My DG visitors.

Hi all! Yesterday I had a mystery trio of visitors from DG come. MaryE (who lives about 80 to 90 miles west of me) had told me a week ago that she was going to bring someone by for a visit but she wouldn't tell me who it was coming. When I asked if it was male or female she said to me "no clues". When I asked if it was west coast, deep south or east coast she would say "no clues". When I asked if the someone who was coming had a kid with them so at least I could prepare for the kid she did inform me that this person had a child of about 6 years of age. Other than that MaryE was so secretive about who it was that was coming but I spent the week trying to figure out who it would be. I came up with a couple of possibilities and when these people got out of Mary's pickup yesterday Mary said to me "do you have any idea who you are looking at?" Well I recognized the faces somewhat but couldn't put a name of place to them. I did figure out that this visitor was a DGer for a long time like me. Well I got to meet none other than our sweet JustmeLisa from Louisiana, her DH and DD. I did have Lisa in my brain as a possibility. Not too many that I know of that Mary knows who have a young child. lol
We had a nice chat and they stayed a couple of hours and fell in love with my 3 pound black poodle, Whitney, and Lisa wanted to glue her into her armpit for the air trip home. She figured no one would even notice the dog in there. LOLOLOL Even her hubby was enthralled with Whit to the point that he asked if she had any siblings or relatives that they could buy and take home. Sally was VERY excited about that prospect and Whit decided she liked all of them. Too funny though that when the Great Pyrenees pups we bought for our sheep guardians came to the yard to visit everyone Whit took off chasing them the heck out of HER yard. Those pups are probably 50 pounds now and were terrified of this little 3 pound black mop. Totally funny to watch for all of us. When Whit came back from her project it looked as though she was brushing her little paws together as if to say "well, I took care of THAT problem." lol I love my dog!!!!!!

What nice people these are and we had a great visit albiet short and now they are on their way to be tourists in and around Oregon for a few days. Wish I could spend more time with them but I know how it is to be on vacation and want to get as much siteseeing in as possible while they are here. It was fun teaching them about the different shrubs and trees in my yard. They have entered a whole new planet by coming north.

MaryE, thank you for the suprise and next time you HAVE to tell me who so I don't have another heart attack when I get the day you are coming wrong. LOL She can tell you THAT story.

As they were turning onto the road at the head of my driveway I realized that none of us had taken any pictures! Don't any of you tar and feather us!

Hugs,
Lani

That's great, Lani! I didn't find out about her trip until late last week and it was soooo hard to keep it a secret. I can imagine how hard it was for Mary! Can they stop by again on their way back to Boise and get pictures of you guys?

Mary said they were really impressed with your fish ponds!

Sounds wonderful, Lani. Can I send Moka and Pippin to visit Whitney? and I will pick them up ...later..!!!!!!!!

Sounds Great Marcia!!!! Send them on and she will teach them manners!!!!! lol

Kimberley, I don't know what time their flight leaves on Monday but if there is a way we will get a picture. I might even be able to meet them at the airport if no other way is found. They are going to be very busy the next few days trying to get as much sightseeing in as possible. I know they want to see Hell's Canyon and some waterfalls amoung other things. What fun!

I forgot to mention above that as they turned into my driveway I was just pouring the fudge into the pans so they got to take a pan of my fudge with them. From all the grunts and groans from everyone of them as they were doing the first taste and texture test I would say that it will be a miracle if that fudge makes it back to Baker City let alone Thibodoux.

Mmmmmmm, the Royal Welcome of Chocolate. Sure can't beat that!

What a wonderful visit you must have had. Yes, I can just see your poodle after putting the larger pups to route. Did you know that standard poodles are still used for water retrievers in some parts of the world? Those funcky hair cuts each have a reason.

Sure, Lisa, no one would ever notice all that black hair under the armpit of a blonde woman.LOL! Good try tho. Have a fabulous and safe trip.

Wonderful!! I know Lisa and Mary have been longing to meet in person...so it has happened! Mary is on my "want to meet" List too...and ponditis...that would be close too, right? Jo

Jo, Mary and I live just a little over an hour and a half apart. We would LOVE to see you and I even have a guest room as long as you don't mind a few things of our son's kitchen stuff in the room with ya. He might even be talked into moving them into my very messy office. Gad, I need to clean this office out. I would also have to make some of my fudge for you. I know how much you love chocolate!

Kimberley, when you get to travel up here I would make you some fudge too. Same goes for leaflady if you like chocolate. I love to make the stuff but if it stays at my house it seems to end up on my hips and belly.

Well, I didn't get to see Lisa again this weekend due to our club having its 11th annual koi show on Saturday. That takes a lot of time and energy out of our weekend. I know they fly out tomorrow sometime so I guess we will just have to remember what each other look like. I would probably break my camera anyway when I had anyone picture me. lol

Well, I guess I better hit the hay. My eyes keep closing all on their own.

