JUST HOP ON OVER

Whoaaa it's been awhile since I've been in here! And with Easter hopping by not taking winter with it...I've spent a lot of time pulling all the plants in and out 3 and 4 times, Bot to mention the arrival of many bushes, trees, roses, and other plants I had to order from an out of state nursery I had to immediately take out of the boxes, repot, then throw them out when the cold seemed to be done with us here in the south finally. And yet I did have to bring some in that don't like it under 50 degrees last night because it got down to 39.

Then I had to let my new yard guy go I hired last fall, the cop :(((  Our regular guy just had a better price, keeps the lawn more immaculate, and keeps a regular schedule. I probably will still hire the cop for tree removals and stuff but his regular job keeps him busy (and he really is more of an excellent cop than gardener lol, moral, just, decent ;). So it's good to have our guy back and he grew up with the regular inhabitants of this house although he will run quick when he finishes so I can't hire him to trim the bushes, bush hog, fertilize, plant trees, etc. lol. He does weed around them and the fences and usually mulches the leaves in the winter though so I hope this year won't be as crazy. I'm still soooo busy I don't know which end is up sometimes so when I saw my sister's demented pet rock my eldest daughter made...I had her bring it in so I could steal a shot at least lol!!! :D

And while I we are hopping in the yard this spring, we decided to start on an early birthday gift for Paros! A dog house that will resemble this house with a twist!! He will be able to access the balcony part via stairs only it won't have a roof over it so he can sun and one of the wings (concrete not poured for them yet) will be for the Shih Tzu :))) I also got a dogwood tree although I will have to have them send me another because it was beat up in the mail pretty bad and I don't think it will make it :(  That's one great thing about cottage farms nursery...they guarantee their plants and trees for one year (via their website and QVC).

With the new BP pill and ATT fixed since Feb....I've had an abundance of energy so started finishing some of the bathroom renovations, gardening, trimming bushes and trees (though I have to opt for the ineffective charged trimmers vs gas ones because I can't start them or the blowers with my hand out :/), spring cleaning, taxes, etc. My hand keeps me from grooming the dogs efficiently along with so many other things and I may be slow but I get by. The new washer SUCKS and I have to wash everything twice like the dog blankets or anything that is heavily soiled. I miss my Kenmore with the agitator in the middle. It was like having a wash woman down by the river beating our clothes against the rock. But glad I opted for the top loader. I really would've been sick shelling out another $800. And for what?!? A good looking machine that doesn't work like the old stuff and will probably not last 10 yrs little on 20 :/ Hell...I don't even entertain in the laundry room so I don't care what the machines look like :P

And the serta mattresses? Humph. So far I still like the Sealy but when they came to take away the old mattress...Jim had the Simmons Beauty rest from 1999 that belonged in the guest room on there. No wonder the guests were sleeping well :l  They were on my new mattresses :( Paros isn't too wild about his but they only had the pillow top in his size. He still sleeps upside down with his head in the drapes. Doesn't dare want to miss the neighbors dog going by! :D

Before I hop off I have had fun. Family, games, friends, working on the house, watching old bond movies, etc. I've been nostalgic and spinning some old 60's and early 70's tunes through it all too. I even got to play with Photoshop a couple of times this past week when it rained. Just winged it on one but the iris I tried to follow a tutorial over at pxleyes.com. Whoa! really difficult but I had a blast with it (even though it looks nothing like the original :( ). Some play time for me outside of the dogs and gaming on the consoles :)  I guess it's back to the gardens with crop dusters hoping over in a few days once April showers skip away but for now....some leather work and inside stuff ;)

Maybe next blog I will mention about my realtor/friend staying with us for a bit. Till then...hope all hop off to a good start this season and grow with love :)
 



P and his sweet granddaddy :}

 

 

MUTINY

Fast, quick, and in a hurry with this post and scribbled valentine...lots I'm still catching up on, slinging dogs at the vets, but all is good. Did break down and had to run a couple of hours away to pick up a washer in stock instead of waiting for the 13th back ordered larger model (which was yesterday so I can't imagine another 2 weeks more of any of that mess!).

