Best/Worse/what did I learn today..chat with friends!

Morning/Afternoon everyone!!!

Another busy day, sometime I'll get to stop lol

Debbie that's a great story about SIL, funny how life and different people can change a person.

On Wednesday evening I was headed to Hot Springs and was waiting for traffic to clear on the highway when I saw this great picture opportunity, so I took it and it's posted here:

http://iwitness.weather.com/_After-the-Storm/photo/16344903/148597.html

Wonderful shot of the clouds, Crissy!

Jean - thanks for the d-mail
The clematis at my friend's yard is shaded by Big Ole Trees - heck, the place is big enough for a small park, with all the requisite trees! I was just telling her yesterday that I need to get into her yard before her birthday and make it pretty and ready for her Birthday Garden party with all her friends!

That is a great shot Crissy....

Sure Thing, Susan.... that would a sweet task...out in the fresh air in a garden you like....with a friend..


here are a couple Irises blooming now...a noid bearded and a Native Fulva, copper iris.

Until we get rid of the snow (and planting season starts mid-June.....) I won't be able to do anything outside.
However, I ran across an "Apartment Farmer" pocket book I've had since 1974, and with my small place, it's something I could look into. Starting tomatoes early would be a good thing. In Winnipeg we used to start them in the house in Feb. Here in Calgary where the season starts 1 month later, March would be a good time to start them, I think........
Also, tomatoes don't easily ripen on the vine. I have a small vinyl/metal rods greenhouse (take it down every fall, put it up every spring) that would help them transition from home to garden.......
Starting to "think" here......... lol
I wonder if my Datura will come back this year?

There ya Go Susan. Need some seeds? Do you like container gardening? here are some links with ideas for small garden spaces

http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetables/a/SmVegGarden.htm

http://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com/patio-vegetable-garden.html

http://www.hgtv.com/smart-chic-outdoor-living/package/index.html

http://www.hgtv.com/topics/container-gardening/index.html#container-gardening/garden-pots/1

That one should come back from seed at least. Pretty plants those daturas and brugmansias.

My Dats self-seed, and will only do so for two years (total of 3 years of Dats). I have some seeds from them, so will scatter them in a bit. Last time I did that, I got 40 seedlings!
I usually have perennials so don't replant at the expense of them!
Jean - I'll check the links....... :-)

Evening everyone!

How is our new baby doing Grandma LK>

This has been a horrible, no good, very bad week here. Culminated in taking Stormy to the vet for a serious matter and Santa Warren taking a header into the wood stove. There's quite the gash on his right cheek plus he came down pretty hard on his right hip. That is the hip he had radiation on and the one the oncologist thinks the bone cancer has spread. Added to the fall was the fact DH is on Fragmin so he will have a delightful array of bruises by tomorrow. The fall has made him use his walker again in the house (which he hates) but hopefully it will give him a centre of gravity. On top of all of this I came down with a good old fashioned head cold. Lost my voice for a couple of days which I am positive W was most happy about.

I've read everything and will come back tomorrow when I am less distracted to talk to you. Missed you all so very much.

Dianne

OMG Dianne...

Slow to figure out what to say.. but this is not the NOT the week I wanted you to have...

Please keep us posted tomorrow. I want you to know I read all and you are truly an inspiration to me...

Your attitude is unbelievable... I would hope that one day should I be in the situation I would be 1/2 the woman you are....

love you gal.....love Santa Warren too and so grateful that he is in the BEST of hands with you.....

You are so STRONG Dianne...((HUGS))
Mary

(((((((((((Dianne)))))))))))) I just don't know what to say, but believe me when I say that I am thinking of you always....

Morning, overcast but that is ok, a zillion things to do this morning..

Lordy hard to access dg these past few days..it's by chance only.

Dianne, there are no words that I can type that could express what I felt reading your last post..my heart goes out to both you and Warren..it was said earlier, what a brave woman you are..each day a challenge and you rise to it. No option but to do so however your sense of balance in keeping things going is beyond belief..

Waving to all others before my connection goes puff..

Enjoy your day!

Good thoughts and big hugs to both you and Warren Dianne. Love keeps us strong and you both seem to have that in abundance.

Good day to you all. Off to Thibodaux....

