Coffee and...Part 22...! :-D

Blooms,

I'm in south florida, can I scatter those seeds anytime I have a notion?

TG, what a great idea, bird feeders with the shell, I think I'll do one tomorrow. I have a strange blackeyed susan plant that is slow and the blooms are a bit weird, oooo maybe it's not a BES. Will wait and see. I'll be posting a picture later.

Darius, I charged 3/4 my rate for travel time, my sis told me the standard was 1/2. Oh well, if they pay it, whose gonna argue. Not me......

And that's what that slot in the medicine cabinet was for. BTW who cleaned them up later?



:^)))

Hi everyone. It's time for ice cream!! I have several large piles of weeds that got pulled today, and in the process of pulling them have found a lot of volunteer columbines. Some of those will get planted in gaps in my flower beds, and my neighbor will be happy to take the rest. We won't try to move them until fall, they'd fry and die of shock if they were moved now. There are also lots of little plants that might be Russian sage since I have one of those in the middle of my lasagna bed where I am finding the baby plants. Of course I have lost the label that came with that original bush. I keep running into nests of little tiny ants who don't appreciate my hard work at all. To keep most of them off me I sprayed my shoes with bug killer. I think I only have one new bite but am still on antihistamine from the ones I got last weekend, so maybe this one won't get itchy.The old ones have settled down.

I was born during the war but remember very little about it. My uncle was in the army and I do remember seeing him in his uniform. I heard about rationing but was too young to understand what it meant. My grandpa's garden fed us pretty well and I never missed anything because I never had it before.

Marcia, I hope you keep your job in the company reshuffle. I know for some people it is a worry and others get to take an early retirement with a severance bonus and celebration of freedom!

Some little critter has been digging in my greenhouse containers of cactus at night. Tonight I will shut the door after dark and put a trap in there, baited with peanut butter. During the day the cats go in and out the open door and the mice don't get active until dark so I just have to remember to check the trap first thing in the morning and spring it if I didn't get the critter. Last week when I went to drive our Toyota that looks like an old jeep with a top on it, a mouse came out from under the seat and looked at me, then went back before I could grab it by the tail. So far I've caught two of them in there and suspect there are more. The cats catch quite a few mice but there are plenty for them and the owls with some left over.

This morning we went to town to have breakfast with our son and his wife. When we got home the power was out again. It was off for a couple of hours yesterday too. And believe it or not, the system is much better than it was a few years ago. One of our neighbors put in a propane stove a few years ago so they could at least cook by candlelight. Every time the power goes out I have to shut down the watering so that we have some pressurized water to be able to wash hands, etc. Yesterday when the power went out I was outside weeding and didn't know we had lost it. The yard sprinkler was on and it quit when there was no more water. By that time I was dirty and the only place to get clean was the water trough that the spring overflow keeps filled. At least there is an alternative. I didn't resort to taking a bath in it however, the horses would object to that and it IS their water.

Little Miz Wren has been busy feeding babies. She nested in an old cow skull that I have hanging on the corner post of the woodshed. Did I post a picture of that?

Time to change the sprinkler and get back to weeding.

Well have been busy today running errands. Checked this thread early this morning, but haven't had a chance to during the day. Darius, the blueberry jam sounds wounderful. I was raised on a farm just after the war. I didn't know it then, but we were poor. That wasn't a big deal, because you can't miss what you have never had. I remember mom and dad talking about rationing, and how difficult it was to get some things. We had a path out back until I was about 10-12. Boy, I sure feel sorry for folks whose companies are downsizing and laying off people. And they say unemployment is down and the economy is doing good? 101 Speaking of Blackeyed Susans, I planted some in a bed where I have wildflowers. I have been weeding that bed and pulling out what Ithought were weeds. But now comparing those "weeds"to some BES my DGD planted in a container, I have been pulling up BES from my wildflower bed as I have never had them before!! Those dahlia bulbs I bought the other day had sprouts on them when I planted them, so they probably will be alright. Evryone else seems busy too. It's been so hot that heat advisorys have been issued for the last 3 days, and extending into Wed of next week. So I only go out very early or very late. Just got in from watering everything. I would be interested to know what types of flowers can be sown in the fall. I would like to do that this fall, and get a jump on spring work. Have been canning green beans and tomato juice. Tomatoes are just beginning to produce enough to can. I can't stand the taste of bought tomato juice. I planted 12 varieties of tomatoes and I just use whatever is ripe. So each batch of juice may have a slightly different taste depending on what varieties used. Well will sign off and study sunday school lesson. Catch you all tomorrow.

