Stop and visit, talk all you want. Pt 24

We came from here...

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/870268/

Pull up a chair, post your pics, have some conversation.

Good friends are rare...cherish the times, smile, laugh, stay long, be free.

Amen!

Well, I'm feeling tired, so I'm going to go make some oatmeal (the 5 minute kind) and watch some tv and rest this bruised belly of mine. It's been great and I'll see ya'll later!

This message was edited Aug 8, 2008 11:08 AM

Real quick before I forget...Celia, there's something final, but a good final because now it's marked properly. I would love to see your moms headstone. Not for my mom or either of my parents for that matter, but it's a "been there done that" for me. Please do post.

John just got up this am, so I best go talk to him for awhile☺

I miss her.

The view from her grave.

Thanks, Terry. For some reason that made me feel better. ☺

Abeautiful view Celia.

...Thank you for sharing.

Now place your hand to your heart. And tell her you love her...she is listening.
Then give yourself a big hug, and smile that she is.


I miss my mom too, been 8 years this October. I wrote a story about her gardens on the fifth year.
Actually the story just sort of wrote itself. The gnombes in my garden were hers. One day I was yanking
Marsh Marigolds from the yard. Looking up, I thought wow this would be an enchanting forest for the gnombes.
...and so I did a photo shoot. Some Garden friends and i were sharing why our gardens were enchanted and well
The scene literally compelled me to write my story. My family told me I should have it published! Still waiting to see if it is excepted.
Anyway thanks for listening to that little story.

Anyway Celia..You mom is always with you.
Send a warm hug my friend.

Oh Celia that is beautiful! I don't know about here in AR, but in CA no one could use the upright headstones anymore, everything had to be flat on the ground. Absolutely gorgeous!
And Seed's right, your mom is with you, send a hug! I'm so glad Terry told you to post it, it wasn't going to bother me any but I didn't know about the rest of ya'll.
Seed, that's a neat little story there, how inspirational!

The headstone doesn't bother me either. In fact I like to visit the old out of the way cemeteries every once in a great while.

Went to the MO State Fair last night and saw Shooter Jennings, .38 Special and Charlie Daniels. Shooter didn't put on a good concert but the other two were outta this world. It was a long night though. Didn't get home til 1am. Woke up about 10:30am this morning. .38 Special was onstage probably a good 2 hrs and Charlie was pretty close to that too I think. It was just plain awesome. lol. Shooter was only on for about 30 minutes I think it was and when he got off only a few drunks asked for an encore.

The stands weren't full for this concert but the people who were there were rowdy and having a GREAT time!!

I don't particularly care for Shooter Jennings. It seems he's trying to follow his dad's footsteps, which with this day and age that's all the fans he'll attract, drunks. I almost saw Charlie Daniels at a free concert a few years ago at a county fair. We were actually entering the fair grounds from the back entrance, where cargo, buses, booths, etc also enter, and his bus pulled in behind the line. We looked up at his bus and Charlie was in the passenger seat! It was cool! We stood on the side of the free concert area and saw some of it, but it was packed, big time! I've never thought of .38 Special for some reason, I like them but never think about them in concert. I'm glad you had an awesome time!

Celia, Judy is right. Your mom is always with you. You'll know what I mean when I say I talk to my deceased family members and friends. Heck, I still call for my childhood dog Cuddles. John just told me the other day that someone over in China (?) had a lot of "clones" of her dog. So if I could clone a dog..and all I did was cry. To have Cuddles (and her momma Toots) and then my beloved dog Cricket back? Oh my. Words can not express how much I would love that. My mom doesn't like to speak about death and dying and all that, at all. I tell her not to worry, I'm stuffing her in a sitting position and I'll just move her around wherever I go☺☺☺ I know some people do that with their pets, but I honestly don't think I could. To see them, but not have THEM, I couldn't do. My aunt birthday is the 23rd of this month. She'd be 49. And I could tease her. But I can't with her on the phone. But I do in my heart and in my head and outloud. I do it all the time. I holler at her, I look to the sky, I ask her if she remembers when...

One of Phyllis' kids was here the other day. He said that his dad was rolling over in grave because I had the tree cut down. He didn't know his dad then. His dad has been rolling in his grave because they wouldn't listen to me over the last 12 yrs. since his death. It boggles the mind what comes out of their mouths sometimes. Did they not know their father?