OMG Dianne. They say we aren't given more than we can handle but do we need to have it all at once????? I so wish I could be there to give you a hand.
How is Warren today? I imagine he is very stiff and sore.
And what about Stormy? Is he okay?
Try and I emphasize the word try, to get as much rest as you can. Having a cold yourself on top of all this other makes it difficult to cope.
I'm keeping you both close in my heart with healing prayers.
Love to you both,
Barb

Hello everyone! I am home! I will go back later and read what your all up to. Dylan is doing fine, he is back in the hospital, under a special light, and he has Jaundice, but will be back home tomorrow!

Barb, speaking of more than one can handle, how are things with you?

Sorry to hear about Dylan LindaKay..a day or so of home rest for mom won't hurt..Greg had jaundice, scared the beejeebers out of us but he's one healthy man!

Safe travels to Thibodaux Jean..hubby going as well? Guess that means you will not be able to visit a few minutes with Mary?

Just got in from town..has 8:30 am appt at car dealership...love the new sonic. Very sporty but am NOT buying a car when I have a perfectly good one when they give me $2k on trade in..I'll continue driving it until I start having trouble with it..

Spent an hour at stained glass studio, my sg saw i thought had the belt come off, so i thought but nope, needed new betPICKED UP SOLDER/glass and there went a $100, nope she gave me 4 pennies back so not quite! Figure that its cheap entertainment, id spend almost that if i went out and dined, did theatre, one has to do something with themselves.

Did groceries, forgot coffee so will have to use the kuerig until I go back to town..

Time to put on old duds and do some housework..high winds so no young landscaper..

Hello everyone
Jean - enjoy your trip to Thibodaux
LK - I know that jaundice is nothing to worry about - quite common in babies.
I used to work for Pathologists who looked after Hemaetology samples, and basically what's said here is what they say too:
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/jaundice.html

Hello All ;

LK - I hear that Jaundice is common...DSD2 had it... so I'm glad that Dylan is for the most part a very healthy little boy... Congrats !
Betty - you got to treat yourself every now & then. Mom would buy stuff like that can call it her "cigarette money" cuz she didn't smoke...LOL ... you call it your "night out" money...

I went to the LSU Spring Garden show... made me appreciate the swap... I couldn't bring myself to buy anything but kept seeing wonderful plants that swap friends had given to me....

Jean - hope you enjoyed this gorgeous weather. Susan - I've never seen Datura around here... I suppose if Jean if familiar with them they must be...

Poor MIL is hosting the monthly "Birthday" get together and at the last minute nephew (19) says he can't get off from work (he has had a month to request!) SO I know she is upset... we'll celebrate DS's bday which will be interesting since we aren't really talking.

DSD1 came into town this weekend as a surprise.said she is homesick... has been very sweet.

SPECIAL Hugs and Prayers and Thoughts for Dianne and Barb... Please vent to us if you need to... you are both so very important to me...
Hugs,
Mary

Mary - Daturas are native to TX (my friend, who's from Waco) said he used to see them all the time in the forest while hunting!
They're native to zone 8/9, I believe
They're also called Moonflowers. Where Brugmansias point their blooms down, Daturas point them up. 2nd cousins to each other, so to speak.......

AH! Seems like I got something similar to that in a swap... Moon something... Maybe these are the plants Hubs calls "Devils Trumpets" as opposed to "Angel Trumpets"... we have a LOT of Brugs.. .and many from the swap.....

Daturas - 1st one is Datura Inoxia (only comes in white); 2nd one is Datura Metal (comes in yellow, or purple - may be other colours, but I don't know them)

Morning all, still bit of trouble accessing!

Cold here today, above normal temps for us but after last week well we just plain got spoilt.

Must have been tired, layed down after coming home from town town, slep till mi,dnight, off to bed I went and still slept the night.

Not sure weather will permit working outside today so might clean some corners..already have roast out for tonight's meal, will treat myself to home cooked meal.

Love the photo's of the datura ..

Mary, omg how could you resist all the pretties at the show?? Enjoy the birthday party, perhaps it will mellow him out..