Molly, the used blades simply went thru the slot and down into the space between the studs in the wall.... so unless ya took the wall down. solution.

I've seen the way stuff grows in Florida. ya might let 'em chill in the 'fridge for a week... not the freezer [if it's gonna grow in Fla, it better not need freezing.] But a little period of chill, might convince 'em to get with it when you scatter them.

I'll see if I can find that listing... it was a mag article and I marked the page with the list. lessee, think it was a Horticulture. And yes, I keep all my gardening and photograpy magazines. forEVer. heehee

Mary, I never knew we were poor until I went to State college, and learned that not everyone had a quiet little farm town background / we had a creamery and 2 feed mills.

My Dad grew our veggies always... pushing the cultivator between the rows of pole beans, hilling up the corn... before he put in his 8 hours at the feed mill. And Suday mornings bringing home a milk bucket full of blackberries before breakfast. Yum.

We didn't have a car, but we had a red wagon with 'woodie' sides that my Dad would haul me and my brother along and take us fishing and playing at the creek. He cut our poles at creekside and tied our line and hooked the worm, and we caught sunfish and Mom laid out our picnic. Poor? hmmpf.

PS:
When we did get a car, we got a '36 Hudson Terraplane It musta been about 12, 13 yrs old when we got it... my classmates ribbed me but I loved that car. It was black but my Mom took a paintbrush to it one day and then it was forest green. Did a right good job of it too.

It had great clearance and Sundays, Mom would take the wheel and we would ram the dirt roads of the Catskills. I 'member one time she had to back up about 2 miles when there was no more forward to go... big tree down.

I saw a bumper sticker somewhere on my travels just a coupla years back, it said: " I'd Rather Be Driving a Terraplane " and I thought _Me TOO.!_

Blooms, a little bit off the subject, but on to painting cars. My first was a 69 rambler ambassador. I bought it from my brother for $50.00 in 70. There was a bit of hippie painting on it and I overpainted his hippie painting with my hippie painting. Summer after graduation I spent the summer at my aunts house and decided to roll back into my hometown incognito, make a new start as a grown up, new friends, new attitude, etc, so I also painted my car with a paint brush....grass green///house paint.....

I'm painting houses now, not cars...lol
:^)))

And I'm the one driving dirt roads... and have been considering painting butterflies on my car. Couldn't hurt it - which is the blessing of driving something already damaged.. LOL

There wAs a subJect? I will scroll up and see if I can locate it. Hmm how soon do you hafta know??

Praise for all you gals doing the 'putting up' in this heat. My Mom always did that too. I've grown my own vegis, canned jellies and jams, made apple butter but never really canned / or froze much of anything. ~Blooms

Well, I'm a lot younger than y'all, although I do vaguely remember outhouses and smoke houses ... but no rations. I must say, I'm fascinated with your stories. My Grandparents lived on a farm, and I know what it's like picking vegetables and being around farm animals, though. Those were the good old days in my book. I have been fortunate to never want for anything. My generation is blessed beyond measure. I admire each and every one of you.
Okay, enough of that stuff. We stayed busy with errands today. Then I did manage to fix supper which consisted of shrimp scampi, tossed salad and garlic bread. Aftrer cleaning up the kitchen ... I got out and watered the plants. I'm still new at this and don't have a lot to tell, so I appreciate y'all letting me post. I'm only growing herbs and a few plants out in the yard, but I'm getting my feet wet. I have 2 tomato plants that have not been doing all that great, but we have managed to get about 6 tomatoes. The birds have enjoyed the rest.
I really hope everyone has a great night. I can't remember everyone's name yet, so y'all all just have a blessed night!