Phyllis is doing alright. She has good breathing days and really bad breathing days. Yesterday was a bad breathing day. I think a great deal has to do with her acceptance, in her head, that she cannot go home. It's not going to happen. She requires too much care. In her heart however, it's so hard for her to truly accept it. It's extremely difficult when her kids come (o.k. well 2 out of the 6 have come!) or call and tell her that if she gets rid of the house, it will devastate their children. They say, it's because they "spent so much time there". Umm..I lived right next door. When were they "there all the time"? Does Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas, really qualify as "all the time"?? Remember, I lived there when they moved in. They didn't live in a the house next door and then we moved in. It would be the other way around. If that house meant so much to them, why is it in such disrepair? Why is nothing ever done? No maintenance done, except maybe the filter for the air and heat. Does that qualify as general maintenance? Oh yes, we must also remember that the youngest son fixed the hole caused by his SIL (twice now) and also installed a new door stop that had been missing for years. It did take him 3 yrs. to fix that hole though, and 10 yrs. for the next. Who's painted? Inside and out? Who called a contractor who puts in windows? Who then, stained and polyed the inside wood of the new windows? Who fixed the faucet so that it wasn't up in the air any longer, shooting water underneath the sink? Who's cleaned? Who had someone come look down in the crawlspace and then fix the busted floor joist? Who had someone deliver their "old" stove next door? Who hired the carpet guys to install the new carpet she had picked out for her bedroom? When somebody got new trim, baseboards, doors, had the people doing the work, take a door over there to replace one of hers that was damaged beyond repair? Who called different contractors for a deck and ramp and new roof, and a new garage door? Need I go on? This isn't even a quarter of what all I've done for Phyl. All I've asked from those kids, is to give credit where credit is due. But they insist that I'm "just the old neighbor". I won't allow and have never allowed Phyllis to give me any money for anything I've ever done for her. It's not needed. If their mother can recognize who does most everything for her, then they need to recognize it also. But they don't and I continue on. I know who it's most important to, and that is Phyllis. When Phyllis needs me, I am there. It doesn't matter if something else is supposed to be happening, I will cancel because nothing is more important to me than Phyllis. And I come here, and I write it all down. And if you all read it, great, if you don't, at least I've said it to the wind☺

Between Phyllis and my BIL, this is a very trying time for me. Very frustrating. But I go on and do what I've always done. I'll spare you the details of the latest thing with my BIL. Let's just say I was ready to strangle anyone from that organization last Wed. and again on yesterday☺ From what I'm hearing though, there just might not be an organization like that around in this town in the very near future.

I don't know. Sometimes I think people forget who I am and what I've done in the past. I'm not some weak mild mannered woman. I'm a very strong woman, who knows what's right and what's wrong, and who doesn't take anyones baloney and who keeps going up the ladder and outside of the entity to find someone who can help and someone who will listen. I've done it before and I'll continue to do it. Crying lots and lots helps me too☺

Crissy, I'm glad you're mending. I hope you continue to mend. Welcome back!

pep, I'm glad you enjoyed your concert! I adore The Charlie Daniels Band.

Hi Judy!!

Well girls, the Cubs are on and are, at this moment, getting creamed. I better go start hollering. Hopefully Judy already is, but I better get my 2 cents in.☺

Terry, I just went and bought a Joe Pye Weed, Eastern Blazing Star and Prarie Blazing Star. Tomorow I will get a yellow passion vine. Maybe a few another plant too. lol.

I got all those from the MO Wildflower Nursery who had a tent set up at work today. I took my mom and we went and saw the butterflies. It was the perfect day for it. Cloudy and cool. And by cool I mean it was in the low 70s. Tomorrow I will be there working which won't be as much fun but it will be busy.

Long-winded Terry is at it again! LOL We kid 'cuz we love!

Thanks for the encouragement, girls. I needed it and didn't KNOW I needed it. It is a beautiful spot where mom is. She picked it. Her sister is buried there, too and they're not very far apart. Now they get to be together forever.

It's a funny story I have about mom. It may not seem like it but it is, in the end. One of my DBs told it at the services.

Mom always had to have the last word in everything. She taught all of us to be strong individuals and not follow the herd. It's that trait that probably made her two marriages go south. Too strong for the men she was with. She tried to temper that trait but she couldn't seem to find a balance. We had dad to help us in that department. Most of us have done well with relationships.

When mom had to go into the care center, my DBs and I took over taking her places and helping her get her groceries, clothing, everyday sundries. My DB Mark was taking her grocery shopping one day. She wanted to walk and not take the wheelchair. Mark was in a hurry and asked, could she please ride in the chair so it wouldn't take so long. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Okay, what kind of crackers do you want? Oh, any kind. Okay, how about these? No, I don't like those. These? Why would I want those? They're bad. Okay, you pick. Got the crackers...on to the next aisle. I want soy milk. What kind? Any kind. No, mom, what kind do you want? (sigh) Any kind. Mom, I don't know what kind you like. (sigh, with pursed lips) THIS kind. Okay, got it. Cheese? You get the idea. This goes on for an hour. Going to the checkout. Mom is starting to teeter a little. She is having trouble standing and really needs to be sitting. Mom, let me get the wheelchair. No. Please? I said. NO! Mom, can you please sit in the chair? (BIG sigh with pursed lips AND a stern look at Mark) Why do you have to be so stubborn? I don't know WHERE you kids get it...

That was mom and I miss her.

Mom? Goodbye. I love you. I miss you TONS!!!

The pic won't open any bigger, I don't think but I planted them for mom. They were her favorties. Pink hollyhocks.

