my sister told me about a calling package that she just got with Embarq that includes local and long distance (.10 a min.!) and is $19.99 a month. So I called and changed to that and that's another $10.00 a month savings! Then I changed my newspaper subscription from 7 days a week to Sunday only. That's going to save me about $12.00 a month! So with just a few changes I'm saving ball-park about $35.00 a month! That's $420.00 a year! That's a new TV or a tank of propane! I'm going to try to put $35.00 aside each month and at least I should be able to get at least one tank of propane! If I'd quit smoking that'd be another $140.00 a month...then I could stop eating and then stop feeding the animals and stop doing electric and water and damn it, that is how it feels! The prices of things are going up so quickly and the money in the pocket isn't!

Tomorrow I'm going to try to dig the lantanas out of the front bed. They do take over and are frightfully ugly in the winter and I want them gone. I was thinking that if I can't dig them out I'll tie a rope around them and into the tingy in the trunk of my car and yank them out. We'll see, it should be fun! The weather is supposed to be wonderful, 72-75 degrees day time and high 40's night times!

Still no progress to report on the kitchen. I'm down to 2 forks, 1 plate and three bowls. I'm ready. It'll take me less than 1/2 an hour to clear it totally! Need to call my builder.

A Wonderful Friday

Earlier this week I asked for a day off to take care of some things and HWB suggested Friday as both he and Paul would be gone off and on during the rest of the week.

Yesterday he told me that I would be going to the home office as of Monday. That's what he'd said earlier, but changed it a few days later because of painting. So now it's back on for Monday.

Anyway, I was off today and slept a little late, played on the computer, went to the bank, paid some bills, gassed up the car and went to Thomasville. Had a nice day and fretted the entire time about the upcoming change.

Today is Nancy's 59th birthday. I woke up this morning early, 3:40ish, and called her office and sang Happy Birthday to her answering machine. We'll celebrate both tomorrow and Sunday!

It's going down to the low 30s tonight and I'm out of propane. They'll be here Monday to fill 'er up, but in the mean time...thank goodness for pets! We'll sleep warm!

Another small delay

Monday HWB told me that I'd not be moving to the main office on Monday after all. It seems they are painting the floor in the office that the girl whose office I'm moving to is moving to and they think the drying time will be a bit longer in this weather, so he said to expect 2-3 days delay. Why am I not surprised? This has been hanging over my head since October...what's a few more days?

I voted yesterday at 7:15am...was only the 12th person in my precinct to vote, but heard this morning that the final turn out was quite large! November should be interesting.

Cold rain this morning.

No kitchen news other than everything, except for the few things I use daily, is packed away and in the dining room and what's left in there is in boxes and just will have to be moved when the time comes...hope that's soon.

Friday my sister will be 59 years old! Told her that I wasn't old enough to have a sister that old! Saturday she and I will be going to Talbot's to spend some coupons and later we'll meet Mother and Bert at the Seinyard to feast! Then on Sunday Nancy & I will be going to Quincy to see Bye, Bye Birdie. Should be fun.

And yet another rainy, cold Saturday

How fortunate can one be? Another rainy and cold Saturday. My favorite kind of day at home! I think weather like this gives me permission to stay in and bundle up and cook a little and watch movies and read. And, not to go anywhere!

I worked on the kitchen both Thursday and last night. All the upper cabinets are emptied, 2 drawers are emptied and about a third of the lower cabinets are done. I've packed up all the do-dads and stuff and taken all the pictures off of the 'fridge. I'm thinking I need to empty the refrigerator, or at least clear it of all but the bare necessities. I'm going to move the coffee pot to my bathroom and the microwave to the bedroom...maybe the electric skillet, too. Wonder how long I'll have to live like this? I started packing the kitchen the end of August and here it is the end of January. Not a real calming place to say the least. The kittens love it...new mountains to climb almost daily!

One more week to go at work.

There's something I don't understand about this tax rebate thing. How in the world is it going to make any kind of long term difference if they don't also slash income taxes? This feel like a bandage on a severed limb...the blood's still going to seep out.

I filed my income tax this past week. I am getting a small return, thank goodness! Last year I didn't do my withholding at work right and had to pay $270 something. My goal is to break even, not owe and not have any of my income being used without interest for a year and then have to jump through hoops with forms to get my own money back more than a year later. There's definitely something wrong with out tax structure.

There, I'm done.

It's Unofficial

Well, unofficially, I'll be moving to the home office on the 4th of February. That's a week from this coming Monday. I'm looking forward to getting away from the gloom and doom that covers us where I am, but I'm really dreading what it looks like from this side of the glass...I've been told twice (yesterday was the second time) that I'll be handling the phones and filing...yeah! Talk about potential boredom and really torn up hands! Oh well, I guess I can do anything for 31 months (that's when I plan to retire).

Leah Jane came by yesterday with soup and wine. I can tell this morning that I ate less soup than I should have and drank more wine than was wise on a "school night".

We've had almost 3" of rain since Saturday and more in the forecast!

I've almost emptied the kitchen. Ran out of boxes, but brought more home from work yesterday. My shoulders and arms and hips and legs hurt quite a bit from climbing up and down the ladder all weekend in order to get the things from the top shelves. I'd climb up get a small armful and climb down and put it in a box...must have done that 80 million times! Probably have another good mornings worth to do. I'm hoping that I'll not have to do more until this weekend.

Well, it's over.

My divorce was final on Thursday. I filed with sadness.

Not much other news...it's a cold and rainy (thank goodness) Saturday, my favorite kind!

Work's still uncomfortable, but both HWB and Paul were gone Thursday and Friday and even though that increased my hours both days (I closed) and my work load (which I enjoyed) I found it a restful break. No dark, gloomy moods to deal with.

I'm going to try to get to Tallahassee to the Social Security office on Monday.

I'm having skin cancer surgery on the 13th of next month. On my face. Two places. There are other places I need to have looked at.

Atlanta got a good snow. That should decrease the rain deficit a tad.

And the year builds up speed!

This is actually my first posting of the year and it's already the 13th of January! Wow! How in the world can that be?

A lot is going on at work. Not good stuff. Two of our guys (out of 7) were fired yesterday and one was transferred to another division a week ago. A few days back I asked HWB again if I was going to have to go to the home office and he said yes, but not in January. How Weird is this? Orders are slow coming in, the phone is very quiet and walk-ins are few and far between. We have gotten several rather large orders and that's keeping the fellows in the nursery pretty busy...but the office is awfully still! And, it's very tense and moods are rather dark.

We are having rain! It began night before last and has rained off and on. I saw on the computer yesterday that it should continue through tomorrow! I pray it does!

Last Saturday I met Mother and Nancy at the mall and we shopped one store for a couple of hours and we all got some neat stuff. Nancy and I got lots of socks that were half price! We ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday. I shopped Publix on the way home and still got back home by 3pm!

Tomorrow Nancy and I are going to brunch at 11am and I'm going to try to get back early because I've got to clear out the kitchen. Even though I'm starting today I'm sure there will be more to do for a few more days.

The cabinets have been ordered and they'll tear out the old cabinets in about 2 weeks and re-do the kitchen window. Then they'll do the floor and then the new cabinets and counters will go in. They'll replace the French doors and put a little overhang outside because the water splashing up from the stoop is causing the doors to split and warp and put in a pocket door between the kitchen and the funny room. They'll have the lighting fixtures I've gotten installed and paint the living room, dining room, funny room and kitchen. They say that once they start it'll be 3-4 weeks. I'm going to put the coffee pot in my bathroom and the microwave on my dresser. I guess the refrigerator will go in the living room. I have a feeling that time is going to slow down considerably during this process!

