Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today #45 visit with friends...

LOL, you ARE in a good mood lately! Now don't go take that wrong, you seem seem to be more 'playfull'...am enjoying that side of you...

Just got in, got my Bingo cards, tonight is the $3,000 jackpot..Kyle won't be coming over so guess I'll have to win it all on my lonesome..

So off to make 'jello' have my bath because you know who left some of the windows open today and it's freezing and then a relaxing night...

OMG, poor Kathy, asked her if she'd mind when she's on her travels to drop in and let Sailor out as it's a long day for her, well she left me a lottery ticket, apologies for dropping my chicken I have on kitchen counter...she had brought me lilacs, said she forgot I had some, did the few cups the girls had left from painting yesterday and dropped it..not major but she felt so badly so must go give her a call...don't you just hate it when you try to do something nice for someone and things go wrong...poor thing..she'll be fretting..won't do the scratch and win, will leave it for her to pick up...

Nice people in my neighborhood...

I'm off for awhile, keep your fingers crossed...

Nawwwwwwwwww.....You dsaying I can be a "grump" sometimes????

I guess it depends what mind-set i am in and what all has been going on. Writing this from work--just sitting here staring at the 4 walls....catching up on Posts....

Gita

Ah you have a job like mine today Gita...only thing to occupy my time is playing on DG and today everyone was tired/tired from the long weekend and hardly anyone to play with...

Can you believe I'm going to say 'can't wait for winter' lol..that when you all have time on your hands to gab....

well, called Kathy, she still thinks I should be mad about the chicken, shucks, not that important in my life that I need worry, told her to pick up the lottery ticket tomorrow or I would be mad...will try glue gun and for the pieces that are missing I'll fill in with some filler I have, it just sits there..felt bad for HER!....

Wahoo! Betty is going to win the jackpot and fly us all to Canada--oops not with prices the way there are now for tickets. Oh well, it was a good try. Win anyway Betty.
Don't forget I have family in Canada, have a very good idea where you are located, love tea (hot and iced) and adore BUTTER TARTS!!

Gita I am glad you reminded me about the thrift shops. I used to do things like that but it is taking me a while to get back into the groove again.

Went out with my daughter to celebrate today. She just finished here 21 year of teaching. Bought a few things--yes, plants and had dinner. Little disappoint but atleast I didn't have to cook. We share our retirement home and it is some adjusting but so far we are making it work. Say a prayer as it sure is different after 20 years not living under the same roof. She wants to start a quilt for her bed this summer so I guess I had better located all my quilting things. Now let's see which box are they in?

Found some tadpoles in a pot today. Saving them to show my granddaughters. They are so curious about bugs and things that I thought this would be fun. Not sure how their mother will like it but their dad say bring on over!

Good evening everyone!

Betty, I hope your mother is feeling on the mend!

Laura, you keep warm down there. Seems like just yesterday that we were telling you to keep cool!

So we took the kids canoeing yesterday up in Scottsville, Va. Cute little town and I could certainly live up there along the river. We rented 2 canoes and they dropped us 7 miles up the James River. We started off around 10:30am. The water was crystal clear and running pretty steady. It is so cool to just float with the current and look at all the gorgeous river rocks on the bottom! I had my DD in with me and DH and DS were together. We raced each other across the river a few times; saw a couple of brown water snakes (YIKES!) and rode down some fast rapids (just class 1 but in a canoe they seem like 5!). The kids had a great time. We bought both waterproof cameras to take pictures. I was too afraid to bring my good camera. Hopefully, we will get the pictures developed before they go off to college! Stopped and tied out canoes up to a tree and ate lunch. Really took our time. Stopped at one little island and got in the water. It was a little chilly but after being in the sun, it felt wonderful. Had a few paddle "water fights". We were all quite drenched and out boats full of water when we were done. Got back to the rafting place around 2pm and were back home by 3:30. Next time we want to do the 12 mile trip.

I spent the rest of the day finishing up my front flower bed that I redid. I planted my Japanese Maple and put in a few hostas.