Hey, I wanta eat at your house. Sounds real good. Heard neighbor complaining his maters weren't setting in this extreme heat.

Please pass the Garlic Bread... lol

Well, I'm afraid there's no left over's, but I still have some of this chocolate cheese cake left, and you're welcome to it. I've watered the flowers ... they're all suffering from the heat. How did the blueberry jam turn out, Darius ... You've got to post a pic. Okay, got to go to bed if I'm going to church. Take care.

My gramps had a big long leather razor strop in the bathroom at their house, used a straight razor to shave with. We used to watch him shave, and thought he was very brave with that lethal looking razor.

No canning here, everything goes in the freezer now, except for jams or jellies which I still do the old way. Don't even fuss much with veggies, just give the green beans a quick blanch and toss them on a cookie sheet, bag them in big batches later. Same with berries. And if we didn't have a/c I probably wouldn't do that!

Had my usual 4 a.m. hot flash so got up and went to the front door to catch a little breeze.....it didn't cool off a whit last night,so I got a blast of hot air instead! Gonna be a blister today again. People are suffering in this heat wave, and they have reported numerous deaths already. Don't think we'll be messing around in that front patch if it's that hot.

I'll add some chocolate bundt cake to the counter to keep the cheesecake company. Coffee's hot, for the late risers, and I'll check in later to see what everyone's up to.

Sarv, did you get a good rain yesterday? The weather channel showed so much storm activity throughout the state and we got a good downpour for about an hour. Just at the time I went to the store too, so I came home wet. Good timing!

Geez! Where have I been?!??? I tried to find my last post and it looks like I forgot to push "Send" on the one I was typing for yesterday. LOL (OK...so I'm *getting* old! hehehe)

I wish you people would STOP mentioning things like getting your hair highlighted and cleaning off the piles of papers on your computer desk! LOL No, I didn't highlight my hair...BUT I *did* sort through that stack of paid bills and plant/seed orders that has been growing around the keyboard for the last 4-5 months. (It's still not quite finished...)

Good grief, it's HOT out there this morning. I opened the window next to me a little bit ago, I had my first cup of coffee sitting on the sill and when the first breeze came through I thought my coffee was steaming up my glasses! Boy! Was I wrong!

You gals working in the kitchen are making me feel like a real lazy slob. But then, I am...so I'll just sit back and enjoy the feeling. LOL

We got another 1 1/2" of rain yesterday...and I'm won't complain if we continue to get more (Which *is* predicted! Hallujah!

Blooms, was it you that said you had a list of OBLF (Outdoors before last frost) seeds? If not you...then whoever it was *please* let us know what mag the list is in. I'm really wanting to get as many things started as early as possible this year. My time will very limited for winter sowing and trying to care for seedlings started indoors next winter. (Babysitting)

Guess I'd better not get started on my "path to the outhouse" Chamber pot and galvanized bath tub stories (There's plenty to tell! :-D) and instead get my morning chores done so I can go pull weeds while they're still 'relaxed enough to get out of the ground.

M5...can you give me a link to that horsetail weed you're dealing with? I have no idea what it is and want to know whether or not I'm trying to grow it as an 'ornamental.'

There was something else I wanted to comment on, but for the life of me, I can't remember.

See y'all later!
~julie~

Mornin' all...

Work Work is all done - till tomorrow! DH and I are going to an IMAX movie - "Fighther Pilot" at 1. Better take some Dramamine.

I had all the intention in the world of working outside this morning but got up late (7 instead of 5:30) and when I went to get the paper - the heat hit me like a furnace! So - no dice. Can't stand it that hot. I was already 80 degrees at 7. We're on our way to 101 today....those weeds will just have to stay a bit longer!