Pond, let me know if you are going to get any DG visitors, I would make a gigantic effort to run down your way to meet them. That wonderful fudge of yours should be great bait to get somebody to travel to Idaho. Lisa and family are on their way home to the heat and humidity of South Louisiana, tired but with an appreciation of what we go through in the west to get water to our land. Our warm days last week and low humidity were a joy to Lisa even though she used a lot of hand lotion and chapstick. We seem to be the flip side of the coin in about every department.

pond knows that i'm comin out there for her fudge :>)

Lisa and family back home yet?

hi all,
yes we arrived home last night around 11 pm. We were very tired from the journey. It was a very long trek to get there and back home. It took us all day traveling both air and vechile, 15 hours total, straight traveling. Lots of jet lag! But oh, what a journey it was...I don't know if I'll ever be the same..lol.

Pondits, thank you so much for the wonderful visit. And ohhhhhh, that fudge....MAJOR YUM factor. That stuff is wonderful. It is worth the 15 hours just to have a bite of that chocolate creation.

Pondits was a wonderful hostess, even though we didn't get to stay too long. Really sweat person, very soft spoken. Loved her gardens, ponds and her beautiful fish. And that puppy dawg of hers..awwwww! I really wanted to shove her under my arm pit and steal her.

Thank you Pondits for making our trip even more special! We enjoyed your place and meeting you.

AWW SHUCKS! I wanted to go!! Jo

Jo, I have a feeling you will get there, after all, you are a roadrunner!

Jo, you are welcome here anytime. Bring your fish hooks and poles if you like to fish. The little ones are biting all the time and you might even get one big enough to see it. lol DS hooked one last night that was a huge inch long from tip of nose to end of tail. Those little bluegill can sure swallow a big piece of bait! lol

Lisa it was a delight to meet you and your sweet family. Your little Sally was fun to watch as she stripped my oak tree of its acorns. Did you manage to get her to leave a few things in Oregon or did she take it all home with her? lol I meant to give you folks some of that obsidian for your yard but forgot that too. No pictures and no rocks bad bad hostess!!!! At least you got the fudge. I would have been really upset if I had had to eat all that three pounds of fudge by myself since DH was out of town. lol I sure don't need more candy in my body and I know you know what I mean by that. lol

My son got a good giggle out of you saying that I am soft spoken. He said that is only because I still have the laryngitis. LOL Darn kid sure knows me. These only kids always will have you pegged because there are no other kids to distract them from their appointed rounds of making your life a circus!

Mary I will be sure to let you know when Maxine is supposed to be here this time. And I know that I will be seeing Karrie, handhelpers and MarciaGeiger at some time too. lol They all want to come eat fudge and I know it has nothing to do with meeting me either. ;~)

Hugs,
Lani

Lani, Lani--I want to meet You. I hope that the spring will see a trip to ID. Will probably leave the 4 foots home although they really need the "Whitney treatment". Moka goes about 10 pounds now and Pippen about 5; then both turned a year old this spring.and are just full of energy.
Chocolate works for me, also..it is a veg you know--Cocoa BEAN..
Love to meet other gardeners too. Met a couple of folk from GW, (let them know about dg, expect to see them when the season slows down a bit.)
Looking forward to talking another gardener's ear off.

Marcia, I KNEW you were going to say you are planning a trip west. It is just a matter of time before we meet and drive each other nuts with chatter. What a great time that will be too! :~) Bring the four footers too if you must. Whit won't like it but she will have fun giving them heck.

The cocoa bean is a lovely vegetable and I come by the love of it very naturally. My great great grandfather was Coenraad van Houten and he was the inventor and took out a patent for a unique cocoa pressing technique, which is now known as the 'Dutch process'. The van Houten Chocolate Company still exists in Europe in several countries.

SO now you know that I have chocolate in my BLOOD which may be why I am fat. LOL


Lani

I'm drooling! For the fudge, but also would love to be able to make the trip. It's a shame that we don't get up to Spokane anymore because of me. I know DH would love to see old friends again. You're just a hop, skip, & a jump (OWWWWWWW! that hurt, just saying it!) from Spokane. Wish we'd know each other 10 years ago!

If you and your DH didn't mind taking, oh, say 4-5 different plane rides on a trip, you could come see us. We'd even let you wait until our lovely fall and winter. It's nice here in the winter, at least most days.

Judith you are certainly on my list of first people to meet whenever I win the lottery. I guess I better buy more lottery tickets if I am going to win. Might help? lol

Oh Lani; I knew there was something special about you!! Now, if you only got annual boxes!!!!
Tempted to get another puppy, but stayed at the garden center (shopping) until that feeling went away. Saw a photo of the vet's "Teddy Bear" so cute!

