Time flying by.....

  been almost 2 months since I posted last. Now been almost 3 months. No way to catch up. Tim is on the road again and I've adjusted quickly for me lol. The weather has been beautiful! We finally actually have some fall weather. Nice during the day and cool at nights. Opening day of deer season was yesterday and Tim is at deer camp. Jan and Mitch came for a visit yesterday also. Two of my favorite people. Have been friends with her since we were small children and have known Mitch his entire life ... she's the little sister I never had. Wish we could spend more time together like the old days but we are too far apart and both too old to travel far haha. My nephew is having surgery this coming week. Having a hip replaced! Good grief, he's too young for that. We'll be going to Tulsa for the surgery. It's an insurance thing. If he does it there they will pay for all of it. Good deal.
  My son brought me 6 turkeys awhile back! They are a hoot. Two have died for unknown reasons but the others seem fine so far. They were probably "turkey house" birds so there is any number of things that could have caused it. They are very people oriented to my surprise. All the yard animals have adjusted to their presence.

Past mid August now and

  just received the electric bill. About half of the previous month! I'm thinking that new A.C. unit may almost pay for itself after all. How cool is that? Smaller than ever for a summer month. Yay!
  Other than that, not much going on around here. The rain keeps the pasture growing (good thing) but also keeps the yard too high and too wet to mow (bad thing) lol . Actually got it a short bike ride last weekend. Was perfect weather, not too hot and a beautiful evening.. about an hour ride around a country neighborhood.
  All animals are sound and healthy for now. Fat and sassy. The grass is still green. No summer burnt yellow yards to be seen.
  In two days it will be our 34th anniversary. Seems unreal to me that it can be that long ago. Still an adventure all the time. Heading towards another major change in the life and times...T is going back on the road. Only way to improve our income at this point. Haven't had to do that since 1996. Some days are diamonds ...... will be an adjustment for both of us. Be home on weekends.
  We have now lost 30 lbs each since Jan 1....we each have a ways to go. Him less than half of what I need to lose but that's okay. I'm just too short for my weight. lol
  First day of his vacation. Using that time to square away a few things here at home and at the other job. And relaxing.

  All I can post today. You have a diamond kind of day!

Almost the end of July

  and the past week or so has been a little rough. Been missing my momma since it was her birthday on the 22nd. You would think at my age and the length of time that has passed it would be easier. She was my rock.
  On the 3rd our ac went out. Of course! Generally coming up on the hottest time of year. lol Never fails....we had to replace the old unit to the tune of $3700 and some change. Could've been worse. Thank goodness we have credit. Never thought I'd say that! Hope the savings on the new unit compared to one that was around 40 years old will make the payment. I can dream, can't I?

 

  Had some surprise visitors that were very welcome this month! Mike's family. 

  This is one of the local crop dusters at work. A couple of farms away best I can tell. He sure was flying low! 

  This poor creature had made the mistake of taking up residency in the shop and the chicken house. Big no no around here. I know, most people like having one around for rodent control. I like having barn cats for the same reason and have no trouble with them. They don't eat eggs, baby chicks or try to sneak up on me or drop from above my head! 

  We had a busy weekend mid month. On Saturday we went to Spfd to visit a couple of T's sisters that we hadn't seen since April and had lunch at El Taco. Our favorite Mexican restaurant there. No fuss or muss, just good food. The next day we took a chance and went on another road trip 80 miles from home to visit my favorite Aunt and Uncle. They were home! She had some fabric for my sister and I and honored me by passing her quilting frame down to me. We had such a nice visit and stayed 3-4 hrs. Did not want to tire them out. 

  This week has been a heat wave with heat warnings etc. Stayed inside mostly. Did get the bigger part of the back yard mowed. Will try to do better this week. T is outside right now brush hogging the west side of the place. He got the east side done about a week ago. We were able to dismantle the round pen and put the panels around the garden and turned the horses out on the whole thing again. 

  Better go, have a diamond day! 