Mother and Bert are going to Italy in May. Sure hope they get there, at first mother told me that they were taking a ship but a second later that they were flying! I guess I'll hear.

Yardman mowed earlier this week. Looks so much better. Actually it was only weeds and fallen Spanish moss and pecans that were cut but it made a major difference! Whew!

Someone is taking my firewood. At first I thought I might be imagining it, but I counted a couple of areas and sure 'nuff the count went down. Damn it! I paid good money for that wood and I use it and I want it! Wish I knew what to do.

and another one bites the dust!

Well, it's officially New Years Eve Morning and it really seems we have these more and more often! As years are for everyone, this one was really full, but short! When I graduated from high school in 1963 the year 2000 wasn't actually a concept in my mind and just look at it now, we're just a day away from 2008! Wow! Who woulda thunk it?

The brother of one of Nancy's classmates died Christmas eve. The funeral was in Monticello on Saturday. Nancy came over and we went both to the Church and to the cemetery. There was a reception afterwards. All in all the entire thing was 5 hours, give or take. Mike was a Catholic priest.

Yesterday was dark and dreary and quite warm. We had a high of 79! "They" are saying it could be in the teens mid-week. Read Friday, Saturday and Sunday newspapers, took the trash out to the road and watched a bunch of sci-fi movies. Absolutely wonderful! It started raining around 6 last night and rained pretty hard most of the night. I heard the Atlanta area got 4 good days of rain. Thank goodness!

Planning a quiet evening in.

Happy New Year!

Christmas

The shear dread of yesterday that I had for several days prior to the actual day was way blown out of proportion. It was actually rather nice.

I drove to Nancy's house and we exchanged gifts there and then it was off to Nancy B.'s house. Oddly enough, we beat Mother and Bert there!...and we were a little late. We had driven by the house before, but never been in. It's as cute as a button! Very cottage like and homey! We had more food to eat than I had imagined and even though I thought I used restraint, I walked away feeling like a Christmas goose, stuffed! I got home around 4pm and exhaled.

Work is closed today. I'm using one of my two days of accumulated vacation time to pay for it. We only get a day a year and I've been there a little over 2 years. All that changes next week...I go up to the "Big House". I'm sure home office will be okay, I'm just dreading it! I'd hoped to stay where I am for the next 32 months, then I could have "retired" from there...no perks for doing that, just the comfort of the same.

Dreary, cold day today. Should clean out the fireplace and bring in wood. It's going to be another newspaper, TV and computer day! Yeah!!

Functional Families?

I know that somewhere out there there are families that truly have love and the sense of a strong bond of kinship.

Nancy and I went to Mother's house at 9am yesterday. I'd talked with her on Thursday and told her I'd bring a Mississippi Mud cake and for her to put on a pot of coffee. Well, first off when we got there at 9am she met us at the door saying we were 30 minutes early...and it sorta went downhill from there. I'll not elaborate, but suffice it to say I don't think Mother is speaking to either me or my sister. Christmas Day should be priceless!

The weather is chilly, damp and weary. Not really cold enough to light a fire (need to clean out the fireplace), but just enough cold for the furnace to cycle on every now and then and the thermostat is set on 62.

I work until noon tomorrow. Work really was nice to me this Christmas! Got 2 gift certificates to Johnson's Meat Locker, a big basket of goodies individually wrapped to open in numbered order for the 12 days before Christmas, a Mississippi Mud Cake, scented oils with the reeds in it, 2 pairs of fuzzy fun socks & foot cream, 5lbs of shelled pecans and a really good hamburger and hot dog cook out on Friday! Of course, folks brought in all sorts of eats and eat we did! On Thursday I took in a big pot of chili and it was gone by 1pm! It was a fun week last week!

On Friday HWB sent me to Thomasville, GA to pick up a gray fox pelt he'd left with the taxidermist a few months back. When I gave it to him I told him it was beautiful (it is!), but dead.

I hadn't heard about the Elf's that kids are getting until HWB told me about the ones his girls have gotten. They got them before Christmas. They do mischief at night...of course the parents do it, but it's a hoot! They elves made a mess in the kitchen trying to make coffee one night and one night moved HWB's vehicle and left the motor running and the wipers going, etc. There was an elf on the gas pedal and one on the steering wheel when they were found!

I'm thinking this will be a good tv movie and newspaper day!

Rain!

I was to meet Nancy at Bradley's Country Store in Tallahassee at 8am yesterday. When I got up it was spitting rain...not hard, but rain! Was a little after 8 getting there due to a flat bed truck that was broken down or unloading in the middle of a two lane road. Nancy pulled in shortly behind me due to the same darn truck. We ate foot long sausages and shopped and rocked on the front porch. Nice.

Got home around 10:30am.

Watched sappy Christmas movies all afternoon. Nice.

Then the real rain came. It came down in buckets! Filled the bird bath!

This morning the wind was blowing in from the North...bringing in cold that we've all been wanting. Our high today is to be yesterday's low and tonight a freeze is forecast. All last week we were in the mid-80's this week it's to be mid to low 50's. Wow! That a change. Must bring in fire wood. Hope it's dryish.

It's sooo close to Christmas!

It's only 2 1/2 weeks till Christmas. Where does time go?

Nancy and I had decided to go out to eat one the Sunday before Christmas and call it done. Mother and Bert hadn't mentioned doing anything and that way we'd have a longer run of time off from work and nothing pending. Then yesterday everything changed. It seems that Bert had talked to his daughter, Nancy B., and expressed his dismay that we weren't having a family do for Christmas. So now we're all going to her house on Christmas day. We cancelled our reservations for Sunday. Mother and Bert are bringing the turkey and a ham. Nancy and I are both bringing casseroles and pies. Nancy B. and Mark are doing wine and salad and something else. Should be nice.

I do find it rather funny that Mother and Bert have gone their own way for the past Christmases. Wonder what makes this one so different? Of course, Mother is livid that it's going to be at Nancy B.'s house. She is so jealous of Nancy B.

Yesterday was Monticello's Christmas Downtown Get Down. Nancy came over from Tallahassee and we went. Great fun! Lots of vendors, lots of food, wonderful singing group and a parade with Santa on a fire truck! I don't remember seeing a night time parade before. It was fun!

Thursday HWB took me on a tour of the 700 acres that comprise the nursery. I do love it! I picked out an Oakleaf Holly to decorate for the office and one of the boys brought it in for me on Friday. Looks great! He also asked me if I was still okay about moving to the main office. Told him I was never okay with it. I move on the 1st, damn it! They aren't replacing me where I am and HWB said that perhaps in April we could make some more changes. Not so sure what that means. We'll see.

I'm finally feeling okay. The antibiotic I was taking really tore me up. I stopped taking it when the whites of my eyes turned quite yellow. They are better now, too.

It's warm here today. Just looked at an extended forecast and it's projected to be warm for several days. Saves on the propane, but it doesn't feel much like Christmas!

Ear Infection

Finally got in to see the doctor at 2:15 yesterday. It seems I have a middle ear infection with a heavy build up of fluid behind the ear drum. That explains the wobble I have when I try to move around. My equilibrium is terribly off. I think the animals are laughing at me when I bounce from furniture to furniture or wall to wall! Shame on them!