I checked on the baby robins today and they are all still there - squished, but there. DD called me when she got home and said the buss had to stop right in front of our house because there was a huge black snake crossing from our side so I was a little worried that all the babies wouldn't be there. Here they are this evening:

Here are a few pics I took at school tonight

Chippy the chipmunk!

Here's Dale - not too sure about me

This picture turned out really cool. The gardens have this picture frame that just sits in the garden. It allows you to look thru it a "picture" the view. Well, I framed this picture (no pun intended)

And lastly, just a pretty rose....

GG
We have Quanzan Cherry Trees all up and down the street. The were all planted the same day--about 36 years ago. They are now in different stages of decline. Some are big and beautiful and thriving--and some, like mine, have all their branches hollow inside. The trees are definitely declining/dying.....

I mention this because in most of the hollowed out trunks of my biggest tree the birds have been nesting for years! One of them is a Black Bird of some type--maybe a Starling? Now--they are not small birds! So looking at your picture, I wonder how they all fit into the nests--and then, one day, they just leave as full adults!!!!
Then mama starts all over again!

A Black Snake is good to have! I had one in 2006. Just one--and it never came back in 2007. I have Chipmunks running me over! Wish I had it back.....It is scary to see one--but they are beneficial.

Abbis....My whole wardrobe is 80% from Thrift Shops. I will NOT spend retail prices to buy clothes to wear at HD! I am due for my annual visit to some Thrift Shops to, ahem..."renew" my wardrobe.....Need a day when I can set aside at least 3 hours.

Gita

Here's MY Snake that one Summer.....Didn't like me getting this close.....

Gita, I make my clothes still and mostly wear jean and t's. Give up the "city" clothes when I moved 3 years ago.

Can't say I blame the snake. I don't like getting that close even if it is a picture.

CHIPMUNKS ARE REALL????????????????????

morning all,

doc, thease were from mil she would get them at garage sales,she made me take this collection i didnt want them to begin with and i dont wasnt to sound ungrateful but bless her she makes me take all the things she starts,so after 14 years of this i can hardley move from all the stuff around, so dh said i need to unload 1/2 of this house lol, but i will do some more research.

marion, lol oh good another one to make things now! lol you'll love the workshop!!!

jeannine awwww the baby birds are so cute glad their doing good, love the flowers and the chipmunks are adorable havent seen them in so many years, thanks for posting them, glad you had a fun trip did murphy go to?

gita, lol that was cute, how cool is that snake! wow

laura, lol yes they are real, did you get the heater fixed yet? hard to believe your in winter, how is work? and your feeling good?

carol, how are things with you keeping busy in your garden?
vicki, how is the weather still have the freeze?
cat, how are you doing?
hi gilli, has all the snow left you now?
hi jaye,ruby, bev
shar, how are you doing?

ok i've been keeping a secret...
i wanted to make sure that one it was ok
then make sure it was approved at work
and to make sure the big kahuna i live with was ok with it lol
and that i have a e-airline ticket in my hands lol
ok im going to see judy july 7th going for a week im sooooooo excited i cant stand it!!!
all the mischeif we will get into bet her dh puts us in seperate corners lol

now how fun if we could have a mini round up at judys !!! any takers?????
have a wonderful day

Wonderful news, liz. Have a great time. I'd have a pro have a look at those dolls. Even though your MIL bought them at yard sales, you might have one that is valuable in the mix.

Surprise/Surprise..I've got 5 days off, will drive to Judy's to make sure you will not get into mischief..might put my hand in crafting a few things with you..lol..know you have some planned..I'll be the watchdog..

Now mine is tentative ONLY if something comes up re-medical issues..let's hope not..

I'll leave work on the Wedn. at 4:30 and drive to Windsor, almost the 1/2 way mark, stay a Gary's (cousin) and leave extra early in the am to get there near breakfast time....

Updated all my files this morning so kept busy now I'm looking for something to do...