Put patina on the stained glass I finished so best get a move on to finish the last step


LindaKay, is Dylan coming home today..everyone will feel so much better knowing he's safely tucked in at home...
Gab later

Morning everyone! Yes, Dylan will be home this afternoon!!!
Angel trumpets, (brugmansia) flowers bloom with the flowers hanging down. Devil trumpets, (datura) bloom with the flowers pointing up. Some flowers will get heavy, And will droop, but they start pointing up. Angel trumpet plants usually grow taller than a devil trumpet. Angel trumpets come on white, yellow, orange, and pinks. Devel trumpets come in white, yellow and purples.

Betty, hard to believe they only offered you $2000.00 for a trade in!

Mary, hope you have a good Birthday party.

Good morning,

Linda Kay, glad Dylan will be coming home again today. Two of mine had jaundice pretty bad. Shannon had to be readmitted for two days "under the lights" and Shane, although his was bad, we were able to put him in bassinette on the window seat....and he got the natural suns rays that way. I think he got over it better than Shannon.

Yesterday was Shanes birthday, he is 19...and I just can't believe it. We had a nice day, picked him up from college, took birthday shopping and some other errands. Came home and I had a pulled pork going, got that ready, cakes made andhad the entire family over for dinner last night to celebrate Shane & Andy. Made raspberry pretzel dessert for Shane per his request, and Andy wanted an ice cream cake....so that was an easy fix. Will post pics soon as I load them.

Will be taking Shane back to college today, hoping we can make a side trip to see the swans, but depends on the weather. It is int he 40's now and a bit drizzle going on...very overcast. BUT could be a lot worse.

Enjoy your day, be back in a bit.
Debbie

Good Morning.

Tried my best to get there Mary...in all the years we have been going/coming from Thibodaux we have only caught a train twice...yesterday was the second time. I hit Gonzales at 3:25....not enough time to get there for your shift 8-(

Daturas have been lumped in with Brumansias now. Wanted to say, there is a vine called MoonFlower http://www.floridata.com/ref/i/ipom_alb.cfm

I have D metel seeds and a couple babies coming up. My D inoxia got lost during Gustav and I haven't replaced it. The Metels come in single, double and triple blooms. The first pic is white Brugmansia, the second datura metel double

Jean, omg your gardens are beautiful!! Double wow..I'd best aim high in working my gardens and planting new plants/shrubs...will keep a note to self re the plants you have been showing and see if by chance any could survive up here, doubtful though, but I can dream!

Debbie, belated birthday Shane..19 hmm no more babies!!
You are road running again, you will be exhausted by nightfall..are the drops working on your eyes?

Ann just came to visit, not the best of news re her sister and reporting lungs..more specifics when her sister gets to see specialist to see what can be done..

Then Darlene says she has to go for biopsy mid week..sure hope there are answers for both.

When Ann was here she ooh'd and ahhh's over the stained glass piece I just finished ..probably 18" x 18" so told her to give me dimensions and I will make her one again using scraps for Christmas..she left smiling.

Rooted through my glass and found similar colors, made a few circles, added bits of this and that, all in the kiln, now if my head clears and I don't burn the roast in the oven and I remember to check the kiln, all will be ok.

Just a bit of a headache, will put my head down just for a sec..will do so sitting up so I don't fall asleep and need fire extinguisher. Lol

Another project done and ready to make someone smile..at least I hope so..lol

Just did another 1/2 hr. in the garden..perhaps tonight I can slide in another..ate roast beef, roast potatoes and carrots and if I might add done to perfection, surprise/surprise.

Now downstairs keeping an eye on the kiln in hopes I won't over heat the glass roundels I'm firing..if I can get through this one then it's been a perfect day..even sitting foiling alleys, now that is exciting lol I truly do need a life!

So what have you all been up to???
Quiet Sunday?

Dianne am hoping Warren is feeling a bit better today after his fall and that your cold is all but gone.

Wonder how Thea and Barb are doing???

Good Evening Folks,

Thank you so much Betty...I must admit there is some judicious editing with the photos....that way ya don't see the ever present weeds....GRIN

I must say that is a lovely glass piece...the blues and greens give it an almost ocean feel. Very Nice.