Ordered new mattresses for the house and saw Serta had ones for dogs...lol...so I Paros was too cute nosing in his box and jumped on it. Spoiled boy. He knows it was for him :} They deliver that tomorrow along with slinging Annabelle in for her shots and a bath. Picked Bayou up from his last week and his eye was injured in a fight. Second time he went at Paros since picking them up at Swann Kennels :(  Dunno what stress they went through for all that but Jim and I have to keep our dogs segregated now :/

Got a visit from a sister and another family member last week too. I was un-excumincated for a few hours and hate I can't help her in her time of need but all I know to do is what our father taught us. Be honest, open, and do right. Tactfully. Being the oldest of 5 siblings I should protest this mutiny but ooops. I'm still on my ship :o  Or maybe I'm just in tow like Carnival :l

I'll try and post pics of P, Bayou's injury, and everything else as soon as I sort out memory cards, laundry, mattresses, dogs, and yes....AT&T new Uverse service with DSL here in an un-fiber optic area :l 

Till then....love to them and all anyways. Stay afloat ;)

STATIC BARRICADES

Nothing like having to maneuver around the house between piles of laundry because the washing machine won't be delivered until mid February :/  I was going to pull the money back from it and just go 50 minutes away and grab one off of the floor of the nearest home depot but they said it doesn't work like that and it would be 8-10 days before it hit the store. I really thought there wouldn't be a problem with all this until dinner with a couple of women in town the other night. They said crime has shot up around here and Jim also doesn't want me venturing off to do laundry alone. I found myself in JC Penney's an hour out buying clothes and ordering another duvet until he can escort me or the washer comes in :/

So Paros and I are healed but it took almost 2 weeks to run down a flu shot since my doctor was out. So were the pharmacies, grocery stores, and anywhere within 2 hours according to flu.gov site. I just called up to the clinic here (the one I am trying to avoid because they have issues with me making an appointment to the one and only doc in town lol). Yep. They had them. They weren't listed on the flu.gov site which had me a bit nervous but hearing of all the deaths and how horrible one strain of the flu was....I had them stick me. And Jim. Of course that didn't go without a hitch. The woman at the front desk made us fill out all these forms again. And for what? A flu shot? Did you lose my records already? The grocery store don't ask for all that. Same lady that said my appt. was lost and then discouraged me against making another one. Jim could tell right off she didn't like me lol :D  Feeling was mutual :l

Not much done in reno's lately other than the flood lights and sheet rock. Glad the fluorescent lighting is gone out of the master bath. I think it will eventually the house will show nice and flow well when we are done. I had no intentions of moving from here when we moved in 3 years ago but between the stairs, and no services  of any kind (yes....ATT is under 1.0 again so I am having to drive an hour away or order stuff off of QVC lol!). Pets, vets, docs, and internet will be on my list of needs next move (if I'm lucky enough to escape).

For now....just posting some more aerial shots of the atolls, reef, and blue hole off of Belize, some birds I shot or whatever I come across to add to this 'hot mess'. Thanks to my little 8 year old buddy, Carlos, for pointing out the Jabiru from other storks and herons, etc. Was pleased I got a shot of an emerald hummingbird although it wasn't a very good one. My first intention was to put some of Paros up but couldn't find the smaller digital camera. Probably in a pocket lost in one of the barricades of laundry around here somewhere :/

Till then... I am still very behind on my correspondence. Coming home with laundry and health issues only to face a broken washing machine wasn't on any of my lists :\  Still have some friends, my daughter, soldier, and others I have to catch up on. Did finally hit services last Sunday and catch up with my neighbor lady though :}  Just trying to leave the static behind and not have it barricade or 'cling' to me as I move forward into the New Year! :D