This message was edited Aug 9, 2008 7:33 PM

Well, I'm gonna complain, I've had it. My Saturday mail lady seems to not want to pick up the outbound mail in my box. I've noticed over the past year that I have lived here that she is the most unfriendly person I have ever seen. She won't wave, smile, acknowledge you or anything, and on this little dead end road everybody waves at everybody. The day before surgery, Saturday, I put a check in the mailbox since I didn't feel like going to the closest mail box 15 minutes away. She didn't pick it up. Today I had to mail the water bill, put it in the mailbox, go out after the mail ran, there it is, sitting On Top of the rest of the mail she delivered. Either she's stuck on stupid and can't see that the "mail to" address is different than the address she's at, or she doesn't want to do her job. Either way, I'm complaining. I can't stand lazy people who won't do their job. I'm going to talk to my weekday mail lady on Monday, she's Dave's cousin's best friend and co-worker, super nice gal.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Phelps got the World Record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG they just cut our National Anthem off!!!! Let's cut their National Anthem off. How disrespectful!!!

Celia, that is such a great story! Bless you girl!

I love thinking about the things that my grandfather and grandmother used to do. Here's one about my grandmother that confirmed to us that she had Alzheimer's, even though we still weren't 100% positive because the woman would lie lie lie to get herself out of trouble. Keep in mind this was in 1990 when police were still helpful there.
She was 5'2" and drove a dark puke green with the wood paneling down the side 1972 Chrysler station wagon, she called it a banana boat, I never could figure out where she got banana out of dark puke green. Anyway, she went to the Tabernacle across town to take care of some business. The parking lot lights were huge with these Huge cement pillars around every one of them, they were tall too and very easy to see. Anyway, she backed up into one when she was backing out of her parking spot. She got home and my grandfather noticed her chrome bumper was all scratched and bent. He asked her about it, I can remember the conversation as plain as day.
"Robbie, did you get in a wreck?"
"Uh, no. Why?"
"Well, your back bumper is scratched and bent all to hell and back, plus your license plate is missing."
"Odas, I don't know what your talking about!" then she stormed into the house.
He giggled, "No, but I think we need to get a police report on a hit and run."
So he got a police out there, and since my mom was a Community Service Officer for the city police she heard the address over the radio (no computers then) and showed up in a panic thinking something was seriously wrong, which is a whole other story in itself. Anyway, the police officer knew my mom's parents (my grandfather was lead manager for the city tree crew, everybody knew him) so he took it upon himself to drive across town to the parking lot and see if she backed into a pillar and sure enough, fresh marks on the pillar and her license plate laying on the pavement. The officer brought the plate back to them and she kept saying over and over, "I didn't back into anything!" Yea Right! LOL



This message was edited Aug 9, 2008 10:12 PM

Crissy, complain. She isn't doing her job. Her job is to pick up your mail. Always has been, always will be. Good grief. You know that old phrase, "it's hard to get good help", really seems to be the case here.

Celia, long winded Terry never went anywhere. She's been long winded with other people though and not coming here, sounding as if all I do anymore is complain or whine. I so do not like to whine. I wasn't really raised to be strong willed and independent. Out of 3 children, 1 even being a boy, I think I got all strong will and the independence with an actual backbone. Right now, I'm not too fond of my brother or my sister or my parents for that matter. I'm not them, never have been, never will be, ain't gonna happen, learn to live with it already. jeepers. As for that last word? Sometimes, oh yes sometimes, in an argument with my brother, it's a fight for the last word. But it's all done in fun. Nothing was serious. Now however, I can't say a dang word to him because of his ever loving worm of a spouse. She eggs him on to take me serious, when he's known me his whole life and he knows me. But to not do as she says means all holy heck will break out, and so he does as she says.

I'm strong willed. I'm independent. I have a mind and an opinion and I'm not afraid to speak or use both of those. In 27 yrs. of marriage, we've never once had a fight. Never. Do I get mad? Sure I do. But it's not John that I'm mad at. I'm simply mad about John☺ I have a best girlfriend. She's been my best girlfriend for over 25 yrs. But John was my best guy friend long before I met her. And he continues to be my best guy friend as well as my husband. I think what makes our marriage work so well, is that John isn't someone who thinks a woman should do or say as he, the man, thinks. And I don't think a man should do or say what I, the woman thinks. We don't believe in the whole "he's the boss", "he wears the pants in the family", etc. We're partners in this thing we call marriage and our life. He's he and I'm me. It doesn't bother me that he might have a different opinion than I do. I really believe that's the key. To accept who you are and to accept who they are. My John isn't some guy with no opinion and no back-bone either. He's got both and they both work. I'm not a person who can't say when she's wrong or never apologize for being wrong. To not admit I'm wrong or even might be wrong. Of course I'm wrong sometimes, we all are, that's what makes us humans. Make sense?