Wow, Gita, that snake is gorgeous! Yeah, I told my DD that black snacks are good to have around as they get rid of critters. I've heard they can be aggressive too and although they are not poisonous, their bite can make you sick. Don't know if that is true or not. Hopefully, I never find out! Hopefully, Momma Robin will take good care of her babes!

Laura - you crack me up! Yes, chipmunks are real, not just cartoon creatures! When I lived in an old farmhouse up in Maryland, we had a pair of them (my original Chip & Dale) that would sit on the windowsill and chirp at us to give them treats. They love grapes! And their cheeks would be plumped out from them stuffing them with the grapes! We had one around our deck last year but I haven't seen him this year. I know they are pests but since they haven't done anything "pesty" to me yet, I like them!

Kinda slow day at work which is very fine with me! DS has a baseball game tonight. if they win, they will be in 3rd place and advance to the finals. I also think DS is going to be nominated for the All Star team. We should find out who makes it after voting tomorrow.

Well, found out last night that Murphy's Aunt is going to be a momma in a month! I'm still waiting to hear about his mother. I think we will have dibs on a female puppy from one of the litters!! Woo hoo - we're crazy!!!!

whoo hoo!!!! omg and judy is busy this week hope she got to peak in for a minute
how fun/fun!!!!

Jeannine, found this little skit on 'pesky pets' yesterday and thought of you..went back to look for it..'good' information espacially if you are thinking of getting a friend for 'Murphy'..lol

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/pac_ctnt_988_leader/text/0,2829,DIY_26336_62431,00.html


Laura, when I lived on Georgian Bay I had a german sheppard because Roger worked away from home quite a bit anyway he befriended a chippy and I'm sure it was playing that they did...there was an 8' metal tube that lay next to the shed and the chippy, concerned for his life would run into it when chased, the dog would sit for hours looking at one end waiting for the chippy to escape, chippy would come out and the dog would chase it, and back into the tubing it would go...one day, he must killed it, am sure by accident, why I say accident, because for a few hours I'd watch him, he'd take his paw and move it, put his head down and look at it as if to say, 'come on, let's play'..for many weeks he'd go lie next to the metal post looking to see if his friend had returned..

Good luck on the baseball game...nice to see you having a bit more time..lordy your schedule is busy..are you getting to go out on the boat htis weekend..thought I might for a few hours but they are once again calling for rain all weekend, so more indoor projects..

ok betty you have dmail lol

If anyone is interested - Bluestone Perennials is having a half off sale. I've bought from them and the plants are a good size and very resonalble!

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/index.html

Gee thanks Gardengirl! I promised myself last night I WILL not look at any more plant website. I have already broke my promise. Talk about lack of will power.

Liz I love crafts and this sounds like so much fun! Just trying to locate the correct size tomato cage. Haven't seen any short ones--all are tall. Can cut down I guess.

Oh my, Betty, you mentioned Georgian Bay--I loved the area. When I was in school my brother and SIL took me on a trip to the area. I do remember it being very cold.

Need to get back to my planting of containers. Also redoing an old milk can plus other things I have been putting off for so long.

Yes, the cage can be cut down..think I'll go to a nursery or two and check to see if the 12" size can be ordered in bulk..know I'll need at least 75 for fall, if so, I'll pick a few up for you and have them shipped when I ship the hair and face..hows that???

Depends when you were visiting as to the weather...our summers have been extremely hot these past few years, infact water bans have been issued..boating on Georgian Bay has to be one of the most beautiful sites, all the islands...in fact, Victoria Harbour is known for it's sunsets, very similar to that of Key West...you'll have to visit again so I can show you the region..

Please don't tempt me--what am I saying1` Do tempt me. I really loved my year I spent in Canada and get so excited when I am able to make a trip to visit family.

Humm, good to know I can cut down. Had't thought about asking at the nurseries. If I can't find them sending one would be perfect. You are a dear!!