Will be taking Amoxicillin for 10 days.

It's a shame to be home and not be able to do anything...so much needs to be done and there are so many things I want to do. Oh well.....

I did make a pot of cream of curried chicken soup yesterday. It's good, it's hot and it goes down okay. So I'm living on soup and Ritz crackers and Sleepy Time Tea.

Rosie and family are sick too.

The Bug

Yesterday while at work the boss asked if I wanted the heat turned up. When I said "no" he put his hand on my forehead and said "Girl you're burning up, go home". So I did. It's my throat and when I woke up this morning my ear is involved too. Dang it! I'll try to get in to see my doctor today.

There's a funeral this afternoon that I wanted to go to. Anabelle Rogers died. She was the most amazing seamstress and sewed a gazillion wonderful things for me when I was a teen. Mother is going and I planned to meet her there. I'll have to give Mother a call...oh, I hope she doesn't come by here!

Haven't heard anything from my kitchen man, so I guess it will be after the first of the year before he gets started. Want to have the living room, dining room and funny room painted also...I'm thinking of a grayed green...still looking for the right paint chip. I've found many that are close, but no cigar. But, cocoa brown keeps popping into my head. That could be fun.

When I got home yesterday Shirley was shivering terribly, so I put her sailor dress on her and within minutes she was just fine. I need to get her some pajamas and a new sweater as she's outgrown her turtle-neck. I gave Maria her rain coat and I'll give her the turtle-neck too. I tried the turtle-neck on Smokey. I think he was doing triple flips in the air! Had a little trouble catching him to take it off!

Oh good! I think I just heard the newspaper arrive.

I feel rotten!

I made it through Thanksgiving!

Yesterday was nice. When I got up around 4:30 am it was pouring rain!!! Thanksgiving! It rained until time for me to leave around 10:15 am. Not some piddling little spitting rain, REAL rain! Yeah!

I went to Nancy's house and we road together to the country club. She really wanted to beat Mother and Bert there and we did, by about 30 minutes! We had coffee and cookies while we waited at the table...nice. Mother and Bert were the next to arrive and then Nancy and Mark.

Nancy B. brought dear little cut Thanksgiving arrangements for each of us. Mine, of course is in the bathroom, safe from marauding kittens!

The food was abundant and very good. I didn't eat turkey as I still had half of a breast that I roasted Sunday. I just finished making a big pot of Spanish Bean Soup with the remainder.

Mother was very good. Only one barb that we were aware of...something about Nancy P. not having a slip on.

Was home by 2:30 pm and just frittered away the rest of the day.

Responsibilites

When I was a teen I went to camp in the mountains or N. or S. Carolina. They were in the middle of a drought that was several years old. One morning some friends and I went exploring and found a small, broken, abandoned house sitting beside a totally dried up little lake. We walked across and even in the very middle it was inches and inches thick of dried, cracked red mosaic clay of unbelievable beauty. It was also very frightening. We'd heard of predicted catastrophes and to us this was an example. Later, maybe the next year, it was full of water. The house was even more broken and still abandoned.

I've seen other dry water basins, but none as intimately as the first one. (It was about 20 years later that I saw my first trashed and polluted lake.)

I'm certain that, as with most things, the climate is cyclical. Granted, this shift is more abrupt than I've seen. We've sorta given it a kick-start with out globe-wide carbon-based emissions.

There is an answer, but are we in our immature selfishness willing to pay the extreme price that is required? We must stop, not phase out, at least 50% of all carbon-based emissions. We have to do it now.

If no one drove on the weekend that would make a difference. If all thermostats were set on 63 degrees in the daytime in the winter and 55 degrees at night, and 83 degrees in the daytime in the summer and 72 degrees at night that would make a difference.

I know there are many ways each of us can make a difference, and we've gotta do it.

I know the CFL bulbs do really make a difference in my electric bill, but I find them too cool for winter. Unfortunately, I've found that I really depend to the heat from the incandescent bulb in the lamp by my chair!

Something has to be done about land fills and dumps and trash that each of us create. Not too sure what the answer is there. Eliminating consumer plastics may be a good start.

Count down to Thanksgiving

Daily I think of my blessings and give thanks for them. I also find myself chastising my thoughts for often dwelling on the problems in my life. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to look at the problems as opportunities or challenges and in some convoluted way turn them into blessings also!

My contractor for the kitchen came by earlier this week. Now he's saying it'll be the first of the year before he can begin on the renovation. He'll be tearing out all of the cabinets, plaster walls, ceiling and floor...guess that's called gutting it. I have no idea how long this will take and certainly am not looking to the process...just the end results. The floor will have to be completely rebuilt as the joists have warped and the cabinets were built into the plaster walls. Wow! Sounds like a mess to me!

I'd like to have 2 pocket doors put in and he's going to completely change out the french door as it's warped and there's a big gap that weather gets in. He'll also put in a new kitchen window. I've only met with the cabinet people once...I'm looking forward to the next meeting as we'll get down to specifics.

The TV just said that it's 26 degrees now. I actually had to turn on the heat...set it on 65 degrees and am very bundled up! Had a lovely fire last night, but as it died down around 8 o'clock the animals and I went to bed. Fought with Goodness all night. He was bound and determined to sleep on top of me and I just couldn't handle it. Every time I moved him off he growled! He was determined to go out this morning around six o'clock, but when I went out to get the news paper he came in. That lasted about 15 minutes...he's out now. He's tried to tell me that he may be domesticated but he is not a house cat!

Work is funny right now...some days it's dead as a door nail and somedays (like Thursday and Friday) it's total bedlum! I figured that since we're closed 3 days next week folks were placing orders that normally they would place next week. I'm thinking Monday and Tuesday will be wild!

No plans this weekend (YEAH!). Just the usual, laundry and stuff.

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From one extreme to another

Wednesday morning we wore to 28 degrees outside (and not much better inside!) and the weatherman said our norm for that date was 50! Needless to say, I had a fire in the fireplace that night and every night since. Did try the central heat and it works, but I'm not sure how much propane is in the tank, so I just put the thermostat on 60 to keep the chill off and I called to have the tank filled. They are coming tomorrow to fill it. I've been sleeping a little warmer than I like what with a blanket, comforter, 4 cats and a dog all on top of me, so I've actually been a bit too warm!

My sister is coming over today and we're going to the Catholic church bar-b-que for lunch. We'll get take out and come back here to eat. Should be good!

Bandi is finally getting to be her old self again. That surgery really knocked her for a loop. She's finally eating and running, etc. Thank goodness!

Daylight Savings Time is Gone!

The majority of my time this morning has been spent on changing clocks & watches! I think the only one I haven't done is the one in the car, but traditionally I just subtract an hour for 6 months. I did read in the car manual about how to do it...I'll just have to get the darn book out again.

Actually had fun yesterday. Mother was in a pretty good frame of mind...we only had a couple of tiny head butts. I got several very nice outfits that will mix well with some of the things I have already and a couple of pairs of shoes. Nice! After shopping I drove us to The Atlanta Bread Company where we had a wonderful lunch and chit-chat. Mother has made the reservations for Berts birthday, I'm a little worried that it's just a couple of days after Thanksgiving and the night of the FSU/FL game...I'm not sure what time the game is. After lunch we drove through the parking lot row by row hunting Mother's car. I finally found it, but had to insist to her that it was indeed her car. She got home okay.