pepper, I'm loving the plants you got girl! Be careful with the passion vine. I had one once. It never did that first year. But the second year? I had not one plant, not even 5 plants, I must of had 20 plants. Where they came from, is anyones guess. If they had bloomed and set seed, then o.k., I get it. But they didn't bloom that first year, they barely grew. It took me 3 yrs. to finally rid that bed of those things. My little prairie looks so sad. With all those strong winds we had a few weeks back, a lot of them were flattened. Some bounced up, some did not. They continue to lay. sigh. The cupplant (Silphium perfoliatum) is doing really well. It bounced back up pretty straight. Not totally, but good enough. My neighbor was just commenting that we wanted that plant. When I said the common name, she said she's just bought one. Then she showed me. It's not a cupplant. I don't know what it is, but it's not a cupplant. If you can find an Ironweed (Vernonia altissima), you'll love that in with the plants you bought today. I think it's a native/indigenous plant for your area, might want to check to be sure.

I have been wanting ironweed but haven't seen these people bring it. Will double check today.

Good Morning Cutie Pies!!

Ahhh..today i get to rest, now i am really excited about that. As you all know i've been weeding, weeding and more weeding.
Geesh, one would think I didn't know what i was doing for all the tearing out I've done. My hands are shaking from exhaustiion! ROFL...
It's done and yippee today I am going to water just so i can smell the earth.

You know, my family is heartbroken that I pulled all the wildflowers. I didn't even realize what they thought of my hard work in the gardens.
But yesterday they were angry, that we got citation, they were sad that it is all gone. Why they even said We had the Best looking garden in the neighborhood!! But I said don't cry with a ear to ear grin...Our pretties will be back! Thats the wonderful thing about nature, she just smiles at us because we let her show us what she is made of! The toughest survives and graces us in all her splender.

LOL, let them give me citation after citation...I refuse to put chemicals in my earth. I just keep thinking if I do that all my critters wil go away.

Oopps, breakfast is calling, I'll be back..rant over.thanks for listening.

Good Morning!! Boy I slept late, must be the rain. Yes, it's raining, raining, raining! It started about 8:30pm last night and it's been coming down ever since. Had a big thunderstorm at 5:30am, Dave got off early and drove right into it to get home, he said the lightning was unreal, cloud to ground all around him, he was thankful for the rubber tires! I've never seen him shaken up from lightning before. It just got through pouring buckets again, I'm so glad, we need it so bad. I know one of my sunflowers is laying on the ground and need to go check the others that I can't see, plus get the paper. I think it's slowed, I'm going to make a run for it, radar shows another big bunch of rain coming fast!

My, that was delicious! Ham,mushroom and Cheese omelet!

So...LOL, I am back. Just wanted to say.

Celia, what gorgeous Pink holyhocks!! Sweet story about your mom.

Pepper so glad you had an Awsom time at your concert!

Crissy, So glad you are feeling the mend. Sounds like you will be one busy lady when you return to work. Wow, I am curious at what you do. Sounds like you organize events...I love that kind of stuff, lol, kind of like gathering a party.

Hello Terri!! LOL, Happy to hear Phylis is doing good. Um, did someone give you a hard time? Don't let em bother ya, of course it don't sound like you let too many people get to you. Which is a good thing. My neice is mad at me, for what reason i don't know, not caring either any more. She made cry and that upset my kids. So, I called her bluff and just don't communicate with her anymore. I don't need her upsetting me for stupid stuff from years ago...We all have IM to be able to talk on a daily basis. so I really like her sunset picture and just couldn't help telling her...I didn't give her a chance to reply. I figure it was good to break the ice. But she is one hard headed girl.
One day she will see how stupid this is and give me a call. Until then what can i say I am still my happy self.

So what are you all up to today? It is one spectacular day out there. I am going to sink my hands into a project...woohoo don't know exactly what yet but something fun.

See you later!

Dang it's soggy. On that one section of the sunflowers 5 of the 7 are knocked over. I'm just going to pull them, sunflower season is over anyway. I was hoping to get the seeds, but HD sells them anyway. That'll leave me 7 plants still in the ground. And the newspaper people didn't put the newspaper in plastic! How lame!
Ok, I'm getting my Olympic fix. Is anyone watching them?
LOL Dave parked in the driveway! He always backs his truck up to his trailer in a little side driveway thing we have.
Terry that's the way marriage ought to be. I don't know about Illinois but here in Arkansas there are so many men that take control of the woman, it's really sad, but the women let them. Like my next door neighbors, they're in they're mid 20's, married 2 1/2 years just like me and Dave. She's very strong willed and he tries to be controlling but it doesn't work. She went out one night with 3 of her girlfriends, they ended up staying at one of the girls house in the pool, and got home at 3:00am with a wet swimsuit on and wet hair. He accused her for a full month of how she went to the Electric Cowboy (an all night bar in Little Rock) and not to her friends house. Retarded. One weekend Dave was working so I decided to go into Hot Springs and visit our favorite bar, all of the regulars happen to be in there that night and I had a blast. The only grief I got was "You always go out while I'm at work." So I said, "You always went out when I was still in California and you were supposed to be here working." He's never brought it up again.
What is an ironweed? I'm going to have to put something in those sunflowers place or it's going to look very drab. I wonder if the iris would make it there. hmmm
Huh, the lights just got real bright for a second, it must be storming in Benton. That's where are electricity comes from and we can always tell when it's storming there. I didn't hear any thunder, but it's raining again.