Couldn't hurt!

Marcia dear, you need to sit on your hands like I need to when it comes to puppies. LOL

When I went to buy one pup to live with the sheep, I ended up buying both of the pups cause they were so cute and different from each other. I figured with the two of them they will keep each other entertained better and not destroy so much. So far I am WRONG. lol Two pups makes for two different minds going two different directions at the same time. I now have pop cans, plastic bags, sticks, balls, bones, etc in my yard that were not there three weeks ago. I can't wait till they can't get through the holes of our fencing. The male is close because he doesn't come to the house as much this week as last. Tomorrow he is getting neutered so hopefully he never learns how to lift a leg.

Lisa, I wish I had known you were the one for sure that was coming. I would have had something else out for you. Now you will have to come visit again to get it. I won't tell you what it is either. lol

Hmmm, the new clues game? You learn quick.

Yup I was taught by the best of them. :~)

Lani, are you sure that you are up to us visiting you? Wish I could pin the date down closer, but will call when I know more.
Yea, right!!

Expect to eat some fudge also. Guess I can watch another bump pop out on my hips and tummy.

Days are going fast and wonder if I will get everything done that I assume must be done before we leave.

Maxine

Oh, the 2 keep each other entertained--and the cat--and the humans and try to get to the 2 next door!
Now if I can just get all the plants planted (including those that I bought at the garden center!)

Maxine just leave a message on the voice mail for me. It picks up after 8 rings usually. I had to set it to that because I can't get to the phone much faster some days. You know how fibro pain is.

We are up for visitors as long as the visitors don't expect a perfect yard or house. I will never EVER have one but it is home for us. Be sure and give me some time ahead of you coming so I can get the fudge made. lol

Marcia, I still haven't gotten plants planted that I got last fall. I did move them into larger pots though. DH has been too busy to dig the holes and I haven't figured out how to dig them one handed. I don't think taping the shovel to my body would dig much of a hole. :~)

Lisa, did you get to take home any rocks? I know you and your hubby were drooling over mine. That pile he was looking through is going to be part of our waterfall on the pond out back. We are hopeful to get that waterfall done this month with help from volunteers from the water garden club. That will be a fun but busy day. I can't wait.

Hugs,
Lani

Drooling over the rocks and waterfall too!
I WANT ONE!!!!
I want one that I can see through my window where I sit all the time! I should live so long.

You have Rocks!!!! I have a garden trader in the area, who has given me access to field rocks..wonderful for little beds.... I have a couple of the green rocks (serpentine) from a past visit to ID...and some porous rocks...you have Rocks.??!!..Do you know what the limit is for carry on ....

Nancy, where are you getting the obsidian and green serpentine rocks in Idaho?

You know that I always pick up rocks on our trips. Will drive Jackie [granddaughter nuts] looking for rocks and going to garage sales.!! Can hardly wait.

Ding blasted tomatoes aren't riping very fast and I need to can chili sauce before we leave. Raspberries don't look like they will be ripe either. Oh well, something else for those kids to do for me. Eat the tomatoes and berries!!

Maxine

I can't believe you didn't take any pictures! Shame on you. :)

I can take pictures just fine. I just have not gotten the cord from our son yet to be able to connect our puter to the camera so I can download. I just wrote a note to myself to remind him of that little problem we have.

Maxine, Is Jackie coming with you on your trip west?

We got those rocks several years ago in Central Oregon over near Obsidian Mountain. We stopped along the highway to stretch and the whole gully was full of obsidian. Gorgeous stuff some with streaks through it. I also have some petrified wood from an area somewhat near to us but I have no idea how to get there. A friend gave that rock to me when she moved. I have moved it three times now and it will be used at the pond. There is a place where there is a hillside of red jasper. I know where that is but I think it is getting pretty well picked over now because when the city of Nyssa OR has their Thunderegg Days they take a tour group out to dig for red jasper. One year when I was with them one guy dug up a boulder that took 9 men to lift it into the truck once four men got it down the hill. It was HUGE and GORGEOUS!!!!! There is another place we went on that tour (can't remember exactly where it is) that we could get some sort of agate that has ripples through it. Small stone though and you pretty well had to chip them out of the rock.

Marcia, that is great that you found a local source for rock. I can get round river rock all I want for free from the gravel pit. He would let me take it for free if I come on Saturday or Sunday when the government mine inspector isn't going to be there and if I go during the week he will load my truck and trailer with it for $15 a scoop which is a yard of rock. Not too bad for price and we will use that for our streams that we will put on the berm above the pond.

Got the RR ties last week on sale !!!!! We will use those to make a wall to hold the berm and give the filter box one side that is steady. Then we can build a plywood box to completely surround the filter box so it won't split. .Eventually where the filter boxes are we want to put a roof and sides to have a shed to store all our gardening equipment in. It will help to block the view of the house from the rr tracks too.