I agree about wanting plants that just won't survive. I have tried Centaureas of many types and colors and they just flat won't grow for me. I thought the amethyst in snow was so pretty...I bought 5 of them to highlight a border....

http://www.northcoastperennials.com/search/plants_Search_Detail.php?ProductID=12

....they bloom May through June...by early June they were all fried....felt so bad that I had tortured another poor plant. I guess it is true, we always want what we can't have....grin But sometimes the things we can have make up for it. Phaius tankervilleae, Nun's Orchid, a terrestrial grower

Lovely evening to you all. Best thoughts for a lovely, healthy week ahead.

Betty - Love, love, love the stained glass! Wish our church could commission you to do one......

I found a great batter recipe for fish - tried it last night, and yum, yum, yum! I only used part of the batter, so there's some fish & batter for tonight! also found a recipe for french fries done in the oven, but I must have cut the wedges too small cuz they were burnt -given the time of 45 min at a 450 deg oven..........

Weather warning for Calgary: Details
A low pressure system is forecast to develop over Northern Idaho tonight and move eastwards through Montana on Monday bringing heavy snow to parts of Southern Alberta. Current indications suggest that the heaviest snow will fall in areas west of highway 2, between Olds and High River. Snow may be mixed with rain at times and will be quite wet and heavy. Heavy snow should begin Monday morning and end Monday night. Total accumulations of 10 to 20 centimetres are expected."
20cm = 8 inches....... but as it's going to be heavy, I expect we'll get some broken tree limbs...... wind is starting to pick up. Oh, and we're 1/2 block from highway 2, just west LOL

Wow Susan, that is not good, glad that you will not have to be out in it..
Would I shine your wedges would have to be large or they would dry up..always great when you try a new recipe and it turns out. I'm ot ne to try new recipes, Lordy hard enough to cook the tried and true without screw g it up!

Fish, ooh must tell you my little landscaper came this afternoon, we got 1 1/2 hrs in..he was near the new pond and said " your cat is looking at your fish..fish?? Bought 3 last year, 2 died when I changed the water, think they went not shock, thought the other died as I never saw him..threw the fish food out as I thought I'd not bother anymore but lo and behold it must have survived..wonder if it was a she and there is more..looked at it and saw it was quite a size!! Now tomorrow off for fish food.

Lindy, going to read up tomorrow at work, still having mega trouble to access system. Nun's orchid is breathtaking!! How much land do you have...love the posts showing us your pretties! Amazing how many shrubs I've killed..along with shrubs I'm dog a job on cedars..going to have to replace a few again this year..giving up on them

Still playing with glass globs, anxious to open the kiln and see what I get out of the glass I melted?? Let's hope it's an ahhhh, ohhhh.

Susan thanks for your comments on the piece..it's just placing a lot of leftover pieces where they fit until I get the size I want so no pattern to design but still,in a window the sunlight will filter through and add a nice touch to someone's windowing you all lived closer so I could make you one...

Thank you Betty, for that thought.
Having the earrings and necklace you made me is wonderful - I get so many compliments on the set - thanks for that :-)
I remember when your other fish died...... guess this one is living on grubs, etc? Surely you don't have mosquitoes yet? It's been Many months since you fed him/her, right? As long as you have a cover/grate or something over it, raccoons won't eat it either......

Susan, haven't fed the fish since late September..kept looking for the 3rd and never saw it, so assumed it also had perished..wouldn't it be something though if it were a she and there were babies..guess it eats algae..will think its Christmas when I give it food tomorrow

As for Mosquitos, ask Greg,when he put my patio settee together he got several bites...he rambled on that he was suppose to be snowmobiling not being eaten by skitters. Lol

This message was edited Mar 25, 2012 7:04 PM

lol
That fish of yours is sure a Survivor (should be on the TV show lol)
When my sister Ruth and her DH kept fish in Winnipeg, they never fed them while they were outside, but brought them in during the winter and fed them then.
I suppose your fish survived cuz it was such a mild winter in ON.
Well, good for you, and hope you have little fishes - although......... wouldn't the male still be needed to fertilize them?

I was hoping he did so before he passed on. Lol

Tired tonight, amazing how you can tire yourself doing a little of this and a little of that..checked the kiln, it's at 500 degrees, shouldn't take the pieces out until 0 so might stay up..from what I see I was over cautious and didn't leave it quite long enough but might be chunky and ultra modern.. Ann just emailed me, said something about her windows opening in certain direction so perhaps she can't have one..will have to clarify what she was trying to tell me.