LOL I guess I'll tell you what I do for a living. I am actually a Secretary/User Support in the Information Technology department for the Hot Check program with the State of Arkansas. I coordinate one conference a year, the Hot Check Conference, but the Prosecutor Coordinator's Office, the office I actually work for, coordinates 3 different conferences 2 times a year, but I don't have anything to do with those other than show up to help. I fix computer problems for the Hot Check Coordinators, who mostly work at county level. I have a BA in Information Technology also, and plan on climbing the ladder and working in the IT department solely before June of '09. Since we are State employees, the budget for this has to be approved by the state, which I think it has been, and they need to take the suite next door and make room for me, which hadn't been started when I worked last. I love my job, I would have never gotten the opportunity to work in an environment like this in CA.

I went back today and got the ironweed but they were sold out of the yellow passion flower and only had the purple so I didn't get it. The purple is neat but I don't trust it. I like the yellow better. lol.

I went and wrote down what I got today. I got the Curlytop Ironweed aka Vernonia arkansana and a Wild Senna. I wish I had grabbed the blue sage though. It looks so pretty. lol

I plan on getting the missouri ironweed too if this nursery has it on their website.

Give you girls a day and look what happens! LOL I'll catch up tomorrow. In the meantime, I read a little...

Terry, thank you. Crissy, thank you. Amanda, thank you. Judy, thank you. You girls really make me feel special. So...thank you.

After work today, Darrell and I went to a company BBQ. Tons of fun and food. All the people I used to know were there and a couple from another store came, too. My boss broguht hi 1 month old baby and his grilfriend with him. It was nive to finally meet them. Keasha is the baby's name. (I think that's how you spell it.) It's pronounced Kay- sha. Very dark skin, almost a dark chocolate color, HUGE brown eyes and is just as cute as cute can be! LOL I took pics but I can't show them. I asked but they said no sharing. His girlfriend is much lovelier than her pictures. They, mom and dad, are from South Africa and, boy, do they have a story about escaping from there. This was during Apartheid. Thye are both lucky to be alive. They say they are living the American Dream and are now U.S. citizens.

YAH pepper! You go girl! Not a clue on what a Curlytop Ironweed looks like, but this group sells natives, yes? Sounds as if they do, if the Latin name is Vernonia arkansana. I have the Wild Senna, and I love it! I take it it's the Cassia hebecarpa? This one is a butterfly host too. Another good one, but more of a shrub, is Amorpha fruticosa, or Indigo bush. What's the blue sage? I had one in TN, Salvia lyrata, lyre leaf sage. I didn't care it went all over, but if this is the one, be aware of that trait.

Judy, why are you getting citations? I'm confused. You have wildflowers all over and not much grass, and because of that you're getting citations? Is that correct? There was a member here that was really good at laws and when municipalities want to cite people and how it wasn't legal. She's not here anymore though. Speaking of weeds, Judy, come on over! LOL Ever notice that with weeds, they won't just go away? Darn it anyway..lol☺ And yes, people are not being kind to me. When they do what they've been doing, it annoys, but I don't stop and I don't care if they "like me" or not. And please don't speak out both sides of your mouth. Not you, them. It's really annoying. It ticks me off wjen people who think they're being "diplomatic" in the way they say things, is basically beating around the bush and not really coming out and saying what they mean. Drives me batty. Like I said before though, I never give up and I keep going up and up (the proverbial ladder) until I get someone to listen. Now if that someone has to be a State Rep. from IL, then so be it. Only makes them look the fool. And why is it that a man is assertive, but a woman is aggressive? And the B word?

Crissy, a Vernonia or common name Ironweed, is an indigenous forb, a forb is a perennial. You don't have to plant it every year, it comes back year after year. Butterflies love it. Same with Eupatorium, common name, joepyeweed. I've also heard it called snakeroot. That's why common names are so confusing, different people have a different name for a plant. Had a guy or 2 in my dating life that thought they could "control" me. Huh, no. Not then, not now, not ever. Ain't gonna happen. And I'm not into controlling anybody either. I keep my kid in line, yes, control, no. Husband, never. They both have a mind and why shouldn't they use it? The old saying "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" comes to mind. Being mentally and physically disabled, Krista (our daughter) does need assistance now and again. But for the most part, she's been taught what's right and what's wrong and because cognitively her age is at 8 (chronological age is 25), she does require assistance now and again. But it's assistance, not a matter of controlling. My parents have always wanted to control me. They've never been successful, much to their dismay. Oh and I should say that this, being myself, is the only child out of 3 that will not be controlled by a spouse or by our parents☺☺☺

Goodness, people getting citations over their plants. If this town were to ever even attempt that with me, well, let's just say that since we're good friends with the zoning officer who regulates such things, it would never happen. The man knows better☺ I'm such a meany!! ROFL

Darrell says it's not worth it if a girl can't think and do for herself. I'm glad he thinks like he does. Makes me love him more.

