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!

More balance

  Wanted to share more of our balanced pack. The cats are in the pack also. They think they are dogs and the dogs don't mind.

Sometimes they drive me crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way.
  We went to the spring opening of our "local" drive in a couple of weeks ago. A double feature that we actually wanted to see.. most of the time the movies they play are not something we would actually pay to see. lol More family stuff with animation. I'm, for the most part, not into cartoons. Once in a great while,, maybe. The theater is actually around 26 miles from home but when you live in a small rural county that's how it works. No big deal but for old folks with bad backs the round trip and sitting for another 4 hrs can be rather trying. Just have to get work done first so you can re coup the next day lol . And 2 movies for $7 a head is just not bad at all. You can take your own snacks but the theater actually makes their money on the concession stand. There is a playground to entertain the kids with before the movie starts that includes swing set, volleyball, basket ball goal,slide etc.  You are even allowed to take a small BBQ grill as long as you are done before the movies start. They provide a place to put the hot coals! Just make sure you have a fm radio in your car so you can have sound. Pretty nice set up if you ask me.

  Another form of entertainment for country folks is the plain ol' campfire. Nothing beats a nice campfire in your own backyard to enjoy the simple sounds of an almost summer night. Just perfect!
Watch the night sky come up and enjoy the sounds of the horses, cows, coyotes and owls. Throw in a sound or two of chickens and night birds singing to top it off. Not forgetting that to be able to share it with a loved one makes it more special.

  We have a new type oriole in the yard this year. It's an orchard oriole instead of a northern oriole. Kinda cool to add a new bird to our visitors!
  (stock photo from wiki, I did not take this pic)
Handsome little guy, isn't he? I haven't seen our northern oriole visitor yet this year but I'm sure they will be around soon. We did however lose one of their nests in a wind storm. Leaves us two in the walnut tree. The hummers are back also. Have only seen a couple, may be the scout for the rest. Not sure, we normally don't have many stop here. I keep feeders out but they mostly eat from our flowers etc. ...
  Had a wonderful day outside working in the yard. Just piddlin'. Almost bedtime now so will close.
Have a diamond day!

Good grief it's already mid April!

  Time sure flies by the older you get. We weathered the rest of winter just fine. No big giant snow storms or ice storms etc. . Have used up too much propane this past year but really no more than usual. Just started out with less. Dang it!
  I think the eagles have finally left for the year. I am pretty sure they will be back next winter.

Here is one from last month that was in the pasture with the horses. Wish I could tell you how far away it was but can't. They are such a big bird!

 The red tulip is new this year. Put the bulbs in the ground last fall. The variegated ones are the ones that were here 11 years ago. Have more bulbs but don't know what to do with them now. All the jonquils are finished for the year. No pictures of them. I pruned everything way way way back last year as I was tired of the ragged look it all had. Too big and too .........too. So I knew there would be no blooms on several things like forsythia and lilacs etc. The quince didn't mind at all. They even liked the trim! The fruit trees are looking fair so far. Blooms every where and some fruit already set on the plums. Too soon to tell on the others. Still have some dang blight! It happened quickly with the odd weather we always have. One minute it was too nasty to spray and the next the blooms were open too far!
  Had a fun day a week or so back. Met my sister in town and we went got a sandwich after running a few errands and went to the park for lunch. A beautiful day and very nice visit. Hope to repeat soon.

My pit bull helping George clean his ears. Sheba would have made a great mother if I would have let her have pups. George really likes the dogs. You all have a diamond day!
 

2015! Sounds weird to me.

  How about you? It still seems futuristic not in the present. Where are the flying cars of the Jetsons? lol And Rosie the robotic maid? She's supposed to be making my breakfast! Oh, well. I like the present just fine the way it is in so many respects. Not so much in others. We could certainly do with a less violence in the world. Among many other things.

  Life is good. It's freezing outside this a.m. actually 2.1* with a 10 mph wind. Was almost this bad yesterday but we all did fine. Used 3 layers of clothes to feed the animals and fill water tanks and stayed warm. My feet were chilly but not bad. Today I will add a third pair of sox and boots instead of tennis shoes.
 

 The eagles have been back for several weeks so I guess they are a little early compared to last winter. There are about 8 of them this year. They are hunting a larger area of the neighborhood too. Not just across the road but up the road both directions and in our pastures. One of them almost spooked the horses yesterday swooping so low over their heads at the hay ring. It still excites me to be able walk out my door and see an eagle. It is such a gift. I think some folks in the county take them for granted we see so many because of the lake. 

We had a few weeks of worry over Buck but he seemingly has recovered nicely from his stroke. He still has trouble with his vision but has adjusted to it. He no longer "sidetracks" or limps. Hoping he keeps it up and has no more trouble this winter. I know his time is short but I'm selfish and want him to stay as long as possible. 

  I have already received at least 6 seed catalogs and have many dreams for a garden this year. I really don't think they will happen but I can always dream. lol I will, at the very least, grow a few tomatoes like always. I have to move the strawberry patch this year. We are removing the garden fence and taking that area into the yard. May move the grapes later on. The plan is to extend the fence around the orchard and put the garden in there. We'll see. 

  Have a diamond day! 

  

End of year

  We had a real nice Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimmings right here with the two of us. And had a real nice Christmas here too. Tim wanted to stay home instead of going to Jeff's so I was all for that. Christmas eve we took a drive to look at the lights. I was surprised there were not as many around town as I expected but still saw some real nice ones. We did go see the local "Griswold" lights out the other side of Ridgely. Never have saw so many lights on one place!!! Got a call from our son that morning and then T got a call from him on Christmas morning.

   On a sad note....our time with Buck is coming to an end. We are not sure when but will be soon. He's had a stroke. Lost vision in one eye but has adjusted to that just fine. Has seemingly lost use of one leg to a point so not getting around very well. He's over 35 years old and has only been with us for 5-6 years he has given so much. I will not see him suffer or be in pain. He went through enough before coming to us.

Here's the old guy sometime last year. Such a sweet soul. 

  Sam is now 6 months old and full of piss and vinegar. Sometimes I'm not sure he will survive til grown. haha I will be glad when he stops chewing on everything. 

  I made oatmeal cookies, vanilla wafers and peanut brittle the past couple of weeks. Not too bad. Normally T doesn't take dessert in his lunch but I figured what the heck. Maybe a couple more batches of cookies and another couple of pies and I will be done with my extra baking for the year. Our health can't take too much of that. Or should I say our weight? 

  Momma has been gone almost 7 years now and I still miss her every day. You all have a diamond day!