Lisa, I want you to know that all the tall weeds that were between the house and the garden and all of them in the vegi garden too are now pulled and in our sheeps tummys. DH has been working nearby lately so he can work outside in the evenings and hopeful that he can get all the weeds in the yard pulled before they go to seed.

If anyone wants to read what I am going to have done with my wrist as far as surgery I posted about it in Jokes and Chat forum http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/453506/#new look for my posts on September 2 and on September 3.

Still hopeful that we can get the pond somewhat finished this month. Gotta get the crew wanting some fudge so they will come for that and I won't let them have any till the work is done. lol Of course they will also have a meal of grilled lamb and corn on the cob and tater salad and a green salad too. I sure want to keep them here till the bulk of the waterfall/stream area is done. lol

Maxine, bring those raspberry plants with you when you come. We will be glad to pick the ripe berries and do something with them!!!!! :~) I am getting excited to see you two again. I gotta find your parking area and get out the tree trimmers. lol


Judith have you ever thought of a table top water feature so you can have the sound but don't have the maintainence (sp) problems of a pond? I have made several water features and they turned out looking great.

It is a beautiful fall day outside warm enough but not too warm with a little breeze so I guess I better get out there and plant my daylilies from the co-op. I can hardly wait till they bloom!!!!!!!

Nancy, just to clear the record. Our granddaughter "Jackie" lives in Calif, Citrus Heights right out of Sac. Thats who we are going to see first, spend around 5 to 6 days with her, hubby and 2 boys [our g. grandsons] Gads, that makes me sound OLD!!

Do you remember what road you were on when you filched the obsidian rock which I do all the time.
We are stopping at [I think] Scio, Oregon for a lily grower and then taking Hwy 20 across Ore. to Payette, ID. Would have to check the map to be sure. Archie saw that road and figured it was the closest to your place. Not much for towns, but RV holds a lot of gas when we fill up. Can go around 600 miles on a fill up if the tank is full!! Imagine it will take more than a $100 this time around. Our gas is now at $1.95. Doubt if it will be any cheaper out west. Oh yes, Wyoming has the cheapes gas when we travel.

Just took the canner of the stove and turned heat off under the other one. 5 Qts. of chili sauce down and lots more yet to can tomorrow morning. We have a silver anniv. party tomorrow and cousin's coming for dinner on Sunday.
You'd think I could plan better. No comment from the peanuts gallery, please.

Maxine

That obsidian was along Hwy. 20 West of Burns quite some distance. I remember it being on a hill in the road and down to the east side of that hill there was a turnout at that time. Just watch the side of the road and I remember it being on the North side where we got the prettiest pieces. I don't think that hill is terribly far from Bend but it might have been. If you get to Burns it is behind you. LOL Wish I could tell you more.

Gas here in town is $1.97 and in Boise the other day I got it at one Mavrick station or maybe it was a Stinker station for only $1.83. That is regular gas.

If we know when you are going to arrive DH will take the time off when you are here. Voice mail works.

Hugs

Yes dear!! Will call you when we get to Jackies and get our schedule have way arranged to know what we are doing.

Think I will have you meet us in Payette possibly Wal Mart store as we can't remember all the turns to get to your place.

Gosh, am I ever looking forward to seeing you two.

Maxine

Looking forward to seeing you two again. We sure had fun last year with ya. It will be easier for him to get the time off if you give us a few days ahead. Oh and tell Arch that the tree has been pruned so you don't have to do it with your Motor Home. LOL

Hugs, Lani

Maxine, look for Glass Mountain between Hampton Station and Riley, I think that is where you must have been.

Thanks, Mary. DH thought that was where it was too even though he didn't remember being with me at the time. I finally got to talk to him today since he has been working so hard outside trying to get ahead of the weeds again while he works in town. .

Mary, you should plan on coming down when Maxine and Arch are here or we could come up there maybe.

BTW My surgery is planned for Sept. 16. It will be an outpatient. I am going to be glad to get this over with. Too painful to live with it. I want to get on with life so I need to try to get fixed up again.


Maxine,

That WalMart store is in Ontario but if you can get there I can find ya.

Be sure to wear gloves when you pick obsidian. That stuff is the sharpest substance known to man and is used for surgical blades.

Boy are the days whizzing by!!!

Watering flower beds before we leave as its so dry, I could hardly get a shovel in the ground to dig a bay rose for some friends.

Be seeing you soon.

Maxine

Maxine,

I am sure Lani will meet you with a pan of fudge. It is WONDERFUL!

Lani, uhm...if I mail you a batch a pralines, will you mail me a batch of fudge? LOL. I having with drawls.