Celia, I will only speak for myself. You know it must be true, because my words are always the truth. You are special!

I bet that couple can tell some stories and what captivating stories they must be! The things we take for granted.....

Celia, dang it! LOL John says the same thing! We got ourselves a couple of real catches, don't we?? I see my husband and know him, then I see his older brother and I know him and I shake my head in wonder. To see my husband and youngest brother Jim (in the wheelchair), then to see Charlie and how he is, my, my, my.

Yes, Terry, I agree. Darrell has two brothers and there is no way I could live with either of them. Amazing the differences.

Good morning all!

I agree Celia.

LOL Dave has 2 sisters and 2 brothers. Dave won't talk to any of his siblings, so I definitely won't talk to them. The only decent one lives in Santa Rosa, CA and is Jehovah Witness, so she doesn't talk to anyone outside the church. His next eldest sister is bossy, loud, and like to tell people what they want because it's really what she wants. She started a big ruckus at our wedding. His eldest brother lives in Alaska and Dave hasn't seen him in 30 years, he's talked to him on the phone once in the 5 years I've known Dave, then Dave's the 5th of 6 kids, and his youngest brother likes to manipulate the system and try to be all macho about it. 5 months before we moved back here his brother received a $25,000 settlement. Dave had him all set up to live by himself when we moved to AR, it lasted 3 months and he had all of his bills late and had no money to pay them off with. I wonder where the $25,000 went? Anyway, he had the nerve to drive from CA to AR to tell ME that I had to give him $12,000.00 so he would have something to live on, But he was going to drive to Huston TX to Give his $20,000 Yukon to his ex wife. He didn't get the $12,000 and he DID give his ex wife his truck, stupid! Him and his ex had been divorced for 22 years and there is a daughter involved who is 23 years old and apparently just like daddy, even though she never knew him growing up.

Now that I've said all that, I'm glad I'm an only child, I have no aunts that I claim or uncles, just a great uncle who recently moved to New Mexico from CA, but I haven't seen him in 10 years because I lived on the wrong side of the tracks for them to visit me, and every time I wanted to visit them they were too busy. They came and helped me and my mom when my grandfather passed away, I don't remember them coming to my grandmothers funeral, but they must have.

So an ironweed is a perennial, I'll have to look at one. I'm going to do a lot of perennials this fall, and coreopsis LOL I'm going to have those forever!

Terry, I got the plants from these people. www.mowildflowers.net

Good morning, girls.

Crissy, good for you for not giving the $12,000. Some peoples nerve! Me, me, me! All they think about. My DH has 5 sisters and they CONSTANTLY are arguing over something. Two of them had a fight (hair pulling and punching) at a Ricky Martin concert because one wanted to sit in the aisle seat and so did the other. Just a tidbit into other peoples lives. ☺

Off work for 2 days in a row! Woo hoo!!!

Pep, I looked at the site. There are some pretty cool plants there.

I'm still off work LOL! I go to the dr today at 2:30pm central time. I'm going to tell him about all of the problems I'm having then tell him he has to release me back to work LOL I wonder how that's going to go. I spoke to his nurse this morning and got permission to drive there, so Yay! I still have gas problems, pinching in my right side, can't eat anything, and extremely soft black stool (I took a dose of Malox 3 days ago so I'm thinking that's what did that, and it could be my diet causing all of this.) I wonder if he'll let me do a treatment of Prilosec, or any other antacids.

Dave's whole family is like that, they don't call him unless they want something, then they don't ask how he's doing or anything, it's sad.

It is sad. "You can pick your nose and you can pick your seat but you can't pick you're relatives." Excuse the bluntness but there you have it.