Everyone have a great day - see you later!

m.

Good Morning, Everyone!

Julie, just think of all the kitchen mess that has to be cleaned up after making jams... and you'll feel better that you didn't do any canning! Right now mine is still a big mess and I have no energy to tackle it.

Inertia has set in.

Julie, here's the link: http://ipcm.wisc.edu/uw_weeds/extension/articles/conhorsetail.htm

Marcia...I hear you on that heat! I just went out to take some pics (not that there's anything looking good enough to take any...but I do try to keep a photo-log of what's blooming when) I stopped along the way to pull some weeds and within about 10 minutes I was cussing my steaming glasses, the sweat running in my eyes and the damnable biting flies! I'm in for the duration now. I'm like you...NO WAY can I take this heat. We're looking at 98-100° here in SW Wisconsin today with a heat index of 110°. Hubby says this is more like Okla weather than WI.

Darius...I already 'thunk' about that mess *and* the steamy heat...no thanks! I think I like M5's idea of freezing the green beans this year (and I *don't* like frozen beans! LOL)

M5...that plant is the one I found in the Plant Files here at Dave's. Thank goodness it's *not* one I've seen in my yard...yet. I have enough trouble with one that looks like an elongated arrow head. Now THAT one is a PITA$$! Thanks for the link.

I think I'm going through a 'love/hate' relationship with my garden at the moment. I keep thinking it isn't worth the trouble...then I look out across the beds and think "Gee...such and such would look great over there." LOL When do I get to just enjoy it? Huh? ;-)

~julie~

Julie,

You get to enjoy it late in the day when you are sitting out on the patio, the sun down over the horizon, sipping on a cold one. A slight breeze is coming in from the east bringing with it the lovely fragrance of night blooming jasmine and angel trumpets, the moon shining down and reflecting off the water in the bird bath and fish pond.

You do have to take time to smell the roses and the heck with the weeds.

"I" am about to make a good excuse for leaving them weeds. Based on advice from you know who, I am going to be throwing some seeds out in the beds. Once they start germinating I won't be able to tell the difference between the seedlings and the weedlings so I will have no choice but to leave them all. Wah LA, problem solved.

Then you will see me in a month or so over in the ID forum saying "Duh, what's that?"

Molly
:^)))

You get to enjoy it in the dead of winter when you look at your touched up photos, where you fuzzied out the weeds, and enlarged the flowers and have forgotten how much sweat was running down your face and stinging your eyes, and it's 30 degrees below zero outside. Only five months until Christmas!!!

Great attitude, Molly!

Molly! I LOVE that idea! And here I was afraid to start seeds now for fear I'd pull the wrong ones! hehehe LOVE it!! There's only one thing wrong with your description of the relaxing part. You're talking about plants that only grow in *your* yard! (Around here, about the only sweet smelling flower in my yard is the Stargazer lilies...and MAN do they smell nice right now. See...I *did* take time to smell the...uh...lilies! ~grin~)

M5..! HOW did you know I touch up my photos? Could it have been something you left on the counter one day? hehehe (I'll never forget the time the Mississippi River flooded our weekend property. I raised the house to DRY ground that day...and had everyone in the office laughing at my attempt to save my flower beds. :-D)

~julie~

Thanks Darius, me thinks you slept a bit late this morning. I enjoyed our visit last evening. We must do that often.

Aren't we "funny" creatures tho?

Blooms, the seeds are in the fridge. How long do I need to leave them in there, oh never mind, I just scrolled up about 3 miles and found what you said. However long that is, I guess I need to keep with the weeding until then. 1 week, in the perennial bed anyway. I have some red poppy seeds one of the garden clubs keep sending me. Can't wait to see them come up and bloom. I did grow a poppy once a couple years ago. My early gardening days. It bloomed and disappeared. Was so pretty tho.

Man we were sure chatty yesterday. I'm on DSL so load time isn't bad, it's just going back to find out who said what.