Went to Walmart and did my monthly pet food shopping. Compared to the Winn Dixie here in town prices are like 2/3s at Walmart. I hate to go there in the middle of the day on a Saturday, I know what a mob scene it'll be and sure 'nough, it was! I was almost 45 minutes in the check out line!

Went by Nancy's house on the way out of town. Her new metal roof is dynomite! It's a charcoal grey and really looks sharp against the salmon color she painted the trim on the house. Visited just a few minutes. Got home a little after 3.

I was totally pooped after emptying the car and putting the groceries and pet food away. I knew that if I didn't get a few things done I'd do nothing at all if I sat down. So I emptied litter boxes, swept the back hallway, living room, funny room, kitchen and side porch, changed the water reservoir thingy, took out the trash and did a couple of other things and then collapsed into my chair where I promptly nodded off for about half an hour. Still went to bed rather early!

It's a beautiful cool morning, 40s and our high should be the mid 70s. Perfect, though we do need rain.

Busy, busy, busy

HWB's surgery went well and Paul's mother is recovering from her surgery.

Yesterday HWB's wife called in a small panic. They were in Tallahassee for his first physical therapy and had left the referral papers at home. So I dashed out to their house (way out in the country) found the papers and dashed back to the office to fax them to the therapist. Then Paul's wife called to tell him that she's scheduled for more test on Tuesday...her blood pressure has been having major spikes and then lows and the doctors have no idea what's causing it. Hope they'll finally be able to put their fingers on the problem and fix it!

Mother sent me a check for my health insurance and it arrived on Thursday. When I opened the envelope I discovered she hadn't signed it, so I called her. Well, I got no answer, but I knew that Bert was playing golf and Mother has a 2:30 beauty parlor appointment on Thursdays so I just jumped in my car and dashed to Tallahassee. Pulled into their driveway at 3:30 and sat there until 4:30 when Bert got home...Mother was almost 5:30 getting home, she'd changed her appointment because she'd played bridge all day. Anyway, she signed the check and I got home around 6:30.

Yesterday I met Martha Jean and Mary Helen for lunch. We have a new place in town. A lovely bakery/tea room in an antique shop. Soups, salads and sandwiches. Wonderful! I saw bunches of people I know and had a wonderful time!

This coming Tuesday is election day, Bandi is going in to be spayed and I have an appointment with a lawyer. Should be quite a day.

I'm meeting Mother this morning at 10 at Talbot's. Yeah! New clothes!

I've been much busier than I've intended to be.

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday was my evaluation day. It went quite well...no negatives. Then when they were finished HWB said that there was another matter they needed to discuss with me. He said that I'd be moving to our parent company's office sometime between now and the 25th of December. Now, It's just up the road, probably 3/4 of a mile closer to home, so that's not a problem, I just HATE change. It'll be 8-1 (same as now), but I'll no longer be the "queen"...oh well, that's life. Damn it! It seems that a lot of changes are going to be made...it'll be interesting to see just what all goes down.

This is the first Halloween in a very long time I haven't dressed up for the day. Just am not into it this year.

I'll have the place to myself today. HWB is having shoulder surgery at 7:30 this morning and Pauls mother is having her foot amputated above the ankle today (diabetes). Prayers for both.

I'm thinking I didn't have Smokey neutered soon enough...I think Bandi's preggers. Just what I need...more kittens!

Saturday post script

I got to Nancy's house at 11:00am yesterday...she'd asked me to come early and help her spot for cat poop. Maria likes to clean the litter box for her and what she doesn't eat she hides around the house. We both looked and found quite a bit!

The girls, Noreen and Diane, arrived exactly at 1:00pm and we sat down to play. We took a few cigarette breaks and several eating breaks and a lot of chatting and we actually got three rubbers in in 3 hours. That's pretty good! Fun.

Got home around 5:30 and found quite a mess. The kittens found one of Shirley's sweaters and brought it in from the side porch and between the two of them and Shirley they managed to unravel the darn thing all over the house!...and, shredded the ball tassels everywhere!

Went outside after cleaning up the sweater to just look at how things are faring and it's amazing how fallish it all looks in such a short time frame! Dumped the rain gauge and it held 4 1/2 inches! We sure needed that! It's very cool this morning.

Mother and Bert left yesterday for the mountains. They were to leave quite early and drive to Atlanta to get several good hours of shopping in and then drive on up to NC today. I think they're only staying a week.

Saturday!

Today I'm going to Nancy's house to play bridge. I'm not the best player in the world and get a little nervous when playing with new folks...I do know one of the girls playing and of course Nancy, so there's only one stranger...doable.

We had 24 hours of major rain yesterday. The same system that did the tornado in Pensacola came on through. It really stormed, but thankfully, no tornadoes.

When I got home from work yesterday "T", an old fellow who does odd jobs and yard work around town, was picking up pecan tree limbs from my yard that the storm brought down. The trees are full of ripe pecans now and the limbs are very heavy with them. Add rain and wind and down they come! There were actually quite a few. I sure did appreciate that, gave him $5.00, wish I'd had more to spare.

Work is still slow. I'm wondering if it's going to pick up. I sure would hate for it to close...of course it'd be a wonderful write-off for our parent company. Just a little under 3 years and I can retire with SS (if it's still there) more comfortably than if I retire now...couldn't live on what I'd get now...and in 3 years I'll qualify for medicare. That's important. My health insurance now is around $750.00 a month...the company pays half. I'd have to do without insurance if I took retirement now, but it sure is tempting!

7' ladder

The weather is sooooo odd! We've been in the high 80's the past few days with high 60's at night. I've been wearing a sweater to work and shedding it fairly early to just a t-shirt for the rest of the day and it's OCTOBER! Oh well, I'm sure that in a few weeks that too will change.

Mother got her car...a 2008 Lincoln. It was her anniversary present from Bert. Wonder what she'll get for 5 years?

Did you know that you can't get a 7' ladder? How dumb is that? I needed a ladder and decided that a 7' one would be just perfect. Well, after extensive searching I found you can only get one in even feet. Dumb, dumb, dumb! So I finally broke down and ordered an 8' one from Lowes. It came Friday and of course I immediately brought it in and set it up in the living room where it still sits usually with a little black cat (Smokey) perched on top. He's the only one who gets up there and he climbs it a rung at a time. He has a little chase-the-tail dance he does once he's on top. What a hoot!

It's FALL!

This morning it's chilly outside, not at all cold, just chilly. We've had such hot weather, I know the rest of the country is having odd temps, too. Wonder what it means for the winter. I haven't had my propane tank filled yet, I just can't face trying to find that $400 it's going to take. I still have a good stock pile of wood. I guess it's good. Does wood go bad? It's been soaked and dried so many times...well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I'd rather get another $200 pile of wood than propane...maybe a space heater or two.

Saturday morning Nancy and I were to meet Mother at 8am for sausage dogs and cokes at Bradley's Country Store. Well, Nancy arrived first and I got there right at 8. We sat on the porch and waited for Mother. About 5 after 8 we saw her zip by. We waved. She came back around 8:15. She'd gotten lost and somehow missed Bradley's...she had to stop and get directions. She's only been going there for 40+ years.