GG--

Black Snakes (aka Milk Snakes or Rat Snakes) are VERY good climbers. Will go up any tree or bush--so watch your Robin family!
Matter of fact--the one I spotted seemed to have a rande-vous in my big Juniper bush with a "date".....I must have spent an hour and a half trailing after them both with my camera. This was in 8/05. Eventually, they both came down from the bush and proceded to crawl under my front, concrete porc through an opening....still in their "hot and heavy" pose.....See picture!

Need one here---I have too many Chipmunks!

Gita

OMG Gita, snakes terrify me..yuk..Darlene and the girls who paint at my house say there are snakes at the pond enjoying the sun...have lots of frogs/fishes in it so who knows they may be feeding...because I made the pond myself, I just kept collecting rocks so guess it's the perfect habitat for snakes...now when working in the flower beds around the pond I'm so very cautious..

I am glad to see I have company! I don't like snakes either! Imagine my shock when having breakfast in Costa Rica and saw this: Yeap just a few feet of the terrace dining area

Might help if I had remembered to post the picture. Duh! Hope it doesn't upset anyone but it is life in Costa Rica.

OH my goodness..know it's part of the living/dying cycle, yuk ...the other day Missy brought home a bird..truly did upset me..such a beautiful thing laying there..but everything/everyone eats something right?

It was very distrubing to me--not only because I hate, repeat HATE, snakes, but it was just off the dining area where we had breakfast. Lovely old quaint home converted to hotel with outdoor dining for all meals. Humm wonder what they do in the rainy season as this was in December which isn't suppose to rainy. Ha!

You say you come to Canada every once in awhile, what part do you visit?

morning all.

hahah those chip munks are so cute i cant imagine them being pests!

yeah its winterish.... autumn but cold and getting colder. the guy is coming tomorrow to look at the heater.

oh you guys are so lucky getting together!

how aer u feeling betty, what are the doctors saying? 5 days off, lucky you!

oh how i hate snakes!!! yuk!!!!!

well i best get ready for work....

hugs to you all

xx

When I come I go to Ingersoll to visit my neice and her husband and into London to visit my brother.

Laura,

I am over run by Chipmunks! Yes! They are cute and adorable--BUT--they have chewed entry-holes at the bottom of my shed door and other places and just think it is a hunky-dory place to visit all the nooks and crannies--and hide in during the heat of the Summer. I think they hibernate during the Winter....Hmmmm?????
They run in and out of what is supposed to my drainage pipes underground! I guess they are all cracked by now--if the Chipmunks can call it home!

I really don't have too many complaints about them--they do not raid my bird feeders like the squirrels do--they just stuff their cheeks with whatever is on the ground..and--they are welcome to all of it. I throw a lot of sunflower seed in different places for them--and for the squirrels too. I am NOT a nature hater! All living things have to live--and it is amazing that they can survive in times when there is NO obvious food source for them to subsist on. I just try to help them along a bit!

abbis---
YOU were having breakfast--and so was the snake---Amen!

Betty--
Snakes like to sun on the rocks--anywhere--as the rocks retain heat......I don't think they would go in your pond and, actually, eat the fish, but they might eat the frogs. Just assuming......
Now--here, as we are near the Chesapeake Bay--the Heron will just walk on over to someone's pond and eat all of their expensive Koy. They are pretty big birds.

There is a BIG Nursery about 10 minutes from my house and they have a huge, concrete pond filled with Koy and large Goldfish (which are carp). The just use a wire strung all around the pond--maybe 18"-24" high--and the stupid Herons will not go past that. Like--they could just hop over it or fly over it--but they do not!

Betty--if you are worried about any birds eating your pond fish--you can buy special netting at HD for ponds- It costs a lot more than bird netting (also available) which you can use around berry bushes, strawberry plants, fruit trees and such--and which is a bit thinner plastic--but would do the same job as the more expensive Pond netting.
Bird netting is, usually, in Outside Garden and comes in different sized rolls.

OK! Enough of my chatter.....But--it IS about gardening--so I DO post!