The heat is on.....

it's mid June and it has reached 90* and the humidity is despicable! Oh, it is Missouri after all. That's what it does here. We have some high clouds that are helping a little.
  My flowers have been blessing me with many blooms of different kinds and more every day. The mimosa tree is just beginning to set a few along with the hostas. I have picked a few strawberries so far. I have ever bearing plants so they will keep producing a handful here and there throughout the season. The corn is almost 2 ft so it's doing okay considering we were late getting it out. No fruit to speak of. Between frost and blight - no chance....

This is my honey at work....driving down the road in front of our house. I love that he can drive local these days. Much better than over the road. 

My tulip tree was really pretty this spring.

  My braided redbud tree was pretty cute this spring too. All those tiny buds. Everything is growing and blooming. Including some things I don't want to see. Like poison ivy and mold/mildew on the back side of the house! Got part of it washed off but a lot to go. So many chores and so little energy! 

I love this! 

On that note....have a diamond day!

Been almost a month

  since I've posted. Tells quite a lot about our laid back life. Nothing going on but the rent as they say.
And it was a bad week for vehicles. haha We have several vehicles that we use on occasion but not regularly. "Back up" car and a truck for towing. Tim's PU was in the shop so he charged the battery in my truck and the poor little Escort. My truck wouldn't start the first day so he took the Escort, next day he took my truck. Day 3 he jumps in my truck, nothing, jumps in the Escort, nothing. He had to take my van. Some people wonder why we keep so many "junkers" around. Sometimes it takes that many just to get through a week! lol Too funny. And thanks to the good Lord we have those junkers. Good news is that Tim's truck is finished and we will pick it up this morning.

  Had some showers this week but nothing like they had predicted. Unfortunately the rest of the country east of here has gotten way too much rain. Our pasture needed the little bit we got. The horses needed a bath too.

  It's hard to believe but we need to actually start mowing this week! There is so much clean up to do in the yard. My flower beds look pathetically like weed patches and dust bowls for chickens. I don't mind the dust bowls from the chickens so much. They need their baths too. Keeps the bugs off of them. The problem is that one of the dogs comes behind the chickens and digs the holes much bigger! Oh well, the price you pay for the animal members of the family. More exercise for me!   List of blooming things: plum tree, nectarine tree, tulip tree, daffodils of assorted colors, lilacs are leafing out, quince is flowering, strawberries up and running, roses leafed out and several more. It's a little early and I'm afraid everything may get bit by frost. I will enjoy them as long as possible.

  Another post I found in the drafts folder. Can't remember to check it first! It's actually from March.

Time marches on too quickly

  It's already past mid May and I have been so wrapped up in myself and health problems that I haven't been able to post a word. I won't bore you with the details but life goes on when you let it.
  We lost a friend this spring. A couple of weeks ago my mustang Cotton crossed the rainbow bridge. He will no longer suffer with COPD. He was very special to me. Here he is at 17.
 

One of my favorite pictures of him. He will be sorely missed in the herd. 

  

  

Cold and blustery!

  Good grief , the past two days have been extra windy for around here. Gusts to 40 mph with sustained winds of about 25 mph. Throw in temps in the low 30's and it's pretty dang cold out there. On the bright side it will quit soon and we'll have a couple of nicer days before the next cold comes through.
  Tim got the hydraulic hose fixed on the tractor and we're back in the hay business. Glad we didn't have to resort to pushing or dragging the bales to the horses! It was a busy weekend for Tim, on Sat he traded one of the bikes (the one he has been riding) for a couple of guns and a new generator. Sunday he put it together and wheeled it off the truck. Ready for the next power outage!
  Not much else going on but just checking in.
 You all have a diamond day!

Ground hog day

  The ground hogs think we will have an early spring but I disagree. We have been about a month behind since last fall. I figure that we will have winter until sometime in April. Just been such a mild winter and I've enjoyed it. Having a cold front coming in with a lot of wind is reminding everyone that it is still on the calendar.
  We had a really nice weekend with a visit from my sister and brother in law. He came up to help Tim with work on the tractor. They couldn't find the right part though so we are still broke down. Maybe this weekend.....Then on Sunday our son was able to come by for a nice long visit. A little catch up was great!
  I was able to catch the horses all taking their nap at the same time! Doesn't happen very often that someone doesn't stay "on watch".
 

Here's George and Hannah sharing a crate for their evening nap.