Mother's talking about getting a new car. That's the last thing she needs. I hate to even think of her driving at all. She and Bert have been married 4 years this month. Bert's 90th birthday is next month. Mother's planning to have a big dinner party at a local restaurant...around 20 people. She doesn't want any help. Hope she pulls it off.

Had my flu shot yesterday. Have you had yours?

Another Helen update

I finally got through to Helen around 4 this afternoon. They just rang me to her room and I woke her. At first she didn't seem to know just who I was, but then her head seemed to clear and we had a reasonable conversation. She had trouble telling time. I told her it was around 4pm and she said she thought it was 9am. Then she asked again what time it was and I said 4:15, she said no, it's 6:15 and we had a few more of those. Brenda had told me that she wasn't eating, so I asked her about her weight. She said she weighs about 100lbs. But she has trouble eating and I suggested something liquid like Boost or Slim Fast or the like. She said she'd ask Brenda to bring her some. She's not meeting folks there, not getting around, not going out into the gardens. She says she's too tired and just wants to sleep. Brenda said that she didn't think Helen would ever leave there. For Helen's sake I hope she's wrong.

Helen update

I got a call from Helen's daughter this morning. Seeing her name on the phone made my heart sink...I felt sure that something had happened with Helen.

I haven't talked with Helen for 6-7 weeks or so. We didn't part on such good terms the last time we talked and I stopped answering her calls for a while and then I didn't get any more. How stupid and small of me!

Anyway, Helen fell and broke her hip on August 9th. She's in a nursing/rehab place. She hates it "in her lucid times", Brenda said. Helen has been officially diagnosed with dementia. Helen has suspected this for a long time, 3-4 years. She really has fought and feared this and now when she has good times her worst fears are her reality. Brenda said she sleeps a lot and when I tried to call her earlier the attendant said she was sleeping. She said she'd wake her, I said I'd call back.

So sad.

Those nine little words...

Finely, I've heard Mother say those nine little words I've waited all of my life to hear, "I don't want you to lose any more weight"! I still feel I should lose another 10-15 pounds...we'll see.

Glorious weather! 58 degrees this AM...59 yesterday!

I've so many things I want to get done in the yard and the weather is perfect. I'm hoping it'll hold for the weekend. However, we do need rain.

My step-brother-in-law ran for mayor of Apalachicola. The run-off was yesterday. I just heard on the news that he lost. Sorry to hear that.

Summer's end

The slight hint of Fall in the air is just enough to give everyone here cause for joy. There's a touch of color in the foliage everywhere and the days smell differently than they did just a week ago. The promise of Fall is the only thing that gets us through the brutal summer weather with a little optimism, sure that conditions will improve.

I'm still working 5 hour days. Actually, I like those hours. The pay check is severely impacted, but the quality of life is greatly improved. I know there will be times when I'll need to work full days, even full weeks, but I don't think that'll be the constant. We'll see. I need to work for 4 more years in order to draw full Social Security...66...that sounds like forever, but I know it's a little under 48 months. Doable.

Well, so much for Thanksgiving!

My contractor met with me yesterday. He's in great demand in the area and is a friend from high school...a couple of years ahead of my class. He's the one mother had do some work on the house when she bought it.

He said what I want is very doable and will make a big difference, however, he thinks it'll be the middle of November before it can be begun. Tomorrow he and his cabinet guy will be coming by for a further consultation. RB (contractor) said that his cabinet guy does beautiful work and usually comes in hundreds of dollars under Lowe's, sometimes thousands of dollars under. Sounds good to me. Of course, Mother's paying for it, but saving money is saving money.

Labor Day Weekend

Three days off in a row! Even if we don't get paid for today, three days off is grand!

Saturday I had Nancy, Leah Jane and Ann over for an early supper. We pigged out on shrimp and cocktail sauce that LJ brought and an olive w/ pesto and cream cheese w/ crackers that NEP brought. We sat on the patio until the mosquitoes threatened to carry AMK off! We moved inside for supper. We ate tuna casserole with a salad (curly leaf lettuce, cucumber, dried tart cherries, a lovely/crisp pepper from the garden and feta...tossed with my blueberry vinaigrette) and crescent rolls w/butter. For dessert I made the easy, fat-free, low sugar, pineapple cloud pie! To die for! Three ingredients and a graham cracker crust...it's pretty and it tastes soooo evil while actually not a bad thing! (1 fat free pkg. Jello French Vanilla pudding mix, 1 20oz. can crushed pineapple in juice (don't drain) and a 8-oz. bowl of fat-free Cool Whip. Mix pineapple w/ juice and pudding mix, fold in Cool Whip. Spread evenly in crust, cover and freeze 10-12 hrs/over night. Take out of freezer 6-8 hrs. before serving and thaw in refrigerator. Enjoy!) I'm still eating what's left of this pie a bite or three at a time!

Then, Sunday I met NEP at her house and we "did" Lowe's. Picked out counter top, cabinets, floor, dishwasher and microwave/vent hood combo. Finally found paint chips that work and am so excited! My contractor is coming sometime this week and I'm thinking it should be finished in time for me to host Thanksgiving or earlier.

Today I plan to do nothing, well, laundry but then nothing maybe a movie or two.

A slight hold on the kitchen

Well, it seems the kitchen will be delayed. My sister suggested last night that I just go to Lowe's. They install everything from floors to cabinets. So in the next week or so she and I will go there and get everything under way.

Bud and I just had a major clashing of ways...maybe this is for the best.

The birthday was okay.

Surprise, surprise!

Prentice is here! He and Chester got here yesterday! I'm thrilled!

We brainstormed the kitchen for hours after work yesterday and Prentice drew it out on graft paper. We've come up with some pretty basis designs and ideas and it's going to be wonderful. I know I'm going to hate the process, but will love the results. Am soooo excited.

Tomorrow we'll go to my sister's house and from there to the Seinyard for a birthday meal! How great that he's going to be here for that! Haven't had any of my children around for a birthday in years and years. I'm thrilled!

The high temperature for today is only to be in the low 90's! That's a gift too!

A chance for a break in the weather!

The past few weeks have been so hot. Many days of 100+ degrees...100 yesterday and they're saying 100+ for today...not so good for the agriculture industry. However, the weatherman just said that this weekend should be wetter and cooler! Yeah!

The kittens are growing like weeds! and, are soooo funny! Nothing is safe. They have been banned from my bathroom, perhaps for the rest of their entire lives. I walked into my bathroom one day last week to find both Smokey and Bandit on the counter top methodically clearing it off! Within seconds their litter box and water bowl were moved to the back hall and the door was closed. Bless their little hearts! It really is nice having one animal free room...I find I'm spending a little more time in there now!

Sunday I will be 62 years old!

Another tale of Mother

I got a phone call a little before 7 Saturday morning. It was my sister. She and Mother were going car shopping, but Bert called her and said Mother couldn't go, she had fallen and her back was giving her fits. So I dashed to Tallahassee and Nancy and I went to see how she was doing. The way it had sounded to Nancy we thought that Mother should get x-rayed at least, but Bert said she didn't need it. I took her some Icy-Hot patched and Bert had just gotten her some Alieve (sp?).

Well, Mother gave Nancy her checkbook and off we went to the Honda dealership. Three and a half hours and one trade-in later we drove off in a pretty little new Honda Civic (for Nancy).

We stopped and had lunch at Cedar River and went on over to return the checkbook and to check on Mother. Well, miracle of miracle, Mother was up and dressed and wanted to go out for lunch. Of course we didn't as we had just eaten, but they went ahead and went out.