Celia, so true, so true. John has a half brother he wasn't raised with. His mother left him with the father when she left the father. Basically, she left her child too. She only had contact with him once a year up, and at age 16, he received maybe a phone call from then until he got married. When he was in his early 20's and married. John's parents (not his father, but his mother) drove up to WI and stopped to see him and his new bride. The newly married couple were next door at a neighbors and my MIL was irate. Didn't speak to him again until I found him, living in AZ, after she hadn't spoke with him for 32 yrs. To say she was not happy with me for "finding" him, is putting it mildly. Ah, but then they found out the guy's got some deep pockets, so all is well now. I have only seen Charlie once since '03. I've seen his wife twice. I've seen John's sister once since '03. It would be the same for John also. John has seen his mother twice since '03. I refuse. She calls maybe once a week, but isn't interested in his life. She's only interested in telling him what Charlie is up to, what his wife is up to or what their son, her grandson, is up to. If John dares to try and tell her something, she immediately cuts him off and tells him about something similar that Charlie did. I've never met a mother who so clearly has favorites. And makes it known to all. She dislikes all her grandkids, except Charlie's son. The woman lies to hear her own voice. She's the kind that will tell you the sky is purple if she feels like it and you best not argue with her. She lies about me, has lied to my face and to this day lies behind my back. I can't do it any more. I don't care who she is. I won't allow myself to be around anyone like her. I don't like drama, the woman thrives on drama. My disabled BIL? I got him out of their home and into what's called a CILA home. Community Integrated Living Arrangement. Meaning they have staff that helps the disabled people they serve, live their life, they don't do things for them, they assist them. According to my in-laws, so the story goes, is that the only reason I helped Jim get into this program is because I could get Jim's 1/4 share of the farm. With John's 1/4 and Jim's 1/4, I would own 1/2 of the farm. 197 acres of land, not all tillable. Make any sense? John was lead set-up in a well known gas stove component manufacture up here. According to his mother, no one knew what it was like to be a farmer, it was hard work, no one else worked as much, as long or as hard as a farmer, blah blah. Charlie had no animals and remember, it's about 147 tillable acres. Now John doesn't work for that company since they went bankrupt and works elsewhere. Not a factory. Charlie has stopped farming and cash rents it out, and he now works for a well known tractor manufacturer. And now it's become that no one understands how hard a factory worker works. My FIL was 45 when he got married, and first child of his came when he was 46. He was 49 when the twins, Helen and Jim, were born. My husband has always said the only reason his father got married and had kids was to help him run the farm. Helen says that her father was very disgusted when she was born, she is a girl after all, and then Jim is was born handicapped. The stories John, Jim and Helen tell about when they were growing up is enough to make anyone gasp and shake their head in wonder, and/or disgust. Of course it was all needed according to Charlie, but not needed if you listen to the others. According to me, who's opinion doesn't really matter, it's downright disgusting. Please don't tell me it was because his father was alive in the depression, or it's a generation thing. My FIL was the same age as my paternal grandma. My grandma didn't raise her children in the manner in which my FIL did. Money played no role as each raised their children with wells and if anything, my husband and his siblings had more opportunity (because of the times) than my dad and his siblings. My FIL had the opportunity to grow a lot of his own vegetables on a much larger piece of land than my grandma did and my grandma had the same number of children. They were born when she was much younger though. Putting it this way, my husbands first cousins, are my mom and dads age. John is 2 yrs. older than me, Jim is 4 months older than me. Want to talk controlling? My FIL. A woman is to be seen and not heard. When Krista came along and she was diagnosed with CP, the same condition as Jim, only milder, FIL was outraged that we "dared" send her to school (someone with disabilities is to be hidden away and no one should ever know that person exists) or that we took her on vacation. In the same manner, I was outraged when he called her a failure and told her to get up when she tried to walk when she was 16 months old. I was absolutely livid when he then turned around the very next day when I confronted him on it. My MIL lied for him, and with him, and they both said he never said that. John was right there too, he heard his father the same as I did. It was then that my in-laws were put on notice. Ever say anything like that about my daughter again, and you will never see her again. The stories I could tell. Did I mention how much I don't like drama? And did I also mention that I will not take anything like that from anyone, regardless of who they might be? How's that for a rant!☺

pepper, I know there is a native/indigenous yarrow, but I don't believe it's the one listed. Or at least not for MO or for IL that I'm aware of. I have had that before at our first house and wasn't happy with it's rampant habit and thick fibrous roots. I've had Coreopsis before, but any that I've ever had, were very aggressive and took over beds if not dead-headed on a constant daily basis. I know you have a lot of land, but those are really not plants I like at all, or would recommend. Not my choice and most definitely not my property, so do as you wish. It also has nothing to do with whether or not they're native either. On that front, I'm in no way a native nazi and I wouldn't suggest anyone plant only natives because I said to. For me they not only look great, but require no care. Except the clean-up in the spring as you have with any perennials. Or fall, when ever you do yours. In the Silphiums, I have Silphium integrifolium (rosin weed, Silphium laciniatum (compass plant) and Silphium perfoliatum (cup plant). I love them all. The laciniatum doesn't do much yet, the perfoliatum re-seeds quite a bit, but in places I want it, and the integrifolium is new to our property this year. I hear great things about it though. I know my neighbor is in love with the perfoliatum, but coming from her with her brother doing her whole yard, might not mean a whole lot☺

Speaking of her brother, he was going to plant a Hydrangea in the back yard. Full sun. The tag clearly states sun/part shade. Wouldn't you know that he bought it at a big box store and it isn't even for this zone? Zone 7 yes, zone 5 no. He's planting a Viburnum x rhytidophylloides 'Alleghany', right next to our fence. It's in a tiny little gallon pot. I have one and it's about 6' to 7' tall now. And wide. He says he "loves" plants, but doesn't know what he's planting. I told him it will become a small tree, he didn't listen, so oh well. The maple tree over there is going away. Hate the whirly gigs they blow about each and every year, so no big loss. It had 2 leaders and this last storm took the other top down. So now it's "top-less".☺ It's a soft maple, so I'm not really too heartbroke that it's going away. I will miss the shade it casts over here, but my plants won't mind.