Should check on this weeks weather, hoping at least no snow..keep it your way susan

I suppose if her windows opened out, she may be concerned about the weather damaging them? Especially if they swung in the wind and dashed against a wall......... Please let us know what she says :-)

Hello To All !

Betty - you and Debbie making me hungry... don't know which dinner I'd rather have...but please save me some ! maybe will make a roast next weekend. So much info online.. you shoudl be able to find out the worth of your vehicle... definitely over $2000. You could sell in USA? There is a shortage of Used vehicles here due to "Cash for Clunkers" program a few years ago and you can get more $. Stained Glass SO SO Pretty !
LK - thanks for thoughts... not much changed with DS yet but so much else going on... I'm fine with waiting for my apology ! New pics of Dylan?
Debbie - Your DS bday too ! You sure did cook up a storm... sounds so delicious! Hope you have good weather on your travels....
Didn't get to nursery this weekend Hubs too tired from his work week and then the Bday today.
Jean - I don't think I will go to the LSU show next year... the prices just dont' seem great - doesn't help that these wonderful ladies giving me plants at the swaps ! LOL...
Your nuns orchid is gorgeous...mine is blooming but blooms are facing downward I think because of those Tstorms.... Can we plant them in the ground? Maybe you can help me figure out how to divide them... I'd like to do that.

Some of you folks may remember our German Foreign Exchange student that practically lived here 3 years ago... he walked up today ! I had "heard" he would be coming for a visit but didn't know when.
Thea - I asked him if he still had his "Kiss me I'm German" shirt and he said he did....just does not wear it in Germany ROFLOL!
(what's the point?)
Susan - hope you stay out of the bad weather !
Still thinking of our Dianne & Barb.

(HUGS)
Mary

LK - thank you for sharing your new grandson's pictures - he's adorable!

Mary - I get to stay home, out of the bad weather, and piece lap quilts LOL

Morning, didn't sleep 1/2 the night, morning comes and I'd so like to stay in bed..Lordy the winds were blowing, actually got up this morning to check if Susan's snow had made it to my neighborhood! Nope, just windy and passing through.

Mary, sometimes boys/men just don't mouth " I'm sorry" but do so through acts of kindness, hugs and softer attitude,mthat being said doesn't truly give us what we need to put the incident behind us.

How excited you must have been to see the young student at your door and yes, he was almost a permanent fixture wasn't he? Did he get to visit with the girls..is he just on a vacation or is he here studying again..

Oliver whose family bought a resort and had a cottage just up the lake from us would not return to Germany with his parents once fall came, he stayed and went to school with with boys, he felt right at home and when someone would ask about kids I'd say I had 3 ...he built a monstrous cottage next bay to where I lived,wow what a place, sell real estate downtown Toronto ..still close to my boys..always a pleasure when he drops in or calls and calls me mom.

Time to go make myself presentable and off to work..Paul is in so always makes for fun day!

Good Morning.

Thanks. Yes Mary, mine are planted in the ground on the South/southeast side of the house. They get morning sun and good light the rest of the day and are protected by the roof overhang and the wall of the house provides a bit of winter protection. If well mulched, (I have Royal Robe violets growing all around and through them) They only need a bit of cover to protect them on the very coldest nights. They have been there for the last 7-8 years. I have never divided mine, as I started with a small clump of the species and a clump of a cultivar called Big Charlie and have let them spread naturally. To divide, use a sharp knife and cut the pseudobulbs apart into clumps of 2 or 3 making sure that each new clump has adequate roots attached. Then just plant then 8-10 inches apart. I use a bit of powdered fungicide on any cuts. (I have dug up a couple to share and that made sure the remaining and new plants were protected)

Morning all! Sun is shining but after our balmy weather it sure seems cold out there today.

Weather Liars lived up to their name this weekend as we did not have all the rain they forecasted. Hurrah! Have a fire in the woodstove today but am making sure Santa Warren is no where near it. He fell again on Sat. but fortunately I was right behind him and broke his fall. I am very concerned, enough so I have emailed his Palliative Care Oncologist. I am afraid to leave him alone and he is also wary of being left alone.