By the time we got back to Nancy's house it was raining. I drove home in a major storm with fingers of lightening on the road in front of me all the way home.

Mother called shortly after I got home and was soooo much better. In fact she was getting ready for them to go to a cocktail party. She does heal fast.

We're getting rain a little more often than we were earlier this year, but the weather map is still showing the entire region in a severe drought.

Look what I did!!!

Last night Rosie told me how to put a picture on my post and here it is! The year is 1963, the place is the Drifton Florida Train Depot and the event is our senior trip to Washington DC and New York! The woman in the dress and dark glasses is Mother, she's 38 years old here. The one in colorful slacks and a blue sweater is me. I'm 17 years old here! Talk about a blast from the past!

Extended summer hours

Well, the first of August has come and gone and we are still on half days at work. Our projected date for full days is now the 15th of August. Keep your fingers crossed...we all (hourly workers) need to get back to full time. As it works out we will have had 2 months of half days. I have a rather low profile of living and am quite frugal, but this has really put a dent in my life style! I went to Burger King last week and got a Whopper Jr. value meal with a senior citizen discount and kicked myself all weekend for spending almost $4.00!

These kittens are soooo funny! Last night I got something out of my purse and didn't close it when I turned around almost everything in it had been removed and both Smokey and Bandit were nestled in it. They knew they were in trouble when I found them as they hunkered down and tried to be invisible! I laughed and dumped them out.

It rained all night.

My first recliner!

This is a bit premature...but both my sister and I bought recliners yesterday. Premature because it hasn't been delivered yet. We went to Badcock's last week (or week before?) and found chairs we liked and were able to order them and get them 20% off if we waited until the 25th! Plus, since I live in town and Nancy lives this side of Tallahassee they only charged us one delivery fee! They'll be delivered today!

After our purchases we went to Sage to eat. We love to eat there, we sit outside and can smoke. It was mighty hot when we got there (around 4) so they turned the misters on for us, but by the time we left it was storming, heavy lightening and thunder and pouring rain and had cooled off quite a bit!

Nancy was playing bridge at 6 in Tallahassee, so we left Sage around 5:30. I came home thinking I'd veg out and watch some tv....well, the cable was out! the storm...so I took this as a sign that I needed to rearrange the living room in order to fit my new recliner in. What a challenge! The room is small and there are openings in every wall. Took several hours, but I think it'll work. By the time I finished the cable was back on.

Have an appointment at 2 today to have my hair cut...think I'll cancel it so I don't miss my delivery!

The kittens are hootier and hootier! Constantly into things and perpetual balls of energy! Shirley of course loves them and has from the very beginning. Goodness and Mercy really didn't! They have come around however. I actually saw Mercy bathing Bandits face and Goodness eats with them and submits to butt licking!

We've had RAIN!!!!

Friday afternoon at 3:30 the bottom fell out of the sky! In 1/2 of an hour my backyard received 1" of rain! Then on Saturday it rained lightly all day and into the night! No rain on Sunday, but yesterday I got 1 1/2" around 5pm. Glorious!

On the other hand, my sister lives about 27 miles from here and she hasn't had a drop since June! Crazy! In fact, Nancy came over Saturday (we're looking for recliners to sleep in while we watch tv) and was soooo envious that I was getting rain! I feel awful for everyone who isn't getting the wet stuff and always try to send it to her!

Work's slow, money's tight.

Heat wave

Tuesday morning at 6am it was 83 degrees in Apalachicola. It was only 78 here! The heat has really taken hold and according to the latest forecast we aren't to expect a break from it any time soon. At 11:30 yesterday morning our heat index was 102! It makes it awfully hard to get anything done outside...just watering my garden at 8pm is very taxing!

Work is tediously slow. It's amazing to me just how long 5 hours can be! Today is a 4 hour day.

My last post was on the 7th...that would have been Daddy's 91st birthday!

Helen called last night. Very upset. It seems Mike had called her and told her I said she was dieing. She is. She hasn't been told. She thinks that she's just going for x-rays every week. I told her I not only hadn't talked with him in 2 years that there had been no contact including e-mails, true. Couldn't think of anything else to say. I can't believe he did that.

Goodness is actually getting into this kitten thing. He lays on the floor and flicks his tail back and forth for their amusement and even will eat from the same bowl with them! Mercy touches noses with them and watches them like tv!

No real news, it's quite quiet in town now. Everyone that's able has gone to the coast or the mountains trying to escape the heat. I'm afraid that they've all just gone to another area of heat. Leah Jane left on the 1st for a month and of course Mother and Bert are in Waynesville.

Prentice called last night. He and Harvey are heading to the Marshall area today. I'm afraid he's going to get so much work up there that he'll not make it here to do my kitchen. I'm so anxious to get it done.

Catching up once more...

This has been an odd week. We closed at noon on Tuesday and won't go back to work until Monday. The only day we'll get paid for is the 4th. Of course we're on half days anyway and it'll be interesting to see how much smaller my pay check can get!

When I got up Wednesday morning the phone was dead...well, actually it was making a loud buzzing. Got up Thursday morning and it was working. Miracle! Got up this morning and the phone was dead. So at about 11:15 I went in to the office and used the phone to report it being out. (my sister chewed me up one side and down the other for not reporting it out on the 4th!)

About 3:30 this afternoon I decided to lay down on the sofa and watch a movie...the doorbell rang and it was the phone man. He worked around for a long time (outside) and then I heard his truck leave the driveway. Looked out and he was climbing up a pole across the street. Sat on the porch for a while and watched, but couldn't tell what was going on and it was hot so I went back in. The phone rang about a half an hour later and it was the phone man saying it was fixed. It seems lighting hit it! Glad it was the phone line and not a house!

So, most of my time off has been spent without phone or Internet! Actually it was quite nice!

We've had 2 rather nasty storms this week with goodly amounts of rain. Thank goodness!

The kittens have been loose in the entire house since 1 o'clock Tuesday. They are a riot!!!!! They are really quite good, they're learning limits not only from me, but from Shirley, Goodness and Mercy also! It's a lot more active around here than before kittens!

Mother and Bert spent 4 days at the beach and will leave tomorrow for a month in the mountains. That's something I'd sure love to do! Not with them of course, on my own. Maybe someday.....

Kittens

As I enter this I have a tiny purring black kitten in my lap that lunges for the keyboard periodically. I've never known one this small to be so totally focused on a goal! We should all be as focused!

The kittens have been such a joy! I had really forgotten how quickly they change and how very funny they can be! The one in my lap at the moment has been rescued from the bathtub and the trash can already today and the day is young!

They still are waiting to be integrated into the rest of the house. Smokey and Mercy did meet face to face in the bedroom door yesterday. Scared poor Mercy really bad. She ran and hid for a while. I keep thinking it'll be soon, but then I think about the hawks that live and hunt in this area and the kittens are smaller than squirrels! I leave the back door open when it's nice out...and, they dash so quickly at an opening door...not sure just what to do. If I let them out of here there are no other doors to close to contain them to an area...tried a gate. They scaled that in record time!

No real news. We went to 1/2 days this past Monday. I enjoy it, but I'm not quite sure how I'll hold up financially. I went ahead and renewed my drivers license and car tag yesterday, 'cause I had the money to do it and may not later. I have car insurance coming up soon, too. It's gonna be tight. Won't hurt for groceries...am stocked. May have to hit my change jar for pet food, thank goodness I have it!