I also am waiting for the heat to subside at the end of the day for more gardening. I really do love it.

I need to get out and write down names of extras to set up for the trades at the KYRU. I also keep telling myself I need to get a garden journal set up, but that's so tedious, too much like work.

Anyone members of the National Home Gardening Club? I love their magazines, lots of pretty shiney pictures for inspiration and short, not too technical articles for my pea brain and short attention span. That was my inspiration for my seed throwing (oops sowing) plan.

As Arnold said: "I'll Be Back"

Molly
:^)))

Yes, Molly... I did sleep late, almost to 9am! Awakened to find that I had forgotten I turned on the sprinkler just before we talked, and promptly forgot about it. I usually set the kitchen timer, but that's the first time I have set the sprinkler in months so I was out of the habit with the timer. Good thing my tiny garden area runs downhill!

Man, I'm gone camping again for the weekend and you all have chatted up a storm! Speaking of storms, did we have a doosie last night. Omnious sounding thunder, lightning and downpours. Thank goodness we were in our trailer, but our kids and friends were in tents. They woke up soaked... Had a great time camping again. We were with a bunch of deaf people - interesting. We sat around a campfire along with lanterns all around so they could see to 'sign' Sure wish I knew what they were saying!!

It is a smoker today here= 93 and climbing. I am inside with the fan blowing on me, but the AC may come on later.

The sterioids the doc put me on have completely taken away the pain from the 'tendonitis' Now, when I am done with the meds will the pain come back??? Also on a med called 'relafen' -= anybody know anything about it? Or been on it?

Got home to a patch of broccoli and beans galore. Also the cukes are coming on strong. We'll be having stuffed peppers this week too! Yummmm Alas, the weeks have taken off too.

Isn't it funny when you don't even know you are poor as a kid? We were the ONLY family in our whole school that was "broken" (divorced) I remember often hearing people say 'oh she's from a broken family' - now more are broken than whole I think!! I had two good outfits- switched every other day and only one pair of good shoes and last years were my play shoes. Now I have so many shoes and clothes, I can't even locate half of them...Kinda shameful..

Pool is calling to me - and time to unload the trailer!! SS

Sarv, I took relafan awhile back for bursititis (sp)in the hip. It just took away the inflamation so the pain wasn't as bad. It is not a pain killer, it is an antiinfmatory drug. So what are you taking it for? I am having arm pain and they think it may be carpel tunnel. Having a test on the 28th to determine if it is.

It is steamy here. We are still under a heat advisory, they say the heat index is 115 today. Have to go get DGD this afternoon, but other than that have no plans for being outside.

On the winter seed sowing, anybody have any clue about what can be sown.

Everybody do their best to stay cool.

Bonnie, you need to get in touch with Handhelpers, a member here. She's pretty much an authority on carpal tunnel, and the other one that we get by the funnybone that causes numbness in the 2 outer fingers. (forget the name, sorry.) She also has a web site where she sells aids for folks who suffer from these afflictions.

yesterday was a scorcher - 103 degrees! and with the humidity over 90 percent, the great outdoors felt like a sauna. I sat in the sun from 9:30 am to 11 am to DGD s pageant and felt cruddy until after dinner - too much heat. Drank about 3 cups of water in that time and started feeling human again.

Today is definitely better - only mid 90s and off and on cloud cover. DH talked me into going to the car show with him - close to 600 cars - and now I'm pooped!! First time I've gone in 5 or 6 years and probably the last for about that many years too! ha ha! He can go with the boys again - leave me home in the AC.

Another of the aunts is on her way out of this world. She's 94 and ready to go, and a couple more are going down hill. FIL is from a family of 15 so with spouses and 2 that remarried after the first one died, that makes 32 aunt and uncles. There's 16 left now; 4 are in IL and one is in OR and the rest are around here. Lots more good byes in the next few years. :( I think only 2 are not above 80!!