  One of the family's nephews by choice has had a heart attack! He has had a stent put in the completely blocked artery and rooted the other. No damage to heart thank goodness. Good grief, he and his family have been through so much the past few years and now this. I'm sure they will get through this too but it just doesn't seem fair. 

   My great nephew is out of the hospital and has returned to work from a partially collapsed lung! No injury or accident, just spontaneous crap! Life never ceases to amaze me! 

 This is for my sister...she can make her husband crazy when she tells him she has a new idea! haha He just loves her redneck hillbilly ways. She does enjoy teasing him. 

 You all have a diamond day! 

  

October is almost over

and it still feels like summer. It's wonderful but weird. Guess I should check for drafts more often. Just published another draft I did not finish but hit it anyway.
  The fall weather has finally arrived. I had to put a jacket on to do chores this a.m. and did a little cleaning in the shop with a flannel shirt on and long pants. What a horrid mess it is out there. Looks like a hoarder lives there. Of course there was two complete households moved here over 10 years ago along with a lot of stuff from a third household! So much crap and other stuff. I'm determined to get it cleaned and organized again. I say again because I have cleaned it several times over the years. It just gets away from me and others haha. I will have quite a collection of tools when I am done. Years ago I told Tim that from then on when I had to clean up tools laying around that they would become mine. I have several tool boxes now. Gonna add to that number again.

  I heard from one of my son's half sisters this a.m. on fb chat. She's a sweet thing with a five yr old son that is sure a cutie. I think Glenda Kay did very well by her from what I can tell. It was nice of her to take the time and say hi.

  "A" came up yesterday so I could help with some computer troubles. He had called on Friday afternoon to make it sure we would be home. It took several hours and the dang thing never actually finished doing what we were trying to do. They left here with comps in hand and still going. He is supposed to update me this a.m.. may or may not have to finish the help by way of telephone. Oh, was able to find a home for a couple of my extra houseplants too! One of my big ones and one of my African violets. Also a start of my jade plant. It was just some trimmings. A few years ago I split one of the philodendrons into 3. Now I have one, my sister another and her best friend has the third.

This was taken before I split it up. I have had this plant for 35 years! I am always surprised that it has survived so much neglect. For many years it died back each winter due to the lack of light and water but the last few I have been able to do better with the poor thing. lol 

  It's really foggy this morning. Can hardly see across the road. It's the first day of November now. But the sun will shine today and life is good. Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween last night or whenever they celebrated. We do not ever have trick or treaters as we have always lived in the country. I do miss seeing the kids. Our local square decided last year to stop their tradition of a parade and distributing candy for the county kids. I did notice in the local paper that a handful of folks on the square were still going to give out candy. Hope it was successful.

End of January 2016!

  Well, seems the time got away from me, as always. Some of it is actually there is nothing new or different going on......that's most of it when push comes to shove.

  My wonderful honey had these delivered on my birthday: 62 of them !

  I don't remember if I ever mentioned the fact that after 37 years I cut all my hair off. I really liked it short but I just didn't feel comfortable with it. Don't mean literally comfortable because it was great...never in the dishwater, not under me or my honey while sleeping or blowing in my face during outside chores but just don't have the face for a "boy cut"...haha   I am growing it back out. Haven't cut it in almost a year except to try and catch up the layers. Gonna take FOREVER! 

Here's a few pictures from the last few months:

  

  still have grass in November! 

Last of the hollyhocks first wk of Nov

waiting on one of those birds to come down a little closer

Sheba likes to "hide" under the houseplant. Crazy thing.

     My braided redbud trees. It's about 3 years old now. It's fun watching it grow.  I braided three seedlings together coming up through the bricks.

 
   The winter has been really mild and I've enjoyed that immensely. The older I get the less I like to doing chores in the winter time. Too dang much trouble bundling up! Today it's 51* and sunny! I had a visiting cat this afternoon! A very handsome looking Siamese mix came calling on my back porch! My neutered male was not a happy guy. I tried to scare him away and that took some doing. He did make out to the edge of the yard but on this side of the fence... dang it. The dog didn't even scare it away. I don't want my dogs to get a hold of it (don't want them killing anything besides varmints) and don't want my poor George to get beat up.