I've taken Zocor for a week today. I am SO tired and wonder if that's not related to Zocor. My cholesterol was 306 and my doctor freaked out! He put me on 20 mg of the Zocor and that's the highest dose recommended for seniors. I'm rather small and react to drugs strongly. I've also modified my diet tremendously. Only whole grains, no suger, no refined carbs...mainly turkey and fish (grouper), no shellfish, more fruit than I'm used to and a fine assortment of fresh veggies. I've lost a few pounds as a perk, but I feel sure that between the diet and the drug my cholesterol level will fall nicely.

Helen's not doing great. She doesn't remember that she's just called. One day this week she called as I was walking in the door. Told her I'd just gotten home and she asked from where. When I said "work" she was totally puzzled because she thought it was the weekend. She tells me that she's been going to the doctor a lot to have her head x-rayed, but doesn't know why. So sad.

Not much to tell...

HWB's baby is two weeks old today. She's still in the hospital. Yesterday they were going to try to do a spinal tap. So far I don't know the results. Poor baby.

We'll be doing 1/2 days for the month of July. We'll be doing a 1/2 day today, too.

Prentice called night before last. He's still doing his father's roof. Said he may go to Vermont from there...then here to do the kitchen. Yeah!

Hot and dry seems to be the standard forecast here. Wish for rain!

Rosie will be 42 tomorrow. Hard to believe...seems just yesterday she was a tiny baby!

Baby

HWB's baby was a week old on Friday. Saturday she was hospitalized and is still there. She has blistering on her skin. I'm not sure where the blisters are as HWB has a hard time talking about it. She has not been diagnosed as of yet, though they have narrowed it down to several things...some of which are fatal and all have long-term problems, usually a much shorter life span.

There isn't even 1 pediatric dermatologist in the area and I was only able to find a small handful in the entire state. I found several hospitals that treat babies with the disorder, all far away. I feel they'll be going to Arizona or Minnesota, don't know when.

HWB told me yesterday that we'll be going to half days. He didn't say when...maybe today? It's so hot (101 yesterday, 86 at 11 last night and 78 now{6:45am}) and so dry. Business has come to a screeching halt. That's really going to hurt money-wise, though I'll love the time off!

The death of a friend

Martha Lynn Harris Kersey died Friday, June 8th. She was born January 6, 1941, here in Monticello. She was one of my bridesmaids when Bruce and I married 43 years ago.

It feels rather trite to post anything else right now.

and more rain...

We have had rain every day since Saturday. Not too much, just right...showers. Yeah!

HWB and wife had a little black haired baby girl late last Friday. About 3 weeks late. Suzanne.

Kittens are wonderful...they are both getting over colds. Hasn't slowed them down.

It's Raining!!!!!

Got up this morning at 5:30. Opened the back door to let everyone out and it's raining!!! Yeah!!!

Tropical Storm Barry is giving us rain and we so need it. No significant rainfall in this area since March 3rd. I just hope it continues long enough to make a difference!

Had thought I'd go to Thomasville to Lowes today, but think I'll just stay home and enjoy the rain!

The weather on the computer said the main part of the storm will miss us, we'll just get rain!!!

Blue moon?

When I got home from work Wednesday I had 3 packages in my carport...2 rather big ones and one small one. The small one was a slip cover for my chair and the 2 large ones were a cast aluminum table for the patio and an umbrella for the table.

My first choice to tackle was the slip cover, boy, what a chore! Took quite a while, but it fits and does make a major difference! Yeah!

Then I drug the 47 pound box with the table in it to the patio and spent a little over 2 hours putting it together. It's square and black and sharp! The umbrella was a snap, thank goodness!

Then it was time to water my garden which is all in containers...squash, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and a gazillion herbs. Got a kink in the hose and did a little flip/snap thingy to unkink it. Snapped the faucet off the house and had a MAJOR geyser of water spewing from the house to the concrete patio. My first thought was to put the faucet back in. Tried and tried, but it had broken off and there were no threads left. Got soaked and fixed nothing. Ran into the house and called my plumber...goat his answering machine on both numbers. Left a frantic message. Ran out to the water main and once I got the top off could find nothing that remotely resembled a cut off valve...just the dial spinning at top speed! Back to the phone. Called my back yard neighbor (County property appraiser) thinking he would know what to do, but he wasn't home. Called HWB, not in...called one of the guys from work, not in...called Ann, she had no ideas. Called the police. They contacted a city worker who finally came out and cut the water off at the main. Then the plumber called back and said he'd be over as soon as he jumped into his pool.

When the plumber got here it was pitch black dark and there's no light in the area where the broken pipe is. So he capped it off and said he'd send one of his guys on Thursday to replace it. And he turned the main back on.

Was hot, sweaty, tired and thirsty when he left. Went to the kitchen for water. Opened the refrigerator door to get a bottle of water out and a large plastic bowl of slaw fell out and landed upside down and splattered all over Shirley and me. Scooped Shirley up sprayed her off in the sink, put her outside and then cleaned up. What a MESS!

When I woke up Thursday morning both my cable TV and my Internet service were down. These are not connected things and of course I found this quite a puzzle. Called the cable company (on hold for almost 10 minutes), reported the outage.

Left for work early and stopped by the grocery store to get Milk Bone Dog Biscuits for Chuck (HWB's dog). The power had been out at the store and they didn't have the registers booted back up yet. Waited a few minutes, gave them some money (said to let me know if it wasn't enough) and headed to work.

The computers were down at work!

Pittled around until time to make my morning run. Was standing in line at the bank when I was hit by a migraine so bad that I thought I'd be sick right there. Made it back to work and came home early.

As soon as I was able to fall asleep the phone rand, Ann. Then the plumber came and put a heavy duty faucet on the house (total bill $95.00). Then I did sleep an hour or so.

This morning I'm better. Can still feel where the headache was, but better.

I'm blaming the full moon!

Catching up

Since I last posted we've had Mother's Day and Memorial Day...both of which constituted a command appearance in Tallahassee.

Mother's Day was, of course, at the country club. Mother, Bert, Nancy P., Nancy & Mark and I attended. Good food and fun company. Both Rosie and Prentice called...LOVE hearing from them! Prentice is going to do my kitchen for me!!!!! I'm thrilled!

Yesterday was Memorial Day. Once more at the country club. This time it was different. It was a wonderful bar-b-que cooked outside and eaten outside. Nice weather, clear (no smoke) and breezy. Had to fuss at Mother. She jumped on Nancy (verbally)...I told her in private not to do it anymore. Hope it works, she hurts Nancy's feelings so badly and so often. I blow up at her when she pulls that stunt with me, but Nancy internalizes and stews.

Got two kittens last week. A little grey tabby and a little grey-black thing. Not from the same litter, in fact not even from the same towns. They get along quite well and are (as kittens are) a hoot! They are living for now in my bathroom. Thank goodness it's very large and they have lots of romping room. They were both 6 weeks old on Friday and are just too tiny to be loose in the house. Too many places for them to get stuck or lost. Them come into my room with Shirley to play...they LOVE Shirley! Goodness and Mercy are afraid of them!!! Oh, Smokey and The Bandit!

HWB's baby still hadn't arrived as of last Friday. The first due date was the 11th, then they changed it to the 19th. Told HWB when I left on Friday that maybe the baby (don't know the sex) would wait until this coming Thursday...full moon.