Well, we were money-poor as kids but did not lack anything. We were on a dairy farm, had a 1/4 acre garden, a fully-stocked cellar and 2 freezers but everything we wore was hand-me downs. I remember my sister and I getting a new dress for our aunt's wedding - I was five. As far as I can remember, the next new store bought dress I got was in gr. 8 for my brother's wedding. I did sew a number of new outfits in gr. 7 and on up thru highschool - culottes, long dresses, elephant pants (remember them?), jackets, bell bottoms, pantsuits(with that awful bonded fabric-uck!), jumpsuits, peasant tops and skirts.... I bought a totally rad, fantastic 3 pc outfit the summer of '69. It was awesome! Psychedelic pink, yellow, white and some green, flowers on a vest, skirt and bell bottoms. I thought I was totally IT!!! lol and I still have the vest! The next new store bought dress I got was in gr. 12. And I am still not a shopper. lol hate it with a passion! Sure enjoy rummage sales and the Salvation Army and Goodwill, tho!

Isn't it interesting what we remember from childhood? I never knew we were poor either. I don't remember missing any meals so I guess we ate well out of the gardens we had.

But I sure remember feed sacks/flour sacks used for clothing.

Defoe - doc says my sore arm (from elbow to shoulder) is tendonitis - taking steroids for that. And it is much much better. The 'relafen' is for my hands - the knuckles just ache continually and the last two fingers click - I wake up in the morning and they are so puffy that I cannot bend them. By taking the meds, they are much better, but I really would prefer NOT to take the meds forever. However the sore fingers and the feeling of having vienna sausages on my hands is not pleasant either.

Turned on the AC and now I'm cold!! Need to get outside to warm up.

Just got a call from my neice. She says they cannot come to our upcomin wedding. (they rsvp'd that they would) Now the food is already ordered and cannot be changed. They did this for the last wedding too - some lame excuse...I am steaming - not even going to tell the DIL to be - she doesn't need any more stress. But let me tell ya, that I will remember them not showing and when it comes time for their kids wedding I am gonna be missing in action. I admit=I hold a grudge!!!!

Yikes kooger- 103 - that IS HOT!! It got up to 94 here with high humidity - not pleasant at all!!

Betsy - good luck at the movies - I went to the IMAX to see Polar Express and had to take a dramamine too and still had to close my eyes often!! I would like to see it again tho!!

WOW - if anyone gets the chance - go see FighterPilot IMAX movie. It was one of the best we've seen. Heck, it'd be good even if it wasn't IMAX. It's all about the training pilots go through outside of Las Vegas that mimics real life combat. Very interesting and I wasn't woozie at all! Highly recommend it.

I've got so many weeds in my front flowerbed right now that I'm thinking I just might fling so seed and say to heck with it.....Good idea Molly and whoever gave it to you...can't remember..too lazy to scroll.

SO I'm thinking we're in the dog days now huh? Course, what does that mean for August....I'll be in an ice bath before it's all over with. I don't know how hot it got here today - but it was bad. Walking from the car to the movie - felt like the sun was burning right through my shirt! Whew!

Speaking of - think I'll go find a cool one to drink while watching my shows (The 4400, Dead Zone!)

Later all!

m.

Worked on the arbor this weekend an all but finished it. The green metal roofing is supposed to arrive tomorrow and that will complete the job. That's one more down, scads to go. Think I'll make some cardamon bread pudding with citron to celebrate, and maybe a Gin and Tonic too.

balvenie - BEAUTIFUL! Must be nice to live north and still be able to get out and do something in JULY!

Hi all ...
Well, it got up to 97 here today and is still 85. I don't know what the humidity was ... but it felt like a sona here, also. Went to the farmer's market this afternoon and got a box of peaches to put up. Boy, are they ever pretty. Will make a churn of icecream before they all go in the freezer. I need to weed around my Susan's, but that's going to have to wait. The majority of my plants are in containers which makes it easy as far as weeding goes, but in this heat, they take a lot of attention. The mosquitoes are horrible this year. I guess it's all the rain we've had. Every time I go outside I come in with another patch of bites. I use bug spray, but they munch away and just laugh at me. Well, here it is 9:30 and I still haven't cleaned up the kitchen, so guess I'd better say good-night. Y'all sleep good. I'm going to put the air on below freezing, get me a good book and turn in when I get that messy kitchen cleaned up.