  I have added two borders to a quilt top that my aunt made and gave me. It will be a large king by the time I'm done with it. Maybe Tim and I will have enough to cover us after the dogs take their share! I'm anxious to get it ready to quilt. Hand quilting is relaxing for me. Almost as much as basket making.

  Guess I better quit. Have a diamond day!

It's fall!

  How does the time go by so quickly? A few things have changed around here. Tim has a new job. One he's been been trying to get for awhile. A driving job again but not over the road. We didn't want to do that at this point in our lives. When we were young it was fine. Anyway....now the job is two things he has always made fun of. JB  and chicken haulers. So he's drives for JB and contracts to live haul chickens for George's ....ha! It's working out great so far. Good wages and day shift for the most part. It is flexible so the start times vary from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m....throws my day to day schedule into a spiral but what the heck. I've not got anything else to do. He is really enjoying it. He is at work within 3-4 minutes from leaving! First time that has ever happened. We have always lived in the country and he had to commute for at least half an hour and up to 2 hrs 15 min. . It is really nice.
  Just found another old post that was sitting in drafts. Hit publish after glancing at it. Probably repeating myself. Some days are stones. lol

The heat is on......

beginning week two three of high temps and high humidity. Whew! Trying to get yard work done in this heat is tough on an old lady. Can work a couple of hours very early in the morning and then I'm done. That's okay. I'm grateful that I can do that.
  Got the back yard mowed this morning and the rest of the chores done and back in the house by 9 a.m... a little worried about Buck's feet. Goodness, poor old fella has had a couple of cracks in the front hooves and now they have worn off and they seem so short. They don't seem to be bothering him at all but wow! they look so short. He is such a sweety.
  Continued from over a month ago. Just found this in my drafts. 8-28-2015

  I'd like to say that I've been too busy to post but I'd be lying. Just haven't had anything to say. Trying to keep ahead of the yard in between the rain and the heat. Tim changing jobs and the stress that crap brings to my head haha.....I am so relieved that he is no longer having to breathe that toxic air 10-12 hours a day! Back to where he wants to be- driving. This flexible swing shift is kinda weird after 13 years of getting up at 3:30-4:00 a.m. . now it's different every day. One day he has to be there at noon, another day 1 and then this morning it was 6:30! It's now 9 pm and he isn't back yet. Go truckers! lol He may have to work tomorrow (Sat) which is unusual for them to run a weekend shift. It could be so much worse. Could be that he had to go back over the road. I'm tickled to death we were able to hold out til he could get this job.

End of the month.....how can that be?

    My goodness how time flies...that's what "they" always say. Well, it does fly by way too quickly the older you get. Not enough hours in the day to get it all done since it takes us old folks so long to get stuff done!

 This is not a 6 legged, 2tailed dog. Hannah is hiding behind Sam. 

 Sun coming up. So beautiful out there. 

 Had enough plums to make a small batch of jelly! 

 Wind knocked my calla lily over but it still looks so neat. 

 Our first full size hazelnut! Not very many at all but it's a start. 

  It is already 7:30 and I've not gotten a thing done except eat breakfast and answer a few emails and spent about 15 minutes on fb. Have plums to pick, horses to water and one to feed among other things. I'd like to start on a sewing project but not sure if that will happen. Guess I'd better get after it. You all have a diamond day!  

It's summertime and the living is easy........

  90* with a heat* at our house this afternoon. Whew! Sure hope our weather station is off somehow. lol Thank goodness for the wind blowing. At least it gives the impression of being tolerable out there. I mowed the front yard at 7:00 this a.m. and trimmed the trees in the back after that. Back in the house by 8:45. Mowed the back yesterday morning the same way.

  My hens and chicks are completely bloomed now. Really interesting "flower". Oh, oh.....the stupid Japanese beetles are back for their annual raid on my yard. Have already started on my grapevines. Poor things will probably never have a grape. 

  Tim got the faucet dug up and luckily it was only needing an adjustment! Didn't even have to dig it completely out. Haven't put the dirt back yet. Waiting to make sure it will hold up before burying it again. Using the yard faucet for now with the garden hose. No problem in the summer time. 