Had Nancy over for a little cookout on Sunday. Actually grilled! Hot dogs and hamburgers. Had slaw, yellow rice and black bean salad, baked beans, curried deviled eggs and sweet tea. Nancy brought cherry ice cream and brownies. Good eats!

Hope to post a little more often now that my new computer is acting better.

EEK!

With the weather as hot and dry as it is now work is even slower than it would normally be this time of year.

Yesterday I was looking for something to do (I can only surf the net for so many hours a day without going totally batty!), so I decided to clean out the refrigerator at work. I found things from Easter still in there! Then I found a white kitchen trash bag that I didn't recognize. Tried to pull it out, but it was quite heavy, so I just pulled it forward enough to look in it. My mistake! It was a rattlesnake...bigger around than my upper arm. Scared the pea turkey out of me!!! Stuffed it back and closed the door...left HWB a note on his desk and just had the heeby jeebies for the rest of the afternoon. I sure hope it's gone when I get in this morning!

Hot, hot, hot

All last week we got up into the 90's...they're saying this morning it'll be only in the 80's! Thank goodness! I started using the air conditioner last Sunday. I hate that!

I'm getting ready to pay my electric bill, $50.71...bet it'll be the last one that low for a while...oh well.......

Not much going on, working, cleaning house, trying to stay on top of the yard work (being very sparing with the watering).

Our local Congressman called yesterday (old classmate) and invited me to join him and some other classmates at his house for dinner....just couldn't. Had just taken the garbage out to the road and was dirty and sweaty from yard and house work and still had a multitude of things to do in order to make my week doable. Was offered a rain check. Accepted.

One more episode of Survivor on Thursday and then the finale on Sunday. Always hate to see each season end!

The Beach

Oh, it's over! It went much too quickly! Our beach vacation is now in the past...it was wonderful!

Thursday Nancy and I set out in two cars for St. Teresa. We each had a dog and enough supplies to last us through hurricane season!

It was around 6:30 when we got there and had to turn on the power to the house and the pump house and then turn on the water, so it was 7ish when we got the cars unloaded, etc. I made a vat of Mexican pasta salad and that was just right for supper (and 3 more meals!) and I took the little tv and dvd player from here so we were delighted to put our feet up, eat and watch Survivor! Actually the reception with rabbit ears was just awful, but we got enough of it to sorta follow the game and see who got voted off (Mookie!!!!). Then we sat on the porch and froze to death while we watched the storm (no rain of course, just major wind) blow in.

Neither of us knows how Friday passed as quickly as it did...we walked the dogs on the beach several times (plastic bags in pockets), ate, napped, ate, carried an 8' ladder through the woods to look through the windows of a house that's for sale, ate, rocked on the porch and then it was time to cook out. Nancy brought her grill and supplies along with two beautiful steaks which she grilled to perfection. She made her famous baby greens, blueberry, feta, pecan salad with videlia onion dressing and loaded potatoes! My one contribution was Texas toast that I grilled and it was good! We ate and watched "Two Weeks Notice" and had trouble keeping our eyes open!

Two of Nancy's friends came down Saturday morning and we ate and played bridge from 9am till 5pm. Then we went back to Panacea and ate at the Harbor House. Fantastic seafood, great service and a table over looking the water! Saw something none of us had seen before, this big machine with long arms scooped up boats from the water at the pier and loaded them into little cubby holes stacked 4 or 5 deep! Fun to see! After dinner Donna and Noreen went back to Tallahassee and Nancy and I took our loaded take out boxes and went back to the house. We watched "The Devil Wears Prada" and drank wine until 12:30, that's very late for both of us!

The refrigerator died sometime Friday. Luckily each of us had taken a cooler and the BP down the road had ice.

We saw a bald eagle, many woodpeckers, cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, wrens, terns, cranes, and several formations of pelicans that flew right in front of the porch lots of times! We saw porpoises directly in front of the house a few times and a funny little lizard with markings on his back like a rattle snake and horny protrusions all over his head! Great fun!

Sunday was another beautiful day, just much too short! We left at 3:30 and Shirley and I were home by 5...not bad! We are both looking forward to doing this again sometime...hope it's soon!

I'm so glad I took today off from work, too! I am SO tired even after a good nights sleep and every part of me hurts from my feet (I'm sure from walking on the beach so much) to my neck and everything in between!

Even though it was wonderful, it's sooooo good to be home! (Goodness and Mercy sure are glad we're home, too!)

Yesterday we celebrated Mother's birthday. It actually isn't until tomorrow...she'll be 82. It's funny, I was trying to think of something pleasant to say about her...she'd like this...she looks remarkable for her age, dresses beautifully and finally changed her hair-do. Okay, except for the hair-do part she'd like that. Nancy and I drove down to the Seineyard and met Mother and Bert. As usual, we pigged out and had major leftovers to bring home. I just had shrimp, scallops, grouper, fries and a hush puppy for breakfast (wonderful) and there's still more left for lunch!

Our busy time at the nursery is done...hate that! I absolutely love it during the busy time. I still enjoy it because of the people there and the surroundings, but I am crazy bored now. I'm not good at busy work and am tired of surfing the Internet for 6-7 hours every day.

I'm really considering early retirement. I could do that September 1st...just couldn't live on the amount of money I'd receive. Sure wish I could find something to do to bring in enough money to make the difference in SS $'s and real life!

Haven't done anything toward remodeling the kitchen yet...wish Prentice were here. I know he could do it and I know I'd like it. I'd like that entire room gutted and redone. It's sorta an awkward room, open on both ends and taller than it's wide. Wish there were a tv program to do it for me!

Finally had to break down and get Shirley a new harness. After she was spayed a few months ago she really puffed up! Now she knows how I feel! Of course when she hurt her hip that slowed her down considerably, but it's well now I think. Anyway, she now is the proud owner of a lovely hunter green harness and it looks soooo good on her!

Wild weather!

On March 3rd we got under an inch of rain. We didn't get more until last night. We got about an inch. We've been so cold that I've built fires and so hot that I entertained the idea of turning on the air conditioner (but didn't!). Now it's cold again and I'll have a fire going for at least the next three nights! Crazy!

Lately it's been impossible for me to get on blogspot to post. Then today I tired once more and did.

Last Sunday was Easter and after almost 4 years I finally got to meet my new step sister. She and my sister have the same name, so that shouldn't be a problem. We had a good time and good food.

Missed work Monday because of a weather induced migraine and even though I went to work on Tuesday the dumb head ache lingered until Thursday in one way or another, mainly visual.

Friday we closed at 1pm for an employee cookout. I did everything but the meat. We had pheasant, wild turkey, quail and venison along with a giant salad, baked beans, rolls and brownies. It was good and I came home at 3:30. Not bad.

Next Saturday we're doing Mother's 82nd birthday and then the following weekend is the beach! Sure am looking forward to that!

Spring Gardens

The azaleas made one of their best shows this spring...I so enjoy this yard! Three sides are bordered with 6'-8' tall azaleas in coral, white and purple. Everything was in bloom at once with the red buds and dogwoods dripping with wisteria and orange trumpet vine and spirea blooming all around and, of course the camellias! Of course I took no pictures, just hope the mental image lasts!

Now I'm waiting for the hydrangeas, irises and crape myrtles to do their thing! Ain't spring grand!