Hot here too...hot hot hot I'm
m
e
l
t
i
n
g..........

Sarv, several years ago, I had tennis elbow. Well they tried meds, braces etc, finally had to put my arm, from the shoulder down to fingertips in a cast for 6 weeks. They made the cast sort of L shaped, lower arm across stomach, and cut it in half so that I could remove it to shower. I did that faithfully and have never had another problem with it.

Thanks Darius, I will get in touch with Handhelpers, and see if she has any advice.

Molly, your comment about a garden journel is so true about my attitude. It would be so nice, but it is too much work. Maybe this winter when I don't have much to do I can get that done, and also put up a trade list.

Robert, great arbor. I need so many honey do projects done, that it is not a bit funny anymore. Still on my petition for a greenhouse, and some simple trellises, want a big rock for my address to go on by the drive-way, etc. Nothing major except the greenhouse, and now that I think of it, a big swimming pool, and a soothing garden fountain, w/pool.

Maybe I need to start by putting them by priorities. If I just mention numerous projects, none of them will ever be done.

Need to get DGD in bed, so Good Night folks, will chat again tomorrow. Making blackberry cobbler tomorrow morning, it will be out on the counter when you arrive, Help yourselves.

Robert I like the way that arbor looks without the roof... Is a gin and tonic the going rate?

Today, instead of hiding in the house, we took DS's truck a hundred miles to the nearest HD - up in Grand Junction, Colorado. returned loaded with pieces parts for the kitchen/bath redo and munching down on Schlotskys sandwiches.

Garden will be having screaming fits as now I'm a day late and short in the watering process. Gonna get some yard pics tomorrow too. And I long ago gave up on differentiating b'twixt weed and flower. I wait til they're big enough to tell...... and I tell ya it's a jungle out there. LOL ~Blooms

Balvenie, the arbor is awesome, and the lovely picture shows it off so well. I'm waiting for the picture with the roof on, although it is so beautiful as it is, I would hesitate to change it at all.

Oh, by the way, my gin of choice is Gordon's and I'll have it with tonic, no lime...thankyouverymuch! *grin*
Pati

Good Morning everyone!

I just love getting up in the morning, grabbing my coffee and reading through all the replies posted since my last visit. I get a lot of stuff to think about for the rest of the day that, without your input, I'd never have thought of on my own.

Today it's my camping trips...all the tents, pop-ups, hard walls, and finally a 'weekend "cabin". Funny how my experience changed so much through the years. And then there's the "Money-poor" years...I didn't know we were poor either. Even though my parents *did* tell us kids (often) that we didn't have any money, I guess I didn't realize what they were talking about. I thought *everyone* tried to buy feed and flour sacks that matched so you could get enough fabric to cut out dresses and little shorts and top sets. ~grin~ I also remember the bath towels packed in boxes of laundry soap, (and drinking glasses, too!) I remember "Bama" jelly glasses in our cupboard...and all those 'hand-made' Christmas presents. I thought I was RICH! And come to think about it...I was!

Sarv...I beat you to the stuffed peppers! :-) I made some on Friday, DH decided we'd have something else so they sat in the fridge over night before I baked them...and they were SUPER fantastic for saturday supper! I really cheated when I made them up. I used leftover rice from a previous Chinese take-out, and used Barilla Italian (Garlic and Mushroom) sauce instead of my usual tomato sauce. Then before I put them in the oven I put a slice of Provolone cheese on top of each one...oh boy! were they ever good! No leftovers from that meal, let me tell ya.