I need to get in gear and get to the nursing home. I'm making your eyes all go blurry anyway☺

LOL Celia, you are absolutely right! That's why I've quit talking to my cousins and what-not, either they want to sue me or they're strung out on drugs and I'd prefer to not deal with either types of those people.

So the dr. said I'm healing perfectly, the pinching in my right side is scar tissue, I'm only pooping once a day now which is much better, and the runs are still expected along with some pain for the next 3 to 3 1/2 weeks. As for the gas, he identified it as an acid release problem which could be from a multitude of things, such as not eating like I'm used to eating, gallbladder problems, hunger pains, and just getting over the who ordeal. He reminded me again that the appendix was leaking. He said to eat better and gradually go back to my normal diet, if that doesn't work take a weeks dosage of Prilosec, if that doesn't work then call him and he'll schedule an ultrasound to check out my gallbladder. He said it's not uncommon for the appendix and gallbladder to go south at the same time. I'm positive eating and some Prilosec is going to fix me right up, no more surgeries. Oh yea, and I can go back to work on Wednesday, so 2 days off in a row!! lol!

Oh yea, I almost forgot! That Saturday mail lady was delivering today, I was leaving to go to the dr when I noticed her car coming down the road, so I stopped in my driveway, got out with the mail that was in the box that I now have to the post office myself, and stopped her in the middle of the road. I asked her if she could take those for me, she glared at me and started yelling that my mail wasn't in the mailbox with the flag up. I asked her if she saw the news reports that someone was stealing outgoing mail in the personal boxes in my area and they advised to not put the flag up, the mail will go anyway. She said, "Yea, but I won't take it if the flag isn't up, I don't know if it's supposed to go out or not." OMG So I said, "You mean you can't tell if the address you are stopped in front of is on the return address or the delivery address, like on this bill, it's going to Phoenix AZ, you can't tell where you're at? And you can't tell if the stamps aren't canceled out?" That really made her mad, which I knew it would and she started yelling again. So being very loud anyway, I said, "If you don't want to do your job because you don't like it or your tired of it or whatever, that's fine, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people who would love to have your job, so if you don't want to do your job then get the hell out and let some respectful person do it instead. There is nothing worse than some lazy whatever that leaves their work for someone else, it's rude and disgusting." She glared at me and said, "Are you calling me rude and disgusting?" As a matter of fact LOL I didn't say that, I said, "Since you obviously don't want to do your job I'll tell you that I've just had major surgery and until today I was completely unable to go to the post office. Because you decided you didn't want to work on Saturday my water bill is going to be late, which I should take out of your a**. So help me God if my water gets shut off you will be hearing from me, and that's a promise." She looked at me like I was crazy and drove off. I felt better LOL. Got her license plate too. I laughed all the way to the dr. about that. I'm going to give it a couple of Saturdays and put something in that's going to my mom or something, she lives in OK, just to see if she takes it and if my mom receives it. If not she's going to be in trouble.

Good grief Terry, that's entirely too much drama, I don't like drama either.

Terry, I have some coreopsis too but not many. Have dug most of them up in favor of planting a mixture of ferns. lol. And you won't find yarrow in my yard. I hate that plant!! lol. I want some natives but not all like you do mostly. I love them but I also love my lilies and sedums. And I may have alot of land but remember my dad loves to mow and complains everytime I make a new bed. lol. So now I am filling in beds.

Crissy, glad you're getting better. I have yet to have my appendix out. I hope I never do.

And I am also off work 2 days in a row. lol. I had to work Sunday and have to work Saturday so to prevent overtime I get 2 days off. It was funny though getting off work yesterday, we were running late cause a woman was taking 20 mins to just get around to sitting on the toilet. She was just standing in the stall doing who knows what and we had to leave and be able to clock out at 3:30. She finally went to the bathroom and was out in short order. jeeez. We ran downstairs to our cart, hightailed it to the shop, turned into the shop and there was our foreman. I told him to move or get run over, shot out of the cart and my coworker and I literally ran to the time clock. Got there just in time. lol. He started yelling wanting to know what the hurry was so we told him. After we timed out of course. It was pretty funny.

LOL that's funny! I remember those timing out days, hopefully gone forever! My boss is so cool, he told me today that I need not worry about coming back, he'll fax the stuff for me if need be and if I need more sick leave him and the big boss boss would give me some of theirs.
I don't want anyone to have to have this surgery, it sucks. My mom said that gallbladder surgery is a lot easier, she was almost completely recuperated in a week, it took her 6 weeks to recoup from her appendectomy, but that was way back in the day before they did the laproscopy stuff.
Did anyone say up late and watch the mens relay last night? It was way, way neat!

Nope, I watched HGTV since some of my faves were on. I'm on now cause I am getting directions to a garden in the city and a friend is sending weird messages. lol