  Had a nice visit with my sister this a.m. too. Hope they get a handle on her health troubles soon. Hope she has less pain soon as possible. At least she has more energy! Yay! Wish I did. Been up since 3:30 and can hardly stay awake......been 12 hours. Seems I was able to stay up longer than that a few years back. 

  Having trouble uploading photos. Was going to share my lilies. Maybe tomorrow. There are a lot of them blooming now. Not quite all of them. Looks pretty. 

  Gotta go. You all have a diamond day!

Got the Ark built yet? and other random thoughts on Wed and Thurs

  I mean, really? Have had record rain already and another monsoon coming our way these next two days! I'm certainly glad we are on high ground. Only about 1000' according to the altimeter in my truck. Doesn't matter, the house is higher than most everything nearby. lol In case you are wondering the reason my truck has an altimeter, the truck belonged to my father at one time and he added the altimeter for his travels in the mountains out west. We don't have mountains like that here but lots of hills, hollers and prairies. Have to cross at least two small prairies and a few hollers just to get to my sister's place. Too funny.
  Tim rode the bike again today to work! Good Lord! What is he thinking? Might should have taken my 4x4 instead. Speaking of bikes....he had plans to go trade the other bike for a truck but at the last minute before leaving on the road trip, he changed his mind. Just couldn't turn it loose. No surprise for me though as he'll never be ready to turn loose of the HD.
  I need to make a run to town to drop off eggs at the food bank. They are stacking up. Been two weeks since last donation. Hope they want them. They also need shampoo and bar soap. Last time I found some large shampoos on sale for .75 . Picked up a couple of those along with some soap. Will try that again.
    Got this from pinterest and thought my sister might like the idea to go with her fire pits. I like it. 

  

  It's now Thursday morning. Cleaned kitchen, watched the "sun" come up outside and had breakfast. I use the term sun lightly as it is cloudy and overcast with a slight sprinkle.   

 

Good morning, herd!

 Some tires that Tim brought home for the garden. The plan is for semi-instant raised beds. Can't see them very well at daybreak. I would like to make one of these one day :

 Isn't that neat? I really like pinterest. 

 Part of the back yard. Too wet to bring out the pillows that go in the chairs. Maybe sometime in August! 

  Tim was home by 1:30 yesterday. I love it when he gets to come home early but it sure hurts the paycheck. They have yet to allow the drivers to go any where near the bird flu cases and their deliveries are too near. So he is running heavy equipment at this time among other things to keep busy. On the plus side ....he mowed the back yard yesterday while it was not raining! We'll bale the front over the weekend. lol 

  Gotta get some work done. You all have a diamond day! 

  

The days are flying by....

....it's raining this a.m. and about 62*. The rain missed us yesterday but it did not help me stay awake. I'm thinking it may be my thyroid pill needs to be changed. Hope so. Slept 6 hrs , up 3, slept 2, up 2 and another nap of 3 hrs. Geez, makes me tired just writing about it lol......'nough of my whining....
  Actually got a handful of strawberries yesterday! Beat the chickens! I covered a hole in the gate so the smaller ones don't go in there. They are too lazy to fly over the fence, thank goodness. They were small but tasty. Looking forward to more.
  A couple of more days have flown by...getting a few berries every day. Nothing to write home about but really nice when you love them. Sam is almost 11 months old now and finally about to catch up with himself. Mercy! He has been a challenge like no other. I will be so glad when he finally matures. He might be able to learn something. He's very smart but has the attention span of a gnat.

 Using the mower to clean up a downed limb after the storm last week. Betty likes it cause now she can scratch her legs on it. 

 One of the latest flower beds coming along. You can barely see the calla lily coming up in the mess of weeds. And there is a newly planted hosta in there too. Anxious to see how big it gets next year. It is an Empress Wu and supposed to be one of the biggest. 

 Patches walking the yard with me. Resting on the fence while I pull weeds! The least she could do is help. 

 My hens and chicks has got two that are going to flower. They are really unusual when they bloom. Not much to them but cool the way they grow. The milk crate is protecting my grape vine. Sam the wonder dog ate it over the winter and I didn't think it was going to survive but Yay!!!! it made it. Maybe in a few years I will also have grapes to eat! The older vine survived the transplanting also. Tim did not care that the books said not to move a vine. He moved both of them any way. I hate it when he's right. LOL. 