M5...LOL I know how you were feeling when you posted that
"m-e-l-t-i-n-g" message. GEEZ! It was HOT up here yesterday! The weather forecast is for COOLER temps and less humidity after this round of showers and t-storms. YAY!!! I'll be able to get out and pull weeds and mulch those suckers now.

OH! The funniest thing happened yesterday. I looked out my window here by the computer and saw something moving just out of my line of sight. I stood up, looked down and here was a 'stray' chocolate Labrador wading in my DGD's pool. But she didn't stop with a walk through...she decided to do one of those things dogs do when they find something really disgusting to roll in. She dropped her shoulder into the pool (a full 10" or so of water) and ROLLED in it! She must have been really hot cuz she sure looked like she was enjoying that "swim". I wish I could get my own dog to take a bath THAT easily! hehehe I don't know who the dog belongs to but she was on her way home in short order after the 'dip'.

Well, it's thundering outside...probably better turn off this machine now before I lose it.

TTYL

~julie~

Oh life is grand here today!! Cloudy and cooler than it has been in weeks. I got out in the garden and did the old weed pulling - then decided to rototill, but it got clogged up with weeds, and died - so there it sits! I was dripping wet, so decided to come in and stand in front of the fan for awhile, then have myself a treat of cheese and crackers.

I am PAINFREE in my arm and fingers- what a joy!! It has been at least a couple of years since I've felt this good. Better life thru drugs so they say! Going for the yearly mammo this afternoon, so I won't be completely pain free for long LOL

DGS is here again today - he told his mom that I was grouchy last week (and i was!!), so I gotta be on my better behavior. I was seeing behaviors that I don't like in my son show up in his son and it brought back those feelings. I didn't tell my DIL that she will be grouchy soon too!!

That dog story was funny. I have one too. While we were on vacation and my son and family was over, the neighbors dog who NEVER comes over, wandered over and went in our inground pool - swam around and then got out and laid down by them. They were in the pool at the time and didn't think much about it -= they thought he did it all the time! Kids said the dog would rest, then get up , then go down the steps in the pool, paddle around, then get back out and lay down again - just like a human! Wish I could have seen it!


Julie, by the looks of the weather on TV, your weather is coming this way - I better get my butt in motion!!
Well, I need to go unclog the roto and get it started again. I always wait too long and the weeds get too tall.

Defoe, I'd sure like a bit of that blackberry cobbler (one of my favorites).
Blooms, Wow, 100 miles to the HD.I'm so spoiled here with HD a mile and a half and Lowes three miles away.
Pati, don't have a good reason for adding the roof,other than maybe I couldn't stand having it finished? Gordons is good,I just got a bottle of Magellan Gin. It is blue,from France has 10 spices and iris root & flower for the color . Haven't tried it yet,but soon. In any event, the bread pudding just came out of the oven.It's cool enough to eat now so dig in. 11:00 appointment with the Dr about the cyst on my thumb,maybe he can do something about the plantar fasciitis too. It sure is bothersome. Our weather has been perfect.Cool at night and in mid to upper 70's during the day,with possibly lower 80's this week. Off to shower and breakfast.Everyone have a great (and cooler) day.

One of my favs... I'll just have a little piece while it's still a little warm from the oven thanks. Yummy.

yep, live here in the middle of a lot of nowhere and you try to have your list together when you head out for a shopping trip. It was noon when we got there and first thing was lunch at a great Italian restaurant. Then on to the different stores - the cabinets were easy, finding a tileboard I could live with took until 6:30 in the evening,

WE grabbed a sandwich and were home at about 9 in the evening. very tired and verrrry dirty from being in those big warehouse places. everything one touches has a coat of grime.

I'm slow moving this morning and had better get out to the yarden. It was under a hundred yesterday and predicted same for today. Enough cloud cover to keep the temps down.. sure appreciated it yesterday, DS's big ol truck has no ac.

Sarv, I am so glad the shot worked for you. Pain is NOT helpful in the healing of anything. and life is so much more enjoyable without the constant hurt.