Gita

OMG Abbi! That's a picture from Animal Planet or Wild Kingdom! OMG - knowing that thing was around when I tried to sleep would have sent me over the edge!

Well, bit of sad news: came home yesterday and I saw momma robin coming out of the flowerbed. So I went to the nest and all the babies were gone. I walked around the yard and did find one by my back gate. I went down to pick him up cause I didn't want him in the backyard with Murphy and he opened his mouth as if to say "are you my Mother?". It was so cute! I carried him away from my yard and he sqawked once and let me tell you, momma and daddy bird FREAKED out! I have never seen robins fuss like that. Anyway, baby robin was jumping around very good so I left him and went looking for more. I walked back over by the nest to see if any were in the bushes and I found feathers in the gutter from one of them (I think just one). Looked like a hawk attack. We don't have any cats around so I don't think it was that and I think if mr. snake had gotten it, there wouldn't be any feathers around. Anyway, I never found the other 2 and the 3rd one from the yard made his way somewhere so that's the end of the baby robin saga. I know it's all life.......

On a happier note: DS had a game last night and they won which puts his team in 3rd place going into the playoffs. He has another game Sat and if we win that, we play again monday. We will also find out in the next day or two if DS was nominated/elected to the All Star team. If he makes it, it will mean he has practice EVERY DAY starting June 15th thru the first week of July so we will have a lot of running back and forth to the field!! No matter - I would just be so proud if he does!!

Did I tell y'all that I found out that Murphy's aunt is pregnant? Now we're just waiting to find out if his momma is - either way, looks like we hopefully will have a little sister coming for him in late summer! Getting a new puppy is probably a lot like labor. You just forget how painful it was and keep doing it!! LOL

Good morning. Gardengirl, I would have freaked but it was the day we flew ome from San Jose. Was an interesting site but one I am not eager to see again. I knew when I agreed to go on this trip with my friend, there would be snakes but my desire to see the flora and fauna out wayed that. I still am amazed when I go back and look at my pictues, the size of bloom, the lushness of everything but it is a rainy country.

So happy you did find one of the babies. We have outside cats but for some reason they don't pay any attention to the birds. Know better, they would be goners for sure.

Gita we have a lot of blue herons on our lake and they are absolutely magnificient. You are so right about them invaded people's ponds.

Hi guys you all have had a lot to say in the last few days of my absence. I was so happy to see all the well wishes for our anniversary and it was a blast. So much food and fun, it was a romantic and awesome trip. I really was in awe of Hearst Castle, even though I went one time as a kid and did the same tour as then (there are like 6 tours)it was just unfathomable to imagine that a man lived there and it was his home. He owned 26 others too. If you ever get a chance to go, GO. Pismo Beach was a ball too and we really loved the hotel there.

Sorry all of you that are having the sucky weather at this time, nothing worse than a late storm while you have seedlings out and growing in ground.

Morning everyone,
Betty must be busy busy...as well as everyone else.

I have been working hard in the garden trying to get everything planted. and looking nice. My sister and her family are arriving tomorrow. They have a wedding to go to then the fellas will go back home and my sister is staying with me for the next week.

So nice that Judy and Liz will be able to meet. ..and maybe Betty too if all goes well for her.

I downloaded the free Picassa 2 program.
I was playing around with it, and made a multi exposure collage..
I thought it was pretty and I wanted to show you.
This new version of Picassa has a lot more options than the odler one I had before.

Beautiful, Carol.
Looks like an abstract Monet!

Morning1 off to a slow start here. But that is okay as it is just some house cleaning! Got rain all night so it's a weee bit to wet to plant today. But have hopes of finishing over the weekend.

Beautiful college.

Dawn glad you had a good time.

Liz I have been meaning to post this picture or 2 or 3. These are my teapots,watering cans and a coffee pot. Will just post the best one to give you an idea what I did. I have 6 or 7 pots hanging on the fence. Each has a watering can by it. Plus I have several teapots sitting on the rock part. I think I need to work on it a bit. Needs a bit of a pick my up!