Mary overall did you have a good time on the weekend? Interesting that costs were so high as up here at an event like that prices are usually very good.

This coming weekend is the Cottage Life Show in Toronto, as is the One of a Kind Show - both shows have made me lots of $$$$s in the past. I miss the rush of setting up the show and the tempo of the show when you are clicking and making many sales. It turned out one year I was forced to chose between OOAK and CL. I took CL and certainly made the right choice. Except for 1 year at CL I made almost as much as I did at OOAK in 5 days as I did in the first day of CL. Booths are expensive, way over $1,000 for a 10' x10' and then you had to pay for your hydro so you had to do well . Men were our biggest buyers at CL and our wildlife themes certainly interested them. Also got several custom orders out of the show too which was very nice. Custom work for me is a labour of love, the things made to sell at a show are what pays the bills. I would carry a stock that would range in price from $4.35 to $1,000.00(min).

Ontario Hydro is here this morning cutting down trees and limbs that encroach on their lines. I will go around after they are gone and collect what they have cut - so it is bonus firewood for us.

Sure hope our Dylan gets to go home today. LK I can't remember did Heather have to remain in hospital too?

Barb thanks for asking about my Stormy boy. Stormy is a white GS and is suffering from something that GS are prone to develop. His hind end doesn't work too well and he seems in a crunched position when you look at him.The message from his brain to his hind end does not get through. When he is very tired he walks on his back knuckles. I had never seen that before. Anyway he is on meds for an infection and also for this neuro musculo-skeletal disorder. One side effect of all of this is he has no control over his bladder so piddles whenever and wherever. Stormy gets very upset when he piddles in the house - he is so embarrassed. He was an exceptionally clean dog - in fact he only had 1 mistake in the house the first day I brought him home. That was almost 12 years ago. Anyway Stormy has been quite the challenge for DH and I so he is very near and dear to our hearts. I hate to say we favour him but in reality we do a titch. When Warren didn't see Stormy in the Escape when I came home he (I think) jumped up too quickly and that started the fall. DH is now so nervous he is using his walker in the house again and has me move with him from room to room, plus help him up and down. Hoping and praying for a better week here in Verona.

I'm with Betty, you can keep the snow Susan. Just kidding I am sure you are looking forward to snow free days as much as we are.

Crissy what's up with you?

And Thea where are you? Come out, come out wherever you are, please.

Katie do you have an exact surgery date ? I can't remember - do you have to stay in Cali for a few weeks for Physio? When I had my knees replaced I had inhome Physio 5 days a week for almost 2 months. Sure hope you can have this done soon - they kept asking me what my pain level was in the Recovery Room and were flabbergasted when I told them it was far less than what I was going through every day. Hope it will be the same for you.

Ah yes Susan we do have mosquitoes already. Darn!!! I think some of them come in with the firewood but I manage to kill a few every night while I am reading. Just keep saying to myself - "this is better than black flies". Need to get my screens back in so I can open the windows wide.

Make sure you all do something nice for yourself today ladies!
Dianne




This message was edited Mar 26, 2012 3:32 PM

Morning everyone!

Heather stayed in the hospital with Dylan, as she is breast feeding. And yes, they are all home now. They were released yesterday afternoon!

Drats, twice I type a long post and mall went without power..main transformer!

LindaKay, I see a lot of you in Dylan, glad all are home and getting into a routine. Does Heather work? I so envy young mothers these days, having an entire year off to be with their child. I understand that in a lot of cases fathers and mothers share the year, 6 months each. Are you now home?

Dianne, it surely must worry you even going for a quick trip into town and leaving Santa Warren especially now that he himself is concerned about being left alone. Is home care available in your region?? Would set your mind at rest if you had to run to town. Must be sooo frightening for Warren. Here's hoping that Stormy's health improves, another worry for you both.

I'm sure when this time of year comes about Dianne you remember a lot of good times spent with fellow vendors and the excitement of those looking over and purchasing of your wares..do you still do any SG..bet you've a lot decorating your home?

Each year I say I'm going to go to the One of a Kind show and here I am again, going to USA (hoping to meet up with Debbie) and will miss it..next year for sure lol