  Tim brush hogged again today. This time he was able to knock down the broad-leaf weeds a little better. I should have mowed the yard while he was doing that but I opted for a nap instead. Lord, I sure hate having no energy. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful to wake up every morning and for what I can do, but dang, I'm used to doing more! 

 I don't know what kind of Iris this is but they sure are neat. Has the size of a regular iris and the looks of a Siberian. Guess I need to look it up. Found out the name of one the shrubs I had not identified since moving here. It is a Japanese Rose. The small yellow roses out in front of the tow oak trees by the wagon wheel. I cut it way way back last year cause it was out of control. ( I cut EVERYTHING way back last year) The little rose survived my mad clipping and will be just fine next year. haha. 

 Well, the rain has finally quit, for now. We got 1.97" before it was done. Suppose to have chances of more all week long. The neighbor's yard was pretty dang full but has finally crossed the road and gave the grass at George's a good drink. lol Not sure how long it will take for that field to dry out so they can cut. 

  We got one strut replaced on the car yesterday. Yay!  A little of the shop cleaned up too. I haven't been up to cleaning it for several years and the birds have taken over. My brother and I did a little cleaning a couple of years ago but the mess has done like hangers in a closet and tripled! 

  It has been just over a week since I started this. Kept thinking I would post it but never got around. No surprise there. lol This week's pictures:

  I made a washable swiffer duster. Slides on just like the store bought but made of flannel. Much cheaper! 

 The cat's "hammock". They just love it. Actually it is a shade cloth for my house plants. The only safe place to put them is a little too sunny even for the sun lovers. 

 Hollyhocks anyone? They are a really neat flower. Only had them 2 years now. I like them. 

 Petunias 

 Blooms on my hens and chicks. Guess they are blooms - they kinda open up in the sun. Seems no one else's have actually bloomed like this. Awesome! 

  Gonna be another hot one out there today. Did a little trimming with the mower early this morning. Back in the house by 8:00. Oh, also picked a small bowl of cherries this a.m.. the other fruit is still coming along. I need to trim all the stuff out front again. With all this rain it has gotten out of hand again. Having trouble seeing to get out the drive way again lol . There's always something.... work I like to do but not in this heat! It just absolutely drains me of all energy. 

  Better go get a little more done. Break time is over! You all have a diamond day! 

  

Nice Mothers Day

 Had a nice uneventful day on Sunday. Saturday too. Just the way it should be for me to enjoy. The yard was mowed on Friday evening and Tim got the brush hogging done on Sat and Sun. Love it when he's able to knock down those pesky weeds without poison. Buck had a rough winter and trying to pack a little more weight back on him. At least he recovered from the stroke or whatever it was that happened. Everyone else is still fat and sassy. Spike seems to be fine after his little scare. I swear at times I think my four legged kids will be the death of me. lol
 

 

 The hummers are back for the summer.

 

  The iris are in bloom

 

  Siberian iris in bloom 

 

 Girls are laying

  What more can you ask for? Oh, strawberries are making. Now if I could beat the dang chickens to them I'd be happier! lol 

You all have a diamond day! 

First ever red breasted Grosbeak!

  What an interesting little bird. I've hoped to see one for a while now but never have. Not until yesterday! He showed up and stayed all day.....until George almost caught him! I'm hoping he will come back to the feeder today. The second pic is through the screen so is kinda weird but you can see his red breast fairly well. Pretty neat huh? He has a beak kinda like a parrot.

Well, gotta go outside for awhile and do some yard work before the heat comes on. Back in bit.
  It's a day later. Didn't get back to this til now. Oh, and my little wrens are back. Or they just now showed themselves again. They used to live in a tree right off the back porch but disappeared a few years back. Guess they didn't like all the activity out there. Anyway, saw them yesterday and happy they are around. Got iris' blooming along with one peonie (literally one flower), red buckeye and two different roses. One beautiful pink one and Vena's crown of roses that is yellow.

  Also have fruit coming on if the blight doesn't ruin it. Plums, peaches and nectarines! I'm so excited about them. I sure hope they make it to edible fruit. I love spring!